Job Opportunity at UNICEF, Child Protection Specialist (Civil Registration)

Job no: 543653

Position type: Fixed Term Appointment

Location: Tanzania,Uni.Re Division/Equivalent: Nairobi Regn'l(ESARO)

School/Unit: United Republic of Tanzania

Department/Office: Dar Es Salaam, United Rep. of Tanzania

Categories: Child Protection

UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Care.

UNICEF's child protection programme contributes to national efforts to strengthen the women and children protection system. UNICEF support focusses on strengthening the enabling environment for child protection, prevention of violence against children and strengthening the child protection response system, specifically social welfare and child justice. Additionally, UNICEF's child protection programme is supporting the government to roll out the simplified birth registration system (SBRS) country-wide, and refining the decentralized death registration system through implementation in a limited number of regions, after which it can be scaled up country-wide as well. The SBRS is currently operational in 20 out of 26 Regions and the death registration system in three regions.

How can you make a difference?

Birth and death registration are two fundamental pillars of a civil registration system. In Tanzania, UNICEF is supporting the Government to design and implement one uniform registration and certification system. The Specialist supports the ongoing efforts relating to the birth- and death registration system design and rollout and provides technical support at national, regional, district, ward and health facility level. Developing and implementing strategies to ensure sustainability of the systems is an important responsibility going forward. The Specialist will supervise a NOB based in Dar es Salaam and five consultants who are based in the regions. The position is based in Dar es Salaam with frequent travel to the field.

Key functions, accountabilities and related tasks/duties:

1. Support to programme/project development and planning

• Support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the child protection/civil registration programme to ensure that current and comprehensive data on child protection/civil registration issues is available to guide UNICEF's strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on child rights and protection, and to set programme priorities, strategies, and design and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of the child protection/ civil registration programme. Formulate, design and prepare programme/project proposals for the sector, ensuring alignment with UNICEF's overall Strategic Plans and the Country Programme, as well as coherence and integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans for the civil registration sector using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities and competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of the civil registration programme with other UNICEF sectors, especially the Health sector, and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Plan and collaborate with colleagues and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements, to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the civil registration sector in the child protection programme.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required actions and interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management. Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems. Take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, as well as standards of accountability and integrity. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners and donors on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, best practices, and approaches on child protection related issues to support programme management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Arrange and coordinate availability of technical experts with Regional Office/HQ to ensure timely and appropriate support throughout the programming process.
• Tags child protection child rights civil registration demography development assistance development planning development trends emergency preparedness good practices human rights information systems international law knowledge management monitoring and evaluation programme implementation programme management programme priorities social development social welfare sustainable development
• Participate in child protection programme meetings, including programme development and contingency planning discussions on emergency preparedness in the country or other locations designated, to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders, global partners, allies, donors, and academia - through active networking, advocacy and effective communication - to build capacity, exchange knowledge and expertise, and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results in child protection.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and to support fund raising for child protection programmes and emergency interventions.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on child protection/civil registration related issues to collaborate with inter[1][1][1]agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF/UNSDCF planning and preparation of programmes. Ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF/UNSDCF process for development planning and agenda setting.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in child protection/ civil registration management and information systems. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders to promote sustainable results in child protection and related programmes/projects.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will need to have the following:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, sociology, international law, statistics, demography, public health or another relevant social science field.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection including civil registration related areas is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• 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 considered as an added advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1), Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2), Works Collaboratively with others (2), Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2), Innovates and Embraces Change (2), Thinks and Acts Strategically (2), Drives to achieve impactful results (2), Manages ambiguity and complexity (2).

To view our competency framework, please click the link below.

https://www.unicef.org/careers/media/1041/file/UNICEF%27s_Competency_Framework.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Advertised: Aug 17 2021 E. Africa Standard Time Application close: Aug 31 2021 E. Africa Standard Time

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