Child Protection Specialist - MHPSS (P-4), #130948, Temporary Appointment (TA - 364 Days) - ECARO o/p Budapest - Hungary

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Protection

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, 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 favoritism.

The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to devastate the lives of children and families. Nearly 6 million refugees are hosted across Europe, 88 percent of them women and children. Over 4.7 million people have returned to Ukraine, while more than 3.5 million remain internally displaced. Children’s mental health continues to be deeply impacted. Many remain at risk of separation and exposure to violence, and associated impacts. In refugee-hosting countries, UNICEF is complementing national efforts, addressing persistent humanitarian needs of those in protracted displacement while facilitating sustainable handover to national authorities. In this complex, protracted crisis, with persisting, intensified attacks, UNICEF continues to provide critical support to children and families through mental health and psychosocial interventions delivered through child protection programming and complementary, coordinated, multi-sectoral approaches.

Job organizational context:

The Child Protection Specialist (MHPSS ) is to be based in the Regional Office Programme Hub in Budapest. The Specialist reports to the Chief, Child Protection, who is at Level 5. The Specialist will provide technical support and guidance to Country Offices (COs) and refugee response offices (RROs) across Europe and Central Asia, with a focus on humanitarian settings, including countries affected by the Ukraine emergency, as well as the mixed migration populations, and those affected by other humanitarian crises.  

Purpose for the job:

The Child Protection Specialist (MHPSS) reports to the Chief, Child Protection for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development and preparation of the MHPSS components of Child Protection programme(s), with focus on the Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA) agenda, and is responsible for the management, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of these components. The extension of the Ukraine emergency has resulted in continued and increasing MHPSS needs among children and families remaining in Ukraine and those displaced to neighboring countries. Simultaneously, the region is seeing an uptick in mixed migration arrivals and the passing of the EU Pact has highlighted need for continued UNICEF engagement to strengthen MHPSS response and policy environment for all displaced, refugee and migrant children and youth in the region.    

To meet these needs, the Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to CO and RRO colleagues with a primary focus on the implementation of the Ukraine Refugee Response Plan (RRP) as well as promotion of child protection approaches and systems strengthening interventions in support of MHPSS. H/She facilitates the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable contributions to regional, national and international efforts to create a protective environment for children against all harm, and to protect their rights to survival, development and wellbeing as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties/frameworks and UN intergovernmental bodies. The Specialist is guided by UNICEF global policies in MHPSS, including MHPSS in child protection and in humanitarian contexts.

How can you make a difference? 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support country and refugee response offic