UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child,  Protection

UNICEF has been working in Cameroon since 1975 to allow women and children to fully realize their rights to development without restriction, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF provides financial and technical support to Cameroon across seven areas to fully realize the rights of women and children. These areas include Health, HIV/AIDS, Water-sanitation-Hygiene, nutrition, education, child protection, and social inclusion. UNICEF focuses mainly on children and the most vulnerable and excluded families. Cameroon’s 2020 population is estimated at 26,545,863 people according to UN data. The population is young and generates strong socioeconomic demand. In rural areas, limited access to basic social services and the effects of climate change lead to household impoverishment and severe child deprivations. The task is immense but not insurmountable; it requires the energy of all stakeholders in Cameroon and outside of Cameroon: also, women, men, youth and children, government, technical and financial partners, donors, civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, communities. Everyone is invited to participate in the struggle to meet the challenges ahead. Together, we will act for Cameroon, a country that summarizes the challenges and hopes of Africa.

To learn more about UNICEF Cameroon, use the below

link  https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/CMR/SitePages/AboutUs.aspx

How can you make a difference?

Under the leadership of the Cameroon CO Representative, the Program Specialist – Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), will develop and support UNICEF’s work on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse to meet its institutional and programmatic commitments on PSEA, in line with the CCCs. The Program Specialist (PSEA) will work collaboratively with the Gender and Development Specialist and closely with the Chief of Child Protection.

Within the context of the inter-agency response and the UNCT/HCT PSEA strategy and action plan, the PSEA Specialist will support UNICEF’s contribution to PSEA at the inter-agency level.

Provide leadership, technical support, and monitoring for the implementation of the UNICEF Cameroon Country Office PSEA Action Plan (including in supporting the coordination of the UNICEF PSEA task force) and the UNICEF’s requirements on PSEA as outlined in the Emergency Procedures, including implementation at the field office level and delivering trainings for UNICEF staff.

Represent UNICEF and provide technical leadership in the inter-agency PSEA Network and the PSEA Steering Committee. Contribute actively to coordination meetings and work with relevant stakeholders to help advance the inter-agency PSEA Network action plan and the national HCT strategy on PSEA.

Provide support to the country office on reporting, response, and prevention of SEA and integration of PSEA within UNICEF’s programming across all sectors, including:

Support the country office to promptly establish and/or strengthen effective, safe, and accessible reporting channels for SEA that are embedded within UNICEF’s overall response and consider the needs of women and children so that any child or adult receiving assistance.

In coordination with the Chief of Child Protection and GBV Specialist, review and monitor the effectiveness of GBV/CP referral pathways and support the scale-up of GBV/CP services to fill any gaps within the response; monitor the quality of assistance and follow-up provided to survivors by UNICEF partners.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in design, implementation, and management of protection or GBV programming, PSEA, and child safeguarding, preferably with the UN and/or international NGO.

• Experience working in humanitarian contexts. Familiarity with the latest development in PSEA, inter-agency PSEA responses, and humanitarian cluster systems and understanding of the intersections of PSEA with other technical areas (eg, GBV, Child Protection, AAP, etc.).

• Excellent communication skills (oral and written). Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions and exercise sound judgment in high-pressure situations.

• Excellent facilitation, training, networking, and advocacy skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization and exercise sound judgment in high-pressure situations.

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

• Fluency in English and French are required (oral and written). Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values ​​of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get Acquainted with Our Values ​​Charter:  UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels:  competency framework here .

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone , irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a  wide range of benefits to our staff , including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and  reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities . UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Previous applicants do not need to reapply . Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.