Principal Child Rights Protection Officer (ACERWC) at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Principal Child Rights Protection Officer (ACERWC)

Requisition ID: 1483
Location:  Maseru, Lesotho
Reports to: Executive Secretary
Directorate / Department: Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development 
Division: African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC)
Number of Direct Reports: 2
Number of Indirect Reports: 2
Job Grade: P4
Contract Type: Regular

Purpose of Job

• The 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.
• In view of the above background, the AU invites qualified and competent applicants who are citizens of Member States of the African Union with relevant skills, competencies and experiences to submit their applications for the position of Principal Child Rights Protection Officer at the Secretariat of the ACERWC based in Maseru, the Kingdom of Lesotho.
• The Principal Child Rights Protection Officer shall coordinate the implementation of ACERWC activities in line with the protection mandate of the ACERWC.

Main Functions

• Design strategies and policies consistent with the Department’s goal in order to address the pertinent issues in the relevant area.
• Contribute to the development of the Unit’s business continuity plan and ensure implementation at respective level
• Represent the respective unit and explain the position of the Organization in relation to the unit’s functions at conferences.
• Mobilise funding from all donors to use to execute strategies and activities.
• Supervise the preparation of periodic financial and budget execution reports and monitor budget execution at unit’s level.
• Manage and supervise employees within the unit with regard to the department goals objectives including performance evaluation.
• Devise mechanisms of managing risk within the unit’s area of operation and recommend mitigation strategies
• Design and plan policy programs to achieve the strategies.
• Develop new and existing activities as components of the strategies and policies.
• Address problems in arising to current approaches to relevant area.
• Engage stakeholders within Members States and RECs in designing and implementing strategies.

Specific Responsibilities

• Supervise the work of the Senior Child Protection Officer,
• Coordinate the activities of Special Mechanisms within the ACERWC
• Supervise and Coordinate in implementing activities which aims at preventing violations and abuse of children’s rights; and in line with the Committee’s Communication/Complaint and investigation mandate works towards ensuring accountability and providing redress for actual violation of children’s rights in Africa.
• Supervise the various documents around the State Party Reporting mechanisms before the ACERWC including developing the list of issues, concluding observations;
• Coordinate on site investigation and follow up missions in the concerned State Parties as directed by the ACERWC;
• Coordinate the implementation of the Decisions on the AU Policy Organs and other AU organs related to children rights;
• Work towards the existence of an enhanced collaboration between the ACERWC and other AU Organs with a mandate on human rights including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights;
• Coordinate follow up on the implementation of the concluding observations and recommendations in the respective countries;
• Coordinate in Organizing the various advocacy/lobbying missions regarding submissions State Party Reports on the implementation of the African Children’s Charter;
• Develop relevant resources and materials accessible to a range of stakeholders; and
• To perform any child protection related activities as may be assigned by the Secretariat or the ACERWC.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• A Master's Degree in Human Rights Law, Social Work, Child Protection or International Law. At least ten (10) years of relevant professional experience of which six (6) years should be in a managerial role and three (3) years should be at supervisory level. OR
• A University Bachelor Degree in the above-mentioned areas of study, with at least twelve (12) years of relevant work experience out of which six (6) years of at a managerial and three (3) years at supervisory levels.

Required Skills:

• Strong analytical and drafting skills;
• Excellent drafting and report writing skills;
• Good communication, planning and negotiating skills;
• Previous experience with a human rights organization, especially a child rights organization, at a regional, continental or international level, will be an added advantage.
• Relevant experience working on child rights issues in Africa
• Relevant exposure to the work of the ACERWC and the African Human Rights System
• Applicants must be proficient in one of the African Union working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese or Spanish). Knowledge of one more or several other working languages would be an added advantage.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work autonomously and in a multi- cultural environment;
• Ability to liaise with a diverse range of people and stakeholders;
• Good organizational skills and ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines; and
• Ability to work in team
• Relevant experience working with the African Union particularly on the African Human Rights system is necessary;

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight..
• Developing Others
• Change Management....
• Managing Risk...

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationships
• Foster Accountability Culture....
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence...

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking
• Job Knowledge Sharing
• Drive for result
• Continuous Improvement Orientation

Tenure of Appointment

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period.
• Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Languages:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Remuneration
Indicative basic salary of USD42,879.00 (P4 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (57% of basic salary), a Housing allowance of USD21,832.68 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Note

• Only candidates who have met all the requirements of the post and have been selected for an interview will be contacted.
• Only applications registered online with a complete curriculum vitae (CV) attached will be considered.
• The Africa Union is an equal opportunity employer and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Gender Mainstreaming: The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply

Application Deadline  6th December, 2022.