Home-based: Global Boys Initiative Associate

Duty station: Globally home based and candidates should have the right to work in that Country.

Remuneration: Salary and Benefits will be determined by location

Period 1 year contract, 40 hours per week

The ECPAT Global Boys Initiative team is looking for a new colleague to help deliver a range of policy, communications and advocacy initiatives across the world.

About ECPAT International: 

ECPAT International is a global network of civil society organisations dedicated to ending the sexual exploitation of children (SEC) in all its manifestations. This includes the exploitation of children in prostitution, in the context of digital environments, in the context of trafficking of children for sexual purposes, the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism and some forms of child, early and forced marriage. The ECPAT Network currently consists of 124 members working as independent organisations or coalitions in 104 countries.

The ECPAT International Secretariat coordinates the global work of the organisation and is based in Bangkok, Thailand. The Secretariat designs and implements global and regional level programmes and undertakes programming, campaigning, advocacy and research to facilitate a range of network initiatives.

Project Background: 

Society places expectations on boys to be invulnerable, demonstrate strength, be self-sufficient, and when faced with adversity, to control their emotions and solve their problems alone. Deviating from these norms, for example, by seeking help, can be regarded as a form of a weakness. Gender norms can even prevent boys from recognising they have been victimised or impact the ways they demonstrate they need help. The culture of silence is further reinforced by a combination of additional individual, relational, community and institutional factors. While some services for at-risk boys and survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse exist, they generally fall short in meeting their unique trajectories. By-and-large, all societies around the world are failing to address the specific experience of boys. The extent and manifestations of sexual exploitation of boys are neglected and generally unknown by statistics, policy makers and practitioners.

To meet the initial challenge of limited information regarding the adaptation of services to boys, the ECPAT Global Boys Initiative embarked on a series of research projects in 10 countries around the world, to shed light on the scale and scope of the issue, how boys come into these vulnerable situations, and what their protection rights are.

The wealth of information generated by ECPAT International on the issues and shortfalls allows us to design a tailored strategy to equip those on the frontline with the tools, skills and material to adapt their practice to boys. Implementation of direct programming on the problem is also key to generate learning and further data and to ensure that advocacy actions for long and impactful change are based on evidence and actual commendable practice.

During the first ever Global Boys Summit, convened by ECPAT International in Morocco in June 2023, practitioners from approximately 30 countries discussed challenges and obstacles in service provision to boys and agreed on key action points to ensure that this issue is systematically integrated in the work of the child protection sector. The Global Boys Summit emerged as a beacon of progress, where global practitioners united to not only exchange ideas, experiences, and challenges, but also to jointly identify strategic solutions that ensure that the issue of sexual abuse and exploitation of boys is mainstreamed in the global child protection sector. Some of these solutions identified by participants in the Global Boys Summit include the need to collaborate and carry out strategic global campaigning and advocacy interventions that are based on clear evidence and messaging.

Objectives of the Assignment: 

The Global Boys Initiative Associate will support the day-to-day work of the Global Boys Initiative. The Associate will report to the Head of the Global Boys Initiative and work closely with the communications, research and network development teams – as well as with ECPAT members and external stakeholders.

Tasks: 

Support day-to-day delivery of the implementation of the Global Boys Initiative, and specifically in its global coordination efforts to strengthen policy and advocacy on the issue of the sexual abuse and exploitation of boys.

• Support the planning and delivery of events and expert meetings, including responsibility for coordination with key partners and service providers;
• Conduct background research and preparation of policy and advocacy briefs to support the work of the Global Boys Initiative.
• Participate in regular online meetings with internal and external colleagues and draft minutes, reports and action plans.
• Support the development of funding proposals.
• Produce minutes and reports from meetings, as appropriate and required.
• Other tasks as agreed and required, including administrative, logistical and financial tasks, as well as drafting, editing and taking care of layout of several documents and communications.

Candidate Profile: 

• University degree in related field
• 1-3 years’ experience in the field of human rights, children’s rights or gender issues and policy and/or advocacy work.
• Knowledge and/or demonstrated interest in international child rights and child protection policy and programming.
• Demonstrated skills in information synthesis and analysis.
• Fluent in spoken and exceptional written English; knowledge of either Spanish or French languages is a key asset.
• Flexible approach to task assignment and delivery
• Experience balancing a busy workload and balancing multiple tasks in cooperation with partners.
• Enthusiastic, proactive and willing to learn.
• A collaborative and team-oriented person.

Conditions: 

• The position will be employed through an Employer of Record agency in the country of residence. An explanation of this will be explained to all interviewees.
• 40 hours per week is standard across ECPAT International contracts, unless dictated otherwise by country specific rules.

Commitment to Safeguarding: 

ECPAT is committed to ensuring children and adults engaged with our organizations are safeguarded from any form of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. The candidate is required to act at all times according to ECPAT’s values and principles and in compliance with our policies and procedures, including Child Safeguarding and our Code of Conduct. Submission of a criminal record is required.

Things to Note: 

Candidates should note the time zone difference between their home and ECPAT’s Head Office location and be flexible in their working hours (at times) to accommodate meetings or other occasions when their attendance is required. International travel will also feature in this role.

How to Apply

Please find information on our website: https://ecpat.org/careers/. Application form and cover letter can be submitted to: vacancy@ecpat.org. Please mention in the subject header your name and “Global Boys Initiative Associate”

Applications will be reviewed as they come and interested candidates are encouraged to apply. ECPAT International reserves the right to close the vacancy earlier than the suggested closing date 15 October 2023.