Child Protection Officer

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

In the Pacific, UNICEF works in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

The UNICEF Multi-Country Office in the Pacific is now in the second year of its 2023-2027 country programme, with an expanded focus on partnerships, resource mobilization and donor relationships. Much of the work of UNICEF across the 14 Pacific countries requires more attention to monitoring and reporting of progress and demonstrating results for children, which needs to be properly and effectively documented and communicated to partners. The strengthening and diversification of donor portfolios, new engagement with partners and proactive fundraising requires a substantial amount of engagement by senior management with existing and potential donors. This position would support the development of materials for donor engagement including keeping and expanding a portfolio with profiles of all donors (existing and potential) as well as the work (ongoing and planned) of UNICEF in each Pacific Country. This portfolio will be used to produce a variety of knowledge products to produce briefing notes and fact sheets for use in partnership engagement and resource mobilization by senior management.

Under the supervision of the Chief of Field Office the Youth Volunteer will be engaged in the following areas of work:

• Support the documentation of child protection programs in Samoa including with community based organizations and mental health and psychosocial activities

• Follow up with partners on monitoring and reporting including collection of good news stories

• Support preparation of briefing notes, concept notes and other knowledge products for use in resource mobilization efforts by senior management

• Support other partnership efforts (presentations, notes, reports, proposal writing, infographics, updates, etc..) as required.

• Support organization of events including training

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• 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 International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• 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.