3 positions: Child Protection Specialist (Monitoring & Reporting) - NOC - TA 364 days - (Gao, Tombouctou, Mopti) Mali - For Malian Nationals Only

Contract

This is a NO-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-3 contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child,

The Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) was established in Mali in 2013, following the listing of three armed groups in the UN Secretary-General’s 12th Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict, for the recruitment and use of children and for rape or other forms of grave sexual violence against children. As required by Security Council Resolution 1612, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and UNICEF jointly established the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting (CTFMR) of grave child rights violations committed by parties to the conflict in Mali to implement and coordinate all aspects of the MRM, including the monitoring and documentation of six grave violations committed against children by parties to the conflict, drafting and submission of reports such as the Global Horizontal Note (GHN), the Secretary-General Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict and other specific country reports. In addition, the CTFMR conducts high-level advocacy on matters related to children affected by armed conflict. With the adoption of Security Council Resolutions 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011), 2225 (2005) and 2427 (2018), the Country Task Force increased its focus on documenting, preventing and responding to sexual violence, killing and maiming, abduction and attacks against schools hospitals, and reinforcing its cooperation with other CTFMR members and the protection and education clusters as well as the child protection sub-cluster.

On 30 June 2023, the UN Security Council voted the resolution 2023S/RES/2690, which terminated the mandate of MINUSMA and demanded the immediate transfer of its tasks as of 01 July 2023, and the complete drawdown of its operations by 31 December. Following the departure of the Mission, UNICEF is scaling up its response regarding MRM identification and reporting, as well as its protection response to victims of one of the six grave violations against children, including children associated and with armed groups and/or armed forces and other conflict affected children.

How can you make a difference?

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Support the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism under the joint framework of the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting (CTFMR) and ensure that the grave violations of children’s rights in situations of armed conflict are monitored verified and reported, including the contribution to the Global Horizontal Note (GHN) ,country reports and contributions to the Secretary-General (SG) annual report to the Office of the SRSG on Children and Armed Conflict, including through updating MRM IMS+ database.
• Support, strengthen and/or set up Monitoring and Reporting Task Forces at sub national level in Mopti, Gao and Timbuktu regions, coordinate their monthly meetings and follow-up on recommended actions.
• Provide technical assistance and monitor projects implemented by partners in line with the monitoring of grave child rights violations and strengthen the link between the monitoring & reporting and programmatic response to children victims of violations through the reinforcement of coordination and referral mechanisms.
• In close cooperation with the CPiE /MRM Specialists, provide technical support to the CPiE programs related to ongoing, release and reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Groups (CAAFAG) and response as well as prevention of recruitment,
• Contributes for ensuring the monitoring and reporting of grave violations against children in the region of deployment, while ensuring the impartiality, neutrality, confidentiality and safety of children as well as the protection of information collected and its sources.
• Ensure the capacity-building of the relevant actors in conflict-affected regions to increase coverage, participants and reported cases of grave child rights violations to improve the reporting and analysis of trends, response to children's victims.
• Ensure regular follow-up with the Malian judicial and penitentiary authorities of the cases of children detained for their association with armed groups and advocate for their release under the protocol of July 1st, 2013, signed by the Malian Government and in accordance with the legal framework relating to juvenile justice and international standards.
• Collaborates with local authorities in the area of deployment to ensure the monitoring and implementation of actions aimed at: (i) preventing serious violations against children, (ii) monitor the response to child victims of violations.
• Ensure coordination between the MRM and all other programs within the UNICEF Protection Section, particularly child protection in emergencies as well as health and education for the monitoring of related violations and implementation of Safe School Declaration.
• Undertakes field visits for programme monitoring and capacity reinforcement at the regional, community levels as well as conduct periodic programme reviews with government counterparts and other partners. Proposes and/or undertakes required action on operational procedures affecting project implementation and management.
• Assists Government authorities and Civil society partners at regional and local administration level to plan and organize training programmes for CPiE. Identifies training needs and objectives for capacity building, programme sustainability as well as promotion and advocacy.
• Contribute to other child protection in emergency issues as requested by the Chief of Section.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Political Science, Social Sciences, International Cooperation, Law, Psychology, Humanitarian Assistance or other related fields, preferably with specialization in policy and development, Programme planning, monitoring and evaluation and/or CPiE.

*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of [5] five years of professional work experience at national levels in child protection, including MRM and child protection in emergencies.
• Previous professional experience in human rights and/or child rights monitoring and reporting.
• Advanced technical knowledge of the MRM, including on the specific role of UNICEF within the MRM.

Languages

• Fluency in verbal and written French and English
• Good knowledge of another UN language or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Core Competencies

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.

Functional Competencies:

1. Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
2. Analyzing (II)
3. Relating and networking (II)
4. Deciding and Initiating action (II)
5. Applying technical expertise (III)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is:a role with direct contact with children, works directly with children, is a safeguarding response role.Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) applies.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.