Child Protection/Social Work Consultants at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

The United Nations Children's Fund (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.

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

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Child Protection/Social Work Consultant, NOA-NOB

Job Number: 498735
Location: Maiduguri
Work Type: Consultancy

Purpose of the Assignment

• The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria is urgently seeking the interest of qualified Child Protection and Social Work Consultants to support the implementation of UNICEF's child protection in emergencies programmes in North East Nigeria.
• Children have been acutely impacted by the conflict in North East Nigeria. In particular, millions of children are suffering psychological distress due to the conflict. It is also estimated that over 20,000 have been displaced by the conflict. Children have been recruited and used by armed groups and been subjected to sexual violence.
• Many girls and women have become pregnant and given birth as a result of the conflict of rape and forced marriage. These children are facing acute challenges in returning to their families and communities following release or escape.
• Children need urgent support to ensure they are safe and protected from further harm, and to help them recover from what they have experienced.

Assignment Tasks
Knowledge Management for Programmes:

• Contribute to country programmes by supporting knowledge management through providing professional assistance in data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting as well as participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of "lessons learned" and other corporate-level databases.
• Participate in information exchange with partners as well as in the development of training and orientation material by providing professional technical assistance on child protection in emergencies and social work. Participate in the preparation of, and making professional contribution to, the preparation of programme reports required for the management.

Programme Development and Management:

• Provide professional technical assistance in the preparation of the Situation Analysis for programme development and management by collecting and analyzing data and monitoring implementation progress.
• Contribute to the identification of critical intervention points and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring system; analyse country level socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects. Draft or prepare programme work plans as required.
• Propose adjustments/changes in work plans. Propose program recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation, and new approaches, methods and practices for supervisor.

Programme Implementation:

• Contribute to the implementation of key UNICEF child protection programme components in North East Nigeria including, but not limited to: tracing, reunification and interim care programme for unaccompanied and separated children; reintegration programme for children used in the hostilities and girls subjected to conflict related sexual violence; mines risk education; effective multi-sector response for child protection, including effective case management; and psychosocial support.

Programme Monitoring and Evaluations:

• Undertakes field visits to monitor and assess child protection in emergencies programme implementation and decides on required corrective action.
• Collaborate with partners to carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation and participate in the major programme evaluation exercises in consultation with the Representative, the Operations Officer, the Evaluation Officer and others to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery.
• Participate in annual sector review meetings with government counterparts. Collaborate and prepare annual program status reports in a timely manner, as required.

Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach:

• Support rights-based programmes approach in the formulation of programme goals and objectives and development of strategies and implementation frameworks.
• Collaborate with partners and assist in the strengthening of quality of child rights-based programmes consistent and effective planning, design, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of programmes and projects.
• Contribute to coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes using a results-based management approach to programme planning and design.
• Provide professional technical assistance in preparing viable recommendations on project implementation, alternative approaches, and optimal utilization of resources.

National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability:

• Provide government authorities with technical assistance and supports in planning and organizing training programmes for the purpose of capacity building and programme sustainability on child protection in emergencies.
• Promote and maintain the building and reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners by identifying these partners and partnerships and providing continuous supports, coordination and collaboration for sustainability for child protection in emergencies.

Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the National, Community and Family Levels:

• Analyze programme related issues and policies from a children's and women's rights perspective and advocacy at the community and family levels for elevating credibility in national policy debates.
• Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through active advocacy and communication.

Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration:

• Facilitate partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation and movement/distribution of supplies.
• Establish and maintain linkage to the Regional Programme Knowledge Network to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme data.

Expected Deliverables

• Child protection in emergencies programme implemented as per agreed workplan
• Effective knowledge management and system, information exchange and the development of training and orientation materials developed and deployed for strengthening of child protection in emergencies programming.
• Inputs provided to analysis and update of the child protection situation in North East Nigeria. Programme reports prepared as required.
• Programme monitoring and evaluations effectively conducted to improve programme performance, and programme status report timely prepared.
• Rights-based and results-based programming approach fully incorporated into all phases of programme and projects processes.
• Institutional capacities of the national and local partners strengthened on child protection in emergencies.
• Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme development/management/coordination, information sharing and networking.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate
Education:

• Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Social Work, Child Protection or related technical field

Years of relevant experience:

• At least two (2) years progressively responsible professional work experience in programme planning, management, monitoring and evaluation in social work or child protection or GBV programming.
• Experience in social work and/or child protection and/or GBV programming. Experience of working in an emergency setting is an asset

Competencies of Successful Candidate:

• Fluency in English
• Knowledge of local working language of the duty station an asset.
• Current knowledge of development issues, strategies as well as programming policies and procedures in international development cooperation
• Proven ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas, as well as to impart knowledge and teach skills
• Managerial and supervisory skills
• Good analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills
• Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office application
• Demonstration of ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.

Application Closing Date
8th September, 2016.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online