Advocacy and Child Rights Specialist (Consultant) – UNICEF Brussels

Advocacy and Child Rights Specialist (Consultant) Brussels (Refugee/Migration Crisis)

Background and purpose

Refugee and migrant flows in Europe are at an unprecedented high. In 2015, more than a million people risked their lives to reach Europe across the Mediterranean Sea and over land. There are growing concerns over the number and alarming situation of children affected by this crisis. Children make up almost 25% of the refugees and migrants arriving on Europe’s shores. Some 500 children have lost their lives at sea, more than 200 alone in 2015. The high number of children among refugees and migrants requires that responses at national and European level focus on the particular protection risks and challenges faced by children on their journey, at points of arrival and in destination countries.

The EU’s policy response to the refugee and migrant crisis is guided by the European Commission Agenda on Migration presented in May 2015. The Agenda listssix priority actions, including joint operations to save lives at sea, reinforced anti-smuggling activities, a common approach on relocation and on resettlement, partnership with third countries and a new hotspot approach scaling up operational support to EU Member States that are in the frontline of the current crisis, in particular Italy and Greece.

The scale and scope of the refugee and migrant crisis has highlighted systemic challenges in implementing the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) across European Union territory. In the coming months, key EU legislation on asylum and migration will be reviewed, presenting a unique opportunity to ensure that laws and practices are aligned with the child rights commitments enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, EU treaties, laws and instruments.

UNICEF has responded to the crisis by appointing a Special Coordinator (based in Geneva), scaling up critical humanitarian assistance provided to refugee and migrant children in countries of origin, transit and destination, and engaging in policy dialogue globally, regionally and nationally. UNICEF is also providing operational support and technical assistance in EU Member States most affected by the crisis upon the request of governments and partners.

Given the speed and complexity of EU-decision making in response to the refugee and migrant crisis, the UNICEF Office in Brussels urgently seeks to reinforce and strengthen its capacities to:

• Leverage and influence key EU institutions and agencies involved in the formulation, implementation and review of the European Agenda for Migration and relevant common European asylum and migration policies, legislation and programmes;
• Monitor the impact of EU policies and actions on children’s rights and develop and promote child-rights compliant policy and legislative reforms;
• Support UNICEF Country Offices, National Committees and partners to follow, react to and influence political and financial decisions that have a direct or indirect impact on the rights of refugee and migrant children.

Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Director of the Brussels Office, the Advocacy Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Policy Advisor (Migration Focal Point) and have the following responsibilities:

• Gather EU-led intelligence, data and strategic information to inform UNICEF’s global strategy and positioning on the refugee and migrant crisis.
• Support the development of common UNICEF advocacy positions towards the EU by sharing relevant data, intelligence and information in easy-to-use formats;
• Contribute to the UNICEF response around key opportunities arising in the EU context (including expanded resource mobilization opportunities related to the newly established Trust Funds) through intelligence gathering and advocacy briefs;
• Gather data and relevant information to inform UNICEF public messaging in close coordination with the Department of Communication (DoC);
• In consultation with the Senior Communications Advisor (DOC based in Brussels), support PPD Brussels’ external outreach to EU partners, including UNICEF-led campaigns;
• Update advocacy outreach tools and the advocacy calendar, and monitor EU media/EP decisions/debates;
• Support the Director and Senior Policy Advisor to ensure regular internal flow of information, follow-up and exchange with key actors, divisions and offices in UNICEF’s response to the refugee and migrant crisis;
• In collaboration with the Partnership Specialist, support the National Committees in their advocacy work around the EU priorities vis a vis the refugee and migration crisis, supporting also the communication flow around concrete advocacy opportunities.

Reporting and coordination

The incumbent will be based in Brussels and will report to the Senior Policy Advisor (Migration Focal Point), who, under the leadership of the Director, will provide overall guidance and ensure coherence with UNICEF’s migration response (in particular the Special Coordinator’s Office, PFP, DOC etc )

The Advocacy Specialist will work in close coordination with relevant colleagues to strengthen UNICEF outreach with the European Commission, the European Parliament and other relevant actors.

Qualifications and Experience of Successful Candidate

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, law or other relevant field.
• Strong background in Child Rights, Child Protection and/or Social policy.
• Strong familiarity with European Union decision-making processes and the Common European Asylum System.
• Familiarity with the work of UNICEF on advocacy (and with the work of National Committees in particular).
• At least eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national and international levels in the development, implementation, management and evaluation of policy development, advocacy and social mobilization.
• Experience in facilitating international working groups with multi-country members.
• Ability to travel on assessment missions and field trips.
• Good writing, communication and presentation skills.
• Analytical and conceptual thinking.
• Ability to work independently and within a set time frame.
• Fluency in English and French;

Please send your application to:  brussels@unicef.org

Deadline to apply is 11 February

Read more here.