JOB DESCRIPTION

H (no hardship)

Family

Family

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-10-01

August 8, 2025

Child Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
UNHCR is committed to the effective protection to forcibly displaced and stateless children, with children representing more than half of the persons falling under its mandate. UNHCR adopts a rights and community-based approach to address the protection needs of children, with a strong emphasis on inclusion within national child protection, child friendly procedures and working with other sectors to protect children including education. Child protection is recognized as global organizational priority for UNHCR. Dedicated child protection positions are needed to provide technical support to improve UNHCR’s operational capacity to deliver effective protection to children, forcibly displaced and stateless adolescents and youth.
The Child Protection Officer is a member of the protection team in a Country or Sub-Office. S/he may report to a Senior Child Protection Officer, Senior (Community-Based) Protection Officer, Head of Sub-Office or to the Assistant Representative for Protection. In smaller Offices, the post may report directly to the Representative. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for child protection staff. S/he provides functional child protection oversight to information management and programme staff. The incumbent works directly with communities and forcibly displaced and stateless children to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. The incumbent also acts as an advisor to senior management in designing a child protection strategy that fits within the broader Protection and Solutions Strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with forcibly displaced and stateless persons, including children, adolescents and youth. The incumbent plans and undertakes quality, timely and effective child protection responses in line with UNHCR’s Framework for Child Protection, in an age, gender and diversity inclusive manner.
The Child Protection Officer will maintain a close working relationship with the Bureau and the Division of International Protection for system-wide coherence.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
Needs Identification, Strategy and Advocacy
– Support timely assessment, monitoring, reporting of child protection issues including through multi-sectoral and protection specific assessments and monitoring including the meaningful participation of children, adolescents and youth and lead the analysis of child protection related findings.
– Monitor the implementation of UNHCR’s Child Protection strategy within the overall Protection and Solutions strategy.
– Ensure compliance with UNHCR’s child protection policy, priorities and commitments, as well as other aligned policies on age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP), GBV, gender equality, disability and youth empowerment.
– In collaboration with partners, assess the capacity of national child protection system and services, work towards the inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless children into national child protection laws, policies and services and build the capacity of the national child protection system to provide quality support to forcibly displaced and stateless children.
– Oversee child protection data and evidence collection, analysis and dissemination within UNHCR and partners.
– Support the participation of children, forcibly displaced and stateless adolescents and youth to inform protection and assistance programming, support their engagement in protection solutions and ensure that UNHCR meets its commitments to accountability to children, forcibly displaced and stateless adolescents and youth.
– Ensure that existing protection monitoring mechanisms adequately capture protection risks facing children, adolescents and youth.
– Support evidence-based advocacy with UNHCR senior management, authorities and other actors on child protection.

Programme planning and implementation
– Design and monitor the implementation of UNHCR’s child protection programme, including multi-sectoral activities to address the protection needs of forcibly displaced and stateless children.
– Establish/enhance and oversee Best Interests Procedures for children at risk including referral systems, follow-up and monitoring in line with UNHCR Best Interests Procedures Guidelines.
– Establish/update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for child protection services in collaboration with partners.
– Ensure UNHCR and partners’ child protection information management systems are functioning in accordance with UNHCR’s Policy and procedure as well as interagency data sharing protocols and standards.
– Strengthen community-based child protection programmes and approaches in collaboration with communities and community-based protection colleagues.
– In collaboration with UNHCR colleagues, ensure that UNHCR procedures, including registration, refugee status determination, solutions and accountability mechanisms are child-friendly and are in line with AGD approach.
– Provide technical support to UNHCR colleagues to effectively mainstream child protection in UNHCR’s overall response.
– Monitor and refine child protection programs implemented by UNHCR and partners.
– Support the integration of child protection in the operation’s planning, reporting, communication and fund raising.
– Provide functional guidance to UNHCR and partner staff involved in child protection activities.
– Advise UNHCR programme and senior management to ensure that the necessary human and financial resources are allocated to protect forcibly displaced and stateless children.

