Child Protection Specialist (Children associated with armed groups), (P-3), Mexico City, Mexico, #130216, [Temp Appointment]

Join us as the next Specialist in Child Protection, for UNICEF Mexico's Country Office in Mexico City! Despite the lack of comprehensive hard data on association of children with armed groups, available data point at a total number of children associated between 30,000 to 45,000 children and up to 145,000 at risk nationally (REDIM). Despite Mexico's broad regulatory and institutional framework, gaps persist in the legal and policy frameworks and an absence of comprehensive approaches and programs to prevent recruitment and promote reintegration. If you would like to make a difference to this context and join us, apply today!

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, protection

Mexico’s 2019-2024 Action Plan to End Violence Against Children includes as the prevention of recruitment and reintegration of children associated with organized crime as a priority action. As part of this process, the Council of the National Observatory for the Prevention of recruitment of children and adolescents led by the Federal Secretary of Public Security was established in October 2021 which has requested UNICEF´s support to the implementation of its work plan. As such, UNICEF Mexico has prioritized the prevention of recruitment and reintegration of children associated with organized crime and armed groups. The prevention of child recruitment is an integral part of the federal Peace and security Strategy 2018-2024. UNICEF has supported the National Observatory to draft a national recruitment prevention strategy and a demobilization and reintegration protocol among other key draft documents.

For more information related to the work of our organization in Mexico, please visit our website: UNICEF Mexico, the video of our amazing results in 2023: A good six-year term for children: Un buen sexenio para la niñez or read our Annual Report 2023: Informe Anual 2023 UNICEF México.

How can you make a difference? 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR CP Specialist - Children associated with armed groups P3.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree, preferably, in one of the following fields: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field. 
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience working with Child Protection programmes, out of which at least three years is focused on demobilization and reintegration, child recruitment prevention or child protection in emergencies. 
• Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish and English. 

Desirables:

• Experience with crisis management, economic recovery or in any area related to the management of armed groups.
• Experience working within peacebuilding or development programmes operations.
• Relevant experience in programme development in child protection related areas in a UN system agency or organization.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

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: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

(8) Nurtures, and, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

This appointment initial duration is for 364 days.

THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL POSITION. PLEASE NOTE THAT NATIONAL CANDIDATES CANNOT BE CONSIDERED.