Somalia: Child Protection Consultant

OVERVIEW OF CTG GLOBAL

CTG support and manage humanitarian projects in fragile and conflict-affected countries around the world. With past performance in 15 countries – from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and Central and South America – we offer a holistic fabric of project management, implementation and support. Skilled in emergency response to crises such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, we have the ability to act quickly (crisis response teams can be on the ground in 24 hours) and to establish structured operations in high-risk environments. CTG recruit and manage qualified, skilled teams with extensive experience operating in challenging conditions.

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION

The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and its Somali National Armed Forces have committed to implement the Action Plan to halt and prevent the recruitment and use of children, to release all children associated with SNAF and to support their appropriate community reintegration. The Action Plan was signed with the UN in July 2012. Moreover, an operational plan had been developed by the CPD within the Ministry of Defense and the support of UNICEF and which details implementation modalities and assigns clear roles and responsibilities for the concrete implementation of the Action Plan.

As part pf the implementation modalities, the MOD is receiving support from United States Government to ensure that the CPU is operational, however, there are technical challenges which needs to be supported as well; The CPU serves as the technical arm of the Ministry of Defense in the implementation of the action plan, therefore enhancing its technical capacity to undertake this task must be given priority if key results are to be achieved.

GENERAL FUNCTIONS

Role objective:

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager for Military Stipends Projects, the Child Protection Consultant will extend support the Director of Child Protection Department and in close collaboration with the staff of the Child Protection Unit (CPU), and any other designated child protection focal points. The position will provide fulltime assistance to the Child Protection Department (CPD)/Ministry of Defense in the implementation and monitoring of the Action Plan and its operational plan to halt or prevent recruitment and use of children by Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) and facilitate their release and reintegration.

This position will require occasional travel throughout Somalia in support of the CPD. When possible, CPU activities will be supported by AMISOM and the SNA. It is the Consultant’s responsibility to understand and accept the risks involved in working throughout Somalia. The position will be based in Mogadishu, with travel to other relevant institutions, departments, places on a regular basis as required.

Expected output:

The consultant will provide technical support and strategic guidance to CPU/MOD in the implementation of the Action Plan and detailed operational plan, particularly in the undertaking of the following results, activities and tasks:

a) Cooperation with the UN and Access in collaboration with Director of the Child Protection Department:

• Ensure regular joint meetings (mainly CAAC WG) meeting are held ensuring the participation of all stakeholders;

• Work with the client to develop budget support plan,

• Coordination meetings, including Joint Technical Committee meetings, facilitated and organized activities on regular basis with the directives of Director of Child Protection Department.

• Support the Child Protection Department to liaise with the UN to organize monitoring and verification visits to SNA troops during integration exercises and payments of stipends. Depending on security and access, these could be joint UN and Child Protection Department visits.

b) Prevention of recruitment, awareness raising, capacity building and institutionalization of child protection:

• Liaise with UN to identify the capacity building needs of members of the CPD and focal points and ensure that appropriate training activities are organized;

• Provide technical support to the CPD in developing appropriate awareness raising materials for the SNA in line with the action plans and the implementation plans;

• Support the head of the CPD in identifying and finalizing contracts for the implementation of awareness raising activities. This include printing of materials, contract or MoU with Media houses ensuring that these are done in line with appropriate donor conditionality;

• Serve as a convener of a task teams to develop appropriate materials for awareness and prevention of recruitment, including appropriate command orders.

c) Release and Reintegration:

• Support the CPD to identify, screen, verify, register and refer for their release all children associated with the SNAF for appropriate reintegration assistance;

• Prepare list of children released and share list with the UNCFTMR for the purpose of verification

d) Legal framework, Enforcement and Accountability:

• Support the CPD to work in collaboration with other institutions such as the Ministry of Justice to advocate for the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the CRC on Child Recruitment;

• Support the CPD to establish a coordination mechanism with SNAF HQ to follow up on cases of recruitment and/use of child soldiers and other violations by SNAF soldiers;

• Support the CPD to negotiate and provide unimpeded access to detention centers managed by SNA and other security forces to facilitate the release of children;

e) Other tasks:

• Monthly monitoring report on the activities undertaken by the Child Protection Department (CPD)/ MOD in the implementation of the Action plan;

• Provide daily advice to the Director of the CPD on technical Child Protection issues relating to the implementation of the Action plans;

• Serve as a convener of the monthly Children and Armed Conflict Working Group meeting ensuring that meeting invitation goes out in a timely manner, takes minutes of meetings and follow up action points arising from each meeting.

Deliverables:

• Monthly reports on the status of implementation of activities against the Action Plan and detailed operational plan.

• Minutes of CAAC WG Meetings consolidated and share;

• Technical guiding notes to the CPD/MOD on follow up action taken on the outcomes of the CAAC WG meetings;

• Field visits reports to selected locations for screening and awareness raising session amongst members of the SNA;

• Create and adhere to budget

• Detailed end of mission report at the end of the consultancy period.

Project reporting:

Will report to the Project Manager

Team management:

This role does not require team management

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences.

Work experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrable relevant Institution Development & Capacity Building experience.

Geographical experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Africa with local experience in Mogadishu is an advantage.

Languages:

• Fluency in Somali and English are essential.

Key competencies:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Somali languages

• Strong skills in interpersonal relations, networking and communication

• Strong leadership and teamwork abilities with good knowledge on latest technology

• Good initiative and ability to apply technical knowledge, creatively to manage conflicts and culturally sensitive issues among different actors

• Excellent writing and analytical skills

• Excellent team player

• Capable of working in a multi-national/cultural environment

• Reliable and able to work under pressure

• Knowledge of UN rules & procedures is desirable

• Excellent communication skills

• Strong organizing abilities

• Ability to quickly grasp complex structure

• Must be a Somali National

Other relevant information:

To be advised

Candidates interested in applying for this role need to register on CTG website as a candidate and apply for this role using the below link:

https://recruitmentctg.force.com/xcdrecruit__Site_ExternalPositionDetails?id=a1124000001oLgr