UNICEF Coordinator, Child Protection Working Group - P4

Kenya is scheduled to conduct national general elections on March 4th, 2013. The elections will be the first elections since the adoption of the new Constitution (August 2010), which provides for the devolution of government to 47 countries. In the past, Kenya has experienced violence during campaigns, as well as during and after elections themselves. This has led to loss of life, injury, displacement, and destruction of property and livelihoods. The year following the December 2007 elections was known as the period of Post-Election Violence (“PEV”), during which time over 1,500 people lost their lives and an estimated 600,000 were displaced. The imminence of the March 2013 elections has raised concerns about the potential for election related violence in various parts of the country. In the latter part of 2011, and in the first few month(s) of 2012, there have been incidences of inter-communal conflict and displacement in Isiolo, Moyale, Wajir, Mandera, Mombasa and Tana River and the humanitarian community is currently preparing for displacement of anywhere from 150,000 to 450,000 persons. Violence and displacement related to the elections will increase child protection concerns, including separation of children from their parents and increased vulnerability of young girls to sexual abuse and harassment in transit facilities. An overall increase in GBV cases is expected (as per the experience of 2007/2008).

While it is a priority to support peace building and violence prevention initiatives, the humanitarian community and the Government of Kenya are planning humanitarian response activities. Part of this process is ensuring there is support for the Cluster Approach, which in Kenya is a joint effort between government ministries and their UN counterparts. In Kenya, UNICEF plays a key role ensuring coordination of WASH, Nutrition, Education, and the Child Protection Working Group.

In Kenya, the Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) was formally established in October 2011, and benefits from the regular participation of a wide range of NGOs and UN protection actors . Considerable work has been done to engage the Government (particularly the Department of Children’s Services (DCS)), including by inviting government representatives to participate in the monthly CPWG meetings. UNICEF is responsible for chairing the monthly CPWG meetings, as well as for all other coordination and secretariat support. This includes working closely with the DCS to provide co-chair support, preparing meeting agendas, drafting and circulating the minutes, maintaining the action plans and WWW lists, circulating relevant chid protection documentation/issue of interest, convening child protection task force meetings, organizing (and leading) field missions, conducting workshops, as well as ensuring representation of the child protection sector at cross-sectoral meetings lead by the GOK and OCHA and ensuring child protection representation at national planning meetings, both GOK and OCHA led (such as the Emergency Humanitarian and Response Plan).

Purpose As part of UNICEF’s Core Commitment for Children in Humanitarian Action, the Child Protection Coordinator is expected to provide leadership and support to the sub-regional and national child protection coordination structures within the Humanitarian Cluster Approach. To fulfill this function, a Child Protection Coordinator is needed to secure the overall cluster coordination of child protection responses at the national level. in their efforts to respond to the current crisis.

Main Responsibilities and Tasks  Lead and/or support child protection coordination mechanisms promoting and facilitating active participation from key actors, including, the Government of Kenya, specifically the Department of Children’s Services (DCS).  Work with the Protection Cluster(s) and/or other key actors to: identify opportunities to integrate child protection into other protection and other sector activities and to avoid duplication; prevent unintentional harm to children as a result of inappropriate humanitarian assistance.  Work with child protection actors to assess the needs, coordinate and oversee inter-agency needs assessment about child protection issues to map out priority protection gaps and identify key resources and assets, including existing child protection systems (both formal and informal).  Facilitate the development of an agreed interagency child protection response strategy.  Facilitate the creation of processes to monitor achievement of agreed interagency goals.  Promote and support adherence to agreed, interagency Child Protection standards  Undertake advocacy on behalf of the interagency group as required  Collaborate with the Protection Cluster lead and OCHA to ensure that key child protection concerns are reflected in all documents and humanitarian initiatives.  Work with the Gender-based Violence and MHPSS working groups to ensure that CP and GBV actors work together to meet the comprehensive GBV-related needs of children.  Establish results-oriented, two-way communication channels between regional level, national level and sub-national Child Protection coordinator groups (as relevant), to promote, upgrade and strengthen a more standardized child protection response across all affected areas.

Minimum Qualifications and Competencies

• Advanced University Degree, preferably in the social sciences, law, or other relevant field. Proven work experience in social work or child psychology, or other relevant field. • 8 years of professional international work experience with either the UN and/or NGO, especially in emergency settings. • Excellent commination and interpersonal skills, and proven success in facilitating interagency processes to achieve a common goal, • Fluency in English (verbal and written). • Experience working in Kenya or the Horn of Africa advantageous • Fluency in English (verbal and written) and food written and spoken skills in the language of the humanitarian operation in country of assignment. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Supervision The consultant will be under the supervision of the Child Protection Specialist (Emergency) with oversight from the Chief, Child Protection Section, Nairobi.

Duration: 6 months (extension subject to availability of funds)

Duty Station and Travel The position will be based primarily in Nairobi, with occasional travel to other parts of Kenya

How to apply:

Interested and suitable candidates should ensure that they forward their applications along with their curricula vitae, to; The Human Resources Manager UNICEF Kenya Country Office Email address:kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org

Please indicate Reference No. “KCO/SSA/CP/2013/006” in the email subject. Interested candidates should also complete the Personal History (P11) form, which can be downloaded from the UNICEF Kenya website (http://www.unicef.org/kenya).

“QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY” ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE UNICEF IS A SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT