Child Protection Specialist (NO-3), Fixed Term Position, #00137628, Malawi, Lilongwe, (Open to Malawian Nationals Only)

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights not just as a job, but as a calling.

Job Purpose

The Child Protection Specialist will contribute to achieving sustainable results by strengthening systems that protect children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and harmful practices, and improving sector coordination. This role provides strategic and technical leadership in strengthening the social service workforce and case management systems, supporting the design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of child protection programmes. The specialist will engage with internal and external partners, including government, development partners, and civil society, to facilitate programming, mobilize resources, and participate in policy dialogue and advocacy. The position also supports evidence generation, innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building to enhance programme quality, reach, effectiveness, and efficiency.

Responsibilities

Contribute to achieving sustainable results by strengthening systems that protect children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and harmful practices, and improving sector coordination. Provide strategic and technical leadership in strengthening the social service workforce and the case management system. Support the effective design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of child protection programmes. Engage with internal and external partners, including government counterparts, development partners, and civil society, to facilitate and coordinate programming, and to mobilize and leverage resources. Engage in policy dialogue, review and formulation, as well as high-level advocacy. Support evidence generation, innovation for programme delivery, knowledge management, and capacity building. Proactively coordinate and drive for results to strengthen programme quality and reach, while maximizing effectiveness and efficiency. Provide technical assistance to prevent and respond to violence, abuse, exploitation, and harmful practices. Support programme design and implementation, monitor progress, and strengthen child protection systems to reach the most vulnerable children with critical services. Work closely with government counterparts, civil society, and development partners to support systems strengthening, evidence-based approaches, and scalable solutions.

Work Experience

5 years of relevant work experience in leading and supporting Child Protection (CP) policy review and formulation, systems strengthening, and sector coordination. Experience in high-level advocacy, policy dialogue, and providing technical assistance to government partners is required. Experience in managing donor relations, partnerships, and stakeholder engagement is also required.

Skills

Cross-sectoral collaboration, Analytical and planning, Child protection systems strengthening, Budget analysis, Evidence generation and data analysis, Programme design and implementation, Monitoring and reporting, Policy dialogue and advocacy, Resource mobilization, Capacity building, Stakeholder engagement, Knowledge management

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