UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a fair chance

The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. According to the 2020 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), more than half of the country’s population need humanitarian and protection assistance. Some 1.7 million people have acute and immediate humanitarian needs. Civilians are constantly under threat and forced to leave their houses to find protection in internally displaced person (IDP) camps or in host families. As of 30 September 2019, there are 600,000 internally displaced persons of whom 220,000 are living in IDP sites. At least 47% of IDPs in CAR are children.

CAR crisis is foremost a protection crisis. Serious violations and abuses of human rights law and international humanitarian law (including the six grave violations of children’s rights) continue to be perpetrated in a context of impunity. Persistent armed conflicts have a huge humanitarian impact on children’s rights and their access to basic services such as health, nutrition, education, etc. Insecurity and lawlessness throughout most of the country outside the capital have resulted in children being displaced, separated, maimed, abducted, killed, and vulnerable to sexual violence including rape and other forms of gender-based violence. The recruitment and use of children by armed groups is a major risk: thousands of children are still associated with armed groups.

Women and girls continue to pay a heavy price of the conflict as a large number of them continue to be victims of violence, including sexual violence. from January to September 2019, 8800 cases of women and girls’ victims of gender-based violence were recorded and supported.

This situation is also based on child protection indicators which were already alarming even before the start of the conflict: 68% of women aged between 20-24 were married before 18 and nearly 6!% of children have not been registered at birth. The prevalence of physical violence is also very high with nearly 92% of children aged 1-14 years believed to be victims of violence.

Despite this situation, following the recommendations of the 2016 Humanitarian Summit and best practices identified by the child protection sector, the Government published the National Plan for Recovery and Consolidation of Peace in the Central African Republic 2017-2021 in which it sets out its priorities around three strategic pillars: (a) supporting peace, security and reconciliation, (b) renewing the social contract between the state and the population and (c) promoting economic recovery and restoring the production sectors.

Significant breakthrough towards the transition and development have been achieved in the child protection sector such as the adoption of the child protection national policy, the ratification of African Charter on the rights and welfare of children and the recent adoption of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. These achievements are paving the path to a more robust and resilient child protection system.

How can you make a difference?

The Child Protection Cluster Coordinator reports to the UNICEF Representative for guidance and general supervision. He/She will work in collaboration with the Gender-based violence (GBV) sub cluster, Child protection cluster and other humanitarian sectors in CAR.

1 – Maintain effective child protection coordination mechanisms at federal level and in States with situations of humanitarian concern.

Guarantee effective child protection preparedness and response in emergencies

Promote interagency/inter-sectoral Child Protection (CP) needs assessments, lead and participate in inter

Ensure that Child Protection standards are promoted among Sub Cluster members and capacities built

Ensure that child protection concerns, and standards are appropriately reflected in inter-sectoral humanitarian coordination fora.

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

Specific Technical Knowledge Required:

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are…

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receivingan offer.

Please note that this is a non-family duty station.

Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offer of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.