(TA) Child Protection Specialist – Children Affected by Armed Conflict

UNICEF, the world’s leading organization working for the rights of children, seeks a Child Protection Specialist - Children Affected by Armed Conflict.

BACKGROUND: Over the last 10 years the Security Council has issued a series of resolutions to enhance the protection of children in situations of conflict. As part of this process, the Secretary General, in 2003 issued a list of 54 countries where the rights of children were systematically violated as a result of conflict. In July 2005, the Security Council reaffirmed the urgency to set up a mechanism in order to protect children in the context or armed conflict as stipulated in its Resolution 1612. The resolution emphasised the need for a mechanism to collect and provide timely, objective, accurate and reliable information on the recruitment and use of child soldiers in violation of applicable international law and on 5 other grave violations and abuses committed against children affected by armed conflict.

CAR was included in the work plan of the Security Council working group on children affected by armed conflict in December 2007 following the listing of parties recruiting and using children in the Central African Republic in the annexes of the Secretary General’s report on children and armed conflict. The need of establishing a monitoring and reporting mechanism (MRM) as requested by the Security Council under its resolution 1612 became evident. To further strengthen the system‘s foundation, UNICEF CAR carried out in 2008, a “State of Knowledge”, a study on the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism which identified potential regular data collection of resources and established a baseline understanding of the situation in the country, as it pertains to the six categories of abuses provisioned in the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1612. The findings and recommendations of this study were used to guide the UN Country Team (UNCT) and the members of the Protection Cluster in establishing a 1612 MRM Task Force at country level.

On 19 October, the leadership of APRD signed an action plan with the UN (BINUCA and UNICEF) in Bangui for the release of children among their ranks. The CPJP leadership also signed an Action Plan with the UN on 20 November in the presence of the SRSG-CAAC in the town of Ndele in the Bamingui-Bangoran prefecture, and a recommitment was gained from the UFPR leadership in Ndele on 20 November allow verifications within the next few weeks for the presence of children within its ranks. The outcome of the verification will determine whether or not those armed groups would be removed from the SG’s list of parties using children in armed conflicts in CAR.

Following the signature of the above Action Plans, an adequate coordinated multi-sectorial response needs to be designed and implemented to ensure appropriated assistance and long term reintegration of children associated to those armed forces and groups.

Scope of work

Under the supervision of the Chief Child Protection section, the Child Protection Specialist on Children Affected by Armed Conflict will carry out the following tasks:

I. Following the Action Plans signed by armed groups, set up an operational plan with each of them through a technical committee to guide the process for the releasing of children, and establish modalities for the monitoring of each Action Plan’s implementation to ensure that no new recruitment takes place.

II. Provide technical support in scaling up a programme to address the needs of children associated with armed forces or armed groups in CAR, including the prevention of child recruitment and use, identification and verification of children, release of children, transitory care, family tracing and reunification, rehabilitation and reintegration, in accordance with international standards and guidelines.

III. Support the development of standard information collection forms and tools, ensure that a system for gathering and verifying information on violations and abuses is established and implemented. Where appropriate, use agreed inter-agency assessment tools, or discuss alternatives in a coordinated manner among agencies.

IV. Train child protection staff on basic monitoring, verification and reporting on grave violations against children, and provide ongoing technical support for monitors and all those involved in the monitoring mechanism.

V. Ensure key reporting requirements are met on a timely basis and liaise with relevant partners and stakeholders to ensure that information gathered is appropriately responded to (GH Notes, quarterly reports on the status of each Action Plan’s implementation, and other important reports on the grave violations of children’s rights in CAR as needed)

VI. Together with BINUCA, co-chair the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting at the technical level, and provide support to the Principal level. Share Secretariat functions, as necessary. Produce and share the minutes of the meetings and ensure follow-up of key recommendations and issues arising from the meetings.

VII. Support the timely analysis, input, and coordination of the on-going situation analysis of children and grave violations, and undertake periodic assessments. Contribute to the UN focal points network on protecting children affected by the LRA.

VIII. Support the development of a communication strategy for awareness-raising and advocacy with communities on the recruitment and use of children by armed forces or groups, including local community defence forces.

IX. Supervise one newly recruited national office on programming related to children affected by armed conflict, and one newly recruited national officer on monitoring and reporting of grave violations against children.

X. Participate and contribute to the sector planning meetings and undertake any other relevant tasks as assigned by supervisor.

The incumbent will be based in UNICEF Child Protection section in Bangui with extensive travel to the fields, especially across the war-affected zones of CAR. Thus, the incumbent is expected to be flexible and able to meet tenacious challenges, work closely with other focal points of UN agencies on 1612, child protection agencies and security reforms actors, as well security and defence forces.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Education: Advanced university degree in social work, law, social sciences, child psychology, or another relevant field.   Work Experience: - At least 8 years of experience with either the UN and/or NGO at the national or international levels in child protection, including at least 2 years in a conflict affected country. - Substantial experience in managing and/or developing programmes for the protection of children affected by armed conflict, including the release and reintegration of children associated with armed forces or armed groups. - Experience in the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism for Grave Violations against children, as per Security Council Resolutions 1612, 1882 and 1998. -
Experience in humanitarian negotiation and coordination is highly desirable.

Languages: Spoken and written fluency in French and English

Technical Competencies:

• Knowledge of latest development in the field of prevention of child recruitment, demobilisation and reintegration of children associated with armed groups, monitoring and reporting of children’s rights violations under the UNSC 1612 and 1882 resolutions.
• Familiarity with community-based reintegration principles and ability to incorporate lessons learned from similar UNICEF PDDR and MRM experience in work.
• Ability to organise and facilitate training aimed to building capacity of colleagues and partners.
• Background and familiarity with international human rights and humanitarian law, and emergency response is an asset.

Competencies of the Successful Candidate  Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.  Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.  Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.  Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.  Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.  Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates team- and department-wide activities.  Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.  Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments.  Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.

How to apply:

Please send detailed resume, cover letter and completed United Nations Personal History Form, in English, CLEARLY indicating in the email subect header “TA-Child Protection Specialist” to sbrownlow@unicef.org . The UN Personal History form can be found at the following web address: www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc.

Applications for this position must be received by 12 January 2012.

Please note that candidates will be assessed on both technical and UN competencies (see http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf) and that due conideration will be given to geographical diversity and gender balance. Regretully, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Other Information:

Remuneration: This temporary assignment is remunerated at the P.4 level. Duration: 11.9 months (364 days)