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For every child, Protection

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the job:

The UNICEF Safeguarding, PSEA and AAP Specialist in the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean will develop and support UNICEF’s work on Safeguarding, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) to meet UNICEF institutional and programmatic commitments.

The post will serve as the key technical resource on Safeguarding, PSEA and AAP and will provide programme guidance and technical support to Country Offices in strengthening UNICEF’s ability to effectively fulfil our commitments in the areas.

The Safeguarding, PSEA and AAP specialist will: 1) Support the rollout and adoption of the Policy on Safeguarding in the regional office and country offices under its purview; 2) coordinate and support the rollout/implementation of the forthcoming Complaint Feedback and Redressal Mechanism (CFRM - UNICARE) procedure; 3) Provide ongoing technical support for country offices on the PSEA Portfolio; 4) Provide ongoing technical support for country offices on the AAP Portfolio.

The Specialist will report to the UNICEF Regional Director, in consultation with the Deputy Regional Director, the Regional Advisor for Child Protection, the Regional Chief of Programme and Planning, and the Human Resources Manager, when needed.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Support the rollout of the Policy on Safeguarding, which includes PSEA, in country offices

• In coordination with HQ Divisions, provide technical support to Country Offices for the roll out of the Policy on Safeguarding and its implementation guidance.
• Support UNICEF CO Risk Management, Planning; Safeguarding and PSEA Focal Points (FPs) and Specialists by organizing regular meetings, providing trainings, enhancing communication and information sharing.
• In coordination with HQ Divisions, support Country Offices to strengthen Safeguarding, including PSEA, in HR, partnerships and supply.
• Promote adherence to global Policies and procedures for Safeguarding and PSEA and strengthen understanding among UNICEF staff and partners on UNICEF policies and reporting procedures.
• Provide support in reporting, managing, and responding to safeguarding, SEA and AAP concerns and incidents in coordination with OIAI and other HQ divisions, as required.
• Explore methodology for regular tracking progress at country level (pulse survey; targeted surveys or similar)

2. Coordinate and support the rollout/implementation of the Complaint Feedback and Redressal Mechanism (CFRM) Procedure

• Strengthen COs capacities to develop and improve access to integrated, safe, gender and age-sensitive feedback, complaint, and redressal mechanisms, in line with the CFRM Procedure.
• Support COs in regularly analyzing and bringing feedback trends and insights to the senior management decision-making fora to foster improvement and adaptation of CO’s programmes, activities, operations and supply chain.
• Coordinate the establishment and operation of the Regional Office CFRM.
• Train RO staff, complementary staff and implementing partners staff on how to receive and handle the different types of feedback that might be disclosed to them.
• Support visibility and sensitization efforts to raise awareness about the CFRM among all stakeholders with whom UNICEF interacts.
• Act as the RO focal point for feedback issues that might be escalated from the different COs.
• Convene the RO Complaints and Feedback Management Committee (CFMC).
  Ensure that feedback trends and insights from across the region are regularly analyzed and brought to the senior management decision-making fora within and beyond the RO (HQ Divisions), to foster improvement and adaptation of UNICEF’s programmes, activities, operations, and supply chain.

3. Provide ongoing technical support for country offices on the PSEA Portfolio

• Contribute to the implementation and roll out of global and regional guidance and strategies to improve efforts to address SEA including survivor assistance, SEA risk assessments and engagement with government and other partners.
• Provide technical support to COs for implementation of survivor assistance to ensure survivors have access to appropriate services i.e., medical, psychosocial, legal and material support, in accordance with the UN Victim Assistance protocol.
• Work closely with the Programme Specialist for IP Management and Risk Management team to operationalize the requirements for PSEA Assessments of CSO Implementing Partnerships and overall risk management policies and procedures.
• Strengthen implementation of COs PSEA inter-agency initiatives/networks, including the setting-up of in-country PSEA Networks
• Represent UNICEF on the inter-agency PSEA regional working group and on UNICEF HQ coordination groups and maintain close relationship with focal points in other regions.
• Regularly support COs capacity building efforts including co-facilitating PSEA training modules for UNICEF and IPs staff as appropriate on international standards on PSEA, roles and responsibilities, and how to submit and receive complaints and strengthening GBV services for survivor assistance.
• Provide technical support to COs, identify trends, needs, challenges, good practices and escalate them to HQ for continued improvement.

4. Provide ongoing technical support for country offices on the AAP Portfolio

• Support countries in the design and implementation of strategies and action plans to scale up Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)
• Ensure the mainstreaming of AAP in program planning procedure, implementation, and monitoring in alignment with the global efforts in this area, and make sure to support countries implement mainstream AAP in these processes at their level.
• Supporting advocacy, networking and capacity building of RO and COs staff for improved understanding, and adoption of, AAP principles and approaches.
• Develop capacities of country staff on AAP including on AAP approaches in both humanitarian and development contexts, within UNICEF and at interagency level.
• Revise and support country plans that provide strategic emphasis on vulnerable groups – including adolescent girls, children living with disabilities, minority groups etc.
• In line with the global policy, promote a common understanding of aligned approaches in AAP and Safeguarding / PSEA. Advise COs to minimize the duplication of efforts, integrate AAP and community engagement into PSEA initiatives for greater reach and effectiveness, and ensure that approaches set up for AAP meet PSEA requirements.
• Review regional response plans, or regional strategies and ensure the inclusion of a strong AAP lens
• Ensure that an AAP budget is included in regional appeals and fundraising initiatives.
• Develop means to track progress on AAP strategy implementation in countries and support the AAP Country Standard Indicators revision for the region.
• Convene an internal cross-sector group of focal points to share AAP/CE experiences across the region.
• Strengthening AAP evidence generation, innovation and knowledge management and exchange
• Represent UNICEF and provide technical coordination in the interagency fora on AAP; contribute actively to regional AAP networks to help advance interagency AAP results and promote linkages with PSEA.

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

The following minimum requirements:

Education:

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

Work Experience:

• A minimum of eight (8) years progressively responsible professional experience in programme design, planning, implementation, and management relevant to child protection, GBV, PSEA, AAP or related field, preferably with the UN and/or international NGO.
• Experience working in multiple humanitarian, and/or development contexts on implementing PSEA, AAP or protection related programming for children or adults.
• Familiarity with the latest developments in PSEA and AAP, inter-agency PSEA and AAP responses and humanitarian cluster systems and understanding of the intersections of PSEA with other technical areas (e.g., GBV, Child Protection, AAP)
• Experience with training and capacity building in PSEA, AAP or relevant technical areas
• Excellent communication, facilitation, training, networking and advocacy skills.
• Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions and exercise sound judgement in high-pressure situations.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Spanish is required.

The following desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Language: Knowledge of French or/and Portuguese is an asset.

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.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is: a role with direct contact with children, works directly with children, or is a safeguarding response 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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, 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.

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

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.