Unicef-Bco : Terms of Reference (Tor)

TERMS OF REFERENCE FORMAT (FOR Temporary Appointment contracts)

UNICEF-BCO : TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) Job Title and Level: – Children Protection Officer -NOB

Section: Child Protection

Duration: 11 months 6 + 5 upon approval of new country programme)

Duty Station: Cox Bazar- Bangladesh

1. Background:

The area of Cox’s Bazar District under Chittagong Division, located in the south east of Bangladesh has some of the lowest social and economic indicators, including extreme poverty among over 50% of the population. Indicators specifically relating to child protection show a birth registration rate which is below national average, a comparatively high incidence of child labour and early marriage as well as a high number of children between 2-9 years with at least one reported disability.1 Formal alternatives for children without parental care are very limited and almost exclusively institutional, rather than family and community-based.

As one of the most famous tourist spots in Bangladesh, a major source of economy in Cox's Bazar is tourism. As a result, many hotels, bars and restaurants have been built in the city and coastal region. Children of various ages, both boys and girls, are employed in these facilities, putting them at particular risk of sexual abuse and exploitation.

Furthermore, children in this region are vulnerable to emergencies, such as recurring floods and cyclones. Notably, due to its geographical location along the Bay of Bengal and flat topography, Cox’s Bazar District is one of the country’s most cyclone-prone areas.

The District is also characterised by a large presence of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. There are 22,829 Rohingyas - out of which 56% are children - who are currently registered by the Government of Bangladesh as refugees and live in the two official camps of Kutapalong and Nayapara; and an estimated 200,000 Rohingyas who have not been registered by the Government and who are living at the Leda site as well as in the surrounding communities. Children belonging to these groups have been systematically denied access to many of their rights, such as education and health care, while they remain at high risk of violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination.

With this backdrop and with the support of 2 consecutive international consultants paired with national staff, the Child Protection programme has been accelerating its support in Chittagong Division/Cox’s Bazar District in the following key areas:

 Piloting of digitalization of Birth registration information system  Establishment of a Child Protection network reflecting community and Upazilla level  Establishment and maintenance of Child Friendly spaces  Adolescent centres in Ukiya Upazilla  Piloting of a stipend livelihood initiative to support adolescents  Implementation of minimum package of social protection services  Piloting of transformation of care in government orphanages (‘Shishu Paribars’) and reintegration of children

2011 interventions in these areas, based on a modelling strategy, will directly contribute towards quality planning and programming for the next country programme cycle 2012 -2016. This is because one of the main strategies for the next

1 Source: UNICEF MICS 2007 country programme is to reach the poorest, most excluded populations, and to reduce social and economic disparities between and within districts through geographic targeting, continuation of modelling of social protection services and promotion of de-centralization.

It is already evident within the Child Protection Programme that in order to reach this vulnerable population, de-centralized support is needed to ensure proper implementation of modeling and responding to contextualized challenges and needs. Therefore in 2011, to accelerate programme implementation and ensure quality of interventions as well as ‘preempting’ for the next country programme, all strategic 10 Districts of the Child Protection Programme (Dhaka, Rajshahi, Syhlet (and other northern districts), Khulna, Barisal, Bandarban, Rangamati, Jessore and Chittagong/Cox’s Bazar) are under the responsibility of specific child protection officers. The role of the each Child Protection Officer is to provide timely technical support, monitoring and follow up of all interventions in each respective District.

Since January 2011, to ensure better technical assistance at field level, in particular for the modeling components and exit strategies implementation, section staff tasks has been redistributed by geographical areas of programme implementation. In this regards, a series on technical guidance have been developed by project managers and child protection specialist. However by June 2011, there will be only 6 Child Protection Officers following up in 10 key Districts out of which 3 as secondary work in addition to their central level work. This illustrates a staffing gap and to ensure appropriate and timely follow up, a temporary appointment, specifically looking after Chittagong and Cox Bazar given the Districts vulnerable population and social and economic indicators, should be appointed. With the new structure adopted for 2012-2016 country programme, the staffing gap should be resolved after completing the recruitment process with 11 child protection officers planed, 7 field based and 4 for the central level. Taking into consideration the planed phase for this recruitment, the TA contract duration should be for 11 months, upon approval of new country programme.

2. Purpose of Assignment:

To provide timely and appropriate support to project partners to implement key activities under the 2011-2012 AWP and to provide technical support to enhance both quality and capacity of partners, a Child Protection Officer, on a temporary appointment, will be assigned for an eleven (11) months period. This Protection Officer will be responsible for supporting and monitoring all Children at Risk Project and Policy, Advocacy and Legislative Reform Project activities detailed under the District based AWP for Cox Bazar and Chittagong and the stipend initiative.

Most importantly;  Ongoing implementation of digitalization of Birth registration information system  Establishment of a Child Protection network reflecting community, Upazilla and district level  Establishment and maintenance of Child Friendly spaces  Adolescent centres  Piloting of a stipend livelihood initiative to support adolescents  Implementation of minimum package of social protection services  Piloting of transformation of care in government orphanages (‘Shishu Paribars’) and reintegration of children

By carrying out this role, the Child Protection programme is better ensured that planned results for 2011-2012 will be achieved, the modeling of interventions will be appropriately carried out and lesson learned will be documented.

In parallel, he/she will ensure close cooperation with the field operation colleagues of UNICEF and other key stakeholders in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar Districts.

He /she will be based in Cox Bazar but will spend a minimum 40 % of time in Chittagong Districts.

3. PBA# - SC/2009/0056-00 – SC/2010/9904

4. Indicative assignment dates: 11 months from signing of contract upon approval of new country programme

6. Supervisor: ------7. Major duties and responsibilities: Provide technical assistance, monitoring and follow up of all interventions related to the Children at Risk Project and Policy, Advocacy and Legislative Reform Project implemented in the Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar District including the following: - Building and strengthening the minimum package of social protection services modeled in Chittagong District including the promotion of reintegration of children and transformation of the Open Air Schools into Child Friendly Spaces - Provision of proactive social work training using Basic Social Service Training and Professional Social Service Training modules - Establishment and strengthening of the Permanent Child Friendly Spaces in Cox’s Bazar including the stipend programme for adolescents - Ensure effective functioning of the CP network and provide technical guidance where appropriate - Facilitate the piloting of the transformation of care in government orphanages (Shishu Paribar – Girls) in Cox’s Bazar and promotion of reintegration of children - Provision of technical assistance, monitoring and follow up on all relevant interventions detailed in the District AWP - Strengthening of the Child Help Desk through technical guidance and coordination with relevant stakeholders

8. Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience/competencies required for the assignment: Education:  Advanced university degree in Social Work or other related field. Work experience:  At least 3 years of relevant professional work experience in programming, monitoring and evaluation, in child protection related issues especially in the areas of birth registration, Child friendly spaces, children with contact with the law, community based child protection mechanisms  Excellent communication (in both English and Bangla) and analytical skills  A team player  Ability and willingness to work both at national and field level.  Good training and facilitating skills  Sensitivity towards diverse population, including vulnerable and at risk groups.  Prior working experience with international organizations is an advantage Language requirements:  Excellent command of written and spoken English & Bangla

Competencies/skills: UNICEF foundational/functional competencies Diversity and inclusion, Integrity, Commitment, Communication, planning, setting standards and monitoring work, Working with people, Drive for results and team work

Please send your application with a copy of your latest CV and P-11 form to: The Chief, Human Resources Section, 1 Minto Road, Hotel Ruposhi Bangla Annex, Shahbag, Dhaka 1000.

Last date of receiving application: 16 June 2011 You may email to : [email protected]