Child Protection Specialist (Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism) P4, TA - Bamako, Mali (364 days)

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 141,094 USD and 181,912 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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, Hope

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. 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), and other inputs to 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 and hospitals, and reinforcing its cooperation with other CTFMR members, 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 2023. Following the departure of the Mission, UNICEF is scaling up its response regarding MRM tasks, as well as its protection response to victims of the six grave violations against children.

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall supervision of the Child Protection Chief, the MRM Specialist is responsible for coordinating and supporting MRM activities in Mali. He/she supports the RC/HC who cochairs, with the UNICEF Representative, the implementation of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) under S/RES/1612 (2005) in close coordination with UNICEF’s Chief of Child Protection, through the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting, and supports and as appropriate the monitoring and reporting on the six grave violations. In alignment with UN responsibilities within the children and armed conflict (CAAC) agenda, the Specialist will support the functioning of the monitoring and reporting mechanisms (MRM) on grave violations against children (CAAC) in Mali.

As MRM Specialist on actions to address grave violations and issues related to child protection in emergencies, s/he: Supports the strengthened and effective implementation of actions to address grave violations, including with respect to grave violations related advocacy, but also programming and other actions that will need to be rolled out with all parties.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSABILITIES

• Ensure that the RC/HC and UNICEF Representative is appraised of the full array of child rights and protection issues and advises on ways and strategies to address them.

• Work collaboratively with other UN agencies to ensure that the rights and protection of children are on the agendas of all relevant conflict resolution and peacebuilding entities, UN coordination mechanisms, international and local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the international donor community.

• Ensure the implementation of mandated tasks as per relevant Security Council resolutions (SCRs) on children and armed conflict, and, where relevant, the conclusions of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.

• Work collaboratively with Country task Force to collect and verify reliable, accurate and timely data on the six grave violations identified by the UN Security Council and other violations committed against children and, where necessary, lead and conduct investigations on these violations; Supports the analysis on trends and patterns of grave violations against children to support prevention et response strategies.

• In coordination with the RC/HC and the UN Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting, engage in dialogue with State and non-State parties to the conflict and perpetrators of grave violations against children, and develop strategies/mechanisms to address these violations through the signing and implementation of national action plans.

• Advise and support the RC/HC and UNICEF Representative in advocating with appropriate national government authorities as well as other parties to the conflict to ensure adequate responses to violations committed against children.

• Liaise with national authorities, civil society, UN actors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the host government, and relevant coordination mechanisms in ensuring adequate responses to violations committed against children.

• Undertake field visits and/or joint assessment missions, as directed, and ensure up-to-date information sharing on substantive matters related to the rights of the child.

• On a regular basis - with the support of the MRM Database Manager in UNICEF – review, compile, document and upload onto the Mali MRM database, all MRM incidents, ensuring the accuracy, timeliness, objectivity and reliability of the information gathered on grave violations committed against children.

• Draft Quarterly Global Horizontal Notes, annual inputs to the SG’s Report on CAAC, country-specific SG reports on children and armed conflict based on all consolidated MRM incidents - and transmit these to the CTFMR or its equivalent for onward submission to the OSRSG-CAAC.

• Ensure regular CTFMR Principals meetings (CTFMR’s UN Representatives and NGOs Country Directors) and provide technical support to the Group of Friends of CAAC meetings.

• Keep the CTFMR co-chairs abreast of all CAAC developments in the country.

IMPACT OF RESULTS

• CTFMR Co-Chairs dispose of accurate, timely, objective, and reliable data on grave child rights violations and other protection concerns in Mali to support advocacy efforts.

• CAAC/Child Protection programming in Mali is informed by increased knowledge and understanding of the impact of conflict and violence on children.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) preferably in human rights/International humanitarian law, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience at national and international levels in child protection, including international work experience.
• Background/familiarity with emergency and advanced knowledge of the MRM/CAAC.
• Advanced technical knowledge of theories, principles, and methods in child protection in emergencies, related to the MRM and CAAFAG programming, and in the use of data and indicators in child protection/CAAC.
• Knowledge of global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women.
• Fluency in verbal and written French and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) 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...

(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:

Formulating strategies and concepts (II), Analyzing (II), Relating and networking (II), Deciding and Initiating action (II)

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 are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

Eligible UNICEF International Professional (IP) Staff Members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to a Temporary Appointment, which is dedicated to L3 (or L2) Response, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and their current tour of duty, and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

** Bamako is a Category D, Non-Family duty station. The Rest and Recuperation Cycle is 8 weeks.

** The successful candidate will be expected to join UNICEF Mali within 31 days of accepting the job offer