Cover image: © UNICEF/UN0281627/Dejongh

We are all responsible for ensuring that no harm is done to children in our work, by our personnel or by 'associates' (non-governmental entities with whom we work). This webinar describes procedures and actions all UNICEF offices should undertake as part of the recruitment process, to ensure engagement of the safest and most suitable staff to work with or have contact with children. It underlines key considerations of safeguarding arrangements at every step of the process: from planning and vacancy announcement, job description, application forms, reference checks, criminal background checks, and assessment process.  

The webinar provides information and guidance on the following: 

  • What Child Safeguarding means for UNICEF
  • What HR's role is in Child Safeguarding
  • How to recruit and vet candidates under child safeguarding guidance
  • Useful tools and resources to help with selection and vetting of the candidates

Learning objectives

At the end of this webinar, you will be able to:

  • Define what child safeguarding means for UNICEF
  • Understand elements of safer practice in recruitment
  • Explain what it means "safe/suitable to work with children"
  • Understand elevated risk roles
  • Apply some of the vetting tools, placing greater focus on child safeguarding

Audience

The webinar is imporant to all HR practitioners and is recommended to all programme and operations staff at CO, RO and HQ levels who are involved in recruitment processes. The webinar is also an opportunity for all staff members to get familiar with UNICEF child safeguarding obligations.  

Length

It should take you about 1hour to get familiar with the recruitment objectives from a child safeguarding perspective.

Methodology and structure

This learning package is composed of a PowerPoint presentation and a recorded Webinar, including quiz at the end.  

This webinar is composed of six sections: 

  • What is child safeguarding?
  • How is HR connected to child safeguarding?
  • What is our goal? What do we mean by: "Safe/suitable" to work with children?
  • Who do we want to have vetted to ensure safety?
  • What are elevated risk roles?
  • What are our tools for vetting?

 Contact details

If you have any questions and/or comments about this activity, please contact: 

Miles Hastie - mhastie@unicef.org
John Lackey - jlakey@unicef.org 
Ramou Ndure - rndure@unicef.org