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For every child, Protection

Across South Sudan, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) including sexual violence, intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), and child marriage, are pervasive. Adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, exploitation, and abuse, with child marriage on the rise. However, access to lifesaving multi-sectoral GBV responses, including health, GBV case management, psychosocial support, higher-level mental health, and other services, is very limited. Across health services, there is a severe shortage of medical personnel trained in Clinical Management of Rape (CMR) and basic psychosocial support is insufficient. Even in locations where there are services, there are multiple barriers to survivors seeking support, including self-blame, fear of reprisals, mistrust of authorities, and risk of retaliatory attacks coupled with cultural norms and values promote a culture of silence. Quality of care and capacity of service providers also impact the utilization of services when available. Deep-rooted gender inequalities in education, economic opportunities, decision-making, harmful socio-cultural norms, and weakened social and community support systems perpetuate vulnerability and marginalization, disempowering women and girls. As a consequence, South Sudanese women and girls have some of the lowest education and health outcomes in the world.

How can you make a difference?

PURPOSE OF POST

Background
The data from the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) 2024 show that, in South Sudan, the humanitarian situation is essentially a child protection crisis. Due to the protracted nature of the conflict coupled with recurrent climate related shocks, 2.5 million boys and girls are affected by recruitment, displacement, separation from family/caregivers and other forms of abuse (including neglect, exploitation, and sexual violence). The impact of the crisis in Sudan has further exacerbated the conditions of boys, girls and caregivers within host communities, IDP/refugees’ settlements, returnees’ households. The outbreak of fighting in Sudan on 15 April 2023 led to an influx of people fleeing the country. This crisis has affected South Sudan significantly, with nearly 700,000 fleeing from Sudan into South Sudan, about 49% of the new arrivals are women and girls, 46% are below the age of 18 and 4% are over the age of 60 years; 91% of those arriving are South Sudanese. Recent studies show children to be particularly vulnerable to the prolonged distress caused by conflict and displacement. Limited livelihood opportunities in displacement as well as the conflicted affected place of origin increased negative coping mechanisms of families and represents a major source of stress negatively affecting parents’ abilities to provide a protective and enabling environment for their children. Safety, usually defined in a child’s life by a home, a school and a community is cyclically disrupted by flooding and recurring conflict. The effects upon children are compounded stress, punctuated by traumatic events, normalisation of instability and a developmental understanding that violence is a normal and pragmatic method to resolve conflict and pursue livelihoods. In many states there is an accepted level of violence, abuse, and exploitation of children.

Children are increasingly recruited into armed groups, engagement in the worst form of child labor or at the risk of child marriage. These children require family tracing and reunification services as well as appropriate temporary alternative care arrangements, with significant inter-agency referral and coordination with government authorities. The level of complexity of the emergency needs and in negotiations and engagement with implementing partners demands that UNICEF engage a Child Protection Coordinator for the Child Protection Area of Responsibility (AoR).

Purpose
Under the supervision of the Chief of Field Operations Section and in close collaboration with the Chief of Child Protection Section, on behalf of UNICEF, and in support of the Government, the main purpose of the post is to provide leadership and facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective Child protection humanitarian response through a mobilized, adequately resourced group of agencies, organizations, NGOs, local communities etc. The purpose is also to assist the state authorities in CP AoR visioning, strategy formulation to provide adequate CP responses to the conflict affected populations (both IDPs and refugees).

The CP Coordinator for the AoR is expected to provide the following:
• Support country level leadership and facilitate coordination of humanitarian CP response among actors.
• Provide strategic guidance in the planning, development and implementation of the CP AoR and its technical components, in line with then South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan, international humanitarian standards and indicators.
• Act as an interface between the CP AoR partners and duty bearers to ensure CP related needs of the affected population are properly covered.
• Ensure prioritization, evidence-based actions to enhance an accountable, predictable, and effective CP response to the affected population.

