Job Title: Child Protection Officer (Social Workforce
Development)
Organization: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
Host entity: UNICEF
Assignment country: Bangladesh
Expected start date: 01/11/2023
Sustainable Development Goal: 16. Peace, justice and strong
institutions
Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist
Type: Onsite
Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Dhaka
Details
Mission and objectives
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
is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish
children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of
behaviour towards children. UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and
development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral
to human progress. UNICEF mobilizes political will and material resources to
help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a "first call
for children" and to build their capacity to form appropriate policies and
deliver services for children and their families. UNICEF is committed to
ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children – victims of
war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation, and
those with disabilities. UNICEF responds in emergencies to protect the rights
of children. In coordination with United Nations partners and humanitarian
agencies, UNICEF makes its unique facilities for rapid response available to
its partners to relieve the suffering of children and those who provide their
care. UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In
everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in
greatest need have priority. UNICEF aims, through its country programmes, to
promote the equal rights of women and girls and to support their full
participation in the political, social and economic development of their
communities. UNICEF works with all its partners towards the attainment of the
sustainable human development goals adopted by the world community and the
realization of the vision of peace and social progress enshrined in the Charter
of the United Nations.
Context
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. UNICEF works with other United Nations agencies
to make sure that children are on the global agenda. UNICEF strikes a balance
between thorough research and practical solutions for children. UNICEF has been
supporting Ministry of Social Welfare and Department of Social Services in
Bangladesh for Social Service Workforce development and establishing child
sensitive social protection mechanism. The organization is going to put more
resources with Bangladesh government for social service workforce development
considering the huge child population which is close to 60 million and the
number of children needing care and protection. In the country around 15
million children live in city slums and 500,000 to 2 million children live in
the street. The country has only 3454 reported government social service
workforce staffs and the ratio of worker per 100,000 child population is 6.07.
UNICEF has Child Sensitive Social Protection project with Ministry of Social
Welfare which is running it’s second phase since 2017 and will continue until
2024 with intensifying focus on strengthening the social service workforce and
alternative care.
Task description
The UN Volunteer will work under the supervision of Child
Protection Specialist. The key functions are as follows. 1. Assist in roll out
Social Service Workforce development initiative. 2. Assist in review and
updating the Social Service Workforce development curriculums in the country.
3. Assist in developing normative framework for Social Service workforce in
Bangladesh and developing accreditation system 4. Assist National Social
Service Training Academy of Department of Social Services to upgrade Basic and
Professional Social Service Training (BSST and PSST) into certified course 5.
Assist in initiating Masters/Executive Course or Certificate Course on child
protection social work with public and private University in the country. 6.
Work closely with consultants and provide them technical support. Furthermore,
UN Volunteers are required to: • 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 in-stance in events
that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on
traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Reflect
on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking,
including participation in ongoing reflection activities. • 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.
Results/Expected Outputs: 1. 308 Social Workers and Probation Officers are
trained. 2. Social Service Workforce development curriculums is reviewed and
updated. 3. Normative framework and accreditation mechanism for Social Service
workforce is developed. 4. National Social Service Training Academy of
Department of Social Services upgraded Basic and Professional Social Service
Training (BSST and PSST) into certified course 5. Masters/Executive Course or
Certificate Course on child protection social work is initiated with at least
one public. 6. Ensure children with disability project implemented and
monitored regularly. 7. Data assurance and collective qualitative information
on social work force from CSO, Gov and consultants.
Eligibility criteria
Age
27 - 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the
country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
5 years of experience in • Either the UN and/or NGO.
Experience in Child Protection Social Work, Social Service Workforce
development and child protection programme design, implementation. • Experience
in social work, social workforce development an asset. • Fluency in English
(verbal and written). Good written and spoken skills in another UN language an
asset. • Expertise in Child Protection, Social Service Workforce qualification
framework and accreditation mechanism, Capacity Development of Social Service Workforce,
Community Engagement, Social Justice.
Area(s) of expertise
Development programmes, Social work, Community development
Driving license
-
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in Social Welfare/Social Work
preferably in Child Protection Social Work.
Competencies and values
• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Building
Trust • Client Orientation • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to
Continuous Learning • Empowering Others • Ethics and Values • Integrity •
Judgement and Decision-making • Knowledge Sharing • Managing Performance •
Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Dhaka is located in central Bangladesh. Not only is it the
capital city, but it is also the largest in the country. It is the centre of
political, cultural, and economic life in Bangladesh. The official language is
Bengali, while English is the working language of UN Agencies. In recent
decades, Dhaka has seen the modernization of services, communications, and
public works. The city is attracting large foreign investments and greater
volumes of commerce and trade. It is also experiencing an increasing influx of
people from across the nation; this has reportedly made Dhaka one of the
fastest-growing cities in the world. Good English-speaking medical, dental
services, and educational centres are available for internationals. Dhaka is
connected to other cities by rail, road, and by air and internationals can move
easily from one city to another. Dhaka has venerable green spaces, including
many gardens and parks, historical places, and nice restaurants. The weather is
tropical - hot and very humid during the summer monsoon season
(April-September) and drier and cooler in the winter (October-March).
Historically, Bangladesh has been a safe country for internationals so far.
While Dhaka is not categorized as a hardship station, the volunteer should be
prepared for limitations in freedom of movement on foot, by public transport,
and to certain locations.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme
that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to
achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part
of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to
combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights
and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender
identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability,
pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Reasonable accommodation
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers
with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel
assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose
your disability during your application in case you need reasonable
accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements,
appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against
SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine,
which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN
Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit
UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with
communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF
for the duration of their contracts.
