Home-based: Individual Contractor on Disabilities - Office of the SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict

The impact of grave violations on children with disabilities in the armed conflicts in Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iraq

A. Background: 

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG CAAC) serves as the leading UN advocate for the protection and well-being of children affected by armed conflict.

The mandate of the SRSG CAAC was created by General Assembly Resolution A/RES/51/77 following the publication, in 1996, of the report by Graça Machel on the impact of armed conflict on children. Since 1999, the systematic engagement of the UN Security Council has placed the protection of children affected by armed conflict at the heart of its international peace and security agenda. In 2005, the Security Council adopted resolution 1612 which established the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) on six grave violations against children in situations of armed conflict, including:

1. Recruitment and use of children
2. Killing or maiming of children
3. Rape and other forms of sexual violence against children
4. Attacks on schools and/or hospitals
5. Abduction of children
6. Denial of humanitarian access for children.

The SRSG CAAC regularly reports to the United Nations bodies (Security Council, General Assembly and Human Rights Council) on the situation of children in armed conflict. In addition to the Annual Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict presented to the Security Council that covers all country situations on the CAAC agenda, country-specific reports are also regularly submitted to the Security Council Working Group (SCWG) on CAAC, as well as quarterly Global Horizontal Notes covering all situations.

B. Project Description and Objective: 

Armed conflicts have long-term devastating effects on children and their communities. Factors such as age, gender and disability among others are likely to play a determining part in the ways in which children are exposed and subjected to grave violations by parties to conflict. Children with disabilities are among the most marginalized and vulnerable members of society and are thus also disproportionately impacted by armed conflict. To better comprehend the impact of the six grave violations on children with disabilities in armed conflict and, on this basis, formulate recommendations to better inform protection and prevention measures that would address their specific needs, the OSRSG CAAC developed a discussion paper on the impact of the six grave violations on children with disabilities in armed conflict (to be published in 2023).

The OSRSG CAAC is now looking for an Individual Contractor to build on the outcome of this paper and develop three country-specific companion reports on the situation of children with disabilities in the armed conflicts in Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Iraq. These companion reports will seek to further explore the issues presented in this discussion paper and help build an evidence base on which to act and measure progress on protecting children with disabilities in armed conflict.

C. Responsibilities: 

Under the supervision of the Political Affairs Officer, the Individual Contractor will:

• Conduct desk research, surveys, and interviews to analyze the impact of grave violations on children with disabilities in the armed conflicts in Colombia, the DRC and Iraq;
• Conduct consultations with relevant stakeholders at the United Nations Headquarters and in the field, including Member States, United Nations entities, NGOs, including organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), academia and research institutes, and others as relevant; and
• Draft three country-specific reports on the situation of children with disabilities in armed conflict, respectively in Colombia, the DRC, and Iraq.

D. Expected outcome/Performance Indicators: 

Subject to satisfactory review, the provided deadlines are indicative and are subject to changes by the project manager in consultation with the contractor:

• Produce a final draft of the companion report on the impact of grace violations on children with disabilities in the armed conflict in Colombia by 31 August 2023.
• Produce a final draft of the companion report on the impact of grace violations on children with disabilities in the armed conflict in the DRC by 30 September 2023.
• Produce a final draft of the companion report on the impact of grace violations on children with disabilities in the armed conflict in Iraq by 31 October 2023.

E. Location: 

The individual contractor is expected to work remotely for the period of the contract and will be available for consultation purposes during the working hours of OSRSG-CAAC, namely Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5:30pm New York time.

F. Duration of Work: 

Approximately four (4) months to be completed by 31 October 2023.

G. Qualifications:

Functional Competencies: 

• Proven ability to conduct complex research, including expertise in disability inclusion, preferably in the context of monitoring and reporting on grave violations against children in armed conflict.
• Solid understanding of child protection and disability inclusion.
• Excellent research, writing, communication and analytical skills.
• Familiarity with the UN system and solid knowledge of the children and armed conflict mandate.

Education: 

• Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations or other disciplines related to human rights and international law.
• A combination of relevant academic qualifications and five years additional work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: 

• Minimum five years of progressively responsible experience working on issues of human rights monitoring and reporting, child protection and/or disability inclusion, is required.
• Experience working in or on conflict situations is an asset.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of French or another UN language is desirable.

How to Apply: 

Applications should be sent to Randall Tilson, Randall.tilson@un.org, and include:

1. Candidate Profile or (P11), go to www.inspira.un.org to register and create an account and candidate profile, if you do not already have one.
2. Motivation Statement (which is part of the Candidate Profile)
3. One writing sample unedited by others

Please refer to “Individual Contractor Disability” in the subject line of your email.