Child Protection Officer at UNICEF

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and Governments.

Context

Established in 1946, UNICEF is the United Nations agency charged with ensuring the rights and well-being of children around the world. UNICEF has been on the ground in Tanzania since 1954 as part of its emergency operations, though the office was set up in 1975.

The UNICEF programme in Tanzania prioritizes the monitoring of emerging trends and their impact on children, the country’s development landscape and use of evidence and successful pilots to leverage investments and wider coverage of quality services for children. The programme also aims to strengthen children’s and communities’ engagement in their own development.

In Tanzania, UNICEF supports programmes in health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, education, child protection and water and sanitation. Cross-cutting themes are work around social policy, budgeting and financing, gender, behavioral change, communication and partnerships.

The Child Protection programme for UNICEF Tanzania is centered at supporting the implementation of the government’s second National Plan of Action to end Violence Against Women and Children (2024/2025 – 2028/2029). In Kigoma, UNICEF is also leading the Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) theme of the second United National Kigoma Joint Programmes (KJP II) supported through UNICEF, UN Women, UNHCR, UNFPA and IOM

Task description

The Child Protection Officer reports to the Child Protection Specialist (Social Welfare & MHPSS) and the Head of Field Office in Kigoma for supervision.

The Child Protection Officer provides technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for child protection programmes/projects within the Country Programme, with a focus on the work in Kigoma.

The Child Protection Officer prepares, executes, manages, and implements a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks to facilitate programme development, implementation, programme progress monitoring, evaluating and reporting.

Key functions/accountabilities are as follows:

• Conduct and update the situation analysis for the development, design, and management of child protection related programmes/projects. Research and report on development trends (e.g. economic, social, health) and data for use in programme development, management, monitoring, evaluation and delivery of results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing and administering a variety of technical, programme, operational, and administrative transactions, preparing related materials and documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating of results.
• Prepare required programme documentations, materials, and data to facilitate the programme review and approval process.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations and/or to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level interventions and/or decisions.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts to assess programmes/projects, and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verifying compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations, procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on critical issues and findings to ensure timely resolution by management and stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare regular and mandated sectoral programme/project reports for management.
• Conduct regular programme field visits and surveys and exchange information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support. Take appropriate action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices in child protection, to support programme implementation.
• Research and document best and promising practices to prevent and respond to violence against children in homes, schools and communities.

Build and sustain effective working partnerships with all key actors to strengthen violence against children's interventions in homes, schools and communities. Furthermore, as a UN Volunteer, you are required to:

• Strengthen your knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected Output:

• The VAWC theme under Kigoma Joint Programme (II) coordinated successfully and implementing partners (including government officials) supported to follow UNICEF partnership procedures.
• The implementing partner supporting child protection programme for refugees in Nyarugusu and Nduta refugees camps properly supported
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Eligibility criteria

• Age 18 - 80
• Required experience 3 years
• Nationality Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
• Assignment requirements
• Relevant experience 3 years
• Languages English, Level: Fluent, Required Swahili, Level: Fluent, Desirable
• Required education level Bachelor degree or equivalent in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.

Competencies and values

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership;
• willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality;
• ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented. • Accountability: mature and responsible;
• ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
• Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to man-age a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner;
• ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries;
• ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender.
• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely;
• ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds;
• ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing per-sonal interest;
• capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different tar-get groups;
• Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations;
• willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary.
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance, and commitment towards the UN core values.

Skills and experience

• professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development planning and management in child protection, or another related area.
• Relevant experience in programme development in child protection related areas in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language (Kiswahili) is an asset.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills
• Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots, community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.
• Have affinity with or interest in prevention of violence and volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Area(s) of expertise

Security and protection, Social work, Administration

Living conditions and remarks

Kigoma Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions with population is 2,470,967(2022 Census) distributed in 8 district councils. The regional capital is the city of Kigoma. Kigoma Region resides in the north-western corner of Tanzania, on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika.

The region lies at about 5° south and 30° east of Greenwich. The region is bordered to the north by both Burundi and the Kagera Region. To the east, it is bordered by the Geita Region and Tabora Regions, to the south by the Katavi Region, and to the west by Lake Tanganyika, which forms a border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The region's total area is 45,066 square kilometers. The weather in Kasulu is cool (about 21°C – 27°C). The driest month is July, with 2 mm of rainfall. Most precipitation falls in April, with an average of 227 mm. The warmest month of the year is September, with an average temperature of 29°C. In June, the average temperature is 21 °C which is the lowest average temperature of the whole year.

The region can be accessed by air, train and vehicles, within the region also there is a good network of roads which are used to navigate from one district to another.Additionally,in Kigoma town you can travel using shared public transport or hire own taxi or Bajaj for town movement.

Kiha is the local language used by most of the local community however Kiswahili as national language is widely spoken and understood by everyone in the region. The region has moderate social service facilities including schools, health facilities etc., both private and public which has been providing all necessary services.

Lastly, housing in Kigoma varies depending on needs, the cost may differ based on distance and type of a house on rent. Generally, you can find a house within few days using the middlemen who always know the available house of choice.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Reasonable accommodation

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.

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