EAMR Migrant Protection(Children on the Move)

Migrant Protection Specialist (Children on the Move)

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is an eight-member state Regional Intergovernmental Organization (RIGO) of the African Union Commission (AUC) in the Horn of Africa (HOA) that comprises the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, with a combined population of over 260 million people. The mandate of this community is to lead and execute what the Member States are unable to achieve as individual countries; through its regional convening power. The main objective of the IGAD Secretariat is focused on analysis of regional issues, coming up with regional policies and strategies and coordinating their implementation mainly in food security and environmental protection, economic cooperation, regional integration and social development, peace and security for the partners’ mutual benefit.

In recent years, efforts have been undertaken by IGAD to address forced displacement, migration management. The IGAD’s Regional Migration Policy Framework (RMPF) provides a section for migration and vulnerable groups, with a focus on children and adolescents. The policy has provided a framework for on-going efforts to bring together member states to discuss the strengthening of child protection systems in migration management. These efforts have consistently been supported, individually or collectively, by the Regional Child Protection Network (RCPN) – a regional coordination forum co-chaired by Save the Children (SC) and comprising of UN agencies and NGOs such as LWF, IOM, IRC, World Vision International, Plan International, ICRC, UNHCR and UNICEF which aims to strengthen the migrant protection response in particular children on the move in refugee and IDP operations, as well as in situations of mixed movements.

Between May and November 2019 there were a number of different workshops, forums and roundtables held across the region with Regional Economic Communities (REC), Member States, and partners at regional and national levels attending. This resulted in the EAC IGAD ‘Roadmap on Strengthening National Child Protection Systems and Cross Border Collaboration to respond to the needs of migrant and refugee children in East and Horn of Africa’. The meetings focused on cross-border coordination for migrant child protection and along with UNICEF, UNHCR and IOM. SC has played an active role to support the EAC and IGAD to develop their cross-border protection mechanisms for children on the move. Subsequently IGAD identified the need for a strong regional child policy to further cement her efforts at strategic level and ensure regional leadership in pushing for the child-sensitive agenda. An IGAD Child Policy would align its priority to strengthen child-focused approaches and link the process to the Inter-REC roadmap which would secure inclusion of the protection of migrant children into the IGAD RMPF and filter down into national child protection policies and procedures.

Despite the positive progress made, there exists a number of key gaps and challenges with respect to technical expertise in strengthening child focused approaches. Leveraging on its existing relationship with IGAD, SC will continue to support IGAD to strengthen its efforts to develop cross-border protection mechanisms for children on the move. Through funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), SCI is currently implementing a 34-month project in Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia with the overall goal that ‘the countries along the East African Migration Routes develop policies and adequate organizational and institutional capacities to ensure protection and self-reliance of children and youth in vulnerable displacement situations. Through the East African Migration Routes (EAMR) project, SCI will provide technical support to IGAD by seconding a Migrant Protection Specialist (Children on the Move) to lead the development of an IGAD Child policy, ensuring the inclusion of migrant children as a special vulnerable group.

In order to be successful you will bring/have:

Essential

• Postgraduate qualification in social sciences, social development, Gender and Development Law, Public Policy or related Fields.
• At least 5 years’ experience in the field of Public Policy, Gender and Development, Human rights/Child rights or related fields;
• Extensive experience in formulation of national or regional policies;
• Demonstrable experience working with Child Rights organizations, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), international or inter-governmental body will be an added advantage;
• Strong awareness of child protection issues in the area of migration and displacement in the East and Horn of Africa region;
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, developing clear strategic vision, and ensuring buy in from stakeholders;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong ability to inspire participation and building productive, collegial relationships;
• Fluent in both written and spoken English and Kiswahili;
• Strong verbal and written English communication skills.
• Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce the Child Safeguarding and other relevant policies.

Contract duration: 1 year

Location: Djibouti

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at careers.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.

Disclaimer:

Save the Children International does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process and does not act through recruitment agents