Partnership and coordination
– Establish and/or strengthen partnerships for Child Protection with community-based, local, national, and international organizations, with a focus on ensuring continuity and sustainability.
– Establish, strengthen and where appropriate lead Child Protection coordination mechanisms, within the broader protection working group/cluster and in consultation with the Senior Protection Officer or Head of Office.
– Represent UNHCR’s position and priorities in relation to child protection in inter-agency fora.
– Contribute to interagency monitoring and reporting on child protection issues and programmes.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
– In collaboration with partners, assess learning needs on child protection for UNHCR teams, partners and government counterparts.
– Develop and implement child protection capacity development plan and activities for UNHCR staff and partners, supports relevant interagency capacity building and integrates child protection within broader UNHCR capacity building plans and initiatives.
– Provide child protection technical guidance to UNHCR and partner staff in protection, education, health and other relevant sectors.
– Introduce innovative approaches, document and disseminate lessons learnt and good practices in child protection and apply relevant knowledge on effective child protection programming to the operation/region.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
International Law, Human Rights, International Development, International Relations, Anthropology, Social Work,
Political Science Social Science or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
At least 4 years of progressively responsible experience in the field of protection of children, broader protection or social work involving children and youth, with knowledge of issues relating to child protection, education, gender, humanitarian and development issues, and GBV prevention and response. Applied experience in child protection prevention and response. Demonstrated knowledge of and implementation of multi-sectorial child protection prevention and response programming. Knowledge of protection in forced displacement settings, knowledge and demonstrated use of UNHCR and Interagency child protection tools and guidance. Strong experience in interacting with and building partnerships and synergies with UN agencies, NGOs and civil society organizations. Skills and experience in interviewing and working with children and families and supervising staff on case management of at risk children.

Desirable
Knowledge of the international legal and policy framework governing refugees, asylum seekers and returnees and IDPs. Demonstrated knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches including community-based child protection. Extensive experience in working with children, adolescents and youth and participatory child friendly approaches. Demonstrated coordination and consensus building skills to manage multiple stakeholder consultation processes. Experience managing child protection case management programmes, including implementation of best interests procedures. Demonstrated understanding of critical issues around child protection data and knowledge of safe and ethical data collection analysis and conducting assessments. Experience using ProGres, CPIMS or other protection data management systems. Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of position and/or interagency child protection learning programme. Demonstrated knowledge of engagement with child protection Interagency humanitarian architecture, experience in interagency coordination and strong skills in working with partners

Functional Skills
*PR-Child Protection Prevention and Response Programming
IT-Computer Literacy
DM-Data Management
CO-Drafting and Documentation
TR-Training – Virtual and face to face
PR-Child Protection Case Management and Best Interests Procedures
PR-Child Protection Information Management System
CO-Cross-cultural communication
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate)
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Child protection work experience in different contexts. Solid knowledge of child protection principles, approaches and standards, as well as refugee protection procedures and protection in forced displaced settings. Demonstrated experience providing technical support on child protection and humanitarian contexts as well as experience implementing child gender-based violence programming or initiatives, such as care for child survivors, prevention and response to child marriage, and the implementation of the Best Interests Procedure. Strong knowledge and use of UNHCR and interagency child protection tools and guidance. Experience in strengthening national child protection systems and advancing the inclusion of refugee children in national services and policies. Extensive experience in building partnerships and fostering collaboration with UN agencies, NGOs, and civil society organizations. Up-to-date knowledge of the UNHCR programming process and results framework.

Fluency in English is essential. Knowledge of French, Spanish and/or Arabic is desirable as well as the specific field experience the candidate should have. DIP seeks diversity in its workforce and will consider gender and geographic diversity in the composition of its teams. DIP encourages colleagues with disabilities to apply.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

The position is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and can accommodate the specific needs for qualified candidates.

Nature of Position:

The Child Protection Officer is a member of the Child Protection Unit within the Division of International Protection and Solutions, reporting to the Senior Child Protection Officer. The incumbent contributes to shaping the organization’s global strategic direction on child protection and provides technical guidance and support to Regional Bureaus, operations, and partners to enhance the implementation of the UNHCR Policy on Child Protection, especially in the areas outlined in the duties section of the job description. The incumbent manages global projects and partnerships, representing UNHCR in relevant inter-agency platforms and initiatives. The incumbent may also have direct supervisory responsibility for child protection staff or affiliated workforce.

The role will focus on strengthening child protection programming in refugee and humanitarian contexts, with emphasis on prevention and response to violence against children, particularly child GBV—including child marriage and caring for child survivors— and trafficking, mainstreaming child protection in other sectors, child protection coordination in refugee settings, and inclusion of refugee children in national systems, both formal and informal. The incumbent will also contribute to the integration of child protection in UNHCR’s multi-year strategic planning, support evidence-based programming, and promote collaboration with UN agencies, NGOs, and civil society to advance protection outcomes for children.

Living and Working Conditions:

The position is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent will be required to travel, sometimes on short notice. Living and working conditions in Switzerland are up to the level of a highly developed country, where easy access to quality schooling, services, medical support, and higher education is available. The position requires residence in Geneva and cannot be undertaken remotely, although some teleworking is possible, after discussions with the manager.

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, CO-Cross-cultural communication, CO-Drafting and Documentation, DM-Data Management, IT-Computer Literacy, PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate), PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Child Protection Case Management and Best Interests Procedures, PR-Child Protection Information Management System, PR-Child Protection Prevention and Response Programming, TR-Training – Virtual and face to face

Bachelor of Arts: Anthropology, Bachelor of Arts: Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts: International Development, Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Work

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Add. 2 to the Bi-Annual 2025 Compendium – Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance