Experto/a UNV en Protección de la Niñez en Emergencias
Organizational Context
UNICEF Colombia, as part of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, focuses on child rights protection, aligning with national priorities like peacebuilding, migration, and SDG acceleration. The country program operates within a challenging environment, particularly in Chocó, Valle del Cauca, and Risaralda, which were severely impacted by a major earthquake in August 2026. This event exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, necessitating an integrated, child-centered humanitarian response to address protection risks.
Job Purpose
This role supports UNICEF's integrated humanitarian response in Colombia following a significant earthquake. The primary purpose is to ensure the timely, quality, and accountable implementation of Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE) activities. The volunteer will assist partners in identifying and referring vulnerable children, support case management with authorities, provide community-based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) through learning and protection spaces, and coordinate with mobile teams, implementing partners, and national child protection authorities. The aim is to mitigate protection risks like violence, exploitation, and psychosocial distress among children affected by the disaster.
Responsibilities
The role involves updating and analyzing contextual information on protection risks in prioritized territories. Key responsibilities include supporting inter-institutional coordination between UNICEF, public entities (ICBF, Migration, etc.), agencies, and civil society organizations for humanitarian projects focused on child protection. The volunteer will provide regular updates on project progress and implementation status, offer technical assistance to UNICEF partners on the ground, and monitor the implementation of protection actions, ensuring quality and alignment with UNICEF's strategy for child protection in emergencies and human mobility. Additionally, volunteers are encouraged to engage with the UNV mandate by promoting volunteerism, understanding local volunteerism, providing self-evaluations, contributing field experience stories, and potentially mentoring new UN Volunteers.
Work Experience
A minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience is required. This includes experience in child protection within humanitarian action, providing technical support to NGOs, government bodies, and communities on protection and gender-based violence projects. Experience with the agenda for Children Affected by Armed Conflict (CAAC), Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE), and knowledge of children in human mobility contexts are essential. Familiarity with violence against children (VAC) and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, as well as the Colombian protection system, is also necessary.
Skills
Core competencies include Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability. Professional skills encompass teamwork, commitment to continuous learning, planning and organization, communication, and flexibility. A genuine commitment to the principles of volunteerism, including solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, and autonomy, is essential. Technical expertise areas include communication, advocacy, public information, community development, humanitarian affairs, and protection.