Re-Advertisment-Child Protection System Strengthening Specialist Consultancy, Lae Morobe Provin[...] in Eastbourne

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.

With over 850 indigenous languages and one of the most ethnically diverse populations, widespread poverty, and gender inequality make it hard for many children to realize their rights. In Papua New Guinea, UNICEF works effectively both ‘upstream’ (with governments) and ‘downstream’ (at the grassroots level) to carry out its mission through a programme of cooperation jointly developed with the government that guides our work in the country.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

The overall purpose of this assignment is to provide technical assistance (TA) to the Provincial Government of PNG and specifically to the provincial and district Child and Family Services (OCFS) to strengthen the child protection system in the Morobe Province. By supporting the implementation and monitoring of the provisions of the Lukautim Pikinini Act (LPA) 2015 and the Child Protection Policy 2017-2020, the consultant will contribute to accelerating the achievements of the results of the 2023-2028 GoPNG and UNICEF Country Programme—outcome three on strengthening the Child Protection system to prevent and respond to violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children.

The consultant will strengthen the coordination mechanism for Child Protection, ensure the implementation of the provincial engagement framework, and build the capacities of government actors, CSOs, and FBOs at the subnational level.

Scope of Work

In order to protect all children in PNG from violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect and support every child’s access to justice and quality care-based services, a strong child protection system is essential. PNG Government’s commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), ratified in March 1993, recognizes every child’s right to protection and upholds his or her access to justice. For the Government of PNG to fulfill its obligations under the CRC, including preventing and responding to child protection risks and violence against children, an effective and well-functioning child protection system must be built up and maintained over time.

The LPA acknowledges the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) as a dedicated Government institution addressing the existing bottlenecks in the child protection system in PNG, with a combined upstream policy support, training and capacity building, and targeted program interventions. Since its establishment in 2018, the OCFS has made tremendous efforts to address and advance on child rights and build a solid child protection system. UNICEF has supported these efforts, including with provisions of technical and financial assistance.

Some of the results achieved by OCFS include:

• the establishment of the National Council for Child and Family Services;
• the development of a case management database (Primero/CPIMs+);
• the gazettal of twenty-eight child protection officers;
• the development of case management standards and a new handbook for practitioners;
• the development of case management curriculum in collaboration with the Somare Institute for Leadership and Governance (SILAG).

In addition, in 2020, the OCFS began a high-level political and institutional dialogue with the provinces on the implementation of the LPA at the provincial level. This dialogue includes transferring the social welfare functions from the national to the provincial level to ensure that social services such as prevention and response to abuse, violence, and neglect are brought closer to beneficiaries. This process engaged provinces in PNG and led to the implementation of the provisions of the LPA and of the Organic Law, which spells out the roles of the provinces in the social welfare sector vis-à-vis the role of the national institutions.

Against this background, UNICEF is seeking the service of a highly qualified national consultant to continue supporting the OCFS in accelerating the implementation of the LPA and Child Protection Policy key results areas at the provincial level through the strengthening and rollout of the Provincial Engagement Framework, starting in June 2024 for a period of eleven (12) months.

Consultant Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to the provincial government, community development, and child and family services to roll out the provincial engagement framework. This will include sector annual planning and budget formulation to ensure that child protection key priorities are reflected and funded.
• Strengthen the child protection mechanism at the provincial level, including coordinating regular meetings between sectors such as child protection, health, civil registration, police, and justice.
• Develop a Child Protection action plan and follow up on action points.
• Lead, coordinate, and document the ongoing provincial engagement framework on the LPA and ensure the establishment of Child and Family Service provincial councils and at least four Child and Family Service district committees.
• Coordinate and communicate with the NOCFS to facilitate the technical support and exchange information with the national level.
• Support the finalization, rollout, and monitoring of the provincial engagement framework.
• Support the transition of the child protection sub-cluster into a permanent coordination structure for child protection led by the OCFS.
• Participate in the National Council for CFS's regular meetings and report to UNICEF on action points.
• Support the capacity development of the social service workforce, engaging training institutes available in the province.
• Support the development and rollout of the case management curriculum, case management SOP, referral pathway, and Primero Information management system in the province.
• Develop the mapping of services and establish the referral pathways for child protection and GBV.
• Collaborate and support the capacity building of service providers, especially the Family support centres.
• Contribute to the planning and reporting process of the child protection section.
• Perform any other duty as required.

Qualifications

• Advanced University Degree in Social Science, particularly international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, social work, or another relevant field.
• At least 5 years’ experience at national and international level in systems building approach to child protection or social welfare system.
• Solid experience in policy development and capacity building.
• Experience in assessment, research, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Proven expertise and work record in working with government structures and coordinating different stakeholders at national or subnational level.
• Excellent knowledge of the English language.

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

To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background, or disabilities.

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

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