Child Protection Associate

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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 fulfill 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.

UNICEF’s Child Protection Programme in India seeks to promote the protection of children from violence, exploitation & abuse and ensure their participation in key decision-making processes. It supports the implementation of the Government of India’s Integrated Child Protection Scheme/Mission Vatsalya, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006), and other child welfare & protection schemes/ programmes to create a protective environment for children and adolescents. The CP Programme seeks to improve and expand services to children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with the law under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act and related legislation with regard to child trafficking, child labour, child marriage and the sexual abuse of children. The programme also works towards empowerment of adolescents, building life and work skills and their healthy transition to higher education and productive work opportunities. CP programmes emphasize the prevention of abuse and exploitation of children, particularly the reduction of all forms of violence, child marriage through partnerships with education, health, communication for development, social protection and other sectors and departments.

At the state level, UNICEF state offices work with state departments, CSOs, government officials and duty bearers, community members and children & adolescents to strengthen child protection services, build capacities of stakeholders and facilitate process of adolescent participation.

Within the delegated authority of the Child Protection Specialist (Odisha) and in close collaboration with all programme sections, the UN Volunteer Child Protection Associate will undertake the following tasks:

Child Protection activities:

• Contribute to the implementation of the child protection work plan for the country programme, with special focus on programme activities, assistance to states, documentation and research.
• Support the delivery of technical support to partners in Child Protection interventions.
• Contribute to develop key program updates from the field office and facilitate cross learning from promising practices, and maintain regular communication and information sharing with section colleagues and participate in knowledge management interventions
• Assist in ensuring accurate and timely collection and dissemination of updates on on-going child protection initiatives with Delhi and ensure the collation of relevant information to contribute to the development of regional and global bulletins
• Assist in report writing and drafting briefing notes, talking points, and presentations
• Support state follow up towards Adolescent and youth engagement platforms
• Supporting the Specialist tasks on monitoring and reporting activities.

Analytical support

• Contribute to research and analysis of the state situation with respect to children’s right to protection and participation especially within the legislative ambit.
• Support studies undertaken in the state especially with respect to POCSO and JJ Act implementation in partnership with the government and/or judiciary.
• Support sharing good practices, lessons learned, and knowledge/information exchange as informed by collected data.


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.