Seeking external candidates only 

Contract Type:  Temporary Appointment (TA) or Consultancy/Short Term Assignments (SSA)

Duration:  3 months to 364 days

Location:  Countries based in Eastern and Southern Africa

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

Since two years, countries in the ESA region have experienced an alarming increase in the number of new, or re-emerging humanitarian emergencies, including public health (including Ebola, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, wild poliovirus, and Cholera), armed conflicts and natural disasters emergencies.

An outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus (SDV) started in September 2022 and spread to 9 districts in Uganda, elevating the risk for cross border spread to neighboring countries (Tanzania, Rwanda, South-Sudan, Burundi, Kenya and DRCongo).

UNICEF ESAR has prioritized the critical need to support countries to rapidly scale up capacity to prevent, mitigate, and manage ongoing and anticipated emergencies as well as to enhance capacity for preparedness and response to these emergencies.

Purpose

The purpose of this external announcement is to attract suitable Child Protection in Emergencies- Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) Specialist candidates interested in working in any of the countries within UNICEF’s East and Southern Africa region to respond to Ebola outbreaks for the  next 36 months . The countries within each region are listed on the following website:  http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html.

How can you make a difference?

Key activities & duties

The CPiE Specialist (CPiE/MHPSS) supports the implementation of the CP program in the EVD response and will manage, implement, monitor, evaluate and report on progress of child protection in emergencies and mental health and psychosocial support programs/projects as part of the EVD response.

1. Provide technical and operational support to programme development, planning, implementation, monitoring and delivery of results of child protection in emergencies interventions, including mental health and psychosocial support as part of the EVD response.
2. Support coordination of child protection and MHPSS partners operating across districts affected by the EVD outbreak.
3. Represent UNICEF in the national sub-pillar on MHPSS led by Ministry of Health and support functionality of the sub-pillar.
4. Represent UNICEF in regular EVD task force meetings, provide updates on the ongoing CP/MHPSS response, challenges and provide feedback to the CP team.
5. In coordination with relevant actors on the ground and partners, strengthen emergency preparedness for child protection and MHPSS in districts at risk of EVD importation.
6. Provide technical leadership for child protection and mental health needs assessments including rapid assessments; support partners, including District Local Governments with collecting and generating data and evidence on the worsening protection and mental health situation of children districts affected by the EVD outbreak.
7. Build the capacity of District Local Governments and other partners at district and sub-county levels to ensure that child protection in emergencies interventions and mental health and psychosocial services are appropriately and effectively delivered in preparedness, prevention and response interventions.
8. Update, develop and ensure quality implementation of CPiE/MHPSS policies, tools, referral pathways, training and support materials for CPiE and MHPSS practitioners to effectively identify needs and respond to the needs and rights of children.
9. Provide inputs into regular internal and external reporting requirements related to the CP/MHPSS EVD response.
10. Support resource mobilization initiatives for the CPiE/MHPSS response as part of the overall EVD response.
11. Knowledge management and documentation of CP/MHPSS interventions in the EVD response.

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

Education-

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

Work Experience- 

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in child protection in emergencies or related fields.
• Experience in managing CPiE including MHPSS interventions in a disease outbreak/EVD context an advantage
• Relevant experience in programme development in child protection and MHPSS related areas in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Experience in social work and in working with government authorities are an advantage.
• Experience in working with local government in strengthening and implementing CPiE/MHPSS response
• Ability to build and maintain partnership with government and NGO partners; experience in coaching and mentoring and capacity strengthening related to CPiE/MHPSS
• Willingness to travel
• Ability to work under stressful conditions and flexible approach in undertaking the assignment within a rapidly changing environment.

Language Requirement:-

• Fluency in verbal and written English or French (depending on the country office’s official language). Knowledge of another UN language or a local language 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:  https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels:  competency framework here .

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.

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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.? Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.