Child Protection Specialist (Human Rights Programme - Civil Society), NO-3, Temporary Position, Somalia, 364 days, Mogadiscio, Somalia, #00138400

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

Job organizational context:

UNICEF is part of the Joint Programme on Human Rights Programme, Phase III (JPHR III). The programme will be led and coordinated by the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development (MoFHRD), in partnership with Federal Member States (FMS) line ministries, civil society, and the National Independent Human Rights Commission (NIHRC). UNICEF, together with other UN entities, will provide technical assistance, capacity development, and monitoring support to help uphold international standards, facilitate cross-learning, and mobilize resources and partnerships. UNICEF will also support the integration of global best practices, digital innovation, and inclusive approaches, while strengthening national systems for sustainability. This post is fully dedicated to the JPHR III and is intended to strengthen the technical quality, coherence and sustainability of JPHR III implementation.

The Child Protection Specialist (Human Rights Programme - Civil Society) is to be used in a Country Office (CO) where the JPHR III is a component of the Country Programme (or UNDAF). The Child Protection Specialist (Human Rights Programme)s reports to the Chief, Child Protection, who is at Level 5. The position will be based in Mogadishu and will be responsible for supporting the implementation of the JPHR programme across the Puntland, Galmudug and Hirshabeele State of Somalia.

Purpose for the job: The Child Protection Specialist (Human Rights Programme - Civil Society) report to the UNICEF Chief, Child Protection for general supervision and works under the day-to-day duel guidance of the International Child Protection Specialist (Human Rights Programme) and Programme Manager for JPHR III implementation. The Child Protection Specialist (Human Rights Programme)s provide dedicated human rights expertise, legal and policy advice, technical quality assurance, capacity development and substantive monitoring and reporting support across the JPHR III. The Child Protection Specialist (Human Rights Programme) will also complements the work of the Programme Manager by ensuring that programme activities, workplans, partner support, monitoring and reporting are grounded in international human rights standards, child rights, gender equality, leave no one behind (LNOB) principles and do no harm approaches.

H/She facilitates the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable contributions to national and international efforts to promote and protect human rights,  reinforce the capacity of national institutions with a human rights mandate, enhance visibility and amplify the voices of marginalized groups, international human rights treaties/frameworks and UN intergovernmental bodies. 

The Child Protection Specialist (Human Rights Programme - Civil Society) contribute to the achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

1. Technical and operational support to JPHR III implementation

• Provide technical guidance, legal advisory services and operational support to government counterparts in the Federal Government of Somalia and in the seven Federal Member States to strengthen and sustain human rights institutions and mechanisms.
• Provide strategic and technical guidance to the commissioners and staff of the Somali National Independent Human Rights Commission to discharge its human rights promotion and protection mandate.
• Provide expertise on human rights complaints handling, monitoring and reporting systems by national institutions.
• Provide technical assistance and strategic guidance to Government counterparts to enhance their cooperation with United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms, including in the context of the Universal Periodic Review and engagement with treaty bodies.
• Provide technical support to the National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up (NMRF), the mechanism which manages how the government tracks, implements, and reports on human rights commitments and recommendations, and helps ensure follow-up across relevant institutions
• Provide technical support and capacity development to civil society organizations, particularly human rights defenders and organizations led by or representing marginalized groups and minority communities.
• Provide legal advisory services to Somali stakeholders, including analysis and legal research to enhance the alignment of envisaged legislations with Somalia’s international and regional human rights commitments.
• Participate in JPHR III meetings, including programme review and contingency planning discussions, to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
• Contribute to policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials related to the implementation of the JPHR III for management use, information and/or consideration.

2. Technical monitoring, quality assurance and evidence for JPHR III results

• Provide technical inputs to JPHR III monitoring benchmarks, indicators and measurement tools to ensure they capture human rights standards, child rights, gender equality, disability inclusion, minority rights and LNOB commitments.
• Participate in programme reviews, field monitoring, technical assessments and annual reviews to assess the quality of human rights implementation and recommend corrective actions to the Programme Manager and relevant partners.
• Contribute substantive human rights analysis to monitoring, evaluation and donor reports, including identification of technical gaps, emerging risks, lessons learned, good practices and recommendations for adaptive management.
• Actively monitor JPHR III programmes/projects/activities through field visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems. Inform decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.

3. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders, global partners, allies, donors, and academia - through active networking, advocacy and effective communication - to build capacity, exchange knowledge and expertise in the field of human rights, and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results in human rights.
• Contribute to communication and information materials for CO advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and to support fund raising for JPHR III as relevant.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT/SJF) discussions and planning on related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on the JPHR III.

To qualify as a/an [champion or advocate] for every child you will have… 

1. Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Law, Political Science, International Relations, Human Rights, or another relevant social science field and any other related fields.
A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant field such as Social Sciences, Law, International Relations or Development Studies, combined with an additional two years of relevant professional experience in Human Rights, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
2. Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in human rights, accountability projects, access to justice, capacity building, or other related fields is required, including experience supporting initiatives that promote accountability, access to justice, and human rights capacity building.
A minimum of three years of proven ability to build and maintain partnerships with civil society organizations in Somalia, including supporting the identification, development, and maintenance of partnerships to promote and protect human rights, is required.
3. Skills: Proven skills in drafting human rights reports are required. Knowledge of regional and international human rights mechanisms, including UN human rights mechanisms, is required. Proven skills to integrate a human rights-based approach, leave no one behind and gender into all areas of work, including planning and reporting, are required. Demonstrated knowledge of human rights monitoring, documentation, and analysis, including OHCHR’s methodologies, is required.
Demonstrated skills in designing, delivering, and evaluating human rights capacity-building and training programmes for national and local authorities and institutions and other stakeholders, is required. Experience in providing technical assistance to national human rights institutions is required.
4. Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Somali is required.

1. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
2. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Advertised: 01 Sep 2026 E. Africa Standard Time
Applications close: 13 Sep 2026 E. Africa Standard Time

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