If you are a committed, creative Sudanese and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

Vacancy No : UNICEF/Sudan/2014/012

Post Title : Child Protection Specialist – SubCluster Coordination

Contract type : TA

Proposed level : L4

Duration : 364 days

Duty Station : Khartoum

Supervisor : Representative

PURPOSE

  • In line with UNICEF’s global commitment to provide effective leadership in the child protection area of responsibility, the purpose of this temporary assignment is to ensure child protection coordination mechanisms in Sudan provide guidance to all partners on common standards, strategies and approaches; that all critical child protection gaps and vulnerabilities are identified; and that information is provided on roles, responsibilities and accountability to ensure that all gaps are addressed without duplication.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.  Maintain effective child protection coordination mechanisms at federal level and in States with situations of humanitarian concern.

  • Regular updating of Mapping of child protection actors in Sudan and related sectors of interventions/capacities (5Ws and local partners including Community Based Child Protection Networks and Community Based Organizations)
  • Ensure two-way communication with Child Protection Working Groups in the field and respond to their requests
  • In a participatory manner, support implementation of the Child Protection Subsector Work Plan for 2014 and draft the work plan for the subsector for 2015.
  • Ensure all Child Protection relevant actors are engaged as SubSector members and adhere to the Principles of Partnership
  • Produce sectoral reports and analysis (e.g. quarterly sectoral reports, CHF reports etc)

2.  Guarantee effective child protection preparedness and response in emergencies

  • Promote interagency/inter-sectoral Child Protection needs assessments, lead and participate in inter-agency child protection assessments to identify priority child protection issues and advocate for delivery of appropriate response.
  • Identify response gaps and promote members’ response (including activation of provider of last resort).
  • Develop and regularly update a CP sector strategy including objectives and indicators for CP response that are aligned with and support realization of the strategic priorities set out by the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator for the overarching humanitarian response, the Child Protection Minimum Standards, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child
  • Support development and updating of Child Protection interagency sectoral Contingency State Plans for Darfur and Transitional Areas
  • Coordinate relevant child protection inputs to the Humanitarian Action Plan and the mobilization of resources through humanitarian funding mechanisms in Sudan, including Pooled Fund, CERF.
  • Contribute to the preparation of UNICEF Child Protection section CERF, CHF, Humanitarian Work Plan and other emergency related proposals and reports

3.  Ensure that Child Protection standards are promoted among Subsector members and capacities built

  • Disseminate Child Protection upcoming tools (assessments, guidelines, technical documents etc) in coordination with the Child Protection Working Group in Geneva and ensure responses are in line with existing policy standards and technical guidelines.
  • Map capacity building needs of SubSector and Working Group members and develop an inter-agency CPiE capacity building plan that identifies and prioritizes inter-agency training and capacity building needs of CP staff and partners (international, national, and local) to enhance CP coordination and program implementation. In particular, support roll out of the inter-agency Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action by all CP actors and Sudan handbook on Community Based Child Protection Networks ( CBCPN)
  • Ensure a functioning platform for information sharing and Child Protection library / resources gateway
  • Promote the collection of Child Protection data-indicators and relevant analysis at Child Protection Working Group level and possibly with NCCW (advocacy for Government data collection system)

4.  Ensure that child protection concerns and standards are appropriately reflected in inter-sectoral humanitarian coordination fora.

  • Participate in Protection, GBV and Return Sectors
  • Participate in Inter Sector Coordination Mechanisms and provide Child Protection inputs to the Humanitarian Country Team plans and meetings
  • Design a mainstreaming Child Protection matrix and advocate with other sectors for Child Protection issues mainstreaming (in particular work with Education Sector on Child Friendly Spaces).
  • Ensure with Protection Cluster that Child Protection issues are included in multi-sectoral assessments and initiatives
  • Promote information sharing with other sectoral working groups and with external actors (with the approval of CPWG members) to advocate for technical assistance and support
  • Develop an advocacy strategy for issues related to child protection that require sensitization of local authorities or donors and contribute to the development of key messages for broader humanitarian advocacy/messaging initiatives of the protection cluster or the office of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

  • Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, or related technical field
  • Eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience in humanitarian action, with a focus on child protection in UNICEF and/or INGO contexts. Experience working within the framework of IASC cluster coordination mechanisms.
  • Fluency in English and another UN language required. Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station is an asset.

DUTY STATION AND TRAVEL*

  • The post is office-based, with frequent travel within the country and occasionally outside.

Interested candidates should submit their application, updated CVs, completed UN personal history form (which can be downloaded from www.unicef.org/employ ) to , Applicants should indicate the vacancy number of the post they are applying for.

Closing date: April 9, 2014

  • Successful candidate must be willing to serve in field locations temporarily, depending on the needs of the job.
  • Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
  • UNICEF is an equal opportunity employer and qualified females are particularly encouraged to apply.
  • UNICEF is a smoke-free working environment.
  • Zero tolerance of sexual abuse and exploitation is our policy.