Child Protection Specialist (GBV), P-3 at UNICEF

Job Number: 520124
Location: Borno
Work Type: Temporary Appointment

For every child, Change
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria is seeking the interest of a qualified Child Protection Specialist to provide technical and financial support in gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection programming, with a focus on case management, psycho-social support services, capacity building and social and economic reintegration of girls and women who have been affected by GBV and conflict related sexual violence in northeast Nigeria.

The ongoing conflict in northeast Nigeria is characterized by general widespread attacks: sexual violence; abduction, especially of girls and women; disappearances; child recruitment and forced recruitment; forced displacement; the use of explosive hazards, and targeted attacks against civilians. The recent humanitarian needs overview analysis estimates that about 3 million people across the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (B.A.Y) states need GBV protection, as the underlying drivers of the conflict and conditions of displacement continue to exacerbate the occurrence of GBV incidents. Half of this population in need consists of children (below 18 years) and adolescent girls requiring critical lifesaving services to survivors or those at risk in affected areas.

The populations in the northeast continue to experience multiple population displacements across Borno and in parts of Adamawa and Yobe States, often fleeing conflict and insecurity. At acute risk are the 823,000 civilians in areas hard-to-reach by international humanitarian actors. Serious protection threats, including GBV threats both during displacement and in many return areas. Female and child-headed households, unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), and adolescent boys and girls are particularly at risk of GBV, child recruitment, and human trafficking, while adolescent and adult males face threats of harassment, arbitrary arrests and detention, and serious maltreatment during detention. New arrivals in transit facilities have overwhelming needs – often arriving in poor health, including with gunshot wounds and other related injuries and illnesses. Immediate critical material support needs include dignity kits, clothing, and individualized case management for survivors and those at risk of GBV.

While all forms of GBV are chronically under-reported, women and girls continue to be most vulnerable to GBV: 99 % of reported GBV incidents between January-June 2018 were by women and girls, though boys and men also have been subjected to GBV (GBVIMS, 2018). Children, particularly adolescent girls, are at risk of GBV, which occurs mainly in the context of child sexual abuse, early marriage and family separation: 16 % of reported GBV incidents against children from January to June 2018 were carried out against UASC.

Inadequate access to food, basic services and livelihood opportunities is directly linked with the increasing number of reported cases of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), particularly of female-headed households and adolescent girls. Forced and early marriage is reportedly used as a tool to alleviate households’ economic burden and is viewed as a protective measure to deter armed opposition groups from abducting unmarried girls. Other negative coping mechanisms also include: increased reports of ‘survival sex’ and engagement in prostitution. Dependency on aid items contributes to their regular occurrence of these negative coping mechanisms. Women and girls are also exposed to a greater risk of sexual assault and exploitation while performing basic tasks for sustenance, such as collecting firewood.

UNICEF, in collaboration with government and other UN agencies and partners are coordinating comprehensive prevention and response services, including the establishment of a gender-based violence information system, with monthly reporting from data gathering organizations. UNICEF is supporting state and non-state partners to build capacity on GBV and child protection, as well as develop and implement a reintegration programme, to ensure safe supported return for these highly vulnerable girls and women, as well as promote a protective environment in their communities to mitigate against further sexual violence. Efforts include advocacy for the immediate handover of all children from places of military detention to civilian authorities and communities and for the endorsement of the Paris Commitments and Paris Principles on the protection of children unlawfully recruited into armed forces or groups.

How can you make a difference?

• The overall objective of the post is to support overall GBV prevention and response initiatives and programming, including but not limited to the capacity building initiatives, case management and PSS support
• The incumbent will also promote the handover of girls and women associated with non-state armed groups to civilian authorities and to ensure their safe, supported return and reintegration and recovery from their experiences.

Specific project objectives to which the position is related:

• Outcome 6. Children who are victims or at significant risk of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, including those in humanitarian settings, receive quality preventive and responsive services from a functioning child protection system at federal level and in targeted states
• Output 6.4. By 2022, children in humanitarian situations have timely and sustained access to quality preventive and responsive child protection services.

Major Tasks to be Accomplished
Women Peace and Security and Reintegration:

• Work with partners to ensure better reintegration of women and girls who were associated with NSAG and who have suffered conflict related sexual violence, through the provision of individual psycho-social support, empowerment/livelihoods, peer group support, family tracing, reunification and reconciliation, and community dialogue to promote return and reintegration
• Support in the establishment and monitoring of the reintegration programme for girls and women in a minimum of six local government areas, as well as Maiduguri, in Borno State
• Support the organization of the international conference on women peace and security and all pre-conference activities
• Work with State ministries and other actors to develop and implement social and economic reintegration strategy for women and girls associated with armed groups and survivors of conflict related sexual violence
• Support the tracing and reunification of families for girls and women
• Support the development of community-based reintegration activities for affected girls and women
• Engage with religious and community leaders to promote reintegration of girls and women impacted by conflict related sexual violence
• Ensure the availability of alternative care for children born out of conflict related sexual violence who cannot remain with their mothers

Strengthening GBV Prevention and Response:

• Support community prevention and response services for children and women who are survivors of GBV including women, child mothers and adolescent girls affected by conflict related sexual violence
• Strengthen the capacity of key service providers and actors to prevent and respond to GBV through facilitating targeted training and ongoing support for state and non-state actors
• Support in the development and implementation of 1-2 programmes which enhance the protective environment for girls and women to protect them from GBV
• Explore the impact of conflict related sexual violence on boys and devise and implement strategies and programmes to support their recovery and reintegration
• Work in consultation with the CP Specialist to strengthen the referral mechanism for the girls and women, and their children to available services and programmes, including health, mental health, education and livelihoods programming
• Undertake the training of community volunteers and CFS managers on basic GBV and referrals
• Manage and quality assure the work of the team of consultants and third party local consultants responsible for overseeing and monitoring the SGBV programme including work in the CFS
• Ensure effective linkages with other components of the child protection in emergencies programme

Coordination:

• Represent UNICEF at the GBV sub working groups at State and LGA level
• Support the implementation of GBV and reintegration programme, including ensuring timely implementation of activities, timely reporting to the donors, compliance with visibility requirements and compliance with internal UNICEF procedures and processes
• Contribute to the development of new programme cooperation agreements with international and national NGOs for the reintegration of girls and women affected by conflict related sexual violence and for GBV prevention and response programming
• In close collaboration with the Information Management Specialist and Officers ensure robust data collection to capture the number of beneficiaries reached by the programme and the impact of the programme, including management of the evaluation of the programme

Duty Station

• The position is based in Maiduguri, Borno State, with regular travel to Yobe State and Local Government Areas.

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

• Advanced University Degree in Social Work, Social Science, Development Studies or its equivalent. Relevant training and experience in a related field will be considered.
• A minimum of 5 years demonstrable professional experience in implementing Child Protection and GBV in emergencies including GBV and CP case Management is required.
• Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions is required.
• Excellent communication and advocacy skills is required
• Experience of implementing support/reintegration programmes for girls and women associated with armed groups/victims of conflict related sexual violence is highly desirable.
• Experience of working with community structures and/or religious groups and leaders on GBV and Child Protection is highly desirable.
• Experience in case management and tracing and reunification programmes for unaccompanied and separated children is highly desirable .
• Experience in team management is highly desirable.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

• UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Competencies required for this post are:

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