Child Protection Consultant – RIS Capacity Building
Vacancy notice: CPCR_01_GR/24_03

Job title: Child Protection Consultant – RIS Capacity Building
Location:  Attica - Deployed to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Reception and Identification Service (RIS) 
Type of contract:  Fix term – full time
Starting date: 15 March 2024
Closing date for applications: 03 March 2024
Contract duration: 6 months

About ICMC

The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) is an international non-governmental organization, whose mission is to protect and serve children as well as uprooted people, including refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, victims of human trafficking, and migrants - regardless of faith, race, ethnicity, or nationality.

ICMC started a partnership with UNICEF in Greece in order to deploy a highly qualified affiliated workforce to assist UNICEF Greece Country Office.

Scope of work

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programme, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF became operational in Greece in early 2016 as an outposted team from the Regional Office of Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) to respond to the significant influx of refugee and migrant children and their families at that time. Following several years of engagement with national stakeholders, UNICEF and the Government of Greece made a decision in January 2020 to formalize the agency’s presence in the country as a full-fledged Country Office. The office falls under the auspices of the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia located in Geneva, which supports the work of 22 Country Offices within its geographical scope, reporting in turn to global headquarters in New York. Within the framework of a mandate for all children in Greece, UNICEF and Greece are now working to address the needs of all vulnerable, marginalized and left-behind children in the country.

In the context of the Country Programme for Greece (2022-2026) approved by the UNICEF Executive Board in February 2022, UNICEF and the Government of Greece have agreed on national targets for children, concerning health, education, social protection, child protection, justice and youth employability.

UNICEF is closely collaborating with Ministry of Migration and Asylum and more specifically with the Reception and Identification Service (RIS). Since 2018, UNICEF through its technical role and programmatic engagement in response to the refugee and migrant crisis, has designed and delivered various capacity building projects targeting frontline staff, for the protection of refugee children and women, in close coordination with relevant state authorities, some of which are outlined below:

• The implementation of the Child-Friendly Site Checklist in all Open Accommodation Sites for asylum seekers; a self-assessment tool designed to promote a harmonized approach to programming for children in sites and help actors identify and respond to priority gaps.
• During the 2019 COVID-19 outbreak, UNICEF organized and delivered through its implementing partner online webinars on (i) staff well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, (ii) child protection in the context of COVID-19 – delivery of remote case management, and (iii) MHPSS and Psychological first aid during COVID-19;
• In 2020-2021, recognizing the need to deliver more tailored child protection training to state authorities, UNICEF designed and delivered child protection training to all camp managers and site management support staff in the OAS and to EODY staff.
• In 2021, UNICEF designed and delivered, community-based child protection mechanisms and piloted them in 4 OAS.
• In 2021, UNICEF organized and delivered trainings to all staff recruited in the 5 newly established safe zones for UAC in OAS, on managing (i) conflict and violence and (ii) self-harm in adolescents. 
• In 2018, UNICEF designed and delivered a one year capacity building training for all frontline staff working in UAC accommodation centers (shelters, safe zones and SILs) on issues relating to (i) mental health and psychosocial support, (ii) managing conflict and violence in residential care centers, (iii) managing self-harm in adolescents and (iv) managing stress and burn-out of frontline staff. Following the delivery of 6 month trainings, UNICEF and NGO Merimna proceeded in the publication of the three booklets.
• From 2018 – 2019, UNICEF designed training materials and delivered training to frontline staff in addressing gender-based violence.
• In 2023, UNICEF in collaboration with SolidarityNow partner is delivering trainings to RIS professionals on the Child Friendly Space context and methodology as well as on the Female Friendly Space context and methodology.

Taking into consideration UNICEF’s work, under the guidance of the Head of Procedures and Training Department of RIS and the Child Protection Officer of the UNICEF Greece Country Office, the incumbent will provide support to RIS for the development and/or adaption of child protection material according to RIS needs and current operational context and will undertake the delivery of trainings as per RIS guidance.

Responsibilities

  The incumbent’s primary responsibilities will include but are not limited to: 

• Contribute to RIS capacity building plan, targeting RIS staff by contextualizing UNICEF’s child protection training material and assist in organizing training groups for various frontline staff, and consolidate learnings from the CP trainings offered to RIS staff.
• Support in the development and/or adaption of existing child protection training material, child safeguarding policy as per current RIS needs and context.
• Support in the development and/or adaptation of a child-friendly material on CP issues concerning the asylum seeker and refugee children, including unaccompanied and separated, residing in the reception and accommodation facilities of RIS.
• Support RIS in ensuring that the online training platform is up to date with relevant CP/GBV training material and facilitate its dissemination to RIS staff.
• Support RIS in the organisation of the 5^th round of the checklist on child friendly sites and in the delivery of an analysis of the results.
• Prepare reports, briefing notes and fact sheets related to child protection trainings designed and provided for RIS.
• Provide general administrative support to the department as required  

Requirements

1. Education: A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or another relevant technical field.

2. Experience: A minimum of four (4) years of relevant professional work experience in child protection programming, refugee and migrant protection etc. and relevant professional experience in the development and delivery of trainings. Capacity to work independently.

3. Language Requirements: Fluency in Greek and English is required.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a detailed CV of maximum four pages in English, a motivation letter and two professional references with full and up to date contact details via email, to Mr. Akis Papakonstantinou, ICMC HR Officer.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 03/03/2024.

The Vacancy Notice number CPCR_01_GR/24_03 and the applicant’s full name must be quoted in the email subject line.

Applications will be evaluated upon reception and interviews with shortlisted candidates may be conducted before the closing date. Referees may be contacted prior to the interviewing stage.

Data protection

By submitting an application, you agree that ICMC collects and manages the information that you provide. You also agree that your data may be shared with UNICEF. Your personal information will be used for recruitment purposes only. Your application will be treated with strict confidentiality.

Owing to the volume of applications, ICMC regrets that only applicants short-listed for an interview will be notified.

ICMC is committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants. ICMC does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, national origin, religion, physical or mental ability, marital status and age. Applications will be treated with strict confidentiality.

ICMC is committed to a Zero-Tolerance Policy toward sexual exploitation, abuses and all forms of unlawful harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment. Screening of applications includes the vetting for records of prior misconduct and reference checking. By submitting your application, you declare your consent for your former employer to disclose any details concerning criminal convictions or misconduct.  ICMC can take other necessary measures to ensure that people involved in substantiated cases of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment are not recruited.