Serbia: UNV Child Protection in Emergency Officer

UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT

Preamble:

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.

In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.

In all assignments, UN volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

1. UNV Assignment Title: Child Protection in Emergency Officer

2. Type of Assignment: National UN volunteer

3. Project Title: Support to UNICEF child protection emergency response to the refugee crisis in Serbia

4. Duration: 11 months

5. Location, Country: Belgrade/Serbia, with frequent field trips to Sid, Presevo and Dimitrovgrad

6. Expected Starting Date: ASAP

7. Brief Project Description: Serbia is situated along the preferred route through the Western Balkans for refugees originating from the Middle East and Asia, aiming to seek asylum in Europe. The majority are from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. As of mid-December 2015, the Serbian Ministry of the Interior has registered a total of 528,477 people since the beginning of the crisis, approximately 212,000 of which are children, mostly from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. Over 46,820 children were registered by the Ministry of Interior in November 2015 alone. UNHCR and UNICEF have highlighted the extreme vulnerability of families travelling with children and unaccompanied children and have agreed with State actors and other partners to priorities the needs and protection of children.

In order to provide children’s and mothers’ with psychosocial support and to respond to their basic needs, UNICEF has established three child-friendly space in Sid, Presevo and Miratovac in partnership with World Vision and the Danish Refugee Council. UNICEF is planning to expand its child protection interventions to the Eastern border with Bulgaria.

Since October 2015, UNICEF has been leading the Child Protection sub-working group at the national level and is currently looking into rolling it down at the sub-national level.

8. Host Agency/Host Institute: UNICEF Office in Serbia

9. Organizational Context: UNICEF is 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. UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children. UNICEF mobilizes political will and material resources to help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a "first call for children" and to build their capacity to form appropriate policies and deliver services for children and their families. UNICEF is committed to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children - victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation and those with disabilities. UNICEF responds in emergencies to protect the rights of children. In coordination with United Nations partners and humanitarian agencies, UNICEF makes its unique facilities for rapid response available to its partners to relieve the suffering of children and those who provide their care. UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority.

UNICEF aims, through its country programmes, to promote the equal rights of women and girls and to support their full participation in the political, social, and economic development of their communities.

UNICEF works with all its partners towards the attainment of the sustainable human development goals adopted by the world community and the realization of the vision of peace and social progress enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

10. Type of Assignment Place: assignment with family

11. Description of tasks:

Under the direct supervision of the Child Protection Specialist the UN volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

· Support needs assessment and situation analysis. Assist in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of child protection in emergency projects.

· Undertake field visits to existing project areas, to assess local conditions and monitor progress. Collect information, identify constraints in order to ensure effective project delivery.

· Ensure application of standards and guidelines for child protection in emergency related activities.

· Support capacity building initiatives as required

· Ensure the secretariat of the CPsWG: meeting agenda, minutes, support documents, and follow up to action points through timely and quality communications

· Attend protection coordination meetings at local level and ensures that the national office is kept informed of situations having an impact on child protection. Maintain an overview of the situation and identify crucial gaps in service provision that require to be addressed

· Revise and provide inputs to implementing partners’ reports. Support UNICEF Information Manager on data collection and analysis.

· Document best practices in child protection in emergency for children on the move.

· Develop human interest stories in coordination with the communication section.

Furthermore, UN volunteers are encouraged to:

· Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD);

· Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;

· Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;

· Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;

· Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN volunteers;

· Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

12. Results/Expected Output:

· Efficient, timely, responsive, child-friendly and high-quality support rendered to the UNICEF Child Protection in Emergency programme.

· Effective support to the child protection in emergency coordination mechanisms at national and local level.

· A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

13. Qualifications/Requirements:

· Education: University degree MAs, preferably in social sciences, humanitarian affairs, law, development studies or other relevant field.

· Work Experience: Minimum of 3 years (of which at least 2 in the field) of professional experience in child protection, humanitarian affairs, human rights or other related area.

· Language*:* Fluency in oral and written Serbian and English is essential. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset or Farsi is an asset.

· Computer Skills: Fully proficient computer skills including use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, internal databases, Internet etc.

· Other Skills: Previous experience in working with refugee and migrant populations. Ability to work in an international or multicultural environment. Working experience in emergency settings.

Competencies:

• Technical competencies in child protection in emergency.
• Managing resources - Keeps performance objectives on track, despite changing demands and conflicting priorities, by co-ordinating and managing personnel, raw materials, donor funds, etc.
• Team Work - Cooperates and works effectively with others in an emergency setting in the pursuit of common goals. Effectively links the purposes and functioning of the team to UNICEF's mission, vision, purpose, goals and results.
• Building trust - Promotes policies, procedures, or structures that support strong relationships with partners. Demonstrates sensitivity towards their needs and expectations, maintaining open communication.
• Embracing Diversity - Promotes, practices, and helps others value and respect diversity of gender, culture, opinions, values, perspectives, ideas, skills, expertise, knowledge, and experiences.
• Flexibility - Works effectively on multiple assignments simultaneously and adapts to changing demands and circumstances; adaptable and ready to travel with little or short notice.
• Managing Stress - Performs effectively in unstable and uncertain environments while maintaining physical and mental health.

14. Living Conditions:

Serbia is in the process of becoming a member of the European Union, the political and economic situation has been stabilized. Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia with a special administrative status. It is the economic, cultural and educational centre of Serbia. Belgrade is a family duty station, classified as “A” by ICSC. Medical facilities are well developed and easily accessible. The educational institutions at all levels as well as international schools are available. The cost of living may be high, depending on the standards, particularly for food and accommodation. In accordance with the security risk assessment, it is under Security Level 1 (minimal). No security clearance is required when traveling to SL1 areas.

15. Conditions of Service

An 11 month contract; with subsequent contract extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

Travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of Euro 854 is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

The closing date for applications is January 24, 2016. Detailed Description of Assignment can be found on http://www.unicef.rs/oglasi-za-posao.html under Vacancies. Qualified candidates are requested to send their application to belgrade@unicef.org by January 24, 2016, ref. VN 02-2016 UNV Child Protection in Emergency Officer.

The application must include the following:

• P11 (P11 form can be downloaded from http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc)

• CV

Important note: Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. UNICEF is a non-smoking environment. UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply.