Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE) Officer

Host entity: UNICEF Papua New Guinea

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Community development, Economics, poverty reduction, livelihoods, Humanitarian affairs, protection

Application deadline: 24/09/2026

Mission and objectives

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 favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries.
Therefore, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Assignment context

Child Protection is the prevention of, and response to, exploitation, abuse, neglect, harmful practices and violence against children. It is embedded in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – the most widely ratified international human rights treaty in history – and is the moral minimum for any society. Child Protection is universal: it is for all children everywhere, from low- to high-income countries, in all regions and settings. The consequences of inaction are catastrophic: profound, enduring and often deadly; with economic costs of violence against children estimated at $7 trillion per year. But this harm is evitable: progress can be made through political will for the fulfilment of children’s rights, societal change, and an emerging science of prevention and response strategies.

This UNV assignment is part of UNICEF’s Child Protection section in UNICEF PNG Country Programme 2024-2028.

The Child Protection Outcome seeks to ensure children and adolescents, including the most vulnerable social groups and those affected by humanitarian situations and climate change, are protected from violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and harmful social norms and benefit from a functioning child protection system that includes prevention and response services that are equity-focused and gender-responsive at national and sub-national levels.

The outcome is aligned with the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly related to SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions). It supports Goal Area 3 within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, which seeks to ensure that every girl and boy is protected from violence and exploitation in both humanitarian and development contexts. This includes all forms of violence, including gender-based violence (GBV), trafficking, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Since June 2026, PNG has been experiencing an El Niño event that models predict will be strong and may continue into early 2027. By August 2026 the National Capital District, Gulf, Madang and East Sepik were at drought critical status, most other provinces at drought alert, and frost had affected high-altitude gardens in Enga, Western Highlands, Southern Highlands and Central. Lessons from the 2015-16 El Niño, when 2-2.7 million people were affected, show that drought and food insecurity heighten child protection risks: family separation, child labour, child marriage, sexual exploitation and abuse around relief distributions, school drop-out, sorcery accusation-related violence and psychosocial distress. The Government has established an ENSO Task Force with provinces and districts as first responders, and the UN Disaster Management Team has agreed that the immediate focus is preparedness and anticipatory action: rapid provincial assessments, information management, sector coordination, 5W reporting and risk communication.

Task description

UNICEF PNG co-leads the Child Protection Sub-Sector with the National Office for Child and Family Services (NOCFS) and has developed a Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE) response plan for the drought, anchored in the Lukautim Pikinini Act 2015, the national Child Protection Case Management (CPCM) SOP and the national Child-Friendly Space Toolkit, and structured around coordination and evidence, safe identification and referral of at-risk children, MHPSS through Child-Friendly Spaces, prevention of family separation, PSEA and child-safe relief distribution, and CPiE messaging within risk communication and community engagement.


The National UN Volunteer CPiE Officer will provide dedicated, field-based technical and operational support to the CPiE drought response, with a particular focus on leading child protection assessments in the priority provinces, strengthening referral mechanisms, and supporting the capacity building of provincial and district child protection actors.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief Child Protection or her designated mandated representative(s) (Child Protection Specialist, CPiE focal point), the UNV CPiE Officer will:

Child protection assessment and monitoring in priority provinces
• Lead the roll-out of the CP-focused El Niño-induced Drought and Food Security Needs Assessment and Monitoring Tool in the priority provinces (NCD, Gulf, Central, Western Highlands, Southern Highlands, Enga, and drought-critical Madang, Morobe and East Sepik), working with Provincial Offices for Child and Family Services (POCFS), District Child Protection Officers, Family and Sexual Violence Units, Family Support Centers, church and NGO partners.
• Brief and support provincial enumerators and CP focal points on the tool; undertake field missions to verify findings and observe protection risks at relief distribution points, water collection points, markets and care centers.
• Consolidate, clean and analyze assessment returns; prepare provincial CP situation summaries and inputs to the Disaster Management Team / UNHAT multisectoral needs assessment and the Child Protection Sub-Sector 5W.
• Establish and maintain a monthly CP monitoring cycle for the priority provinces, tracking protection risks, children without caregivers, referrals made and service continuity, and reporting critical incidents immediately.

Capacity building and referral mechanism strengthening
• Support the design, organization and co-facilitation of regional CPiE trainings in Port Moresby, Mt Hagen, Morobe, Madang and East Sepik, the provinces where drought impact is greatest - on child protection risks in drought, safe identification and referral under the CPCM SOP, Psychological First Aid, positive parenting, PSEA and child-safe and GBV prevention distribution, and the Child Friendly Spaces Toolkit.
• Provide follow-up coaching and remote support to trained POCFS and District CP Officers, CFS supervisors and facilitators and partner staff and relief distribution focal points on PSEA and child safeguarding, including cascade orientation on child protection referral pathways, case management, parenting programme and child friendly spaces.
• Strengthen referral mechanisms in each priority province: update the child protection and GBV service mapping, support the use of the interagency referral form, and ensure CPCM SOP-consistent, confidential handover of identified children to mandated caseworkers with documented follow-up.
• Support provincial Child Protection Working Groups in updating and displaying referral pathways and safe feedback channels (NDC 113 hotline; 1-Tok Kaunselin Helpim Lain 7150 8000).
• Prepare training materials, reports and inputs for programme and donor reporting.
• Contribute child protection, PSEA and AAP inputs to UNICEF WASH, nutrition, health, education and RCCE drought plans and to provincial response plans.

