Consultant

Result of Service This work will support the implementation of the children and armed conflict mandate through providing innovative virtual training on CAAC to strengthen the knowledge, competencies and skills of professionals contributing in various capacities to the protection of conflict-affected children.

Work Location The consultant is expected to work remotely with a potential trip to New York for an an event.

Expected duration 4 months

Duties and Responsibilities Background

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG CAAC) serves as the leading UN advocate for the protection and well-being of children affected by armed conflict. The mandate of the SRSG CAAC was created by General Assembly Resolution A/RES/51/77 following the publication, in 1996, of the report by Graça Machel on the impact of armed conflict on children.

The first SRSG CAAC was appointed in 1997 by the Secretary-General. The SRSG CAAC reports annually to the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. Since 1999, the systematic engagement of the UN Security Council has placed the protection of children affected by armed conflict at the heart of its international peace and security agenda. In 2005, the Security Council adopted resolution 1612 which established the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) on six grave violations against children in situations of armed conflict: recruitment and use of children, killing and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, attacks against schools and hospitals, abduction of children, and denial of humanitarian access for children.

These six grave violations progressively became triggers for listing (except the denial of humanitarian access) in the annexes of the Secretary-General’s annual report on children and armed conflict. In addition to the Annual Report of the Secretary General, country-specific reports on the situations mentioned in the annexes of the Annual Report are also regularly submitted to the Security Council and recommendations thereto adopted by the UN Security Council Working Group (SCWG) on CAAC. Ending and preventing violations against conflict-affected children, raising awareness, promoting the collection of information about the plight of those children and fostering international cooperation to improve their protection are at the heart of the mandate.

Project description and objective

The Office of the SRSG CAAC has organized a Virtual Summer School (VSS) on Child Protection in Armed Conflict in collaboration with the Government of Malta and the University of Malta. The VSS was a training opportunity specifically designed to bring together partners from different related professional backgrounds and to strengthen their capacities to support the CAAC mandate. It took place from 29 August to 9 September, 2022.

The VSS offered a state-of-the art training on this topic to strengthen the knowledge, competencies and skills of actors contributing in various capacities to the protection of children in armed conflict through a holistic and collaborative approach. The targeted audience were professionals contributing or likely to contribute in various capacities to child protection in armed conflict and related issues, such as UN entities, I/NGOs, government officials, regional and sub-regional organizations, legal professionals, communication officers, military as well as academics.

As part of the VSS six lead trainers were contracted to elaborate and deliver the modules and interactive exercises and several of them were supported by guest speakers. Next to the virtual learning platform of the University of Malta an event platform was setup via vFairs allowing students to network and to visit exhibitions booths set up by child protection partners.

As the training was a pilot project, its implementation will need to evaluated and documented in order to assess lessons learned and the added value of the VSS and decide on future training opportunities. Participants had to indicate their expectations at the beginning of the course, fill out daily surveys as well as a final survey. Furthermore, the closing ceremony provided an opportunity for participants as well as for lead trainers to share preliminary recommendations. Surveys were also shared with guest speakers and partners that had exhibitions booths. The information received will need to be analysed and compiled in a digestible format and discussed internally with the OSRSG CAAC as well as at a follow-up online workshop that will bring together again the participants and lead trainers after the VSS for a collective review of the course. The final findings of the evaluations together with the outcomes from the online workshop and based on discussions with internal and external stakeholders will be compiled in a study presenting the VSS results and lessons learnt and enclosing clear recommendations on the way forward as well as a revised programme. The study will be shared in the framework of an an event.

Against this backdrop, the OSRSG CAAC is looking for a Consultant to conduct an after-action review, adjusting the VSS content based on the feedback received in writing and during the workshop and developing a report on the results and the way forward and potentially start with the implementation of the first recommendations. As the VSS was held exclusively online, the Consultant should have experience in delivering virtual presentations, in using interactive tools as well as in analyzing quantitative and qualitative data and presenting it in a structured manner.

Under the guidance of the Head of Office of the SRSG CAAC Europe Liaison Office, the Consultant will:

• Review, analyze and present the lessons learned from the Virtual Summer School (VSS) in a succinct format together with recommendations, including for a potential future training workshop, and a revision of the programme.
• Conduct written and oral internal and external consultations on the lessons learned, recommendations for potential future trainings and a revised programme, including through the organisation of a workshop with lead trainers and participants to collect their feedback in this regard.
• Draft a report describing the VSS with the lessons learned and recommendations, including for a potential future training, and a revised programme for the VSS based on the written and oral feedback received.
• Liaising with relevant partners involved in the VSS for the purposes of the after-action review of the VSS.
• Draft talking points, as requested, and provide regular updates on the status of planned activities to relevant OSRSG CAAC team members.
• Organize an an event that takes place in February 2023 to present the final report.
• Start the implementation of the first findings/recommendations.

Output/Work Accomplishments

Subject to satisfactory review, the deadlines provided are indicative and are subject to changes by the project manager in consultation with the consultant: - First lessons learned, recommendations and a suggested revision of the programme of the Virtual Summer School (VSS) to be presented to lead trainers and participants in a workshop second week of November latest. - A report describing the VSS with lessons learned and recommendations and a revised programme for the VSS based on the written and oral feedback by 5 December 2022. - Organization of an an event by 1 February 2023 to present the final report along with a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the main takeaways and recommendations from the VSS. - Start of implementation of the first findings/recommendations.

Qualifications/special skills Education: Advanced degree (Master's or equivalent) in law, political sciences, international relations or other disciplines related to international human rights law and/or international humanitarian law. A combination of relevant academic qualifications and five years of additional work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience, preferably including at least two years as a trainer in human rights and/or (child) protection and at least two years professional experience in conflict or post-conflict settings. Familiarity with the UN system and solid knowledge of the children and armed conflict mandate. Previous experience developing and conducting online training.

Languages Fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages an asset.

Additional Information **Previous applicants need not apply**

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.