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UNICEF Nicaragua
Vacancy Notice No. 10/15
Title:
Level:
Duty
station/Section:
Type of Contract:
Date of Entry
Purpo
se:

Child Protection Specialist

NO-3 (Specialist)
Managua, Nicaragua / Programme
Fixed-Term of one year initially
3 August 2015

Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative, the incumbent will be accountable for
formulation, design, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of the child and
adolescent protection and participation programme to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness
of the programme management, delivery and accomplishment of expected outputs and
outcomes. Promotes inter-sectoral partnerships and collaboration both internally and with
partners, leading to responsive child and adolescent protection systems build on the strengths of
issue-specific programming; and which addresses specific forms of vulnerability. Contributes to
synergize the work of United Nations agencies to achieve child protection results within the
UNDAF, including in humanitarian actions, working closely with the Child Protection Su-cluster
within the inter agency standing committee (IASC) mechanism.

The key responsibilities of the Child Protection Specialist will be:

1. Programme Planning, Development and Management.

Enhance effective sectoral or inter-sectoral collaborative partnerships in planning, development

and management by leading, coordinating and supporting the timely completion of the rightsbased, equity focused Situational Analysis and its periodic update through accurate monitoring
and analysis. Initiate and supervise a series of researches and analytical products to strengthen
the knowledge base on the situation of children and adolescents which will be the basis to
regularly update the Situation Analysis.

Undertake a disaggregated assessment of the status of childrens rights and pattern of inequities.
Analyze the immediate, underlying and structural causes and draw up programmatic
recommendations. Use the ten determinants of the level 3 monitoring and strategic results areas
to identify bottlenecks and barriers.

Use evidence generated to promote responsive child and adolescent protection systems which
address specific forms of vulnerability, including those related to gender, disability, HIV, and
indigenous origins. Facilitate measure of outcomes for different groups of vulnerable children and
adolescents.

Provide substantive advice, recommendations and input in the formulation of country programme
documents and plans of actions relating to child and adolescent protection.

Takes primary responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions
in a timely manner as well as for programme management, implementation and monitoring of
assigned sectoral activity, in compliance with the defined programme strategies and theories of
change including key indicators for results.

2. Promotion of UNICEFs Global Goals

Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and policy dialogue through active
engagement in communication, networking and participation at every opportunity inside and outside
UNICEF, leveraging the strength of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes; and forge broad-based
partnerships to raise awareness and stimulate open dialogue on the rights of the child and practices
that create social exclusion or harm children.
3. Knowledge sharing and Innovation

Promote knowledge sharing by exchange of knowledge, information, situation analysis, experience or

lessons learned through online conferences, digital media, social networking platforms and blogs, as
well as by facilitating partnership and horizontal or triangular cooperation.

Promote introduction of new initiatives in the country, making full use of digital opportunities to cocreate knowledge and ideas with others. Catalyze innovations or identify innovative practices and
bring them to the attention of others to promote the adoption and scaling up of successful solutions.

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Use the know-how of national and international academic and knowledge institutions to collect,
analyze and use relevant data to further understanding of social norms and harmful practices to
children, particularly girls in indigenous and afro-descendent communities.

4. Rights-Based and Results-Based Approach.

Promote the quality of rights-based child and adolescent protection through participation in the
formulation of programme goals, strategies and approaches, collaborating with key partners to address
the multiple aspects of the protective environment. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to
sectoral or inter-sectoral management processes using a results-based management approach to
planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
5. Sectoral Work Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring.
Takes primary responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions as
well as for programme management, implementation and monitoring of assigned project/sectoral
activity, in compliance with the defined programme strategies and theories of change, with adequate
consultation with relevant stakeholders. Support maintenance of information system for monitoring
gender and sex aggregated data.
6. Programme Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting.

Ensure programme, sectoral or inter-sectoral, efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and
transparent approach to evaluation.

Lead the process of planning of IMEP for the areas that the incumbent is managing, implementing
major evaluations or studies in child protection, and organizing programme reviews and annual sector
review meetings with government counterparts, with involvement of all stakeholders.

Ensure the preparation of quality annual Child and Adolescent Protection sector status reports in a
timely manner

Ensure the accurate and timely input of project information in SAP/VISION/RAM

Prepare timely donor reports, budget review and programme analysis.

