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Significant escalation of the conflict in Ukraine has resulted in increased humanitarian needs and population displacement within and outside of the country. As the situation rapidly evolves, the conflict poses an immediate and growing threat to the lives and well-being of the country’s 7.5 million children. UNICEF is rapidly scaling up its multi-sectoral response to the increasing humanitarian needs in Ukraine.

In on-going humanitarian situations, monitoring and reporting on child rights violations and linking them to programming is essential to support effective response and advocacy. To ensure that effective monitoring and reporting of grave violations and that linkages to programme actions and advocacy are in place, UNICEF Ukraine Office (UCO) seeks support from an experienced professional in child rights monitoring and reporting.

Within the framework of the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action, the main purpose of the assignment is to ensure support UCO is scaling up its Child Protection Emergency Response, with a focus on the provision of life saving services to children affected by armed conflict and on monitoring child rights violations. Technical capacity is required to ensure adherence to the CCCs and the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action. Under the management of the Chief Child Protection, the incumbent will support Ukraine Country Office to monitor and report on grave violations of children’s rights and support the implementation of the joint prevention plan to end and prevent grave violations against children. The Child Protection in Emergencies Manager will also supervise the Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist. The P4 will report to the Chief Child Protection.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

1.  Child rights monitoring and reporting

• Map actors present in the country or region, that have a relevant mandate and are able and willing to contribute to the documentation of, or response to, grave child rights violations and children on the move.
• In collaboration with partners, provide support to the systems and processes necessary for effective monitoring, verification, documentation of violations of children’s rights.
• Organize and implement capacity-building initiatives for the relevant actors, including delivering trainings and sensitization.
• Support the roll-out of the MRMIMS+.
• Prepare quality and timely analysis and reports on the situation of children affected by armed conflict.
• Supports UNICEF in its engagement with international human rights mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, as well as those under relevant international instruments of specialized agencies, including by supporting the dissemination and sharing of information, coordinating or facilitating UNICEF’s contributions and programmatic follow up to the recommendations of these bodies.

2. Prevention measures and delivery of results

• Support the implementation of the joint prevention plan between the Government and the United Nations in Ukraine, including the provision of operational support to programme, monitoring, assessments, reporting and delivery of results.
• Strengthen collaboration with other UNICEF sections, Government, the UNCT, as well as other partners to ensure the implementation and monitoring of the joint prevention plan.
• 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.
• Prepare regular/mandated program/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of program progress.

3. Technical and operational support to program implementation

• Oversee UNICEF’s activities in relation to the monitoring and reporting mechanism in Ukraine.
• Supervise the Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist, and any other staff and consultants, as relevant.
• Arrange/coordinate availability of technical experts, and with Regional Office/HQ to ensure timely/appropriate support throughout.
• Provide technical and financial inputs to relevant proposals, reports, and other programmatic documents and draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic program materials for management use, information and/or consideration.
• Establish framework and mechanism for regularly consulting with and communicating updates to relevant child protection and other colleagues at Country Office level and regional level.
• Provide technical support to relevant colleagues and regional level on good practices and lessons learned as part of wider capacity building.

4. 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 in child protection.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for child protection programs and emergency interventions.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on child protection and related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on planning and preparation of programs/projects ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the process in development planning and agenda setting.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in law, political sciences, international relations or other disciplines related to human rights. A combination of relevant academic qualifications and extensive work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Proven ability to conduct complex human rights monitoring, documenting and reporting on child rights violations during armed conflict.
• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs and human rights monitoring and documentation with a focus on children’s human rights and/or child protection.
• A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in Child Protection. Experience in the CAAC agenda is essential. Experience in interagency coordination would be an asset.
• Fluency in English (verbal and written). Good written and spoken skills in Ukrainian will be an asset.

CRITA VALUES

• CARE RESPECT INTEGRITY TRUST ACCOUNTABILITY

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• 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)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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 [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] 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.

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

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.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.