Human Rights and Protection of Civilian National Consultant, El Geneina, West Darfur, 6 months

Contract

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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, peace...

Sudan, surrounded by the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya and South Sudan, positioned next to East, West, South and North Africa, is surrounded by complex conflicts in an unpredictable, volatile and rapidly evolving region. Sudan is by size the third biggest country in Africa, with a diverse population of around 42 million people. Sudan’s children make up half of the total population, and the past two decades have seen their lives significantly improve: fewer girls and boys are dying before their fifth birthday, primary school attendance is increasing, immunization coverage is high and the country remains polio free. Still, millions of children continue to suffer from protracted conflict in Darfur, the Kordofan's, and Blue Nile, from seasonal natural disasters, malnutrition and disease outbreaks, and from under-investment in basic social services. More than three million of Sudan’s school aged children are not in the classroom. UNICEF has been in Sudan since 1952 and continues with a presence in 12 of Sudan’s 18 states.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will develop and maintain sustained working relationship and liaison between the UNITAMS and UNICEF and other UN protection entities and mechanisms including UNHCR, which is the protection sector lead. While realizing these objectives, the consultant will work closely with the State Government of West Darfur, native administration, Non-Violent Peace Force on all matters related to the protection of civilians and in particular the effective operationalization of the National Plan human rights and civilian protection aspects.

Scope of Work:

Under UNITAMS Office of Support to Civilian Protection, the consultant will provide technical support to the State-level Protection of Civilian Committee (mechanism), local/community-based protection networks on a range of issues regarding the implementation of the NPCP. In doing so, the consultant will provide guidance and support the State-level PoC Committee to develop work plans and strategies for the implementation of the NPCP and JPA agreement provisions on protection of civilians, including, assist the state government (through the national/state human rights commission) in the development of human rights and protection work plans and advice for their implementation. This support will contribute to helping the State government to effectively coordinate and monitor progress in the implementation of the NPCP and provide the UN with input in order to gain better understanding of protection challenges facing West Darfur and further areas of support. The consultancy assignment will consist of the following key responsibilities:

Mapping of local protection/community-based protection networks, and CSOs:

With a focus on prevention of violence, the consultant will: (i) map and/or identify all existing local protection networks and civil society organizations, conflict resolution assets, and other existing platforms to avoid duplication of effort – in identified hotspots of West Darfur state; and (ii) help establish new protection networks where there are gaps and those existing be strengthened. This mapping should enhance coordination with UNICEF and the protection actors. It should also provide information on capacity of the human rights and protection networks and actors to engage in early warning monitoring and reporting. The consultant will also support the National Mechanism and the Sudan Police Forces in expanding early warning systems aimed at prevention

As a tool for prevention, support the deployment of early warning monitoring and analysis, capacity building and information management:

The consultant will support local actors including the local protection/community-based protection networks, civil society and human rights organizations and state government in Jebel Moon, Sirba, Krenek, Beida and Geneina and state-level POC Committee on international human rights standards, monitoring and reporting of early warning indicators; and deployment of early warning and incident monitoring tool with community-based protection networks/local protection networks and CSOs. In particular, the consultant will strengthen the capacity of the state level mechanisms in operationalizing information management tools to collect, monitor, store and analyze data including support to GoS on its early warning mechanism for prevention. To this end, the consultant will train local protection networks, civil society organizations, women and youth groups and local protection committees, media and related interlocutors on standardized early warning and human rights monitoring and information collection tool. Working closely with Geospatial Information Systems specialist, the consultant will also help synthesize data and information of relevance to early warning analysis, human rights, and PoC data to support decision-making by state-level POC Committee and state government on its primary responsibility to protect.

Provide technical and advisory support to the State-level Protection of Civilian Committee:

The implementation of the National Plan is critical to addressing protection gaps in West Darfur. In this regard, the consultant will ensure early warning information and trends are shard with the State PC committee to inform their actions and engagements on the ground. The effective functioning of State-level Protection of Civilian Committee is critical in the implementation of the NPCP. To this end, the consultant will support the Committee to contextualize and operationalize the plan in the targeted localities in West Darfur. The Consultant will work closely with the consultant on violence reduction to support the implementation of initiatives on prevention and violence reduction.

Expected Deliverables:

• Progress Report.
• Map of community-based/local protection networks, civil society networks, including their location in relation to the identified hotspot areas.
• Based on capacity and on equitable location distribution and representation, identify 20 CSOs that will be engaged, included through support with tablets, in monitoring and reporting of EW to support decisions on p[prevention.
• Report on capacity/needs analysis detailing area of focus and comparative advantage of each, capacities, and capacity development needs.
• Training train local protection networks, civil society organizations, women and youth groups and local protection committees, and related interlocutors in the four localities of Jebel Moon, Krenek, Beida and Geneina) on standardized early warning and human rights monitoring and information collection tool.
• Produce protection of civilian analysis products to inform actions and decisions on prevention by various stakeholders
• State-level POC Terms of Reference developed.
• Validation workshop on planning and operationalization of the NPCP within the context of West Darfur.
• Training on human rights and civilian protection, conflict resolution mechanisms and monitoring and reporting on EW.
• Work plans of the POC committee developed based on the ToR.
• Coordination mechanism between state-level POC Committee and the protection partners in West Darfur on protection and human rights matters established.
• Coordination with the National Mechanism for Protection of Civilian.

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

• Education: An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, Social Sciences, Statistics, computer science or other related disciplines. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills: A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in the human rights or closely related field, of which at least half in the area of human rights and/or protection of civilian are required in a conflict setting. A minimum of two years of experience in Human Rights related information management and geographic information system (GIS) experience is required. Experience in human rights monitoring and reporting is required. Experience using Power BI, SharePoint Online and Power Automate applications is required. Experience in building and deploying machine learning models for conflict analysis is desirable. A minimum of one (1) year experience working in a peacekeeping context in Joint Operations Centre or Joint Mission Analysis Centre (JMAC) or similar experience in field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization or non-governmental organization is desirable.

Note that the eligible candidate is expected to bring his/her own working equipment including computer/laptop

Female candidacies are encouraged.

For every Child, you demonstrate:

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.