OOrganizational Setting and Work Relationships UNHCR is committed to the effective protection to children of concern, with children representing more than half of the persons falling under its mandate. UNHCR adopts a rights and community-based approach to address the protection needs of children, with a strong emphasis on inclusion within national child protection, child friendly procedures and working with other sectors to protect children including education. Child protection is recognized as global organizational priority for UNHCR. Dedicated child protection positions are needed to provide technical support to improve UNHCR's operational capacity to deliver effective protection to children, adolescents and youth of concern. The Assistant Child Protection Officer normally reports to a Protection Officer. The incumbent is expected to: support quality, timely and effective child protection responses to the needs of populations of concern; and support mainstreaming of child protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. S/he contributes to identifying key child protection issues, implementation of child protection programmes and supports child protection partnerships and coordination as guided by the supervisor. The Assistant Child Protection Officer also works to involve children, adolescent youth and their families to participate with UNHCR in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent builds and maintains effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. Duties Needs Identification, Strategy and Advocacy - Support in the formulation of the child protection key considerations in in multi-sectoral and protection specific assessments. - Contribute to the formulation of child protection strategy as part of the operation's broader Protection and Solutions Strategy, which incorporates age, gender and diversity analysis, identifies the protection needs and capacities of children of concern, communities and services and reflects UNHCR's policies, standards and priorities, including the Framework for the Protection of Children. - Ensure compliance with UNHCR's child protection policy, priorities and commitments, as well as other aligned policies on age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP), GBV, gender equality, disability and youth empowerment. - Participate in defining context - appropriate approaches for a meaningful participation of children, adolescents and youth in the development and implementation of strategies that address key child protection priorities. - Support the analysis of the national systems and ensure that child protection programmes complement national child protection systems and work towards the inclusion of children of concern into national child protection laws, policies and services. Programme planning and implementation - Assist in the designing of child protection programmes, including multi-sectoral activities, and monitoring framework based on identified needs and in line with Child Protection Strategy and UNHCR's global, regional and national policies and standards, including the Framework for the Protection of Children and the Best Interests Procedure. - Support in implementing quality child protection programmes, including multi-sectoral activities, in collaboration with partners and key stakeholders. - Contribute to the effective implementation of Best Interests Procedure by UNHCR and partners for timely support for children at heightened risk including supervision of UNHCR case management staff in line with UNHCR Best Interests Procedures Guidelines. - Work with the team to ensure that Best Interests Determination panels are carried out in a timely manner and recommendations are implemented as planned. - Implement and monitor the application of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for child protection. - Support UNHCR and partners' case workers to ensure that child protection information management is maintained in accordance with UNHCR's Policy and procedure as well as data sharing protocols. - Support partners and communities in strengthening/ establishing community-based child protection programming. - Support the monitoring of child protection partners' programmes in line with relevant partnerships-agreements to ensure all children at risk are identified and supported. - Support protection and programme teams in identifying gaps and needs for the child protection and other related partners, participating closely in the annual programme cycle and partnerships revision. - Provide functional guidance to UNHCR and partner staff involved in child protection activities. Partnership and coordination - Assist in strengthening strategic and innovative partnerships for Child Protection with community-based, local, national, and international organizations, with a focus on ensuring continuity and sustainability. - Work with partners to ensure statistics and reporting on children at risk are provided on a regular basis. - Support coordination among CP relevant stakeholders at the local level. - Contribute to mainstreaming and integrating child protection considerations into other sectors. - Contribute to interagency monitoring and reporting on child protection issues and programmes. - Ensure CP issues are mainstreamed by working closely with other sectors. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building - Assist in identifying training needs of UNHCR, Government and partner staff in the area of child protection, and development of learning plans. - Participate in initiatives to build capacity of authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures. - Assist in providing functional guidance to UNHCR and partner staff involved in child protection activities - Identify and document lessons learnt and good practices. - Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education International Law Human Rights International Development International Relations Anthropology Social Work Gender Studies Political Science Social Science or other relevant field. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses Not specified. Relevant Job Experience Essential - Experience in the field of protection of children, broader protection or social work involving children and youth, with knowledge of issues relating to child protection, education, gender, humanitarian and development issues, and GBV prevention and response. - Applied experience in child protection prevention and response. - Skills and experience in interviewing and working with children and families including on child protection case management. Desirable - Knowledge of protection in forced displacement settings and knowledge and demonstrated use of UNHCR and Interagency child protection tools and Guidance. - Knowledge of the international legal and policy framework governing refugees, asylum seekers and returnees and IDPs - Knowledge and good understanding of the UNHCR Best Interests Procedures Guidelines - Experience in working with children, adolescents and youth and participatory child friendly approaches. - Experience implementing child protection case management and/or implementation of best interests procedures. - Experience working with partners. Functional Skills PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) IT-Computer Literacy CO-Cross-cultural communication TR-Training - Virtual and face to face PR-Child Protection Information Management System *PR-Child Protection Prevention and Response Programming PR-Child Protection Case Management and Best Interests Procedures CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Operational Context
Bidibidi refugee settlement has been operational since August 2016 and the current population stands at 190,718 individuals (90,356 Males representing 47%) and 100,362 Females representing 53% in 36,585 households. Children make up 63% of the population, while the youth 15 - 24 years is 25%. Children face various potential protection risks during flight and while in asylum including separation from their legal or customary caretakers, child abuse or neglect, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), child labour, child headed households, child carer and conflict with the law. Other child protection risks include physical safety and disability. UNHCR works with the relevant ministries and child protection partners to strengthen child protection services. In addition, UNHCR supports youth programs integrated in existing services such as SGBV, livelihoods and peaceful coexistence programs.

The incumbent reports to the Senior Protection Officer, and s/he will directly work with communities and children of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families, and communities. The incumbent also acts as an advisor to senior management in implementation of National Child Protection Strategy that fits within the broader Protection and Solutions Strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with persons of concern, including children, adolescents, and youth.
S/he will lead and strengthen the coordination with child protection inter-agency partners, government authorities and persons of concern in Yumbe ensuring prevention and response interventions are in line with SOPs and activities are linked to national child protection systems. The incumbent will plan and undertake quality, timely and effective child protection responses in line with UNHCR’s Framework for Child Protection, the Best Interests Procedure Guidelines, and the National Child Protection Strategy in an age, gender, and diversity inclusive manner. The incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with other relevant teams within the operation including other sections and units such as Programme, Information Management, Public Information and External Relations etc. and Branch Office. S/he will also work closely with communities of concern, authorities, protection partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection and achieving solutions.

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