Result of Service
The Consultant will be responsible for carrying out the following activities:
• Elaboration of a detailed workplan (inception; consultations and collaborative work with UNODC team at the HQ and on the field office; drafting);
• Elaboration of a tailored methodology for technical assistance needs assessments on MHPSS;
• Elaboration of a first draft of a guidance note on assessment of children associated with terrorist groups;
• Elaboration of training materials related to MHPSS programmes of rehabilitation and reintegration of children associated with terrorist groups;
• Delivery of training/workshop activity in Central Asia;
• Preparation of a first draft of a booklet on MHPSS programmes of rehabilitation and reintegration of children associated with criminal groups and armed groups, including terrorist groups. Work Location
Home-based with travel
Expected duration
Proposed period: 5 September – 31 December 2022
Actual work time: 60 working days within the period Duties and Responsibilities
The mission of UNODC is to contribute to the achievement of security and justice for all by making the world safer from crime, drugs, and terrorism. In the context of global counter-terrorism, UNODC is mandated to provide assistance to requesting States in their efforts to address the legal and criminal justice aspects of countering terrorism.
UNODC also has the specific mandate to support Member States in ensuring that children are better served and protected by justice systems. In particular, in re-affirming the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy in July 2016, the General Assembly reiterated that “given their potential status as victims of terrorism as well as of other violations of international law, every child alleged as, accused of or recognized as having infringed the law, particularly those who are deprived of their liberty, as well as child victims and witnesses of crimes, should be treated in a manner consistent with his or her rights, dignity and needs, in accordance with applicable international law, in particular obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
In recent years, the number of children recruited and exploited by criminal and armed groups, including those designated as terrorist groups, has notably increased. As a result, Member States are facing increasing challenges in trying to combine effective prevention and responses to violence perpetrated against those children, including those involved in the Foreign Terrorist Fighter (FTF) phenomenon, whilst also providing adequate accountability mechanisms to uphold the rule of law.
Given the mandates and longstanding expertise of UNODC in the areas of violence against children, justice for children and counter-terrorism, and prompted by an increasing number of technical assistance requests, since 2015, UNODC has been providing specialized technical assistance to support Member States, within the framework of the UNODC Global Programme to End Violence against Children (GP to END VAC), in their efforts to protect children from terrorism and violent extremism.
UNODC was the first UN entity that has issued a position on the treatment of children associated with terrorist and violent extremist groups. In 2019, the Office launched the UNODC Roadmap on the Treatment of Children Associated with Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups. This Roadmap, and more broadly, UNODC’s training package that is comprised of 4 technical tools (2017-2019) provide coherent and consistent guidance to Member States on the treatment of these children and is based on the recognition that there is no dichotomy between security and child protection.
UNODC promotes efforts in three inter-related areas of work: i) crime prevention: prevention of child recruitment and exploitation by terrorist and violent extremist groups with on measures aimed to protect children at-risk; ii) rehabilitation and reintegration of children formerly associated with these groups, which includes efforts aimed to protect children affected by the foreign terrorist fighters phenomenon; and, iii) justice for children in the context of counter-terrorism with a focus on the treatment of children deprived of their liberty.
As of 1 January 2021, under the Global Programme to End Violence against Children, UNODC and the EU joined hands in the implementation of a new Project entitled¿STRIVE¿Juvenile: Preventing and Responding to Violence against Children by Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups. The project is being implemented in Indonesia, Iraq and Nigeria, and aims to increase the resilience of children against violent extremist agendas in all three countries. Further information on the Global Programme to END VAC and its achievements are accessible at: https://www.unodc.org/endvac
The Consultant will provide his/her knowledge and expertise to support the ongoing activities implemented within the framework of the UNODC Global Programme to End Violence against Children and its STRIVE Juvenile Project.
The Consultant will perform the assigned functions under the overall guidance of the Psychosocial Support Specialist within the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section and the direct supervision of both the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer who acts as the Coordinator of the UNODC Global Programme to End Violence against Children and the Manager of the EU-funded project, STRIVE Juvenile. Qualifications/special skills
Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in clinical psychology or related mental health field is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience: • At least 7 years of MHPSS-related work experience with children of which at least 5 years of experience with children associated with criminal and armed groups is required;
• Experience in working directly with children associated with criminal and armed groups is required;
• Experience with MHPSS in Juvenile Justice including in juvenile facilities is desirable;
• Knowledge of legal and judicial aspects relating to violence against children and justice for children is desirable;
• Experience with rehabilitation and reintegration programmes and services following international standards on juvenile justice is desirable;
• Experience in research compilation and analysis of key indicators and outcomes for MHPSS programming is desirable;
• Experience with academic institutions and other organizations to support research projects and overall is desirable;
• Experience in developing reports, manuals, and materials regarding MHPSS is desirable;
• Work experience in delivering trainings is desirable;
• Work experience in the area of Justice for Children with an international organization is desirable.
Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English with excellent drafting and communication skills is required. Knowledge of another United Nations Secretariat language is an advantage.
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.
This vacancy is archived.