UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

Hiring Organization: UNICEF
Location – Locality: Nairobi
Location – Region: Kenya
Industry: NGO
Job Type: Full Time
Salary: KES
Date Posted: 08/04/2024.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
As UNICEF’s MHPSS team within Child Protection in Humanitarian Action continues to expand through new partnerships and projects, this role will: support the operational and technical management of global MHPSS projects and NGO and UN system partnerships, technical support on community based MHPSS and Child Protection programmes and initiatives, and contribute to global MHPSS and Child Protection coordination mechanisms and networks.

The Specialist contributes to the achievement of concrete and sustainable programme/project results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework

How can you make a difference?

Join our team as a Child Protection Specialist – MHPSS and lead efforts in transforming mental health and psychosocial support for children and adolescents in crisis situations. In this role, you’ll oversee the strategic development and implementation of cutting-edge MHPSS interventions, ensuring they align with UNICEF’s core commitments and global standards. Your expertise will directly contribute to shaping and scaling effective MHPSS programs across diverse and challenging humanitarian contexts.

In this role, you will work closely with focal points within the Child Protection Section and other relevant sections at headquarters, such as Supply Division, Human Resources, PPD, Education, Health, and the Office of the Executive Director. You will also engage with key partners, including the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA), WHO, IOM, The MHPSS Collaborative, MHPSS.net, subject matter experts, and multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, to ensure that high-quality MHPSS services are effectively scaled up and integrated globally for children, adolescents, and caregivers.

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

Join our team as a Child Protection Specialist – MHPSS and lead efforts in transforming mental health and psychosocial support for children and adolescents in crisis situations. In this role, you’ll oversee the strategic development and implementation of cutting-edge MHPSS interventions, ensuring they align with UNICEF’s core commitments and global standards. Your expertise will directly contribute to shaping and scaling effective MHPSS programs across diverse and challenging humanitarian contexts.

Key responsibilities include developing and managing partnerships with UN entities, humanitarian partners, government institutions, and civil society organizations to advance impactful, evidence-informed projects. The role involves drafting and managing partnership agreements, MOUs, and contracts, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s policies and legal frameworks. The role also provides technical support to NGO and UN partners on UNICEF policies and best practices related to child protection and MHPSS. Coordination involves contributing to global Child Protection and MHPSS networks, co-leading working groups, representing UNICEF in global task forces, and supporting inter-divisional collaborations for MHPSS programming. More details can be found in JD: Download File JD_FT_P3_CP Specialist MHPSS – 129248.docx

The following minimum requirements:

  • An Advanced University degree in psychology, social work, international development or other relevant field is required.

Work Experience:

  • A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in child protection and MHPSS at national or international levels is required.
  • Experience in a humanitarian context is required.
  • Relevant experience in programme or project development and management, including budget and partnership management, is required.
  • Relevant experience in community based MHPSS and Child Protection Case Management is required.

Desirables:

  • Experience in global inter-agency coordination is an asset.
  • Experience working in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset..

For every Child, you demonstrate…

  • UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

  • Builds and maintains partnerships
  • Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
  • Drive to achieve results for impact
  • Innovates and embraces change
  • Manages ambiguity and complexity
  • Thinks and acts strategically
  • Works collaboratively with others.