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For every child, AN ADVOCATE

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children in the world’s thereby ensuring a better future for every child, this is the chance to make a difference.

Strategic Context:

Under the overall guidance of the Child Protection Specialist, the Specialist supports the development and preparation of the Child Protection programme(s) and is responsible for the implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of the child protection programmes/projects within the country programme, with special focus on the Programme on Children without parental care including family strengthening and non-institutional alternative care, as well as the Child labour programme.

The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes. H/She facilitates the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable contributions to national and international efforts to create a protective environment for children against all harm, and to protect their rights to survival, development and well-being as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties/frameworks and UN intergovernmental bodies.

The Specialist contributes to the achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based- management approaches and methodology (RBM), and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

Major duties and responsibilities

Support to program/project development and planning
Support the preparation/design and conduct/update of situation analysis for child protection related programmes, with an emphasis on family-based care and child labour agenda.
Participate in strategic program discussion on child protection systems interventions. Formulate, design, and prepare programs/projects proposal for the sector, ensuring alignment with the overall UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and Country Program and coherence/integration with), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies, and the strategic development of the family based alternative care programme.
Support establishment of specific goals, objectives and strategies and implementation plans for the sector/s using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM).
Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies and to determine national priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and to ensure integration, coherence, and harmonization of programs/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.
Provide technical assistance to inter-state dialogue coordination and policy dialogue on child protection systems strengthening, with focus on Family Strengthening and Family based Alternative Care and Child Labor Agendas.
Promote coordination and information sharing among governments of India, Bangladesh, Nepal with focus on inter country migration with support from UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

To support with planning and implementation of on Family Strengthening and Family based Alternative Care and programming across pan India and at the national level, and on child labour programme.
Support interventions in States and development of state plans on childcare reform.
Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results. To support with the Monitoring, Evaluation and
Documentation of the programme. Regular update of the programme progress and support in budget monitoring by states.
Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence, and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector in programming.
Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in program and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
Actively monitor Family Strengthening and Family based Alternative Care related programs through field visits, and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
Monitor and verify the optimum/appropriate use of sectoral program resources (financial, administrative, and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.

Technical and operational support to programme implementation

Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and country office partners/donors on interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches on child protection systems strengthening to support program management, implementation and delivery of results.
Arrange/coordinate availability of technical experts with Regional Office/HQ to ensure timely/appropriate support throughout the programming/projects process.
Participate in child protection system strengthening related meetings including program development and contingency planning discussions to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic program materials for management use, donor reports, information and/or consideration.

Networking and partnership building

Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results.
Prepare communication and information materials for CO program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising, particularly on the areas of Family Strengthening and Family based Alternative Care and Child Labour.
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
Apply/introduce and manage support to innovative approaches and good practice documentation to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results.
Keep abreast of research, benchmark and implement best practices in child protection systems strengthening related management and information systems. Assess, institutionalize, and share best practices and knowledge learned.
Provide inputs and manage content related to child protection systems strengthening on Enterprise Content Management (ECM).

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

EDUCATION

An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, social work, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection related areas is required, particularly in the area of family based alternative care, child labour and migration.
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 of working with Government departments and understanding of government systems will be an advantage.

LANGUAGES

Fluency in English and Hindi is required.
Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

To apply for this job please visit jobs.unicef.org.