Child Rights Monitoring Specialist

Volunteering

Overview

Support UNICEF in building a Child Rights Monitoring system.

You have:

• Ability to collect and analyze data on child rights.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluating child rights programs.
• Familiarity with child rights and related conventions.
• Strong skills in advocacy related to child rights.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in training and capacity building for local organizations.

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The overall goal of the UNICEF Country Programme in ECA is to support the country’s efforts in promoting and protecting the rights of all children and giving all children equal opportunities to reach their full potential. In so doing, UNICEF in the Eastern Caribbean is focusing on supporting child rights monitoring in the following areas: 1. Strengthening national data collection and management systems to collect, analyze and disseminate data on the most vulnerable children. 2. Supporting Governments, independent institutions and civil society effectively monitor, advocate and report on the realization of child rights. The CRC provides a moral, political and legal framework that builds on core human rights values, providing the foundations for improving the lives of children worldwide. It has inspired changes in laws and practices that have improved the lives of millions of children.

The CRC reporting process is the main way to make 196 States accountable towards their children, and the CRC Committee is the only body that has the authority to issue recommendations to States to improve their implementation of the CRC and its Optional Protocols. This also compliments the state Voluntary National Report on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UNICEF has been the most reliable non-governmental source of first-hand information for the Committee and got this position through its technical support to countries in building Child Right Monitoring mechanisms. All countries in the Eastern Caribbean have ratified the CRC and should subsequently submit CRC progress reports.

Progress in reporting on the Convention on the Rights of the Child are quite low in the Eastern Caribbean. The last UNCRC dialogue in countries happened in 2017 in 3 countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) and countries like Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Anguilla, British Virgin Island, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Island have not signed any of the optional protocol to the CRC. Further, few countries have a national Committee that has a system to review updated disaggregated data about children and women. In 2021 only 33% of child-related SDG indicators were updated over the region.

In 2022, UNICEF initiated and is continuing several important activities, including the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) in Trinidad and Tobago, technical support to governmental and independent bodies on child-centered strategies, public expenditure analyses and the development of the Trinidad and Tobago National Children’s Registry (NCR), a government data management and sharing system aiming to monitor children’s growth, care and development.

The UN Volunteer will support UNICEF ECA in building a Child Right Monitoring information system in target (6 of the 12) countries covered by the office; and provide technical support to child rights reporting, such as the periodic reports (CRC, CEDAW, and the UPR), including on progress and coordination with members states.

Objective: To ensure that the UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office and national partners have useful, valid and reliable information on: • the situation of children and women and on the progress in realizing their rights; • the reduction of equity gaps within the country; • the results of UNICEF-supported national public programmes including their evaluation; and • the contribution of UNICEF to the achievement of the results.

Under the direct supervision of Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Assist in the development of national capacities for child rights monitoring, evaluation and research, with special attention to the interest, concern and participation of governments, communities, and civil society stakeholders. • Support the collation of information to enable UNICEF to support a public-facing database/scorecard for child rights monitoring for the participating countries in collaboration with regional organizations and national governments and civil society stakeholders • Support the ECA Office’s efforts in knowledge management by identifying, documenting and sharing lessons learned and good practices related to child rights within the ECA region. • Where relevant, to assist in the establishment of monitoring and evaluation tools that enhance the partnership between the UN Country Team, government and other key players to collectively track progress made by the country in meeting its international commitments for children. • Assist in carrying out specialized training for internal and external stakeholders on child rights monitoring, as required; • Provide support for the drafting of contributions to UNICEF periodic reports on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Universal Periodic Review and other human rights treaties, to trimestral Protection reports, to Human Rights Commission, to SRSG Violence against Children, and other reports relating to child protection issues, as and when required. • Carry out any other related activities in support of advancing child rights monitoring in Programmes and requested by the Section Chief.

• Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking active part in UNV activities (e.g. in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever possible.

Adaptability and Flexibility Building Trust Client Orientation Commitment and Motivation Creativity Ethics and Values Judgement and Decision-making Knowledge Sharing Planning and Organizing Professionalism Respect for Diversity Self-Management Technological Awareness Vision Working in Teams

programme development and implementation including monitoring and evaluation activities; • Development of dashboards and dissemination tools; • Data gathering, research and facilitation; • Knowledge and application of technological innovation approaches.

North of the coast of Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago is a wondrous country with elements that make the island unique. Trinidad and Tobago is regarded as one of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean due to its oil reserves and rich resources which help boost the economy in great ways. It is also regarded as one of the top three wealthiest countries in the Americas because of the amount of oil and gas throughout the island allowing for the economy to thrive and helping people live well throughout the island. Public healthcare is provided for free for citizens on the island, but there are private healthcare providers that can be paid for if it is affordable. There are numerous healthcare centers established around the island making it easily accessible for the citizens in Trinidad and Tobago. Although the economy has seen a significant boost since its independence in the 1960s, 26 percent of the population is living in pov-erty.

Education is free to children between the ages of 5 and 16. There are private institutions that citizens can pay for but public education provides children with free transportation, books, and meals while in school giving children the opportunity to learn effectively. Trinidad and Tobago suffer from high crime rates compared, which include murder and robbery. Trinidad and Tobago have a rich cultural life throughout the island celebrating historical African music, dance and literature. Housing has become a primary concern throughout the country due to the increasing population throughout the island. Many people struggle to find housing in urban areas due to the increasing shortage of land and high construction costs. Housing conditions vary throughout the urban and rural areas of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago is experiencing great economic growth due to the vast amount of resources and has seen progress regarding education and health care but still see issues regarding health issues, housing and poverty. Although these may be factors that can affect the country negatively, Trinidad and Tobago have the potential to combat these elements to help the country thrive.

Living conditions: The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance.

Travel to duty station will be provided in the event the duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment.

The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health, and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and exit allowance for satisfactory service.

Specific UN Volunteer entitlements, including insurance coverage, Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), Expertise differential, Entry / Exit lump sums, among others, are available at: https://app.unv.org/calculator.

The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at: https://explore.unv.org/cos.

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Potential interview questions

Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org