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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, hope

Mali has been undergoing a multidimensional crisis since 2012. The Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) was activated in Mali in 2013. Since the withdrawal of MINUSMA at the end of 2023, The United Nations in Mali, with co-leadership by the Resident Coordinator and the UNICEF Representative, is the responsible for implementing all activities relating to the MRM, which includes carrying out monitoring activities, collecting, verifying and reporting on incidents relating to the six grave violations of children’s rights, in order to holding the parties to the conflict accountable and putting in place advocacy actions and responses to the needs of child victims, witnesses and perpetrators. MRM activities also involve capacity building of parties to the conflict, with a focus on preventing and eradicating all grave violations of child rights.

It is important that the United Nations team is strengthened to fill the workload gap left by MINUSMA. This reinforcement will make it possible to maintain and strengthen key partnerships, and to continue all the work relating to the MRM data collection with a view to drafting the reports required by the UN Secretary General.

The UN in Mali is scaling up its Child Protection Emergency Response, with a focus on the provision of life saving services to children affected by armed conflict and on monitoring and reporting (MRM) grave violations.

How can you make a difference?

• Ensure the monitoring and reporting of grave violations against children in Mali
• Support the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism
• Prepare quality and timely analysis and reports
• Ensure recurrent MRM trainings for UNICEF staff and implementing partners
• Support and strengthen the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting
• Technical support to the CPiE programs
• Support quality implementation for the Action Plans with the armed groups
• Support the MRMIMS+ deployment
• Contribute to other child protection in emergency issues

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TORs.docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education:An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law or other social science field is required.

  A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• Work Experience  

A minimum of 5 years of experience with UNICEF and/or other relevant actors, including experience with child protection or SBC/Education programming related to explosive ordnance risk education in situations of armed conflict.

Knowledge of the Malian or the Central Sahel context will be an asset.

Previous professional experience in human rights and/or child rights monitoring and reporting.

Advanced technical knowledge of the MRM, including on the specific role of UNICEF within the MRM.

Strong analytical and communication skills (both written and oral)

Background and familiarity with international human rights and humanitarian law, monitoring and reporting on grave violations against children is highly desirable.

Knowledge of UNICEF’s core commitments to children in humanitarian action as well as the humanitarian cluster approach, particularly the child protection working group (subcluster).

• Languages

– Fluency in verbal and written French and English

– Good knowledge of another UN language or a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

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

The 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.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. 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.

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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements