JOB SUMMARY Reporting
directly to the Country Representative in Mali and working closely with the Technical Coordination (TC) team and the Office advisors (headquarters), the specialist is responsible for the quality of the technical deliverables under their purview. They will serve as the technical advisor in their area of ​​expertise to the Country Representative in Mali and the Technical Coordination team.
This mandate is fulfilled by developing and implementing the Office’s institutional technical framework and deliverable production plan, while maintaining in-depth knowledge of their assigned sectors. The specialist will also participate in the implementation of project partnerships and in project advocacy.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Global Strategy Component of the Office:
✓ Participate in the strategic discussions of the Mali Office and contribute, with the support and guidance of the Headquarters Participation Advisor, to the development of programmatic approaches related to participation, empowerment, and child-centered practices.
✓ Support, under the methodological supervision of Headquarters, the definition of conceptual and methodological frameworks on the right to participation and on facilitation practices adapted to the Malian context.
✓ Contribute to positioning the Mali Office as a leader in child participation by sharing lessons learned from field practices, child-led initiatives, and actions carried out with civil society organizations in the country.
Deliverables Production Component:
✓ Design, plan, and monitor the implementation of participation and empowerment processes adapted to the Malian context, with methodological and strategic support from the headquarters’ participation advisor.
✓ Develop facilitation methodologies, educational tools, training materials, and conceptual frameworks related to child participation and empowerment, in alignment with headquarters guidelines and the realities of local partners.
✓ Plan, implement, and monitor all assigned project activities (terms of reference, programming, provisional budgets, strategies, etc.), ensuring their quality and compliance with the IBCR methodology.
✓ Facilitate workshops, consultations, discussion groups, children’s committees, and other participatory spaces, guaranteeing safe and respectful environments and applying safeguarding measures recommended by headquarters experts.
✓ Ensure the logistical and operational preparation of activities involving children and partners, in coordination with field teams and CSOs.
✓ Contribute to data collection, documentation of practices, and monitoring and evaluation processes to inform project reports, knowledge sharing, and lessons learned in Mali.
✓ Integrate lessons learned and feedback into activities under their responsibility to strengthen the quality, effectiveness, and adaptability of participatory practices.
✓ Prepare and submit timely activity reports related to their mandates and undertake the necessary travel for the implementation of participatory activities and partner monitoring.
Programmatic Expertise Component:
✓ Serve as the project’s technical expert in Mali on child participation, participatory facilitation, and empowerment approaches, in constant coordination with the lead advisor at headquarters.
✓ Support the Mali office teams and partner CSOs in adopting and implementing appropriate participatory practices, taking into account local social, community, and security dynamics.
✓ Support the identification, strategic monitoring, and maintenance of collaborative relationships with the project’s technical and institutional partners, ensuring their engagement in participatory initiatives.
✓ Support child-led participatory initiatives and processes facilitated by CSOs, contributing to the documentation of best practices and the continuous improvement of approaches.
✓ Regularly monitor issues related to child participation, safeguarding, gender equality, and the Malian context that may influence project implementation.
✓Actively participate in training sessions, thematic meetings, sectoral and multi-sectoral working groups related to participation, protection and participatory facilitation, and support technical coordination in advocacy and monitoring activities of safeguarding standards.
Project Representation and Implementation Component:
✓ Actively contribute to achieving project results in Mali and to collaborative work with local teams, institutional partners, CSOs, and community stakeholders.
✓ Participate, when requested by the Project Office Manager, in external meetings and meetings with technical or institutional partners.
✓ Monitor partners, maintain up-to-date relevant information, and encourage their engagement in participatory processes and empowerment activities.
✓ Contribute to the reporting, documentation, and dissemination of results regarding child participation in Mali, in close collaboration with headquarters.
✓ Undertake the necessary travel for the implementation of participatory activities and partner monitoring.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Requirements
✓Initial and/or continuing education in social sciences, pedagogy, anthropology, philosophy, or any other field relevant to child participation and empowerment.
✓Minimum 2-3 years of experience in the field of child participation and empowerment, with a high level of responsibility in the design and implementation of participatory processes.
✓Demonstrated experience in facilitating workshops and participatory processes with children and adults.
✓Proficiency in child participation and empowerment tools and methodologies.
✓Knowledge of national child protection policies and the CSO sector specializing in child participation in Mali.
✓Ability to communicate with children and communities in accordance with IBCR safeguarding policies.
✓Good understanding of child safeguarding mechanisms.
✓ Excellent command of spoken and written French, and the ability to communicate in relevant local languages ​​of the Malian context.
✓ Basic knowledge of communication technologies, including field tools (e.g., satellite phone).
✓ Flexibility, autonomy, and the ability to work in a team, under pressure, and in unstable and changing environments.
Strengths
✓ Creativity and the ability to develop methodologies, educational tools, and conceptual frameworks adapted to the needs of children and CSOs, promoting empowerment.
✓ The ability to work remotely with headquarters while ensuring effective monitoring of field activities.
✓ The ability to document and disseminate best practices resulting from child participation and empowerment processes.
Please note: successful applicants will be subject to criminal record checks and reference checks.
How to apply
To be considered, your application must include:
✓A cover letter
✓Your curriculum vitae
✓The full contact details of three recent references
✓The completed recruitment form, available on our website: RH_Formulaire-de-recrutement_2021.docx (live.com)
Send your application to rh.mali@ibcr.org addressed to Human Resources.
The International Bureau for Children’s Rights thanks you for your interest in joining the team and will contact you if your application is successful.