Stretch Assignment: Three to four months, Banjul, The Gambia (Onsite)

Title: Child Protection Specialist 
Level: NOC/P3 – we encourage staff from all levels with the relevant experience to apply
Reports to: Child Protection Manager
Duration: 3 months
Section: Programme Section, Division/Office
Location: BANJUL, THE GAMBIA
Dates/Duration: Stretch assignment from 1st September until 30th November.
Eligibility: All Fixed-Term, Permanent or continuing appointment UNICEF staff members currently working in UNICEF worldwide.

Background

UNICEF Gambia is supporting the Government in strengthening the National Child Protection System to address child protection issues, including preventing and ending female genital mutilation (FGM), strengthening birth registration as part of civil registration and vital statistics, preventing and responding to violence including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and violence against children, strengthening access to justice for children. The Gambia is part of the countries implementing the United Nations Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (UNJP FGM) with UNFPA.

Last year, The Gambia faced parliamentary debates following the introduction of a private bill aiming at repealing the Women’s (Amendment) Act, 2015 banning FGM. Thanks to the strong advocacy led by the UN Agencies, mainly UNICEF and UNFPA, Civil Society Organizations, the Development Partners’ Group, Parliamentarians and other stakeholders in close collaboration with the Government at different levels, The Women’s (Amendment) Act was upheld. Following the rejection of the bill by the National Assembly, the same National Assembly member and seven other plaintiffs filed a constitutional petition before the Supreme Court of The Gambia, challenging the constitutionality of the Women’s (Amendment) Act, 2015. The case is scheduled to proceed before the Supreme Court of The Gambia during the last quarter of 2025.

In addition, the attempts to repeal the Women’s (Amendment) Act created a polarization among the pro and anti-FGM and revealed the need to strengthen communities’ engagement and to invest more in gender transformation as well as in adolescents and boys and men in the fight against FGM.

As a result of the prioritization exercise in the framework of the global Future Focus Initiative, The Gambia Country Office reaffirmed the importance of strengthening its support to the national efforts to end FGM.  The full engagement in the future initiative, however, generated some delays in the implementation of the UNJP annual workplan which now requires acceleration.

Purpose of the Position

Child Protection Specialist to support the advocacy and technical work for the full implementation of the planned activities related to FGM, in line with the UNJP Workplan and other UNICEF supported interventions to prevent and end FGM, GBV and other harmful practices.

If you would like to know more about this stretch assignment, please review the ToR Stretch Assignment Child Protection Specialist - FGM

Duration
This stretch assignment will be for a period of three (3) months.

Minimum Qualifications and Competencies

• An Advanced University degree in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law and other social science field is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection and/other related areas at the international level some of which preferably were served in a developing country is required.
• Relevant experience in Child Protection, especially in the areas of FGM and other harmful practices, SGBV, program/project development and management.
• Experience in leading Child Protection related advocacy is an important asset.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage. 
• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

Funding arrangement
This is a temporary development opportunity and there will be no changes to the staff member’s status (position number, level, etc.).

The Office will cover the ticket for economy class travel and 100% of the UN DSA rate during the first 30 days, and 50% DSA for the remaining time.

Interested UNICEF staff should discuss this opportunity with their supervisor and seek the approval of their management before applying.

Candidates considered potentially well-matched for the stretch assignment will be contacted for an informal interview. Supervisors may also be contacted for references.