Child Rights Monitoring Expert Consultant, Athens, Greece (for Greek nationals only)

Within the framework of UNICEF’s Refugee and Migrant Response Plan in Greece (2018), UNICEF is seeking to hire a Child Rights Monitoring expert to be seconded to the Office of the Deputy Ombudswoman to continue to support efforts to carry out its mandate for monitoring and reporting on the rights of children on the move. **Only Greek nationals can be considered.**

I. Background

Greece, as one of the major entry points into Europe for refugees and migrants, has received over a million individuals since January 2015, 37% of them children. In the first quarter of 2018, over 3,000 refugee and migrant children arrived in Greece highlighting a 97% increase of child sea arrivals compared to the same period during 2017. As of April 2018, there remain approximately 22,500 refugee and migrant children in the country, out of which an estimated 3,150 unaccompanied children.

The Office of the Deputy Ombudswoman for Children in Greece, is mandated to monitor and follow up on the implementation of international conventions for child rights, and based on these observations, develop and submit proposals to the Government for regulatory changes that aim to reinforce provisions for improved child rights implementation. As part of this mandate it is required to report on the situation and implementation of the rights of refugee and migrant children in Greece.  The Office works in cooperation with the European Network for Ombudspersons (ENOC) and is part of the regional Children on the Move Taskforce. Since the start of the refugee and migrant crisis in 2015, the Office has carried out a series of observation missions to different facilities, shelters, and detention centers to assess the situation of refugee and migrant children and has produced several key seminal advocacy reports outlining its concerns and making concrete recommendations for action.

The fluid nature of the crisis has unfolded against the backdrop of an extended economic crisis in Greece and related austerity measures, which combined, have largely overstretched the capacity of Greek government and human rights institutions in Greece, including that of the Office of the Deputy Ombudswoman for Children, to carry out real time monitoring of the evolving situation of children on the move across a range of geographic sites in the country.

UNICEF’s Refugee and Migrant Response in Greece, aims to put in place protection, care and support for refugee and migrant children, including unaccompanied children throughout the country. As part of this overall goal, UNICEF has committed to work through government and civil society partners to strengthen mechanisms for monitoring and reporting on the situation of refugee and migrant children in the interest of strengthening protection and response.

Since July 2016, UNICEF and the Office of the Deputy Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights have partnered to strengthen child rights monitoring in Greece, through the secondment of a child rights expert to support increased monitoring and reporting of the situation, and through the establishment of an NGO Network of Children on the Move – chaired by the Ombudsperson – designed to complement existing monitoring mechanisms through a coordinated civil society response. This partnership has seen some positive results to date enhancing the capacity of the office to advocate in support of children on the move.

II. Purpose

In light of the above, and within the framework of UNICEF’s Refugee and Migrant Response Plan in Greece (2018), UNICEF is seeking to hire a child rights monitoring expert to be seconded to the Office of the Deputy Ombudswoman to continue to support efforts to carry out its mandate for monitoring and reporting on the rights of children on the move.

III. Major Duties and Responsibilities

1. Accompany the Deputy Ombudswoman to conduct monitoring visits (on a monthly basis) to key sites where refugee and migrant children are located around the country, including in open sites and reception centers, closed facilities (including RICs), informal settlements, accommodation shelters for UASC and detention facilities.
2. Produce a detailed report of each visit, including a summary of key observations and recommendations, in support of the Ombudswoman’s advocacy role. Reports will be produced in Greek as per regular procedures of the Office of the Deputy Ombudswoman. Summary of possible key recommendations will be included in monthly reports (in English).
3. Support to organizing the monthly meetings and related actions of the NGO Network for the Rights of Children on the Move which is chaired by the Deputy Ombudswoman and tasked with carrying out joint information gathering, monitoring, reporting and advocacy on refugee and migrant child rights issues based on an agreed set of indicators and criteria. The convening of this NGO network is helping to strengthen and contribute to the national capacity for monitoring the evolving situation and gather information in order to inform national policy and programme response.
4. Produce public advocacy reports, highlighting key issues affecting the rights of children on the move in Greek, including short summaries in English.
5. Oversee the production of child-friendly information material for refugee and migrant children outlining their rights of and available services and resources in Greece and beyond.
6. Represent the Deputy Ombudswoman at various national and international forums and coordination mechanisms.  

IV. Key Deliverables

1. Reports of child rights monitoring visits carried out to key sites where refugee and migrant children are concentrated (Monthly – or on average of 1-2 visits per month for a period of 6 months, according to the availability of staff and the judgment of needs by the Deputy Ombudswoman). These reports will be produced in Greek and will be submitted to the Deputy Ombudswoman’s office.
2. Supporting documentation for monthly and ad hoc meetings of the Network for the Rights of Children on the Move including preparing meeting agendas, drafting notes for the record, preparing a work plan and advocacy strategy for the Network and support to preparation of any joint products. Reports will be produced in Greek with short summaries in English.
3. Work jointly with the IM expert in supporting the office of the Deputy Ombudswoman for Children’s Rights and the Network for the Rights of Children on the Move in children’s rights monitoring, production of reports and evidence generation from qualitative and quantitative information collection and generation.
4. Thematic advocacy reports on the rights of Children on the Move, as requested by the Deputy Ombudswoman in line with Office priorities.
5. Monthly progress reports outlining key results and challenges faced in the reporting period (submitted to UNICEF during the first week of every month - monthly) in English.

V. Supervision and Reporting

• The Child rights monitoring expert will be appointed by UNICEF and seconded to the Greek Office of the Deputy Ombudswoman for Children’s Rights, based in Athens. The incumbent will be supervised on a daily basis by and will report directly to the Deputy Ombudswoman for Children’s Rights.
• The Child rights monitoring expert will be supported by the UNICEF Refugee and Migrant Response Team in Greece and the UNICEF Regional Office for ECARO– including the UNICEF Monitoring Specialist and Chief of Child Protection. Within UNICEF, the incumbent will report to the Chief of Child Protection.
• The Child rights monitoring expert will produce brief monthly progress reports in English to UNICEF, by the first week of every new month, outlining key activities, achievements and challenges faced during the reporting period, as well as key recommendations and findings of report.
• Payment will be made on a monthly basis, based on deliverables and submission of monthly progress reports and invoices to UNICEF by the consultant.

 VI. Minimum Qualification and Experience.

• At minimum, a Masters degree in the social or humanitarian studies, law or other related field
• Knowledge and understanding of human rights/child right’s protection (preferably with a focus on child protection and migrant populations).
• Knowledge and understanding of information management process (data collection, analyses and reporting)
• Experience and understanding of evidence-based advocacy, monitoring and evaluation process and tools, preferably with experience on child or human rights monitoring and reporting.
• At least 3-5 years of professional experience in the area related to human/child rights or related field.
• Experience within the field of child protection/ human rights in a) research and b) networking and coordination activities including public and/or civil society stakeholders.
• Experience working in a multicultural environment.
• Fluency in Greek and English.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

In your cover letter, please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in EUR €) to undertake the terms of reference above.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.