Consultant (Child Protection in African UNION/ECOWAS PSO Protection) at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life for themselves. It provides expert advice, training and grants support to developing countries, with increasing emphasis on assistance to the least developed countries. It promotes technical and investment cooperation among nations.

Headquartered in New York City, the status of UNDP is that of an executive board within the United Nations General Assembly. The UNDP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states. The organization operates in 177 countries, where it works with local governments to meet development challenges and develop local capacity.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consltancy on Facilitator for Child Protection in African UNION/ECOWAS PSO Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Course Centre for Strategic Research and Studies National Defence College Nigeria

Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: National Consultant
Starting Date: 12-Oct-2020 (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)    
Duration of Initial Contract: 5 Days
Expected Duration of Assignment: 5 Days

Background

• Violent conflicts in many countries of the world and particularly in Africa have continued to increase both in complexities and numbers. 
• This violence which are mostly due to lack of good governance and citizens inability to access essential services of life have resulted in political instability, wanton destruction of lives and property, mass displacement of the civil population and destruction of key development infrastructure. Citizens displeasure is often ventilated through violent extremism, radicalization, and violent mass protests. 
• The upsurge in the level of criminalities and violence around world has engaged the attention of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and necessitated the engagement and deployment of UN-mandated peace missions to protect life and property, ensure peace and stability, and guarantee internal security with the attendant needs for effective national capacities in protection of civilians, promote civil-military relations, prevention of violent extremism and deradicalization, camp management, amongst others. 
• The reality to build and strengthen mass capacities of military and para-military forces, civil security agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to respond to the global and domestic needs of peace making.
• The project aims to enhance the capacities for Peace Support Operations (PSOs) in West Africa through training conducted by the Centre for Strategic Research and Studies, National Defence College (CSRS/NDC). The project output is “Regional capabilities for multi-dimensional PSOs for military, police and civilian personnel improved"

Duties and Responsibilities
Objectives of Consultancy:

• The Course aims to build participants’ capacity to implement Protection of Civilians (PoC) mandate in PSO. It will enhance participants understanding of the threats and vulnerability of civilians in conflict zones and how to respond and address their protection needs.
• The PoC Course will improve the understanding of participants to the diverse roles of different components in contemporary PSO environment through capacity enhancement.
• The role of the Facilitator is to assist participants assimilate the course learning outcomes in preparation for deployment into multidimensional PSOs under United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) or ECOWAS mandate.
• The facilitator is expected to achieve these through lectures, personal examples, advice, guidance, tutoring and should be able to provide approaches to specific requirements in conflict environment.

Specific Tasks
To enhance participants’ knowledge and understanding of child protection and the specific needs of children including the rights of children. Specific tasks are listed below:

• Focus all participant discussion relative to the aim of the PoC course in general and specifically, the learning outcome of the Module on Child Protection in AU/ECOWAS peace support operations.
• Ensure all participants remain focused on the tenet that all components in a multidimensional mission must strive to achieve. These include communication, coordination, cooperation and consensus among all personnel.
• Facilitate lecture activities and syndicate discussions and where appropriate, provide additional guidance and examples.
• Where requested, to present central module(s) and participate in central panel discussions as a subject matter expert.
• Engage course participants in conversation during course breaks and social activities about various experiences in PSOs.
• Attend Course Directing Staff review sessions to analyze course progress and offer suggestions to improve the Course content and conduct for current and future PoC Courses.
• Provide a written critique of the PoC Course and submit it within 14 days of the completion of the course.

Outcome/Output Deliverables:

• Assessment of Participants’ performance during the course.
• Plenary and break out syndicate training of all participants for deployment in an integrated and multidimensional PSO.
• Building networks among different components for smooth PSO.
• Pre-course evaluation.
• Post-course evaluation.
• Detailed course narrative.

Contract Conditions and Payment:

• The consultancy is deliverable-based and the fees shall be paid by the UNDP upon successful completion of the assigned module and submission of the consultancy report.

Management & Reporting:

• The Facilitator shall work under the direct supervision of the Course Director and the Course Sponsor who is the Provost, Centre for Strategic Research and Studies (CSRS), National Defence College (NDC).
• The Course timetable shall be prepared by the Course Director for joint review and approval by CSRS, NDC.

Duration and Venue:

• The conduct of the course shall be for 5 days, from 12-16 October 2020. The Facilitator will stay for the number of days assigned to the module in the Course timetable. The venue is the CSRS, NDC

Competencies
Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• Management and Leadership

Excellent interpersonal skills:

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrates capacity to communicate effectively; capacity to plan and organize programmes effectively
• Demonstrates resourcefulness, initiative and mature judgment

Qualification and Experience
The preferred candidate for this consultancy must possess;

• At least a first degree in Social Science, Law, Peace and Conflict, Psychology, Political Science, International Relations, and Humanities.
• Candidates must also possess at least 10 years cognate experience in training and facilitation of PSO related courses in general and PoC in particular.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in the workings of UN/AU/ECOWAS and mission experience is required.
• A mixture of practical and theoretical experience working under UN, AU or regional missions will be an added advantage. Other experiences include excellent knowledge of PSO, especially that of the AU.

Evaluation Criteria, Language Requirements and Payment Terms:

• Minimum of a first degree in Social Sciences or Humanities preferably Peace and Conflict, Political Science, Law or International Relations - 25 points
• At least 10 years’ cognate experience in training and facilitation on PSO related courses) - 30 points
• Knowledge on legal framework and understanding of rights and protection of children in armed conflict -10 points
• 7 years’ experience in the workings of AU/ECOWAS and mission experience working under UN, AU or regional missions - 25 points
• UN or international organization experience - 10 points

Languages Required:

• English 

Application Closing Date
1st October, 2020.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
• UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.