TEAM/PROGRAMME: RPU
support the activities of the ACERWC
LOCATION:
Maseru-the Kingdom of Lesotho
GRADE: TBC CONTRACT LENGTH: 3yrsCHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3 the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; ore because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.
Role Purpose:
The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) is a human rights organ of the AU with the mandate to promote and protect the rights and welfare of children in Africa. The Committee was established by the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), by virtue of Article 32 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (The African Children’s Charter) to monitor the implementation of the Charter.
The ACERWC recognises that climate change has an impact on various rights recognized in the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (the African Children’s Charter/ the Charter); including the best interest of the child, the right to survival and development, the right to health and welfare and its consequential impact on the right to education, protection from harmful practices, non-discrimination and protection from violence and abuse and protection of children on the move.
Cognizant of disproportionate impact of climate change on children in least developed and developing countries, in which most African countries fall in to, the ACERWC decided to establish a Working Group on Children’s Rights and Climate Change during its 35th Ordinary Session, held virtually from 31 August to 08 September 2020.
The aim of the Working Group is to integrate a child rights-based approach to climate change responses in the continent and to thereby ensure that children’s rights and welfare is protected from the impacts of climate change. The Group will be composed of four Members of the ACERWC and four external experts.
The working Group will undertake its activities guided primarily by the African Children’s Charter, the Resolution establishing the Working Group and the Standard of Operating Procedures for the establishment of Working Groups as Special Mechanisms within the ACERWC.
In this regard, Save the Children International through a support of the Africa Children’s Charter Project (ACCP) is collaborating with the ACERWC to hire a qualified individual officer to assist the undertakings of the above-mentioned Working Group.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: The officer will work under the direct supervision and guidance of the Executive Secretary of ACERWC.
Dimensions: Support the activities of the Working Group on Children's Rights and Climate Change
Main duties and responsibilities of the Legal Researcher
- The Legal Researcher will be tasked to support the activities of the Working Group on Children's Rights and Climate Change as contained in the Resolution for the establishment of the Working Group. Specifically, the officer will be undertaking the following activities:
- Prepare and coordinate the meetings of the Working Group;
- Produce briefings on the impact of climate change on the rights and welfare of the child in Africa and present to the Working Group;
- Draft standards and develop effective strategies to combat and reverse the impact of climate change on the rights and welfare of the child;
- Undertake extensive research into issues raised Good practice reports and peer-exchange sessions among CSOs and children on how they have reported on child rights and the environment/climate change to the ACERWC
- Provides support in the facilitation and organization of Cross-sectoral dialogue forums to advocate for climate justice and accountability to children at Pan-African, sub-regional and local levels
- Collect information on Good practice reports and peer-exchange sessions among CSOs and children on how they have reported on child rights and the environment/climate change to the ACERWC
- Coordinate the dissemination and popularization of the continental study on climate change and children’s rights in Africa;
- Coordinate the various activities of the Working Group aimed at raising awareness and galvanizing action on the issue of climate change and children’s rights among African Union organs, Regional Economic Communities, National Human Rights Institutions, Civil Society Organizations, child and youth led organizations and other relevant stakeholders;
- Draft the ACERWC’s documents (including Concluding Observations, letters of urgent appeals, etc) concerning children’s rights and climate change;
- Produce regular quarterly reports on the activities of the Working Group; and
Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Executive Secretary
SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS
Accountability:
- Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
- Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
Ambition:
- Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
- Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
- Future orientated, thinks strategically
Collaboration:
- Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
- Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
- Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
Creativity:
- Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
- Willing to take disciplined risks
Integrity:
- Honest, encourages openness and transparency
Qualifications
- At least an Advanced university degree in law, human rights, children’s rights/welfare, or other related disciplines.
- A minimum of five years working experience in the area of child protection in the African context;
- Demonstrated knowledge of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the work of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child;
- Experience in national or international organizations working on matters of children’s rights and climate change;
- Excellent research and analytical skills;
- Excellent and proven report writing skills.