Child Protection Officer (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), NO-2, Temporary Appointment#112253, Yaounde - Cameroon

Akwajobs   (Yaoundé, Cameroon)

Posted : 10 December, 2019

Category : Child protection   Location : Yaoundé, Cameroon

Job type : Full Time

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Child Protection Officer (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), NO-2, Temporary Appointment#112253, Yaounde - Cameroon

Job no: 528298

Work type: Temporary

Appointment Location: Cameroon

Categories: Child Protection, NO-2

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, a protective environment

1- Purpose of Assignment & Justification:

Under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Chief of Child Protection Section, the PSEA Officer will be responsible for supporting the implementation of the PSEA Office Action Plan in Cameroon. The purpose of this temporary assignment is to mainstream and strengthen the knowledge and capacities of UNICEF staff and UNICEF Implementing Partners personnel in the prevention and response to sexual exploitation and abuse but also to ensure populations and communities are informed about the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and know how to report cases and receive support.

Background

The United Nations has wrestled for many years with the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), particularly since the 2002 reports on sexual exploitation by humanitarian aid workers and UN peacekeepers in West Africa. Since then, some of the major developments in the field of Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) have included: (i) the adoption in 2002 of Six Core Principles relating to SEA by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) , intended to establish standards to prevent SEA, (ii) the endorsement of a zero-tolerance policy by the UN in 2003 , (iii) the issue in 2005 of a Report by the Secretary General Special Advisor on a comprehensive strategy to eliminate future SEA in UN peacekeeping operations , (iv) the publication in 2010 of IASC Global Review of PSEA by UN, NGOs, IOM and IFRC personnel , (v) the appointment by the Secretary-General in 2015 of a High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations to conduct a wide-ranging review of peacekeeping operations, and of an Independent Review Panel to investigate the abuses in Central African Republic.

The report produced by the Independent Review Panel propelled renewed attention of the UN on PSEA and the UN Secretary General established the position of Special Coordinator on Improving the Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in February 2016. In March 2017, the UN Secretary-General presented a comprehensive strategy to prevent and respond to SEA across the UN system. This strategy has four main areas of action: (a) prioritize the rights and dignity of victims; (b) end impunity through strengthened reporting and investigations, including clarifying limitations on the United Nations to achieve criminal accountability; (c) engage with civil society and external partners; and (d) improve strategic communication for education and transparency. In the implementation of this strategy, the UN Secretary-General focused on putting the United Nations own house in order - putting in place mechanisms under his authority.

UNICEF aims to have the highest standards for implementing policies and systems for protection from SEA. Any act of SEA committed by UNICEF staff or its partners/contractors or anyone associated with its work, wherever it may occur, constitutes a serious breach of the rights of the victims, and of the accountability procedures of the organization.

Drawing from the UN Secretary-General comprehensive strategy to prevent and respond to SEA and international standards, UNICEF approach to PSEA covers: prevention, including safeguarding of children; notification (an alert system, a whistle blower policy and interagency community-based complaint mechanism); victim assistance; and investigation and accountability. In Cameroon, UNICEF co-leads the Inter-Agency PSEA Taskforce, alongside UNHCR.

With the aim to strengthen its system to prevent and respond to SEA, UNICEF Cameroon Country Office has established an Action Plan endorsed in its 2019 Annual Management Plan and is now seeking a consultant to support its implementation.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Child Protection, the PSEA Officer will support UNICEF Cameroon Country Office in the Implementation of its Action Plan to Prevent and Respond to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. The incumbent will undertake the following:

• Support the implementation of the Cameroon UNICEF Office PSEA Action Plan;
• Develop a training plan for UNICEF staff and related personnel including field offices and train all UNICEF staff and related personnel on PSEA;
• Develop a training plan for UNICEF Implementing Partners personnel and train all UNICEF Implementing Partners personnel on PSEA;
• Provide support to the Interagency PSEA Inter-Agency Task Force to develop its terms of reference, plan of action, Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) and complaint mechanism;
• Develop and adapt Internal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the provision of support, referral and assistance to victims of SEA for each Field Office and the Country Office;
• Assist in a mapping exercise of available services and gaps for health, legal, psychosocial, and material support to survivors of PSEA to determine referral pathways to provide immediate aid for complainants and survivors;
• Develop a SEA case management tracking system and its user guide with safeguards for security and confidentiality;
• Actively participate in the PSEA Inter-Agency Task Force meetings and activities;
• With the PSEA Inter-Agency Task Force, work on the development of a Code of Conduct and Whistleblowing Policy that clearly prohibits SEA, obliges reporting of such acts, enforces these clauses when breached, provides meaningful protection to whistleblowers, and encourages safe reporting;
• Engage and coordinate with humanitarian Clusters/Sectors in Cameroon to ensure PSEA mainstreaming during planning, policy development and programming;
• Collaborate with the GBV Area of Responsibility and Sector Coordinators to ensure a harmonized approach to prevention activities, referral pathways and support of survivors;
• Support the office to develop an engagement strategy with relevant ministries and stakeholders for outreach;
• Develop and disseminate sensitization materials on PSEA (what is SEA, how to report SEA) in UNICEF offices, among UNICEF IPs and among beneficiary populations.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• a University degree preferably in social sciences, social work, political science, law or other relevant fields.

           *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• A minimum of 2 years relevant experience working in emergency settings on childrens and womens rights and violence prevention and response, sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence; and on child protection.
• Field experience in humanitarian or development settings
• Understanding of the international development and humanitarian architecture
• Familiarity with the UN system and global coordination structures (e.g. IASC)
• Ability to implement an Action Plan
• Experience in developing and facilitating training and capacity-building activities is an advantage
• Familiarity with data protection and confidentiality measures is an advantage
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate

Excellent communication skills. Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions. Excellent facilitation, training, networking and advocacy skills. Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.

Sensitivity to cultural diversity, discrimination, and gender issues; Ability to interact in a sensitive manner with survivors; Ability to work in a stressful environment; Ability to delegate.

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Technical expertise in at least one of the following areas:

• Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)
• Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)
• Protection
• Human rights
• Child Protection
• Gender-based violence/Victim assistance
• Staff misconduct and discipline
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

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

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

Advertised: 03 Dec 2019 W. Central Africa Standard Time

Applications close: 16 Dec 2019 11:55 PM W. Central Africa Standard Time

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