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.

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.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a fair chance

The UNICEF Programme of Cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) is designed to address and mitigate the threat of poverty the country’s children face, while responding to the needs with interventions addressing the multiple causative factors.

To find out more about UNICEF’s work in Zambia, please visit UNICEF

How can you make a difference?

The Child Protection Officer will support an upcoming integrated social development programme to be implemented by UNICEF Zambia. The child protection component of the programme will focus on ensuring protection services reach vulnerable children and adolescents and empowers them to achieve their full potential, The incumbent will provide professional, technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for child protection within the Country Programme. H/She will prepare, execute, manage, and implement a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks and contribute to UNICEF’s overall goal of preventing children and adolescents from all forms of violence, abuse, and exploitation.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Child Protection Specialist, the Child Protection officer play a lead role in the implementation of child protection programmes with a specific focus on strengthening district and community-based child protection systems to prevent children and adolescents from harmful practices, Gender Based Violence promote birth registration, child safeguarding, mental health and psychosocial support services and ensure referrals to health facilities for learners requiring specialized attention. The Child Protection Officer will closely work with other sections, line ministries and partners to strengthen a government led child and adolescent centered system-wide approach that ensures delivery of quality services to children and adolescents in families, community, schools, and health facilities.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Support to programme development and planning
• Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.
• Technical and operational support to programme implementation
• Networking and partnership building
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Child Protection Officer Level 2.doc

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of two years of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection, adolescent programming, Gender Based Violence related areas is required.
• Experience working with government or a non-governmental organization on child protection, child rights is an added advantage.
• Relevant experience in programme development in child protection and adolescent programming

Desired Experience:

• Experience in both development and humanitarian context and working in with both rural and urban communities is an added advantage.
• Experience working on integrated programmes targeting education/early childhood education, adolescent programming, health, education, and other social development services is an added advantage

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of the 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…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates living in Mansa, Luapula Provinces, including persons with a disability are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.