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, Life
Mali has been in a state of fragility since the onset of the political and security crisis in 2012. The Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) was activated in Mali in 2013. Sine the withdrawal of MINUSMA, UNICEF is the responsible for implementing all activities relating to the MRM, which included carrying out monitoring activities, collecting, verifying and reporting on incidents relating to the six grave violations of children’s rights, in order to holding the parties to the conflict accountable and putting in place advocacy actions and responses to the needs of child victims, witnesses and perpetrators.
It is important that the UNICEF team is strengthened to fill the workload gap left by MINUSMA, which has been exacerbated by the intensification of the armed conflict. This reinforcement will make it possible to maintain and strengthen partnerships, and to continue all the work relating to the MRM data collection with a view to drafting the reports required to inform and guide decisions concerning the implementation of responses.
The UNICEF Mali Country Office is scaling up its Child Protection Emergency Response, with a focus on the provision of life saving services to children affected by armed conflict and on monitoring and reporting (MRM) on grave violations.
UNICEF Mali is seeking the support of a qualified Child Protection Specialist with a strong knowledge on Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism Specialist for 1 year support in Monitoring and Reporting of grave child rights violations. The Child Protection Specialist will provide support related to UNICEF Mali country office’s obligations and commitments in relation to the SCR 1612 (2005) children and armed conflict mandate to enable the Mali CTFMR to implement all duties as required.
How can you make a difference?
- Ensure the monitoring and reporting of grave violations against children in Mali.
- Support the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism under the joint framework of the UN Country; Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting (CTFMR) and ensure that the grave violations of children’s rights in situations of armed conflict are monitored and reported.
- Prepare quality and timely analysis and reports on the situation of children affected by armed conflict, including contributions to Security Council-mandated reports, with a focus on the Global Horizontal Note, the inputs for the Secretary-General’s annual report on Children and Armed Conflict.
- Ensure recurrent MRM trainings for UNICEF staff and implementing partners.
- Support and strengthen the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on the six grave Violations, strengthen its role as a reliable inter-agency and independent platform to document and report grave violations by all parties to the conflict. Support policy advocacy as needed.
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Technical support to the CPiE programs related to ongoing release and reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Groups (CAAFAG);
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In close cooperation with the CPiE Specialists, support development of preparedness plans for the release of children from armed groups.
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Strengthen the link between the monitoring & reporting and programmatic response to children victims of violations through the reinforcement of coordination and referral mechanisms and the mainstreaming of the MRM into the broader work of humanitarian clusters (in particular the protection, education, health, and Gender-Based Violence clusters).
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Support quality implementation for the Action Plans with the armed groups to end and prevent grave violations against children, engage other parties and armed groups on the issue of children and armed conflict.
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Support the MRMIMS+ deployment.
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Liaise with the members of the Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) Group of Friends to support the implementation of its mandate and activities.
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Support UNICEF/UN’s engagement with all parties to conflict and other relevant actors where relevant, including support to UNICEF Country Representatives and Chiefs of Child Protection.
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Facilitate the functioning of the CTFMR a CAAC/MRM working group at technical level, and at senior level (CTFMR or equivalent interagency body) if required.
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Contribute to UNICEF’s advocacy strategy on child protection and children’s rights.
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Contribute to other child protection in emergency issues as requested by the Chief of Section.
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Strengthen collaboration with other UNICEF sections, the UNCT and partners, including to link the monitoring and reporting of grave child rights violations to programmatic responses and advocacy initiatives.
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Work closely with the interagency MRM specialist to and the RCO to support the co-lead of the MRM and coordinate the actions required to facilitate this.
Management and Supervision
- The Child Protection Specialist-MRM reports to the Chief of UNICEF Child Protection.
- The Child Protection Specialist-MRM handles sensitive and confidential information and is bound by UNICEF standards of confidentiality in accessing and handling the information.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
EDUCATION
An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law or other social science field is required.
A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- A minimum of 5 years of experience with UNICEF and/or other relevant actors, including experience with child protection or SBC/Education programming related to explosive ordnance risk education in situations of armed conflict.
- Knowledge of the Malian or the Central Sahel context will be an asset.
- Previous professional experience in human rights and/or child rights monitoring and reporting.
- Advanced technical knowledge of the MRM, including on the specific role of UNICEF within the MRM.
- Strong analytical and communication skills (both written and oral)
- Background and familiarity with international human rights and humanitarian law, monitoring and reporting on grave violations against children is highly desirable.
- Knowledge of UNICEF’s core commitments to children in humanitarian action as well as the humanitarian cluster approach, particularly the child protection working group (sub-cluster).
LANGUAGES
- Fluency in verbal and written French and English
- Good knowledge of another UN language or a local language is an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
- UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values.
UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
Core Competencies
- Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
- Works Collaboratively with others (1)
- Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
- Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
- Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
- Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
- Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
Functional Competencies:
- Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
- Analyzing (II)
- Relating and networking (II)
- Deciding and Initiating action (II)
- Applying technical expertise (III)
During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.
UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.
Remarks:
UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.
All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.
Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Eligible UNICEF International Professional (IP) Staff Members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to a Temporary Appointment, which is dedicated to L3 (or L2) Response, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and their current tour of duty, and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.