Technical and operational support to programme implementation
• Undertake monitoring visits to Child-Friendly Spaces operating as drought entry points (Gordons Market, Mt Hagen and any new sites), applying the CFS Toolkit Minimum Standards checklist and supporting linkages with nutrition screening, health outreach and RCCE.
• Support the distribution of CPiE and PSEA information materials in English and Tok Pisin through CFS, Family Support Centers, POCFS and relief distribution points.
• Report on bottlenecks, critical issues and potential problems for timely action, and follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.

Networking and partnership-building
• Support the Child Protection Sub-Sector secretariat: meeting preparation and minutes, fortnightly 5W updates, partner mapping and gap analysis within the NDC/ENSO coordination architecture, and close working partnerships with NOCFS, POCFS and provincial and church partners.
• Draft communication and information materials for CPiE advocacy and awareness, and support human-interest stories documenting the drought response.

Results/expected outputs:

• As an active Child Protection UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• CP drought assessment completed in the priority provinces within the first two months of the assignment, with findings integrated in the DMT/UNHAT multisectoral assessment and the strengthening the Child Protection Sub-Sector 5W; monthly provincial CP monitoring reports produced thereafter.
• Regional CPiE trainings delivered in Port Moresby, Mt Hagen and Madang (covering Madang and East Sepik), with provincial and district CP actors and partner staff trained, and cascade orientation of distribution focal points supported.
• Referral mechanisms strengthened: service mappings updated, referral pathways and safe feedback channels displayed in the priority provinces, and children identified through assessments and CFS referred under the CPCM SOP with documented follow-up.
• Child protection, PSEA and AAP considerations integrated in UNICEF-supported sector and provincial drought response plans and distribution modalities.
• Child-Friendly Spaces monitored against the CFS Toolkit Minimum Standards checklist and CPiE/PSEA IEC materials distributed through CFS and relief channels-building strategies for Implementing Partners.
• Support the development of reports, situation updates and human-interest stories related to the CPiE drought response.
• End-of-assignment report documenting evidence, lessons learned and recommendations for scale-up, handed over to the Child Protection section and POCFS/NOCFS, including data analysis of the Child Protection, Violence Against Children and Women in the country
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment

Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking active part in UNV activities (for instance, in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Skills and experience

At least three years of professional work experience at the national and/or provincial level in Child Protection, humanitarian response, social services, and social and human development-related areas.

Have experience in one or more of the following areas: child protection in emergencies, case management and referral pathways, community-based child protection, psychosocial support or Child-Friendly Spaces, GBV programming, PSEA, needs assessments and field data collection (including mobile tools such as KoBo), or training and facilitation; familiarity with the Lukautim Pikinini Act 2015, the CPCM SOP or the PNG CFS Toolkit is an asset. Prior experience areas also valued: child protection system strengthening, social service workforce strengthening, case management, child protection and GBV including in emergencies, positive parenting programmes, and birth registration.

Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge;

• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in working with children, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.
• Experience in working with programme related to gender-based violence is an asset, as is experience working for the UN or other international development organizations.

Competencies and values

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

The 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

Living conditions

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with more than 840 languages. 85% of the population of PNG lives in rural areas, and the geography is beautiful and challenging, made up of seas, islands, and mountains. Port Moresby is the capital and largest city and is very cosmopolitan. The city has areas of both high and low security. Residents and visitors should take precautions, especially at night and in certain neighborhoods known for higher crime rates.

Port Moresby is well connected by air to the rest of the country and other international routes. The climate in Port Moresby is tropical, with two distinct seasons: the wet season from December to March and the dry season from May to October.

The cost of living can be high, especially housing and food. Medical facilities are available but may lack the necessary high-tech resources.

Banking is available with numerous mobile telecommunication networks and good internet connectivity.

Port Moresby has good road network with minimal power shortages.

Papua New Guinea is a family duty station. This is a national UN Volunteer assignment: the UN Volunteer conditions of service for national UN Volunteers apply. The assignment involves frequent official travel to provinces, including drought- and frost-affected districts, in line with UN security procedures, with entitlements for official travel per UNICEF and UNV procedures.

Papua New Guinea is a unique country and a ‘land of a million different journeys. It provides an exciting and enriching environment but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, stamina, and commitment. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in a hard and security-challenged environment are essential.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.
The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.