Consultant – Child Protection Investigator (Local), Lebanon

CONSULTANCY – TERMS OF REFERENCE

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5.5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.**

Consultant – Child Protection Investigator

(Local), Lebanon

BACKGROUND

UNRWA is committed to protect the beneficiaries under its care and, in particular, children and other vulnerable individuals. The Agency has developed a strategic framework to address violence against children involving children in UNRWA installations and services, as well as a regulatory framework on preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA).[1] A key objective of these initiatives is to strengthen the Agency’s accountability by ensuring systematic and adequate response to cases of violence against children or SEA committed by UNRWA personnel or other individuals in a contractual relationship with UNRWA[2].

UNRWA’s Regulatory Framework clearly mandates all Agency personnel to report instances of misconduct (including violence against children and SEA) they witness in the course of their work, or allegations of misconduct that are brought to their attention by beneficiaries or other sources. Over the past years, UNRWA has worked to increase staff awareness about its regulatory frameworks and reporting procedures for misconduct.

UNRWA is now seeking to hire someone to support the Investigation Unit to carry out investigations in cases that potentially undermine the dignity of children and may cause them harm

Description of Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake or coordinate as appropriate, investigations into alleged misconduct of corporal punishment cases and allegations of child abuse throughout the Field Office and its installations including, but not limited to, schools, health centers and camps, applying and ensuring objectivity, impartiality and fairness throughout the investigative processes in accordance with generally recognized international investigative standards and the Agency Investigation Policy and the Agency’s Guide to Conducting Misconduct Investigations; assists with specific assignments in other Fields if required;

• Review and assess complaints and allegations, formulates investigation plans; review and analyse all information to determine its relevance and reliability; conduct interviews with staff and other involved parties; obtain and analyse potential documentary and electronic evidence; conduct investigative research; and determine the appropriate presentation of investigative results;

• Prepare plans, records, interviews, reports and ad hoc briefings pertaining to investigations;

• Prepare recommendations for improved controls, effectiveness, and/or efficiency of UNRWA operations based on findings of investigations and regularly appraises progress of investigations and assess probable impact of investigation outcomes relative to strategies and advice accordingly;

• Work with SEA focal points on investigations into SEA cases involving children.

Modalities:

• The investigations are supposed to be conducted through in person interviews. However, with the COVID-19 situation the incumbent may identify mitigating measures to conduct interviews through different tools in coordination with the investigations office.

minimum Qualifications and Experience

• A university degree from an accredited educational institution in law, investigation, human rights, social studies or any related field.

· At least five years of experience in humanitarian programming, including at least three in protection, human rights, child protection or Gender Based Violence prevention;

· Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of child protection issues.

· Demonstrable experience of interviewing children.

· Excellent command of spoken and written English and Arabic

COMPETENCIES

● Knowledge of best practice approaches to Child Protection

● Planning and organizing skills.

● Deciding and Initiating Action.

● Following Instructions and Procedures.

● Great sense of discretion, confidentiality, and tact.

● Excellent verbal and written communication.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Trained in protection principles, safe identification of child protection cases, principles of interviewing children or vulnerable groups.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

· The duration of the consultancy is 6 months with the expected start date as soon as possible.

· Remuneration for this consultancy will depend on the qualifications and experience of the candidate; monthly salary: USD 1,542.50.

· The incumbent will be based in Beirut and will be expected to travel to the areas.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants should submit a cover letter and CV or UN Personal History Form demonstrating clearly the knowledge and experience required to meet the consultancy requirements via [email protected] indicating the title of this consultancy “**Child protection Investigator**”” in the subject line of the message. The deadline for the submission of applications is 22/06/2021.**

UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from both women and men. UNRWA encourages applications from qualified women. Only those applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted. UNRWA is a non-smoking environment.

9/6/2021

[1] See more specifically: UNRWA Regulatory Framework on Violence, SEA, Protection against Retaliation; DIOS Investigation Policy; UNRWA Protection Framework; UNRWA Child Protection Framework; UNRWA Strategic Framework To Reduce Violence Affecting, And Involving, Children In UNRWA Installations And Services.

[2] Please refer to UNRWA Regulatory Framework for details on the application of UNRWA policies to staff member, other employees (short-term, daily paid, consultants, interns) and other persons/entities with in a contractual relationship with the Agency (vendors, implementing partners, JCP beneficiaries).