Colombia: UNICEF-Child Protection Specialist-P4-Bogota, Colombia

CANADEM is seeking seasoned professionals, fluent in English and Spanish, with previous relevant experience in child protection who are available for an immediate deployment to Colombia as a seconded expert with UNICEF for a 6-months contract. Below please find additional information.

The Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) negotiated a comprehensive Peace Agreement with a timeline of March 2016. The Peace Agreement aims as to “satisfy the victims’ right to justice; obtain truth for Colombian society; contribute to the reparation of the victims; contribute to the fight against impunity; and grant legal security to those who directly or indirectly participated in the armed conflict”.

The UNICEF Colombia Country Office will support the development and implementation of an effective policy framework and programming tools for the release/demobilization of all children associated with armed groups, including the technical competence to assist this process.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of UNICEF Chief of Child Protection, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:

• Contribute to the further development of child release and reintegration programme, including overall policy framework, implementation strategy, operational modalities, monitoring and evaluation framework and programme action plans, taking into account national programme priorities and targets.
• Provide technical support in the planning, design and implementation of UNICEF partnerships for child release and reintegration, and also provide technical advice and assistance to key government and FARC, consulting with relevant stakeholders through inclusive and participatory processes, and undertaking monitoring of the child release and reintegration programme activities.
• Organize and undertake conflict analysis on various aspects of child release and reintegration programming, including risk and threat assessments, target group profiles, political factors, security and other issues affecting operations; and identify issues to be addressed and corrective actions, providing monitoring, progress and briefing reports, as needed.
• In coordination and collaboration with relevant stakeholders, collect quantitative and qualitative baseline and follow-up data; design and put into place management information systems; and assist partners to analyze and interpret data for application to the programme.
• Coordinate local partners and communities (e.g. NGOs, community-based organizations, private sector enterprises and local communal authorities) and facilitate their participation in the planning and implementation of child release and reintegration programmes and related activities.
• Assist in training and preparation of partners and counterparts in advance of DDR activities.
• Support efforts in resource mobilization and development of strategic partnerships with multiple donors and agencies.
• Develop targeted training programmes for institutional capacity building of UNICEF and partners for effective programme delivery, including integration and coordination with other government sectors and activities.
• Participate in or lead field missions, including provision of guidance to government officials and other partners.
• Prepares various written outputs, e.g. draft background documents and briefing notes.
• Perform other duties as required.

DELIVERABLES

• Update the child-specific release and reintegration (DDR) strategy and other related programming documents.
• Programme action plan, including monitoring and evaluation matrix and data collection tools as part of case management support in coordination with the MRM Task Force.
• A programming brief on how to plan and implement a child release and reintegration programme developed for UNICEF partners.
• Technical input to proposals and programme advocacy strategy developed.
• Field assessment, training and capacity building and mission trip reports submitted.
• Participation in training and advocacy workshop for counterparts, partners, sister agencies, etc.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, social sciences, management, international economics, international relations, law, development or a related field.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of experience in child related disarmament, demobilization and reintegration or related area is required. Of this, a minimum of one year experience with conflict/post-conflict/crisis management, economic recovery or in any area related to the management of armed groups is desirable. Experience working within peace-building or development programmes operations is desirable.

Languages

For this post, fluency (both in spoken and written) Spanish is a MUST, and English is also required.

Competencies:

Functional Competencies:

§ Technical Knowledge

• Professional technical expertise and understanding of planning and managing child-specific release and reintegration| DDR programmes, including approaches and techniques to address when implementing third generation DDR programmes.

• Proven expertise in country/region of assignment; sound understanding of and an ability to evaluate complex political situations.

• Analytical and conceptual thinking

• Ability to identify issues to be monitored, formulate options and present conclusions and recommendations;

• ability to work independently and exercise good judgment in a stressful environment;

• commitment to implementing the release and reintegration programme

• Planning and Organizing

• Ability to establish priorities and to plan and execute own work plans. Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; Adjusts priorities as required.

• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning.

• Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary

• Teamwork - Excellent interpersonal skills;

• The incumbent must be able to interact and to establish and maintain effective working relationships, both as a team member and, in some situations, as a team leader in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

• Client Orientation and facilitation

• Ability to identify the needs of JPYEE partners and match them to appropriate solutions; ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships.

• Communication

• Excellent drafting skills in English and ability to communicate effectively verbally, especially by phone. Fluency in English and in the national language of the duty station an is an asset

• Technological Awareness

• Proficiency in MS Word and Internet browsing, and experience in use of databases, MS PowerPoint, and electronic media applications. g

If you see yourself in and have all of the above-mentioned skills, please register with CANADEM before contacting us. This can be done on our website at www.canadem.ca/register . Then send an email by no later than 26th of September, 11:59 pm EDT to pantiwa.naksomboon@CANADEM.ca with a Subject Line: "UNICEF-Child Protection-Colombia." In your email, please include an updated resume, date of availability, your current location, and a phone number where we can reach you. Please also forward blank referee questionnaire that can be found at www.canadem.ca/rqf to two of your references (recent supervisors preferred). Full instructions on how to complete the forms are included in the document; also please send us any evaluation report that you may have about your field work. We will be considering applications as they are received.