Justice for Children Consultant, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 12months

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Protection

With over 850 indigenous languages and one of the most ethnically diverse populations, widespread poverty, and gender inequality make it hard for many children to realize their rights. In Papua New Guinea, UNICEF’s works effectively both ‘upstream’ (with governments) and ‘downstream’ (at the grassroots level) to carry out its mission through a programme of cooperation jointly developed with the government guides our work in the country.

How can you make a difference?  

Purpose of the assignment

Provide technical assistance to implement the Access to Justice for Children and Civil Registration program.

Support implementation of the UNICEF and Government of PNG Child Protection Workplan (2024-2025), in coordination and collaboration with the following counterparts:

Scope of Work

Provide technical assistance and support in planning and delivering the following Child Protection key interventions related to Access to Justice, Children, and civil registration.

Equity based plans and budget

· Support the government with the review of the Juvenile Justice Act and regulations of the same act

· Support the government in strengthening evidence and equality-based plans and budgets for implementing child protection. This includes developing and finalizing the national and selected provincials' juvenile justice plans.

 Response and Prevention Services

· Establishment of modeling the access to justice programme in the National District Capital with clear coordination, case management process for children in contact with the law; referral mechanism

· Establish a minimum service package for child protection and children in contact with the Law.

· Victim/survivor assistance: referrals pathways by the police to social welfare services, health, PSS, legal aid, and justice, in collaboration with the child protection network.

Capacity building of Birth Registration

· Training: Conduct/facilitate trainings for Implementing Partners (government and CSOs) on Access to Justice and CRVS and birth registration in the context of child rights.

· Support in institutionalizing the child protection training for police into pre-service and in-service mandatory trainings focusing on the newly adopted Protocol on Child Victims and Witnesses of Crimes.

· Data management: support PNGCIR in collecting route birth registration including the linkages between the health and civil registry system in the context of CRVS and VCLMS in implementation of the data strengthening pilot in three locations.

Coordination, planning, monitoring, and reporting

· Establish effective gender-responsive multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms for child protection, prevention and response to violence, and access to justice for children.

· Support PNGCIR to have a functional CRVS coordination mechanism with an updated action plan and holding of routine meetings.

Implementing Partners Technical support

· Conduct/facilitate trainings for Implementing Partners (government and CSOs) child-friendly justice and birth registration/CRVS

· Develop/adapt a training package for the Implementing Partners in birth registration and the broader CRVS

As a champion for every child, qualifications are… 

·    Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience, i.e. Child protection, Justice for Children   and/or social science is required.

·    Demonstrated technical expertise in justice for children and child protection systems strengthening approach.

·    Experience developing and adapting training materials and conducting trainings and development of procedures and protocols.

·    Knowledge of PNG national laws, policies and protocols pertaining to child protection, is required.

·    Experiences in working with government counterparts.

·    Interpersonal skills”: cultural sensitivity communication, facilitation,

·    Professional experience in developing countries and working with government counterparts on national strategies and capacity building

·   Proficiency in English

For every Child, you demonstrate… our core values of Commitment, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability.

This position is a short-term assignment and doesn’t give rise to a long-term permanent post with the organization.

Applicants are required to include in their applications a financial proposal which includes a lumpsum amount for consultancy fees, local transportation and other miscellaneous costs. Breakdown or details of the fee will be much appreciated.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

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.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or orientation). 

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