Child Protection and Emergency Response Specialist

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF’s mandate, mission and unique attributes provide a strategic advantage in promoting and supporting transformational change to achieve sustainable coverage at scale. After more than 45 years in Lao PDR, UNICEF Lao PDR UNICEF is one of the longest-serving international organizations in the country plays an important role in supporting the government, advocating for reform and leading coordination to scale-up results.

In Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), UNICEF is promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child. Together with our partners, we are focusing and putting extra efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children throughout the country. This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is part of UNICEF Lao PDR’s response and recovery support to children and their parents/caregivers affected by the recent flood emergency in Luang Namtha Province caused by Typhoon Yagi which struck central and northern part of the country, affecting over 186,000 people (76,183 families) in Lao PDR. Luang Namtha is one of the hardest hit provinces along with Oudomxay, Bokeo, Luang Prabang and Vientiane Capital. Of the affected population, 42% are children.

In the aftermath of a disaster, children and vulnerable groups are disproportionally affected and at heightened risk of abuse, violence and exploitation including trafficking due to disruptions in family and community protection networks. In addition, the frustration and emotional distress caused by the impact of the disaster may exacerbate pre-existing family and community tensions and lead to increased domestic violence, general violence against women and children as well as violent disciplines and harsh parenting of children. Furthermore, the emotional and psycho-socio effects of a disaster may have a profound impact on the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of children, who are confronted by loss, grief, trauma, sense of uncertainty and confusion, family and community meltdown, and disruption in social and educational activities. There is no exception to children and families affected by the recent Flood emergency caused by Typhoon Yagi. Both children and their parents/caregivers are also under stress, not only that they lost every item in the households and the sources of livelihoods (farms and animals), but also they now have to clean and repair house while having to pay attention to their children who stay at home. For this reason, it is essential to support children and families not only to develop an environment where children are safe from abuse and violence, but also generate adequate coping mechanisms to “bounce back” and restore (as much as possible) normal levels of functioning. Experience from the field shows that recreating structure and routine for children, within a familiar and safe environment, allows them to return to a sense of normalcy and better cope with the psychosocial and emotional distress they are experiencing, which is crucial for their healthy emotional development. UNICEF Lao PDR will be supporting the government led efforts to establish and operationalize Child Friendly Spaces. Lao Women’s Union will take a lead working closely with the Ministry of Education and Sport, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Health and Lao Youth Union. In the same localities, UNFPA Lao PDR will also support establishment of Women Friendly Spaces, in close collaboration with UNICEF as well as the government agencies to ensure synergy and effective coordination between services provided for Child Friendly Spaces and Women Friendly Spaces.

The UNV will be based in Luang Namtha Province where 3 Child Friendly Spaces are being established.

(1) Provision of day-to-day operational support to the implementation of 3 Child Friendly Spaces
 Support implementation of various recreational and psychosocial support activities for children as well as information sharing and parenting sessions for parents and caregivers in Child Friendly Spaces under the guidance of UNICEF technical staff.
 Support an effective use of the existing referral mechanisms for child protection cases.

(2) Community level coordination among stakeholders for the implementation of Child Friendly Spaces
 Support coordination of various stakeholders involved in the implementation of Child Friendly Spaces at the community level including village leadership and relevant workforce from Lao Women’s Union, Lao Youth Union and the Ministry of Education and Sport, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Health.

(3) Support monitoring, and documentation of implementation status.
 Support day-to-day monitoring of the activities at 3 Child Friendly Spaces and keep track of its implementation status using the pre-designed monitoring framework.
 Documentation of the process as well as challenges and key lessons learned.
 Regular reporting of the implementation status to UNICEF technical team with oversight responsibilities.