Child Protection Specialist

Job Highlight

The Child Protection Specialist will provide technical support and grant management to the ending child marriage portfolio, under the oversight and technical leadership of the Chief Child Protection. The Specialist plays a central coordination role across government sectors, CSO partners, UN agencies, and district/community-level stakeholders to strengthen operational coherence and referral pathways, as well as supporting coordination with other offices involved in this multi-country grant (Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria). The Specialist also provides quality assurance—covering safeguarding, survivor-centered standards, and timely feedback on actions required to keep implementation on track.

About the Region

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

About the Country/Multi-Country Office

Based in Nairobi, UNOPS East and Southern Africa supports sustainable development across 14 countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe. Since 1995, UNOPS has expanded its footprint in Kenya, delivering services in project management, infrastructure, procurement, and financial management. Across the region, the office implements diverse, partner-funded initiatives that respond to national priorities. In Mozambique, this includes delivering specialized equipment (EU), supporting health services (UNICEF), promoting agro-processing (KOICA), and advancing peacebuilding efforts through a Multi-Donor Fund. UNOPS also supports agricultural input distribution and the Northern Crisis Recovery Project, both funded by the World Bank. In Malawi, efforts include developing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres in partnership with the EU and the British Council. These initiatives reflect UNOPS’ commitment to strengthening national capacities, enhancing service delivery, and supporting progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region.

Job Specific Context

Child marriage remains a critical challenge in Malawi, with approximately 38% of girls marrying before age 18—one of the highest rates globally and the third highest in Eastern and Southern Africa—driven by entrenched poverty, harmful social norms, limited access to services, and weak, under-resourced child protection and case-management systems. The practice disproportionately affects rural and poorer households, where multidimensional deprivation is most severe, and contributes to school dropout, adolescent pregnancy, and intergenerational cycles of poverty.

Despite national progress, the scale and persistence of child marriage requires a targeted, system-strengthening approach that enhances detection, improves survivor-centered response, and expands community-level prevention. Frontline actors— child protection workers (CPWs), police, judiciary, social workers, health workers and community structures—face major constraints including understaffing, limited mobility, slow case processing, poor coordination and weak data systems. As a result, cases are identified late, referrals stall, and survivors often lack timely, survivor-centered support. In addition, awareness of protection risks remains low, child-friendly reporting mechanisms are limited, and preventive services are inconsistent. Community-level structures often lack coverage, trained personnel and adequate facilities.

UNICEF is negotiating a five-year, multi-country partnership with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) with a focus on Ending Child Marriage (ECM). The programme in Malawi builds on existing government structures, aligns with the National Strategy to End Child Marriage (2024–2030), and complements ongoing capacities across social welfare, police, judiciary, and community mechanisms.

Institutional Framework & Recruitment Context

This position is being filled as a Partner Personnel role. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is supporting UNICEF Malawi as a UN partner,providing dedicated recruitment and administrative support for this position.

The selected candidate will be recruited by UNICEF using UNOPS recruitment rules and regulations. Upon completion of the process, the incumbent will be engaged directly as personnel of UNICEF Malawi, not as UNOPS personnel. Consequently, the selected professional will work under the effective management, day-to-day oversight, and supervision of a designated supervisor within UNICEF.

Role Purpose

Provides technical support and grant management for the Malawi ECM portfolio, ensuring the programme is designed and delivered to UNICEF/global standards and is fully compliant with donor requirements and results-based management, under the oversight and technical leadership of the Chief Child Protection.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Provides overall technical and grant management for the Malawi ECM portfolio under the oversight and technical leadership of the Chief Child Protection.
• Facilitates coordination with Government at technical levels (across social welfare, police, justice, health and education), CSO partners, World Bank, the UN system, and other external partners to secure cross-sector operational coherence for the program and referral pathways.
• Provides quality assurance across all districts and implementing partners, including safeguarding and survivor-centred standards.
• Leads grant management, working alongside the partnerships, communications, M&E, supply and budget teams, to have an ongoing status of implementation and provide timely and quality feedback on actions needed for implementation to remain on track.
• Monitoring of implementation and analysis of the changes in the targeted districts, with evidence used to inform programming.
• Liaise with the partner, in coordination with the Chief Child Protection and Deputy Representative Programmes, and support reporting requirements.
• Support coordination linking Malawi programming to the three other participating countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria), and engage with CoE for general updates, technical guidance, etc. Work with the communications and partnerships team to identify key moments that will be important for visibility.
• Coordinate with other partners working on ECM to mitigate risks of duplication and/or overlap.
• Support risk management (fiduciary, reputational, protection risk) and the identification of mitigating actions for a politically and socially sensitive agenda (child marriage and GBV related response)
• Support documentation to support scale up initiatives and/or policy and operational products, and archiving of grant related information and data.
• Provide technical support for capacity building activities.
• Support the review of key grant and/or technical documents including but not limited to terms of reference, reports, advocacy materials, etc.
• Undertake monitoring visits to project sites and identify areas which may need further attention.

Skills

Child Advocacy, Child Protective Services, Child Welfare, Government Relations, Grant Administration, Grant Monitoring, Partnerships, Planning

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

• A Master’s degree in one of the following fields: international development, social science, human rights, psychology, or another relevant field is required.
• A combination of a Bachelor's degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

Experience Requirements

Required

• A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant work experience in child protection is required with a bachelor's degree, OR a minimum of five (5) years of work experience in child protection with a master's degree.
• At least 3 years of proven experience in coordinating large scale grants.
• Experience in implementation of ending child marriage programming at national and district level.
• Strong analytical and report writing skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Desired

• Experience working with the UN.
• Work experience in a low-income country.
• Experience working in emergencies is an asset.

Language Requirements

LanguageProficiency LevelRequirementEnglishFluentRequired

Additional Information

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.