Child protection Officer

Host entity: UNICEF

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Community development, Project management, programme development, strategy, Emergency preparedness, crisis response

Application deadline: 10/09/2026

Mission and objectives

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children.

UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress.

UNICEF mobilizes political will and material resources to help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a "first call for children" and to build their capacity to form appropriate policies and deliver services for children and their families.

UNICEF is committed to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children – victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation, and those with disabilities.

UNICEF responds in emergencies to protect the rights of children. In coordination with United Nations partners and humanitarian agencies, UNICEF makes its unique facilities for rapid response available to its partners to relieve the suffering of children and those who provide their care.

UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority.

UNICEF aims, through its country programmes, to promote the equal rights of women and girls and to support their full participation in the political, social and economic development of their communities.

UNICEF works with all its partners towards the attainment of the sustainable human development goals adopted by the world community and the realization of the vision of peace and social progress enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

Assignment context

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of the child, everywhere, in everything the organization does —in programs, 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. 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. Equity 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.

Within the Rohingya refugee response, UNICEF leads the Education, Nutrition, WASH Sectors, and the Child Protection Sub-Sector under the overall umbrella of Rohingya Coordination mechanism. The approach aims to strengthen system-wide preparedness and technical capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies and provide clear leadership and accountability within the respective areas. Specifically, this includes Sustainable Development

Goals:
3. Good Health and Well-being
5. Gender Equality
16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Task description

Within the delegated authority of the Child Protection (CP) Sub-Sector Coordinator or his/her designated mandated representatives, the UN Volunteer Child Protection Officer will:

• Support the coordination and implementation of Child Protection Sub-Sector (CPSS) activities by maintaining effective coordination mechanisms with sector partners, camp Child Protection Focal Points, and other stakeholders.

• Coordinate with CPSS partners on service mapping, referral pathways, and regular updates to ensure accurate and timely information on child protection services and coverage.

• Support the collection, compilation, validation, analysis, and dissemination of child protection data, including partner reporting (5Ws, ActivityInfo, Child Protection Situation Monitoring, Child Rights Monitoring Mechanism (CRMM), and other information management systems), to identify trends, service gaps, duplications, and priority needs.

• Maintain and update CPSS information management platforms, databases, and shared repositories (e.g., SharePoint, KoBo, internal trackers), ensuring that guidance documents, meeting records, datasets, and knowledge products are organized, accessible, and managed confidentially.

• Support preparation of situation reports, dashboards, maps, presentations, and other information products to support evidence-based decision-making, advocacy, resource mobilization, and emergency response.

• Provide information management support during emergencies, including fire incidents, floods, cyclones, landslides, relocations, and other protection incidents, by coordinating rapid data collection, preparing ad hoc reports, and supporting operational decision-making.

• Organize and facilitate CPSS meetings, working groups, technical forums, and consultations, including preparing agendas, taking minutes, following up on action points, and maintaining an updated meeting calendar.

• Support the planning and delivery of training, orientations, and capacity-building initiatives for CPSS partners, Child Protection Focal Points, and other stakeholders on child protection coordination, information management, and reporting requirements.

• Coordinate regular communication with Child Protection Camp Focal Points to monitor service delivery, identify emerging child protection risks, and facilitate timely information sharing and coordinated responses.

• Conduct regular field visits to refugee camps to strengthen coordination, verify information, monitor programme implementation, and support partners in addressing operational challenges.

• Monitor emerging child concerns and trends affecting children and coordinate with relevant stakeholders to ensure timely follow-up and appropriate action.

• Support the development of communication and advocacy materials by producing user-friendly data visualizations, analytical products, and key messages for internal and external audiences.

• Perform any other related duties as assigned by the Child Protection Sub-Sector Coordinator.

Skills and experience

• At least 7 years’ professional work experience at the national and/or international level; humanitarian experience is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international organizations.

• At least 3 years' experience in Child Protection, GBV, or other Protection-related fields and humanitarian coordination.

• Capable of creating a collaborative environment to enhance coordination and possess strong negotiation and advocacy skills.

• Experience in knowledge management, information management, monitoring, and evaluation is essential.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including strong drafting and reporting skills.

• Experience in data collection, validation, analysis, reporting and dissemination, and data visualization for communications, advocacy, and resource mobilization.

• Experience in managing information safely, effectively, and confidentially.

• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a wide range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with communication for development tools and approaches.

• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams comprising international and national personnel.

• Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.), email and internet applications, and familiarity with database management and office technology.

• Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently with minimum supervision, manage competing priorities, and meet tight deadlines; demonstrates sound security awareness.

• Demonstrated commitment to children's rights, volunteerism as a mechanism for sustainable development, and the values and principles of the United Nations system.

Competencies and values

• Integrity and Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Commitment and Motivation
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Judgement and Decision-making
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity

Living conditions

The UN Expert Volunteer (Child Protection) will be based in Cox's Bazar, with regular travel to the Rohingya refugee camps and other locations in Teknaf, Ukhiya upazilas and Bhasan Char Island. As this is a National UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own accommodation and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are covered under the malicious acts insurance plan. Cox's Bazar is a district of Bangladesh known for its fishing port and tourism and is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.
The beach in Cox's Bazar is an uninterrupted 120 km (75 miles) sandy beach with a gentle slope, making it the longest natural sea beach in the world. The climate of Cox's Bazar is similar to that of the rest of Bangladesh and is characterized by a tropical monsoon climate, with high temperatures, heavy rainfall, high humidity, and distinct seasonal variations due to its coastal location.
Cox's Bazar is generally a safe place to live. The district has well-developed communication systems and is well connected to other cities in Bangladesh. National mobile network coverage is available. Cox's Bazar has a domestic airport and is currently classified as a Family Duty Station (Security Level 3; Hardship Category D).

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.