Child Protection Officer

Organizational Context

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office supports sustainable development across 14 countries, including Malawi, implementing diverse, partner-funded initiatives. In Malawi, UNOPS supports projects like developing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres. This role is within UNICEF Malawi, with UNOPS providing recruitment and administrative support. The incumbent will work under UNICEF's direct supervision.

Job Purpose

This Child Protection Officer role is crucial for supporting the day-to-day implementation and coordination of Ending Child Marriage (ECM) and Mobile Response Team (MRT) activities at national and district levels in Malawi. The position involves leading routine engagement with districts, service providers, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), providing essential field supervision, and closely monitoring implementation progress. A key aspect of the role is to proactively identify and address operational bottlenecks to ensure the effective delivery of child protection services and contribute to the national strategy to end child marriage.

Responsibilities

The Child Protection Officer will provide technical support at the district level, acting as the primary counterpart to government and CSO partners. This includes translating technical guidance into practical actions, ensuring service providers understand and apply Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The role involves guiding and supervising Mobile Response Teams, reviewing their performance, and providing feedback for continuous improvement. Ensuring case management processes adhere to best practices, including child safeguarding and survivor-centered approaches, is vital. The officer will mentor case workers, strengthen documentation, and support on-the-job learning for partners to build capacity. Monitoring case management and referral progress, addressing bottlenecks, and coordinating with other ECM partners to avoid duplication are key duties. Regular field visits will assess progress, identify risks, and provide recommendations for programme enhancement. Reporting on achievements, challenges, and lessons learned will support evidence-based decision-making.

Work Experience

A minimum of four years of relevant work experience in child protection is required with a bachelor's degree, or two years with a master's degree. Demonstrated experience working with multiple stakeholders (Government, CSOs, UN) and district councils on child protection programming is essential. Strong professional relationship-building skills at the local level, analytical and writing abilities, and expertise in capacity building, case management, and referral pathways are also required.

Skills

Child Advocacy, Child Protective Services, Child Welfare, Government Relations, Partnerships, Planning, Case Management, Capacity Building, Monitoring and Evaluation.

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