Position Title: Child Protection Specialist
Receiving Agency: UNICEF
P Level: P3
Location: Bujumbura, Burundi
Duration: 6 months
Language: French and English fluency required

  The recent conflict in the provinces of North and South Kivu of the DRC has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, affecting neighbouring countries, particularly Burundi. The military offensive in DRC of M23 has intensified, causing mass displacement and human rights abuses with tens of thousands of people fleeing to Burundi. Arrival of Congolese people fleeing the violence intensified strongly from 14 February 2025, following the arrival of M23 forces in Bukavu.

On 16 February 2025, UNHCR Burundi declared the activation of the draft contingency plan. On 19 February 2025, the Government of Burundi announced prima facie recognition of refugee status of all Congolese people having arrived in Burundi since the beginning of 2025.
This situation puts a strain on the existing human resources of the country office which is also responding since July 2024 to an outbreak of Mpox, recurring cholera and measles epidemics, and internal displaced populations; and preparing for potential cases of Marburg (MVD) and Ebola (EVD) following outbreaks in respectively Tanzania and Uganda. ROLE PURPOSE: 

Help meet the immediate child protection needs among refugees, returnees and host community populations following the influx from DRC. 
The CP Specialist will support the Child Protection programme of UNICEF in Burundi in its emergency response to the refugee crisis in Burundi. The overall responsibility of the CP Specialist is to effectively support the on-site humanitarian response to meet the immediate needs of the affected populations, notably the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs of children, parents and caregivers; the provision of alternative care to unaccompanied and separated children; individual case management including support to Best Interests Determination (BID) Processes and Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR); support to Children Associated with Armed Forced and Armed Groups (CAAFAG); and prevention and response to GBV. The CP specialist is also expected to assist the CO in maintaining the centrality of Child Protection in the response, working closely with the overall Emergency Coordinator within the office and ensuring close coordination with UNHCR’s protection team that leads on interagency coordination.

The Child Protection Specialist will report directly to the Chief for Child Protection of UNICEF in Burundi.

The CP specialist will be responsible for / support the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF’s emergency response in activities and results related to Child Protection, ensuring overall efficiency, effectiveness and delivery of results in accordance with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) and national and international humanitarian standards.

MAJOR DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 
Emergency Child Protection Programme planning and management, monitoring, and delivery of results

• Support strategies and mechanisms to scale up the child protection response to the refugee influx in line with UNICEF’s CCCs, and taking into account other emergency-related situations such the Mpox outbreak, IDP response and MVD and EVD preparedness
• Provide strategic and technical guidance to ensure the provision of MHPSS, alternative care to unaccompanied and separated children, individual case management including BID and FTR processes, and the prevention and response to GBV
• Provide technical support and assistance to UNICEF child protection staff and partners, including government and NGOs, to scale up and implement the child protection components of emergency response programmes, including development or amendment of projects and partnerships
• Monitor the trends and emerging evidence of child protection concerns and ensure appropriate response
• Work closely with other colleagues to identify implementing partner and draft programme document when and as needed
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial/budget, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect/analyse/ share information on implementation issues, provide solutions on routine programme implementation and alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level interventions and/or decisions
• Draft updates for CP in situation analyses, sitreps, flash appeals and other relevant documents
• Increase access to financial resources available for the child protection emergency response through established humanitarian funding mechanisms, and by pursuing new opportunities, as required
• Support the CP Chief with oversight and management of funds for the CP emergency response

Coordination:

• Co-lead the Child Protection in Emergencies Taskforce with government
• Collaborate closely with other CP actors and humanitarian agencies, local authorities, and refugee communities to ensure a coordinated CP responses related to DRC humanitarian Crisis in Burundi.
• Provide technical support to the CPiE Taskforce in information management
• Support conduct of rapid joint child protection assessments
• Represent UNICEF Child Protection in humanitarian-related meetings, as required, including in interagency and cross-sectoral discussion, advocating for child protection to be reflected as a priority component of the refugee response

Training, Awareness-raising and Advocacy:

• Organize training sessions for UNICEF implementing partners and key CP actors including government counterparts on CP in emergencies
• Raise awareness on child protection concerns and UNICEF’s response thereto through relevant humanitarian, media and communication outlets, as appropriate

Reporting:

• Prepare regular reports on the progress of activities, challenges encountered, and outcomes achieved
• Provide inputs on child protection concerns and UNICEF’s response thereto in all UNICEF, inter-agency and government reporting processes

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced university degree in social work, international relations, law, child psychology, or relevant field.
• A minimum of 5- 8 years of experience with UNICEF and/or other relevant actors, including experience with child protection programming in humanitarian situations. A track record of contribution to child protection preparedness and response to refugee/ mixed migration flows is a requirement.
• Experience working closely with UNHCR would be an advantage.
• Experience leading or participating in humanitarian coordination mechanisms would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of UNICEF’s core commitments to children in humanitarian action as well as the humanitarian cluster approach, particularly the child protection working group (sub-cluster), gender-based violence area of responsibility, and protection cluster.
• Fluency in French is a requirement (verbal and written). Fluency in English desirable.
• Communication - Ability to express complex technical concepts effectively, both verbally and in writing; effectively presenting thoughts and ideas in a clear, concise, and readily understood manner. Listens to and acknowledges others' perspectives and views.
• Builds, maintains, and leverages a diverse network of contacts, strategic partnerships and alliances with donors, as well as other UN Agencies, NGOs, intergovernmental organisations, international financial institutions, media and civil society.
• Collaboration - Cooperates and works effectively with others in the pursuit of common goals respecting different gender, culture, opinions, values, perspectives, ideas, skills, expertise, knowledge, and experiences.
• Judgement - Able to make effective, realistic, and impactful decisions based on limited information and time, logical inferences, experiences, and the consideration of implications, alternatives, and consequences.
• Flexibility - Works effectively on multiple assignments simultaneously in an emergency setting and adapts to changing demands and circumstances; adaptable and ready to travel with little or short notice.
• Managing stress - Performs effectively in unstable, uncertain, or potentially dangerous environments while maintaining physical and mental health.

CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.