CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Organization: CANADEM
Country: Liberia
Closing date: 01 Sep 2014

CANADEM is seeking individuals with previous UN and international experience who are available for an immediate deployment to Liberia with UNICEF for a 3 month contract ASAP.

Position Title:Alternative Care Specialist (Ebola Response)

Location:Monrovia, Liberia

Duration : 3 months

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Child Protection in Emergency Short Term Contract (P3): Alternative Care Specialist

Reports to: Chief of Child Protection

PURPOSE

The second outbreak of the Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) has left many in need of humanitarian assistance, and have significantly exacerbated the acute vulnerabilities facing women and children, especially orphans. Indeed, the provision of social services to orphans has been severely affected by the EVD. UNICEF alternative care programmes have also been affected, facing several challenges: outbreak of epidemic in orphanages; increased number of children infected with Ebola; increased recruitment of children for orphanages in Ebola stricken communities; cessation of family visits; breaking of family ties; negative psychological effect on children. Under the Supervision of the Child Protection Chief of Section, the CP Specialist on alternative care will assess, design and initiate interventions to address the interim, medium and long term care needs of children. The care advisor will be responsible for ensuring that quality programmes and capacities are initiated to provide care and protection to children in a range of in-country locations.

BACKGROUND

The Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) call for the rapid provision and deployment of qualified personnel to act in the first eight critical weeks of humanitarian response and provide guidance for action beyond that, moving towards defined benchmarks. In the implementation of its Ebola response plan, the UNICEF Liberia Country Office is still scaling up its Child Protection component, specifically in relation to its alternative care programmes. Technical and management support is required in the field and at the capital level. Oversight to ensure adherence to the CCCs of Humanitarian Action by the country office is a critical function during an emergency response.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

§ Identify and agree within and between agencies and other stakeholders the roles, responsibilities and accountability for planned action and future decision-making around care issues. Ensure that care interventions are informed by and integrated with other core sectors of education, health, nutrition, food security and livelihoods.

§ Facilitate coordination between child protection actors who have a role in the provision of interim and longer term care (e.g. through the child protection sub cluster and sub groups of the sub cluster).

§ Ensure planning and subsequent cooperation and program structures are done in partnership with key stakeholders, in particular the Government, and that they aim to establish/strengthen processes and mechanisms at local, district, national (and broader level) which support identification, monitoring and response to the care and protection concerns of children.

§ Create tools for social workers working with alternative care centers or foster care families to provide adequate support to children affected by Ebola.

§ Initiate and/or carry out capacity-building of key international and national staff in specific care and child protection competencies including appropriate approaches, where needed.

§ Train social and health workers on the disease, its prevention, social mobilization skills, proper utilization of personal protective gears, and hygiene promotion, as well as oversee the implementation child protection activities in alternative care centers and foster families.

§ Oversee work of social workers and closely coordinate with the emergency family tracing intervention (Identification, Documentation, Tracing and Reunification - IDTR) to ensure the primary focus of children in care remains on family tracing and reunification.

§ Assist with ongoing assessments of care providers and vetting of interim care provisions based on global standards, principles and practice. Adapt the assessment as necessary and feasible given the context.

§ Ensure vulnerable children experiencing serious challenges because of the Ebola virus are placed in alternative care centers or foster care families.

§ Ensure adequate monitoring and follow up for children affected by the Ebola virus in alternative care centers or foster care families and advocate, plan and programme for longer term community-based care options for children in need of care.

§ Provide technical support and assistance to UNICEF child protection staff and partners, including government and NGOs, to ensure effective implementation of UNICEF programmes in alternative care centers and foster care families, including development or amendment of projects and partnerships at the community level, as needed.

§ Represent Child Protection in Ebola-related meetings, as required.

§ Support the CP Chief with oversight and management of funds for the CP emergency response, or any other tasks as needed.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

§ Weekly updates to Child Protection Chief of section on progresses accordingly to the work plan.

§ Field monitoring monthly reports on the status of the implementation of project activities conducted by NGOs and other partners.

§ Reports on social workers’ action and placement plans.

§ All children orphaned/abandoned by Ebola on the Government’s social workers case load placed in a family type, community based placement.

§ Report capacity development (both formal and on the job training) for UNICEF’s partners.

§ A clear training plan and reports on psychosocial support for protection actors.

§ Reports of CP assessments conducted during the contractual period.

DESIRED BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

§ Advanced University degree in social work, child psychology, or other relevant field.

§ A minimum of 5 years of experience with UNICEF and/or other relevant actors, including experience with child protection programming related to interim, alternative, or foster care for children in overseas contexts.

§ Strong knowledge of and experience in Child Protection in Emergency (CPiE) and strategies, as well as programming and procedures in IDP context and interventions.

§ Knowledge of key international standards and guidelines related to alternative care for children.

§ Experience working in the context of a natural disaster or armed conflict highly desirable.

§ Ability to communicate concepts and ideas effectively orally and in writing including formal public speaking, to work in a team and independently, and to adopt consultative approaches including soliciting inputs of children.

§ Fluency in English (verbal and written). Good written and spoken skills in the language of the humanitarian operation and knowledge of another UN language an asset.

§ Previous experience in UNICEF child protection programming in conflict and/or post conflict countries, including IDP’s response.

§ Must be flexible to live and work in difficult environment.

How to apply:

If you see yourself in and have all of the above-mentioned skills, please register with CANADEM before contacting us. This can be done on our website at www.canadem.ca/register . Then send an email ASAP to pantiwa.naksomboon@CANADEM.ca with Subject Line: " UNICEF-Alternative Care Specialist (Ebola Response) - P3- Monrovia, Liberia" together with an updated resume, citizenship, date of availability and your current location and a phone number where we can reach you. Please also forward blank referee questionnaire that can be found at www.canadem.ca/rqf to two of your references (recent supervisors preferred). Full instructions on how to complete the forms are included in the document; also please send us any evaluation report that you may have about your field work. We will be considering applications as they are received.