TA Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist (Psychosocial Support and Community Based Protection) at UNICEF

Location: P-3 Maiduguri/Borno Nigeria (10 months)

Background and Rationale
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria is seeking the interest of a qualified Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist in the area of SGBV, with a focus on reintegration of girls and women who have been affected by conflict related sexual violence.

In the course of 2014 and early 2015, Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad (JAS), more commonly as Boko Haram intensified its attacks on the civilian population in Nigeria, with tactics developing from hit-and-run attacks targeting Government officials, security forces, police stations, detention centers, religious figures and schools, to take-and-hold attacks in which JAS managed to establish and maintain control over large swaths of territory. While in late 2015 and 2016 the Nigerian Armed Forces took back most JAS controlled areas, the fighting caused additional mass displacement, especially in Borno State.

Children have been acutely impacted by the conflict. In particular, sexual violence has been a characteristic of the conflict. It is estimated that 7,000 women and girls have suffered conflict related sexual violence, including following abduction by JAS and forced marriage to their fighters. Many girls and women have become pregnant and given birth as a result of the sexual violence. The girls and women, and their children are facing stigma and, in some cases violence, as they return to their communities following escape or rescue by the Nigerian Armed Forces.

UNICEF is supporting state and non state partners to 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.

Overall Objective of the Temporary Position

• The overall objective of the post is to promote the handover of girls and women associated with 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:

• Output 36: By 2017, the capacity of key institutions and civil society is strengthened to monitor and report violence against children especially in humanitarian context and implement gender and age-appropriate prevention and response measures in at least three states.

Major Tasks To Be Accomplished

• Provide technical guidance for the development and implementation of the strategy and programme on the reintegration of girls and women who have been associated with armed groups and victims of conflict related sexual violence
• Facilitate the training of and ongoing support for state and non state actors, including community volunteers and religious and community leaders, on support for the girls and women and protection from SGBV
• Establish the reintegration programme for girls and women in a minimum of six local government areas, as well as Maiduguri, in Borno State
• 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
• Support the tracing and reunification of families for girls and women
• Develop and implement programmes which enhance the protective environment for girls and women, in order to protect them from SGBV
• Establish/strengthen robust reporting and referral mechanisms for girls and women at risk of or suffering sexual violence
• 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
• Ensure the availability of alternative care for children born out of conflict related sexual violence who cannot remain with their mothers
• Explore the impact of conflict related sexual violence on boys and devise and implement strategies and programmes to support their recovery and reintegration
• Manage and quality assure the work of the team of consultants and third party local consultants responsible for overseeing and monitoring the SGBV programme
• Manage and develop new programme cooperation agreements with international and national NGOs for the reintegration of girls and women affected by conflict related sexual violence
• 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
• Ensure effective linkages with other components of the child protection in emergencies programme
• Represent UNICEF on the SGBV sub working groups at State and Federal level
• Manage the SGBV programme, including ensuring timely implementation of activities, timely reporting to the donors, compliance with visibility requirements and compliance with internal UNICEF procedures and processes

Qualifications of Successful Candidate
Essential:

• Advanced university degree in Social Work, Psychology, Social Science or related field
• Minimum of 5 years demonstrable professional experience in implementing child protection or SGBV in emergency programmes
• Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions
• Excellent advocacy skills
• Excellent communication skills
• First university degree with additional two-years of relevant work experience is acceptable in lieu of an advanced university degree

Desirable:

• Experience of implementing support/reintegration programmes for girls and women associated with armed groups/victims of conflict related sexual violence
• Experience of working with community structures and/or religious groups and leaders on SGBV
• Experience of implementing tracing and reunification programmes for unaccompanied and separated children
• Experience in team management
• Fluency in English

Competencies of Successful Candidate
Core Values:

• Commitment
• Diversity and inclusion
• Integrity

Core Competencies:

• Communication (II)
• Working with people (II)
• Drive for results (II)

Functional Competencies:

• Leading and supervising (I)
• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
• Analyzing (III)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Deciding and Initiating action (II)
• Applying technical expertise (III)

Remarks

• The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.
• Please note that Maiduguri, Borno is a non-family duty station.
• The position is based in Maiduguri, Borno State, with regular travel to Yobe State