Training Specialist

Result of Service Preparation and delivery of training module for the Children and Armed Conflict Virtual Summer School (CAAC-VSS) pilot, including a Powerpoint presentation on lessons learned post the CAAC-VSS.

Work Location Remote

Expected duration The estimated duration of work is five working days per module, spread over the period of July to December 2022 as follows: - Three working days in July for the preparation of the Module; - One working day for the delivery of the training module during the VSS (29 August to 9 September); and - One working day for the follow-up workshop on the lessons learnt and practical recommendations to be held within three months after the VSS (tentatively in October 2022 - TBC).

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 is organizing 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 is a training opportunity specifically designed to bring together partners from different related professional backgrounds and to strengthen their capacities to support the CAAC mandate.

While a number of courses on peace and security, international humanitarian and human rights law, and child protection touch upon CAAC, there is as of today no benchmark training that specifically and comprehensively addresses the protection of children in armed conflict. The “child protection officer/advisor” profile, which is critical to the effective implementation of the CAAC mandate, is a very technical and yet political role, calling for specialised training. The CAAC mandate is one of partnership and collaboration involving many other professionals from different backgrounds, for whom dedicated training on CAAC is equally relevant. The VSS offers an introductory course on Child Protection in Armed Conflict and is meant to address these needs by providing a state-of-the art training on this topic. It aims at strengthening 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 is 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, journalists and communication officers, military as well as academics, and students.

As the training is a pilot project, its implementation will be evaluated and documented in order to assess lessons learned and the added value of the VSS. In this respect, a follow-up online workshop will bring together again the participants and trainers after the VSS for a collective review of the course. The final findings of the evaluations will be compiled in a study presenting the VSS results and lessons learnt and enclosing clear recommendations on the way forward. The study will be shared in the framework of a high-level event, where the sustainability of this project will be discussed. Against this backdrop, the Office of the SRSG CAAC is looking for Training Specialists to draft one or more of the 20 comprehensive modules (Modules M2 to M21 appearing in the course overview under the Additional Information section) and to conduct the corresponding training sessions, including practical exercises. As the VSS will be held exclusively online, the Training Specialists should have experience in delivering virtual presentations and be skilled, structured and dynamic speakers.

Under the guidance of the Program Management Officer of the Liaison Office of the SRSG CAAC, the Individual Contractor will:

Prior to the VSS (3 working days) - Draft a comprehensive theoretical module in English; - prepare a summary PowerPoint-Presentation on the main highlights/take-aways of the course; - produce a list of core reading material primarily in English (possible optional reading can also be provided in French, Spanish and Arabic) - prepare contents, methodology and support documents for the corresponding live session in consultation with the project manager (45’) (using varied teaching techniques adapted to adult and online learning) - prepare contents, methodology and support documents for a practical/interactive exercise in English tailored to the audience; - participate in one or two preparatory meetings to be familiar with the Virtual Platforms;

During the VSS (1 working day) - Facilitate a module, which entails holding a presentation, interacting with the students through discussions and responding to questions, as well as conducting the related interactive exercise;

After the VSS (1 working day) - Participate in written consultations and/or follow-up workshop on lessons learned within three months following the VSS; - Contribute inputs to the future publication.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: 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 additional work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: At least seven 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 good knowledge of the CAAC mandate as well as of relevant international standards and principles; - Excellent knowledge of adult and online learning and development techniques; - Previous experience developing and conducting online trainings; - Excellent communication skills, including the capacity to tailor language to multicultural audiences and to actively engage participants from different backgrounds; - Strong adaptability and time management skills; - Gender sensitivity and cultural sensitivity

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

Additional Information COURSE OVERVIEW

PART I: WAR-TORN CHILDREN:

THE MULTIFOLD IMPACT OF ARMED CONFLICT ON CHILDREN PRE-OPENING SESSION

M0 Training introduction

OPENING SESSION

M1 Inaugural ceremony

SESSION 1: CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT (CAAC) IN THE PROTECTION ARCHITECTURE

M2 CAAC protection legal and normative framework M3 CAAC protection actors & mandates

Interactive exercise

SESSION 2: PROTECTION FROM THE SIX GRAVE VIOLATIONS AGAINST CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT

M4 Grave violation No. 1: Recruitment and Use M5 Grave violation No. 2: Killing and Maiming M6 Grave violation No. 3: Rape and other forms of Sexual Violence

Interactive exercise

M7 Grave violation No. 4: Abductions M8 Grave violation No. 5: Attacks on schools and hospitals M9 Grave violation No. 6: Denial of humanitarian access for children

Interactive exercise

SESSION 3: CAAC PROTECTION IN CONTEXT

M10 Consideration of children’s specific needs and vulnerabilities

Interactive exercise

M11 Child protection in armed conflict and other challenging contexts

Interactive exercise

M12 Role of regional organizations on CAAC M13 Role of State actors on CAAC (examples of good practice)

Interactive exercise

Presentation and discussion about week 2’s final group exercise

PART II: ACTING TOGETHER TO PROTECT: A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO CAAC PROTECTION

SESSION 4: MONITORING, ANALYZING AND REPORTING

M14 Monitoring and reporting

Interactive exercise

SESSION 5: ENDING & PREVENTING

M15 Mainstreaming and Integrating CAAC into prevention, stabilization and peacebuilding

Interactive exercise (Advocacy skills, incl. resource mobilization, public advocacy and campaign)

M16 Engaging with parties to the conflict (state and non-state actors) Interactive exercise (Negotiation and engagement) M17 Releasing children

Interactive exercise (on Handover Protocols)

SESSION 6: RESPONDING

M18 Protecting lives and providing relief

Interactive exercise (Coordination skills)

M19 Providing sustainable solutions: children’s reintegration

Interactive exercise (Child participation and community-based participation approaches)

SESSION 7: HOLDING ACCOUNTABLE & COMBATING IMPUNITY

M20 UN Action for accountability M21 Justice mechanisms to combat impunity

Final group exercise (Preparation)

SESSION 8: LEARNING BY DOING

Final group exercise (Presentation & Group discussion or Simulation exercise)

Debriefing (plenary)

CLOSING SESSION

M22 End of training

M23 Closing ceremony

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.