SENIOR CHILD PROTECTION ADVISER – UNITAMS

Job Description

Department/Office:	United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan
Posting Title:	SENIOR CHILD PROTECTION ADVISER, P5
Job Code Title:	SENIOR CHILD PROTECTION ADVISER
Duty Station:	KHARTOUM
Posting Period:	02 December 2021 – 15 December 2021
Job Opening Number:	21-Human Rights Affairs-UNITAMS-169924-F-Khartoum (M)
Staffing Exercise	N/A

Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2524 (2020) authorizing the mandate of UNITAMS which is to assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, in the protection and promotion of human rights, and sustainable peace; support peace processes and implementation of future peace agreements; assist peacebuilding, civilian protection and rule of law, in particular in Blue Nile and South Kordofan (the Two Areas) and Darfur; and support the mobilization of economic and development assistance and coordination of humanitarian assistance.

The position is based in Khartoum, Sudan and is located in the Office of Support to Civilian Protection.
The incumbent will report to the Director, Human Rights and Office of Support to Civilian Protection.

Responsibilities

Within the limits of delegated authority, the Senior Child Protection Adviser will be responsible for the following duties:

• Leads the identification of the protection needs of children in the mission area, and provides strategic advice to the mission leadership in devising the mission strategy for the implementation of the child protection mandate of the mission in line with the DPKO-DFS-DPA Policy on Child Protection in United Nations Peace Operations, the mission’s mandate and as relevant Security Council resolutions on Children and Armed Conflict (1539, 1612, 1882, 1998, 2068 and 2143);
• Ensures that the mission leadership is apprised of the full array of child rights and protection issues and advises on ways and strategies for the mission and its leadership to address them;
• Assists mission leadership to ensure that the child rights, protection and well-being of children are mainstreamed, included and addressed in all aspects of the UN mission’s activities, policies and strategic planning processes including but not limited to with regard to peace consolidation, protection of civilians and stabilization, and to ensure, in coordination with UNICEF and/or other UN agencies as relevant that the rights and protection needs of children are on the agendas of all relevant conflict resolution and peacebuilding entities, UN coordination mechanism, international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the international donor community;
• Works with other UN peace operation components, including UN police, Human Rights, , peacebuilding, Rule of Law to integrate child protection in their work, activities and strategies, ensures implementation and follow-up on mandated tasks as per relevant Security Council resolutions (SCRs) on children and armed conflict, and, where relevant, the conclusion of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict;
• Mainstreams child protection concerns into the work of the mission, promotes and provides training on child rights and child protection to all mission personnel;
• Co-Leads the implementation of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) under S/RES/1612 (2005) in coordination with UNICEF through the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting, and supports the co-chairs of the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting at the technical level; ensure and coordinates as appropriate the mission’s delivery on mission-wide monitoring and reporting on the six grave violations in conjunction with the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting other actors as appropriate;
• Overseas the collection of and/or collects reliable, accurate and timely data on and, when necessary, conducts investigations into the six grave violations identified by the UN Security Council and other violations committed against children; oversees the development of analysis on trends and patterns of grave violations against children to support response strategies;
• In accordance with the mission’s senior leadership and the UN Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting, engages in dialogue with perpetrators of grave violations against children and develops strategies/mechanisms to end violence against children as mandated in SCRs 1539, 1612, 1882, 1998, 2069 and 2143;
• Ensures regular and timely reporting on child protection issues in line with the DPKO-DFS-DPA policy and reporting guidelines, including inputs to periodic country-specific reports to the Security Council, and submit timely reports to the SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict, including, but not limited to, Global Horizontal Notes, country-specific SG reports on children and armed conflict, and the annual SG report on children and armed conflict;
• Advocates with or support the mission leadership in advocating with appropriate national government authorities as well as other parties in conflict as relevant in order to ensure adequate responses to violations committed against children;
• Engages with national stakeholders to promote inclusion of rights and protection of children in national and regional policies and advocate for the allocation of national resources to this end;
• Assists the mission leadership to advocate for the allocation of funds or technical support in particular in support of separation and reintegration programmes for children formerly associated with armed conflict and groups, as well as for child-sensitive humanitarian and development programmes;
• Establishes and maintains partnerships with other experts and stakeholders (including host governments, UN system and other international organizations, NGOs, the private sector, research institutes, etc) to discuss emerging topics related to child protection;
• Acts as the primary interface between the UN mission and child protection actors to ensure a coherent approach and to leverage, as appropriate, political and other resources of the mission to prevent and address violations of children’s rights;
• Represents the mission in relevant inter-agency coordination mechanisms, including but not limited to the UNCT, humanitarian clusters, especially to ensure adequate response to violations committed against children in armed conflict.
• Functions as the Head of the Child Protection Unit and provides leadership, guidance and overall supervision to the staff of the Child Protection team as assigned;
• Manages, guides, develops and coaches new and junior staff;
• Participates in the recruitment of new Child Protection Officers and manages staff performance;
• Formulates the work plan, budget and medium-term plan of the unit and participates in the overall formulation and approval of the work plan, and administrative matters concerning the unit or mission;
• Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrates knowledge of institutional mandates, policies, guidelines and methodologies relating to child protection, including the legal framework for the protection of children, relevant Security Council resolutions and mandates related to children and armed conflict; Demonstrates capacity to maintain effective working relationships with other UN, NGO, state and/or government stakeholders; Demonstrates ability to advise senior officials on highly complex issues and to influence others to reach agreement on difficult issues; Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in political science, international relations, law, human rights, social sciences or a related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international levels, of which at least five at the international level, in human rights, political affairs, international relations or law, including the promotion and protection of the rights of the child in accordance with international standards, is required.

Experience managing a team is required.

Experience working in or in support of a field operation at the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable.

Experience in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Assessment

Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

Special Notice

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.

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