Job Opportunity at UNICEF, Child Protection Specialist, NOC, TA, Mbeya, Tanzania

About the job

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, empowerment

UNICEF’s engagement in and geographical focus on the Mbeya, Iringa, Njombe, and Songwe (MINS) regions began in 2012 and was based on a vulnerability analysis that specifically highlighted high levels of nutrition and HIV deprivation. Children comprise between 45 and 50 per cent of the population of MINS, with the total number of children in 2018 estimated at 2.4 million. By 2030 the number of children is projected to reach 3.3 million. Over the past years, TCO health, nutrition, child protection, WASH, and education programme sections have implemented two types of interventions in MINS: (1) interventions aimed at achieving results for children at MINS level; and (2) interventions implemented in MINS but aimed at achieving nation-wide or central level results (pilots, assessments, research).

UNICEF Child Protection Section has been working with the Government of Tanzania to put in place a child protection system that prevents and responds to violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children. On Tanzania mainland and with UNICEF support, the child protection system is in various phases of development across all 23 local government authorities (LGAs) in 16 districts.

The child protection system is captured in Tanzania’s National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children (NPA-VAWC – 2017/2018 – 2021/2022) which has an accompanying Monitoring and Evaluation framework and a national Communications and Outreach Strategy to address social norms that drive harmful practices towards children. The support to implementation of NPA-VAWC in regions and districts is divided into three pillars: (1) enabling environment; (2) prevention; and (3) response

Enabling environment refers primarily to the legal framework, data collection, and evidence, all of which form the basis of action and decisions making. Examples of this work include the creation of a regulatory framework to implement the Law of the Child Act (2009), development of District Case Monitoring Systems (DCMS), development of the NPA-VAWC monitoring and evaluation framework and working at the national and sub-national level (primarily district) to incorporate budgets for child protection programming in Tanzania’s Mid-Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEF) which guide fiscal year programming. Coordination of key stakeholders is another element under this pillar whereby 1,640 Women and Children Protection Committees were established in MINS as of December 2021.

Prevention relates to addressing norms, beliefs, and practices at the family and community level that allow and perpetuate harm against children through advocacy, community mobilization, and media campaigns. Examples of region/district/ward/village level programming include the implementation of the Regional communications plans based on the National Integrated Communications and Outreach

Strategy to End VAWC and the Positive Parenting Education program, which builds the capacity of community development officers to engage parents and primary caregivers, community leaders, and the community-at-large on how to prevent and respond to violence against children. Also included is work in schools, such as supporting the establishment of Tuseme Clubs, which provide school girls and boys skills to prevent and respond to violence, and training Guidance and Counselling Teachers and heads of schools on how to handle cases of children affected by violence and refer them to social welfare officers (or other service providers).

Response work focuses on strengthening case management, building the capacity of social welfare officers, community development officers, police, teachers, health professionals and legal service providers (including court officers), and making sure a minimum level of service provision is in place and referrals are made. Establishing and scaling up critical protective services, such as the Police Gender and Children’s Desks, operationalizing Juvenile Courts, and scaling up Community Rehabilitation Programmes (CRPs) (diversion) for children accused of crimes are also included under this theme.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this position is to support districts/LGAs with implementation of the child protection system across all three pillars (and integrate into areas of convergence within UNICEF, such as early childhood development and adolescence). Whereas the candidate will be expected to support all three components of the child protection system, emphasis will be placed on supporting prevention activities, including ensuring implementation of the NPA-VAWC Communication and Outreach strategy, and supporting local and regional government authorities, to plan and budget for the child protection system.

Main Responsibilities And Tasks

• Provide technical support to community development officers in the implementation of the prevention component of the child protection system, including the implementation of the National Integrated Communications and Outreach Strategy to End VAWC at the regional and district level.
• Support LGAs and RAS to plan and budget for child protection system components of the NPA-VAWC and include these in all LGA and RAS budget and planning processes.
• Provide technical support to social welfare officers on case management for children.
• Provide technical support to the Regional Secretariats (including Regional Social Welfare Officers, Regional Community Development Officers, Regional Planning Officers, and Regional Medical Officer) in understanding their roles and responsibilities in coaching and mentoring their LGA counterparts on implementation of the NPA-VAWC.
• Support NPA-VAWC coordination structures (Women and Children Protection Committees) at regional and district level to convene and follow up on their child protection commitments.
• With a view towards supporting evidence generation, monitor the use of DCMS and support generation of trends analysis and data for reporting, ensuring the sharing of information both horizontally and vertically (up to the Regional level) on a quarterly basis in order to inform district, regional and national level decision making, as well as reporting requirements against UNICEF indicators and UNDAP II.
• Strengthen the capacity of the RAS and LGAs to report on Direct Cash Transfers (DCT), liquidation and activities and conduct regular programme monitoring visits.
• To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
• Advanced university degree in social work, sociology, international relations, development studies, law, child psychology or relevant field or a Bachelor’s Degree in lieu of an advanced degree with a minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated child protection experience, specifically working in programmes promoting socio-behavior change and/or social welfare case management for children
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development planning and management of child protection programmes.
• Relevant experience in programme development in child protection in Tanzania or other development context.
• Experience in working with data and evidence generation for advocacy is an asset.
• Fluency in English (verbal and written).
• Knowledge of Kiswahili necessary.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Builds and maintains partnerships , Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness , Drive to achieve results for impact

Innovates and embraces change , Manages ambiguity and complexity , Thinks and acts strategically, Works collaboratively with others

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

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

Advertised: 28 Apr 2022 E. Africa Standard Time

Applications close: 12 May 2022 E. Africa Standard Time

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