UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Protection

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, 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.

The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to devastate the lives of children and families. Nearly 6 million refugees are hosted across Europe, 88 percent of them women and children. Over 4.7 million people have returned to Ukraine, while more than 3.5 million remain internally displaced. Children’s mental health continues to be deeply impacted. Many remain at risk of separation and exposure to violence, and associated impacts. In refugee-hosting countries, UNICEF is complementing national efforts, addressing persistent humanitarian needs of those in protracted displacement while facilitating sustainable handover to national authorities. In this complex, protracted crisis, with persisting, intensified attacks, UNICEF continues to provide critical support to children and families through mental health and psychosocial interventions delivered through child protection programming and complementary, coordinated, multi-sectoral approaches.

Job organizational context:

The Child Protection Specialist (MHPSS ) is to be based in the Regional Office Programme Hub in Budapest. The Specialist reports to the Chief, Child Protection, who is at Level 5. The Specialist will provide technical support and guidance to Country Offices (COs) and refugee response offices (RROs) across Europe and Central Asia, with a focus on humanitarian settings, including countries affected by the Ukraine emergency, as well as the mixed migration populations, and those affected by other humanitarian crises.  

Purpose for the job:

The Child Protection Specialist (MHPSS) reports to the Chief, Child Protection for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development and preparation of the MHPSS components of Child Protection programme(s), with focus on the Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA) agenda, and is responsible for the management, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of these components. The extension of the Ukraine emergency has resulted in continued and increasing MHPSS needs among children and families remaining in Ukraine and those displaced to neighboring countries. Simultaneously, the region is seeing an uptick in mixed migration arrivals and the passing of the EU Pact has highlighted need for continued UNICEF engagement to strengthen MHPSS response and policy environment for all displaced, refugee and migrant children and youth in the region.    

To meet these needs, the Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to CO and RRO colleagues with a primary focus on the implementation of the Ukraine Refugee Response Plan (RRP) as well as promotion of child protection approaches and systems strengthening interventions in support of MHPSS. H/She facilitates the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable contributions to regional, national and international efforts to create a protective environment for children against all harm, and to protect their rights to survival, development and wellbeing as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties/frameworks and UN intergovernmental bodies. The Specialist is guided by UNICEF global policies in MHPSS, including MHPSS in child protection and in humanitarian contexts.

How can you make a difference? 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support country and refugee response offices to plan and deliver robust MHPSS programming in support of those displaced, or otherwise affected by the crisis in Ukraine
2. Strengthen the delivery of MHPSS through child protection programming and system strengthening interventions in emergency-affected countries
3. Coordinate child-protection related MHPSS approaches with interagency partners and other regional office sections—principally health

in details:

1. Support country and refugee response offices to plan and deliver robust MHPSS programming in support of those displaced, or otherwise affected by the crisis in Ukraine.
   • Support the preparation, compilation, and continual updating of data and evidence to inform UNICEF’s understanding of MHPSS needs facing displaced and crisis affected communities in Europe and Central Asia.
   • Provide technical guidance and operational support to MHPSS focal points in Country Offices and Refugee Response Offices, on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, best practices, and approaches on MHPSS and child protection, and MHPSS in emergencies more broadly.
   • Support Country and Refugee Response Offices to formulate, design and prepare programme/project proposals for the sector with focus on emergency response, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s overall Strategic Plan and the Country Programme, regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
   • Support Country and Refugee Response Offices to establish specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans for MHPSS, including plans to hand over or transition programmes to national ownership where appropriate.
   • Provide technical support to Country and Refugee Response Offices and implementing partners in delivery of their RRP and HAC commitments related to MHPSS, ensuring they receive the technical support they require to deliver on MHPSS outcomes.
   • As requested by Country and Refugee Response Offices, monitor and support country-level programmes/projects through field visits and exchange of information to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and propose solutions.
   • Contribute to programmatic reporting as needed.
2. Strengthen the delivery of MHPSS through child protection programming and system strengthening interventions in emergency affected countries.
   • Document, promote, and expand the uptake of integrated child protection approaches to delivery of MHPSS services across the region, with a strong emphasis on meeting the needs of displaced and crisis affected individuals.
   • Advance a set of child protection-led MHPSS approaches to respond to humanitarian needs in line with organizational guidance and best practices.
   • Identify entry points to utilize and expand use of child protection system strengthening approaches for the promotion of MHPSS outcomes.
   • Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in child protection MHPSS for children and families in humanitarian settings. Maintain a regional resource repository through Sharepoint compiling global, regional, and country-level resources. 
3. Coordinate child-protection related MHPSS approaches with interagency partners and other regional office sections—principally health
   • Plan and collaborate with country and regional office colleagues and external partners to understand needs and 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 MHPSS.
   • Collaborate with interagency colleagues on shared MHPSS initiatives, including shaping the MHPSS section of interagency Multisectoral Needs Assessments and Refugee Response Plans, including indicators and guidance materials, and monitoring strategies in refugee hosting countries, conduct data analysis, and draft report.
   • Facilitate coordination, learning exchange, and capacity building on MHPSS with focus on the humanitarian agenda among CO and RRO MHPSS focal points across the region, including through convening of a regional MHPSS focal point working group and organizing regional training opportunities on MHPSS foundational skills and global tools.
   • Set regional cross-sectoral programme priorities, strategies, and design and implementation plans, with focus on humanitarian contexts.
   • Facilitate multisectoral coordination on MHPSS at RO level and provide technical support to COs to promote effective internal coordination mechanisms on MHPSS at country-level.
   • Work in partnership with the health section to identify areas of synergy and cooperation and to support impact of a multi-sectoral approach to MHPSS programming for the region.
   • Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: psychology, social work, psychiatry, clinical psychology, mental health nursing or other relevant field.

• Work Experience: A minimum of eight years of professional experience in social development planning and management in MHPSS for children and families is required.

• Experience working in a humanitarian emergency is required.

• Experience providing technical support and developing MHPSS strategies to be implemented across countries is required.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 

• Relevant experience in technical MHPSS programme development and implementation in UNICEF is considered as an asset.

• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is considered as a strong advantage.

• Experience in MHPSS in the Europe and Central Asia context is strongly desired. 

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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 candidates from 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.

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.