Programme Specialist, P-3, Fixed Term, Kabul, Afghanistan, #00121856

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them reach their full potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child, everywhere, with a strong focus on equity for the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families. This commitment is central to UNICEF's mission and its strategy for sustained growth and stability.

Job Purpose

The Programme Specialist will contribute to UNICEF's mission in Afghanistan by strengthening a culture of Safeguarding and ensuring Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA). This role is critical in a complex humanitarian context characterized by high vulnerability and access constraints, where Safeguarding/PSEA risks are elevated across all sectors. The specialist will be instrumental in preventing, mitigating, and responding to all forms of harm, including sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other safeguarding concerns affecting children, women, communities, and frontline workers. The position requires intensive response to incident alerts, including record-keeping, reporting, survivor support, and follow-up on verification and investigation processes with UNICEF HQ and partners, ensuring donor compliance and strengthening the capacity of UNICEF, partners, and contractors to prevent, report, and respond appropriately to SEA.

Responsibilities

Contribute to the development and implementation of strategies and action plans to strengthen Safeguarding and PSEA across all UNICEF Afghanistan Country Office (ACO) programmes and operations. Provide technical guidance and support to programme sections, implementing partners, contractors, and vendors on integrating PSEA principles into programme design, implementation, and monitoring. Manage and coordinate the response to SEA/SH and Safeguarding incident alerts, ensuring timely and appropriate action, including record-keeping, reporting, and follow-up with relevant internal and external stakeholders. Support the development and delivery of training and capacity-building initiatives for UNICEF staff, partners, and contractors on Safeguarding and PSEA. Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies to address Safeguarding and PSEA risks in the Afghan context, considering cultural sensitivities and intensified restrictions. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of Safeguarding and PSEA interventions, providing regular reports to management and donors. Ensure compliance with donor requirements and organizational policies related to Safeguarding and PSEA. Foster a culture of awareness and accountability regarding Safeguarding and PSEA within ACO and among implementing partners. Collaborate with other UN agencies, NGOs, and government counterparts to coordinate efforts and share best practices in Safeguarding and PSEA. Support the development of communication materials and awareness-raising campaigns on Safeguarding and PSEA for beneficiaries and affected populations.

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of professional experience in programme management, child protection, humanitarian affairs, or safeguarding, preferably in a developing country context. Experience in managing or coordinating responses to protection incidents, including SEA/SH, is highly desirable.

Skills

Programme Management, Child Protection, Safeguarding, PSEA, Humanitarian Affairs, Risk Assessment, Capacity Building, Reporting, Stakeholder Engagement, Monitoring and Evaluation, Interpersonal Skills, Communication Skills

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