UNICEF Jobs in Uganda- Career Opportunities

Job Title: CHILD PROTECTION SPECIALIST L4
(TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT)

Company: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF is an International organisation mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
Closing date: 05 Jan 2011
Location: Uganda - Kampala
The purpose of the Temporary Assignment is to provide technical support to UNICEF Uganda in its role of Secretariat for the UN Child Protection Focal Point system for cross-border coordination in LRA affected countries (Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Uganda). The objective of this UN Child Protection Focal Point system is to enhance cross-border coordination and information sharing amongst UN Offices across the four countries affected by grave child rights violations committed by the LRA, including killing and maiming of children, abductions, recruitment and grave sexual violence.
The UN CP Focal Point for Uganda will coordinate on information exchange and cooperation in line with established standards and procedures to address grave child rights violations committed by the LRA. The incumbent of the post will work in close collaboration with the UNICEF Uganda Child Protection team, the UNICEF Regional Office (ESARO) as well as UNICEF Headquarter to:
I. Serve as a primary point of contact within Uganda on grave child rights violations committed by the LRA and serve as a first point of contact for coordination with relevant military and non-military stakeholders for care and potential cross-border repatriation and family reunification of children escaped, released or rescued from the LRA in line with the Operational Plan for Cross Border Repatriation, Care and Reunification of Children escaped or rescued from the LRA in CAR, DRC, Sudan and Uganda, and related Guiding Principles (October 2009)
II. Contribute to the development of regional and cross-border strategies on monitoring, reporting, responding to and preventing grave child rights violations committed by the LRA across the affected countries and share real-time information related thereto.
3. Description of assignment and tasks
Under the supervision of the Chief, Child Protection Section, and in collaboration with Child Protection Specialist in Uganda CO, UNICEF Regional Office and UNICEF Headquarter, the candidate will carry out the following tasks:
Objective 1: To ensure a coordinated response to the cross-border return and repatriation of children and women associated with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Southern Sudan and Uganda.
Task
1.1 Contribute to the implementation and the regular updating of the Operational Plan for Cross Border Repatriation, Care and Reunification of Children escaped or rescued from the LRA in CAR, DRC, Sudan and Uganda; and related Guiding Principles (October 2009).
End Product/deliverables
1.1 (a) Documents showing the structure of the coordination mechanisms and the roles and responsibilities of the different actors and information flow in Uganda and with the three other countries affected by LRA.
1.1 (b) Initiate periodic updating of the Operational Plan and related Guiding Principles
Task
1.2 To strengthen the existing coordination mechanisms within Uganda through streamlining the convening and information sharing process as well as the roles and responsibilities between the various actors to support the repatriation, reception and reinsertion of children formerly associated with the LRA.
End Product/deliverables
1.2 (a) 2009 Cross-border Operational plan is owned by government, Uganda People's Defense Forces, the UPDF - Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, the Amnesty Commission and child protection stakeholders
Task
1.3 Contribute to the Operationalization of the UPDF Standard Operating Procedures for Reception and hand over of children separated from the LRA.
End Product/Deliverables
1.3 (a) Basic guidelines for referral mechanisms between the Government and Child Protection agencies on care and protection of children associated with armed forces and groups developed (short document with simple and concise flow chart).
1.3 (b) Dissemination of and training on UPDF SoP including participation in informal briefs on policies regarding reception and hand-over of children and women with all operational commanders during the pre-deployment phase.
1.3 (c) Dissemination of materials to UPDF operational units in the field is done in conjunction with UNICEF- Sudan, UNICEF-DRC and UNICEF - CAR.
1.3 (d)Serve as the primary point of contact with the UPDF and CMI military hierarchy in Uganda.
Objective 2: Contribute to the development of a regional and cross-border strategy on monitoring, reporting, responding to and preventing grave child rights violations committed by the LRA across the affected countries and share real-time information related thereto;
Task
2.1 Contribute to the development of joint advocacy messages for use with national governments, groupings of Member States (e.g. EU, AU), Permanent Missions to the UN, political and peacekeeping departments within the UN system, and other influential actors (e.g. World Bank)
End Product/deliverables
2.1 (a) Joint advocacy messages for use with national governments, groupings of Member States (e.g. EU, AU), Permanent Missions to the UN, political and peacekeeping departments within the UN system, and other influential actors (e.g. World Bank) are developed.
Task
2.2 Contribute to the preparation of a harmonized sub-section on LRA cross-border activities in the country Global Horizontal Notes (GHNs), consistent with the related sub-sections in the other country GHNs, to be transmitted to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG-CAAC) by the respective country level Task Forces on MRM for onward submission to the Security Council Working Group (SCWG);
End Product/Deliverables
2.2 (a) Serve as the primary point of contact between the UN CP focal points and UNICEF HQ and OSRSG/CAAC for making requests and/or sharing updates.
2.2 (b) Information provided by the four UN Child Protection focal points in CAR, DRC, Sudan and Uganda is coordinated, collated, analysed and recommendations are made for bi-monthly reports as well as for inputs to the annual SG's report on Cross border Child Protection Concerns.
Task
2.3 Provide input to the new annual Secretary-General's report on Cross-border Child Protection Concerns, building information gathered by and shared amongst the four UN CP Focal Points with additional emphasis on cross-border analysis and recommendations.
End Product/Deliverables
2.3 (a) Inputs for the section on cross-border LRA activities in bi-monthly country GHNs are harmonized.
2.3 (b) Regular teleconferences amongst the UN CP Focal Points are initiated.
2.3 (c) Regional meetings are organised in Kampala every 3-4 months or as necessary.
Required Qualifications
Education: Advanced University Degree in Social Sciences preferably in Anthropology, Social Development or International Laws or other related field.
Work Experience:

• 8 years of professional (incl. management, coordination and technical guidance) work experience in programming for children affected by armed conflict
  
  

• Thorough understanding of the issues and complexities of child protection in emergencies
  
  

• Ability to analyse, synthesise information and communicate outcomes clearly to different stakeholders
  
  

• Ability to cooperate and coordinate with other organizations working coordination and collation of information, analysis nd recommendations
  
  

• Knowledge of the institutions of the UN system; ability to work in an international or multicultural environment.
  
  

• Capacity to manage various tasks simultaneously in planning, implementing, and monitoring a complex project over an extended period.
  
  

• Working experience in developing countries.
  
  

Competency Profile:
i) Core Values (Required)

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

ii) Core Competencies (Required)

• Working with People
• Drive for Results

iii) Functional Competencies (Required)

• Leading
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts
• Analyzing
• Relating and Networking
• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Applying Technical Expertise ]

iv) Technical Knowledge

• Knowledge of programming for preventing and responding to children associated with armed forces and groups and of UNICEF Global and Regional priorities and strategies in related area.

Language:
Fluency in oral and written English is essential; knowledge of French language is an advantage.
Other skills:
Excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to work independently, high-level report-writing skills
How to apply

• This is a Temporary Appointment for a period of one year.
  
  

• UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff; qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
  
  

• Applications will be considered only if accompanied by an updated CV and P11 form, as well as the most recent performance evaluation report.
  
  

• UNICEF is a smoke free environment.
  
  

• Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
  
  

Applicants interested in the above position should send their resume Via email to: ugderecruit@unicef.org or to cayado@unicef.org by 05 January 2011.
Reference Code: RW_8CD7XK-48