UNICEF Somalia Child Protection Officer (Community – Based Work / Social Change) Job in Hargeisa

Ref: UNSOM/2011/048

Title: Child Protection Officer (Community – Based Work / Social Change)

Category and Grade Level: National Officer – NOB

Case Number: SOM11015

Type of Contract: Fixed Term – 1 Year

Organization Unit: Child Protection

Duty Station: UNICEF Somalia – (Hargeisa)

Date of Issue: 24 August 2011

Closing date of Application: 08 September 2011

If you are qualified Somali National looking for a chance to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable Somali children while gaining opportunities for career growth, you are invited to apply for the above post of Child Protection Officer, with UNICEF Somalia, North West Zone Programme to be based in Hargeisa.

If successful, you’ll be part of a dynamic and passionate team in Somalia and Nairobi that works together to improve the health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, and basic education of Somali girls and boys and protect them from violence, exploitation and abuse.

The successful candidate will be offered a Fixed Term Appointment for one year. Further extensions will be based on organizational needs, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

Purpose of the Post:

Under the general supervision of the Child Protection Specialist, NWZ, and technical guidance from the USSC Child Protection Specialist, the incumbent will be responsible for monitoring and implementing child protection activities in Somaliland regions, in particular those that focus on the community mobilization for child protection and social change.

The post entails monitoring of the child protection situation in the regions, promotion of community led child protection initiatives, as well as advocacy with authorities and partners on child protection issues. The incumbent will also be expected to support the formulation and design of child protection programmes and work closely with other UNICEF sectors in mainstreaming child protection in UNICEF.

The post requires a high level of technical competence and knowledge in the fields of child protection, child rights and human rights and experience in advocacy and programme planning and implementation.

Major duties and responsibilities:

A. Strengthening community based child protection

• Work with partners and relevant authorities in the areas of FGM/C and community mobilization. This will include generating and analyzing data on the dynamics of social change at community level and develop interventions that can address the social dimensions of harmful practices against children.
• Provide technical assistance and institutional support to partners, community representatives and relevant national and sub-national agencies on linkages between community-based child protection work and government-led child protection work. Develop training materials, guidelines and other tools to ensure the technical capacity building of local partners, government ministries and others.

B. Coordination, monitoring and oversight

• Initiate and organize coordination meetings among partners to share information and plan activities in the field of child protection, more specifically in the areas of community mobilization and FGM/C. Shares regular information with partners on key protection issues.
• Undertake frequent field visits to UNICEF project sites for the purpose of monitoring and providing orientation to project activities and local conditions. Prepare and share trip reports on results of visits and project process.

C. Advocacy

• Advocate for the promotion of an inclusive community based approach to child protection.
• Advocate with authorities and partners for ensuring the protection of vulnerable children; strengthen the protective environment in the regions, districts and communities in the specific child protection areas identified above.

Qualifications, Experience and Attributes

• University degree in social sciences or other related field (i.e. Law, international development, human rights and humanitarian law).
• At least two years experience in managing and implementing projects in the area of child protection, human rights, or protection for an international organization
• Proven ability to manage budgets, write proposals, project agreement documents
• Strong community communication skills, willingness to spend time in the field
• Fluency in English and Somali Language required.
• Ability to research, analyze, evaluate and synthesize information.
• Proven skills in communication, networking, advocacy and negotiation, especially at the community level.
• Computer skills, including internet navigation, and various office applications.

Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications with updated UN Personal History Form (P.11), updated CV, copies of academic certificates to one of the following email address. UN staff are requested to provide at least two Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs).

Please quote the vacancy number in your application.

somaliahrvacancies@unicef.org

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted

Qualified female candidates are especially encouraged to apply

UNICEF is a non-smoking environment

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