VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Position: Child Protection Officer

Organization: UNOPS (supporting UNICEF Malawi)

Project: Ending Child Marriage (ECM) Portfolio

Focus Areas: Mobile Response Teams (MRTs), mass birth registration for legal identity, strengthened justice pathways, and large-scale community norm change

Job Highlight

The National Child Protection Officer will provide technical support at national and district level to the ending child marriage portfolio, under the oversight and technical leadership of the Child Protection Specialist. The Child Protection Officer will support the implementation for one of Malawi's most ambitious child protection investments, focusing on Mobile Response Teams (MRTs), mass birth registration for legal identity, strengthened justice pathways, and large-scale community norm change.

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).

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.

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.

UNICEF is entering 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. 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

Supports day-to-day implementation and coordination of ECM and MRT activities at national and district levels. Leads routine engagement with districts, service providers, and CSOs, supports field supervision, monitors implementation progress, and addresses operational bottlenecks.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Support implementation at district level and act as primary technical counterpart to Government and CSO partners at district level
• Translate technical guidance into practical action on the ground, ensuring service providers clearly understand agreed-upon SOPs and are equipped to apply them in real-time, bridging the gap between policy and practice
• Guide and supervise Mobile Response Teams on the ground to ensure interventions are delivered in line with established SOPs. Regularly review performance, provide feedback, and support continuous improvement to maintain high-quality, timely, and coordinated responses
• Ensure that case management processes adhere to best practice principles, including confidentiality, child safeguarding, and survivor-centered approaches. Review cases, provide mentorship to case workers, and strengthen documentation, decision-making, and follow-up processes
• Support the design of orientation packages and on-the-job learning coaching for partners. Identify capacity gaps and tailor support to strengthen technical competencies and ensure sustained improvements in service delivery
• Track and monitor progress of case management and referrals to ensure timely and appropriate services are provided. Follow up with partners on agreed deliverables, address bottlenecks, and support accountability mechanisms to ensure commitments are met
• 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
• Submit reports as requested by consolidating field data, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned, and ensuring reporting supports evidence-based decision-making
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to assess implementation progress, verify data, and observe service delivery. Identify gaps, risks, and areas for improvement, and provide actionable recommendations to strengthen programme quality and impact

Skills Required

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

Education Requirements

Required:

• A university degree in one of the following fields: International Development, Social Science, Human Rights, Psychology, or another relevant field

Experience Requirements

Required:

• A minimum of four years of relevant work experience in child protection is required with a bachelor's degree, or a minimum of two years of work experience in child protection with a master's degree
• Demonstrated experience working with multiple stakeholders is required (Government, CSOs, UN)
• Demonstrated experience working with District councils in implementation of child protection programming
• Ability to foster and maintain strong professional relationships at local levels with traditional leaders, CSOs, and communities
• Analytical, writing, and presentation skills
• Excellent skills in capacity building, especially training of low-level social service providers
• Expertise in child protection, case management implementation, referral pathways, and coordination among stakeholders

Desired:

• Experience working with the UN
• Experience working in emergencies is an asset

Language Requirements

• Fluent in English

How to Apply

To apply for this job please visit careers.unops.org.

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
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.