Sr. Specialist Child Protection St Maarten

For every child, protection

As the United Nations Children's Rights Organization, UNICEF stands up for the rights of every child in all countries of the world, day in and day out. Thanks to you and our partners, we help more children than anyone else in the world. We believe that every child should be able to be a 'child'. In fact, they are entitled to it. Not all children grow up in a safe and loving environment. For their development they urgently need protection, health care, (healthy) food and education.

That is what we stand for, because we are UNICEF.

Senior Child Protection Specialist, St. Maarten

32h/week
 

Background

On September 6, 2017, a Category 5 Hurricane made landfall on Sint Maarten, causing significant destruction throughout the country. UNICEF The Netherlands has been active on Sint Maarten since September 2017 implementing a programme comprising disaster preparedness, psychosocial support, child protection, public campaigns and research. In collaboration with the Government of St. Maarten and the World Bank Trust Fund, we are implementing a Child Resilience and Protection project. For this project, we are recruiting a Child Protection Specialist.

The objective of the Child Resilience and Protection Project (CRPP) is to strengthen (a) the resilience of students and staff to the emotional and physical impacts of natural disasters and (b) the child protection systems and services to improve preparation and response to natural disasters. This will be done through four components: (1) Nurturing children and adolescents’ well-being by (a) enhancing the system’s capacity to manage students, parents and school staff’ psychosocial needs and strengthening their resilience; (2) Strengthening Child Protection systems; (3) Strengthening schools and the Ministry of Education’s resilience to disasters; and (4) Project Implementation Support.

Purpose of the role

The programme specialist will have the overall responsibility for the planning, design and implementation of specific results and activities planned under Component 2 of the Project: child protection. Child protection is an inter-ministerial responsibility, coordinated by the Child Protection Working Group, comprising the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour and the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Guardianship. In close collaboration and alignment with the Government of Sint Maarten and other key stakeholders, the Specialist shall be responsible for the attainment of the following key results by mid-2024 as defined in the Project’s results framework:

-          “Implementation of the integrated child protection referral and case management system.” Activities: develop a stakeholder consultation and decision-making process on the roadmap for implementation of the referral and case management system, develop a framework document for case assignment, case monitoring, lines of communication, roles and responsibilities, develop a protocol on data anonymization and confidentiality, organize training for professionals and knowledge management, strengthen protocols and practice to handle referral of (suspected) cases from the education, youth and sports sector to the child protection system.

-          Child protection sector information system strengthening. Activities: plan, design and guide a consultancy assignment on “child protection data and information management” to review existing case management information systems in the ministries (MECYS, VSA, Justice), assessment and recommendations of the type of data to be collected, treated, shared, and how, draw knowledge from the region and ensure the work performed by the consultant is contextualized and sustainable. Contribute to sensitization and training of professionals.

-          Capacity building of professionals working with children. Activities: training for professionals in health, education, justice, communities about detection and referral, handling of cases, organize training for community organizations on child safeguarding and the child protection system (with technical partner NGO).

-          Early interventions for vulnerable children. The purpose of the activity is to inform vulnerable children and families about available services and to sensitize service providers. Activities: information dissemination, sensitization of service providers and beneficiaries, in close cooperation with the Communications Specialist.

-          Training of professionals and other beneficiaries on the implementation of child rights and protection protocols in emergencies. Activities: assessment of existing procedures and resources on child protection in emergencies; provide training on child protection in emergencies for relevant professionals. Contribute to improving the link between the disaster management system and the child protection system.

The senior programme specialist is expected to provide technical support, ensure complementarity and effective coordination with other activities in the Project, especially those related to building youth resilience, violence prevention, parenting and data collection and analysis.

Tasks

1. Support to project development and planning

• Lead on data collection so that information is available to guide policy advocacy, interventions, and development efforts on child protection.
• Responsible for the formulation of specific goals, objectives, strategies, and (financial) implementation plans for component 2 using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM).
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities and competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.

2.  Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Responsible for monitoring exercises, programme reviews, and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required actions and interventions to achieve results.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits, surveys, and exchange of information with partners to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems. Take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Prepare and assess monitoring reports to identify gaps, strengths, and/or weaknesses in programme management. Identify lessons learned and use the knowledge gained for planning and timely intervention to achieve goals. Prepare input for (donor) reports.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of programme resources (financial, administrative, and other assets) confirming compliance with rules, regulations, procedures applicable to the Project, donor commitments, as well as standards of accountability and integrity.

3.      Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Lead the design, planning, and implementation of programme activities. Responsible for the provision of technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN partners, and other partners and donors on the interpretation, application, and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, best practices, and approaches on child protection to support programme management, implementation and delivery of results
• Strengthen ways of working within and between Government ministries and with civil society with the creation and review of materials, tools, and process related to child protection.
• Develop and manage the component’s training content to meet programming needs in coordination with the other team specialists.
• Make use of (knowledge) resources in UNICEF and arrange and coordinate the availability of technical experts with the Regional Office/HQ as required to ensure timely and appropriate support throughout the programming process.

4.      Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in child protection management and information systems. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Organize and implement capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders to promote sustainable results in child protection and related programmes/projects.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in international development, human rights, international law, psychology, sociology, or another relevant social science field.
• Minimum five to eight years of relevant professional work experience in similar roles in child protection in various contexts.
• Experience in working for UNICEF, familiarity with UNICEF programming, and best practices in child protection.
• Experience in capacity building with governments and/or civil society organizations.
• Proven track record to plan and execute work independently.
• Excellent command of English.
• (Online) communication and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of Sint Maarten culture and context or knowledge of Eastern Caribbean culture and context, including the impact of hurricanes, is strongly desirable.
• Experience in post-emergency contexts is strongly desirable.
• The candidate would need to be eligible to obtain relevant permits on Sint Maarten, as applicable in relation to Sint Maarten legislation on work and residency permits

Our offer

The successful candidate will be offered an initial 12 month (consultancy) contract. For remuneration and conditions, the HR policies and the International Mobility Guidelines of the National Committee apply. Within the parameters of the project and this policy, the National Committee is not able to offer family posting conditions.

The Senior Child Protection Specialist reports to the Project Manager in The Hague and maintains day-to-day working relations with the Team Coordinator based on Sint Maarten. 

A reference check is part of the procedure and the successful candidate shall present a Certificate of Conduct, in line with UNICEF The Netherlands’ Child Safeguarding Policy.

The consultant shall adhere to this Policy and to the Code of Conduct of UNICEF The Netherlands. Dependent on COVID-19 travel restrictions, the consultant may initially perform the assignment home-based, making use of video calls as needed.

For information about UNICEF The Netherlands, please visit our website Unicef.nl and SINT MAARTEN TRUST FUND PROJECT.

More information

For more information, please contact the project manager, Freddy Austli, at faustli@unicef.nl

How to apply

Please send your CV and motivation letter before February 4th, using the application button below/ in the link. 

 www.unicef.nl