Main duties and responsibilities
The post holder has joint responsibility with the co-leads Co-Coordinators SCI and, to coordinate and support cluster partners at the national and sub-national level for the efficient management and functioning of the CP emergency response, encompassing the following:
• Ensure appropriate coordination between all CP humanitarian partners (national and international NGOs, the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, etc.), through establishment/maintenance of appropriate CP AoR coordination mechanisms, including working groups at the National, and sub-national levels.
• Ensure the CP response is evidence-based through conducting secondary data reviews and, where necessary, assessments identifying the priority child protection needs and capacities.
• Build complementarity of partner actions by carrying out a mapping of CP actors to identify gaps and avoid duplication.
• Ensure adequate resources are mobilized and are equitably allocated for the effective functioning of the CP AoR and CP responses.
• Work with CP actors to develop an inter-agency needs overview and a humanitarian CP response plan, based on needs and gaps identified, that fits within the wider protection response and is captured in the overall Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP).
• Represent the interests of the CP AoR in discussions with the Humanitarian Coordinator, HCT, OCHA, Inter Cluster/Sector Working Group, and other stakeholders on prioritization, resource mobilization and advocacy.
• Assure effective and comprehensive integration of relevant cross-cutting issues and promote the implementation of the Minimum Standards of Child Protection in Humanitarian Action amongst Child Protection actors and non-CP actors.
• Ensure ongoing situation monitoring and maintain flexibility within the coordination group to respond to changes in the operating environment, evolving requirements, capacities, and participation.
• Ensure an effective information management system is established for sharing of information and generation of analysis, to, from and between cluster participants and other stakeholders, and between national and sub-national levels.
• Link CP AoR with other clusters (including through inter-cluster coordination fora), humanitarian actors, government counterparts, and relevant authorities for operational planning, engagement, and active contribution of operational partners.
• Ensure that mechanisms, agreed upon by cluster partners are in place to consult and involve affected children and families in decision-making about programme implementation.
• Work with CP actors to develop an inter-agency CPiE capacity building strategy that meets the needs and priorities.
• Ensure that there is effective communication, reporting, engagement, and coordination between the national and sub-national CPWG levels.
• Promote strengthening CP system in CP in emergency response actions through close interaction with the CSOs, developmental CP actors and government counterparts.
• Monitor performance of the inter-agency CP response against agreed indicators and monitor the core cluster functions.

The incumbent will assure the following core cluster functions:
Support service delivery
• Provide a platform to ensure CP service delivery is driven by agreed strategic priorities.
• Develop mechanisms to eliminate duplication of service delivery.
• Secure commitments from humanitarian partners in responding to CP needs and filling gaps, ensuring an appropriate distribution of responsibilities within the Cluster, with clearly defined focal points for specific issues where necessary.

Inform strategic decision-making of the HC/HCT for the humanitarian response
• Ensure effective and coherent CP assessment and analysis, involving all relevant partners and gap analysis (across other sectors and within the sector).
• Analysis to identify and address gaps, obstacles, duplication, and cross-cutting issues.
• Ensure integration of agreed priority cross-cutting issues in CP assessments, analysis, planning, monitoring and response (e.g., age, diversity, environment, gender, and protection).
• Prioritization, grounded in response analysis.

Planning and strategy development
• Developing/updating agreed CP response strategies and action plans and ensuring that these are adequately reflected in the overall country strategies, such as the HRP, HNO and 3W, Contingency plans, and in the broader HC/HCT strategic priorities.
• Developing an exit, or transition strategy for the CP AoR partners.
• Ensure that CP responses are in line with existing policy guidance, technical standards, and relevant Government legal obligations.
• Clarify funding requirements, prioritization, and cluster contributions to HC’s overall humanitarian funding considerations (Flash Appeal, ERF/CHF, CERF).

Advocacy
• Identify core CP advocacy concerns to contribute to HC and HCT messaging and action.
• Undertaking advocacy activities on behalf of cluster participants and the affected population.
• Monitoring and reporting the implementation of the cluster strategy and results; recommending corrective action where necessary.
• Contingency planning/preparedness for recurrent disasters whenever feasible and relevant.
• Take up leadership/managerial role in an emergency response and early recovery, as and when the need arises.
• Draft policy papers, briefs, and other strategic materials for use by management, donors, UNICEF regional office and headquarters.
• Produce and publish a CP monthly dashboards and other regular reports as tools to show onward progress on the cluster response in relation to the humanitarian response strategies/ work plan/response plan.

Capacity building
• Ensure utilization of participatory and community-based approaches in sectoral needs assessment, analysis, planning, monitoring and response.
• Ensure that humanitarian responses build on local capacities.
• Promote/support training of staff and capacity building of humanitarian partners.
• Support efforts to strengthen the capacity of the national authorities and civil society.

The post holder is accountable to
• UNICEF’s Representative through the Chief of Field Operations, who will in turn ensure that the post holder is provided with all necessary support and guidance.
• CP AoR participants who will in turn ensure delivery on agreed minimum standards.
• CP AoR Coordination Team members, who will in turn support the post holder in line with their terms of reference.
• Sub-national CPWG coordinators and focal points, who will in turn support the post holder in line with their terms of reference.
• Inter-cluster coordination bodies established by the HCT/UNOCHA.

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

Minimum qualifications and competences

Education:
Advanced University degree in child protection related subject areas such as social work, psychology, law, child development.
Formal training in cluster coordination an advantage.

Work Experience:
A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience which could include direct CP in emergency experience, with the UN and/or NGO; a team Leader/CPiE programme management level. CP AoR / Cluster experience an advantage.

Language:

Fluency in English is required (excellent analytical, communication, writing and editorial skills in English). Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

The competencies required for this post are:

i)  Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

ii) 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)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.