7. UNICEF and Government Accountability.
Coordinates with operation staff (in-country and operation hub) on non-supply assistance activities
ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and Government accountability; and to orientate and train
Government and all UNICEF implementing partners in UNICEF policies and procedures. Certifies
disbursements of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance
with the regulations and guidelines.
8. Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership.

Ensure exchange of information, experience, identify new strategies and courses of action to
accelerate delivery of services and achieve child and adolescent protection programme requirements
and objectives. Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and collect information. Conduct periodic
programme reviews with Government counterparts, civil society, private sector and other partners.

Use evidence generated by established or new monitoring systems to document and to promote
actions that increase the visibility of vulnerable groups of children and adolescents and advocate for
adequate responses to their rights and priority needs.

In collaboration with the Communication Specialist and other programme officers, take primary
responsibility for the development, management, coordination and monitoring of effective
advocacy and communication for behavior change strategies related to child and adolescent
protection.

Know and use digital resources, maintain digital networks and participate in social media platforms in
order to enhance collaboration with media, civil society and involvement of children, adolescents,
youth and their families in positive practices. Work and collaborate in digital environments with the
intent of searching, evaluating and sharing relevant information.

Engage dialogue with private sector on good practices and corporate social responsibility, and
strengthen partnerships with bilateral and multilateral organizations, including International Financial
Institutions (IFIs) and regional development Banks, to generate greater investment in sectors with
child protection responsibility.

Overall coordination with LACRO Regional Advisers and HQ Officers. Collaborate with other programme
specialists and officers to ensure the integration of protection in all country programme components

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(a-Early Childhood Development, b-Quality and inclusive Education and c- Participation and protection
of Adolescence).

Collaborate with the Operation Section and Government authorities to establish and maintain sound
internal controls supportive of programme planning and implementation, to coordinate financial and
supply management requirements as well as to ensure accountability.

Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages
of programme implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations. Provide technical
support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures
to achieve programme goals with all key partners.

9. Emergency preparedness and responses.

Supports emergency preparedness plan relating to Child Protection. Coordinate and facilitate the
Child protection in emergency group for operational functioning, capacity development and regular
updating of the mapping and early warning and preparedness plan. In case of emergency, assists in
monitoring and assessing the nature and extent of the emergency in the assigned area, as required.
Provides assistance to the Country Office in identifying where support is required.

In line with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in Humanitarian Action, strengthen national
partnerships with child protection actors of the Humanitarian Network (RedHum), for preparedness,
contingency planning and response.
10. Effective management
Ensure the effective management of the Child Protection team through coaching and meetings with
staff working in the sector. Clarify roles and responsibility of each member of the team (formalized by
PAS) and make sure it will be monitored by the staff and supervisor regularly. Seek opportunities for
professional development (either on-the-job or specific trainings) for members of the Child Protection
section and assist them with development of their work plan including development objectives. Ensure
the flow of communication and teamwork within the team, and with other sectors.
Minimum
Requireme
nts:

- Advanced university degree, preferably in the social sciences, law, psychology, public
health, human rights, or
any other fields relevant to child protection.
- Minimum five years of professional work experience at national and/or international levels
in child protection,
including field work experience. Familiarity with Emergency.
- Fluency in English and Spanish. Good analytical writing skills in English and Spanish is a
strong asset.

Competen
cies:

Highly responsible individual with the following competencies:

Core Values: Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Integrity
Core Competencies: Communication, Working with People, Drive for Results
Functional Competencies: Formulating Strategies and Concepts, Analysing, Relating
and Networking, Applying Technical Expertise, -Leading and Supervising, Deciding and
Initiating Action.

How to
apply:

Qualified candidates please submit your application letter, CV and P11 form (which can be
downloaded from https://goo.gl/2E4nAW ), to email address: jai@unicef.org, under
Ref: Vacancy Notice #10/15, Child Protection Specialist.
12 June 2015

Closing
Date:
Applications will be considered only if accompanied by an updated CV and a P11 form,
as well as the two most recent PER/Personnel Evaluations (mandatory for UNICEF & UN
candidates)
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages
qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic
backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities and HIV, to apply to become a
part of our organization.

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