Background

In June 2012, the Executive Council of the African Union, at its 21st Ordinary Session held in Addis Ababa, adopted its Decision EX.CL/Dec.712 (XXI). In the Decision, the Executive Council requested the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) to take into account the rights of the child in its agenda and cooperate actively with the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), in its efforts aimed at promoting the welfare of children in Africa. Following the adoption of this decision, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (the Council), at its 420th meeting held on 18 February 2014, in Addis Ababa, devoted a session to a consultation with the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), in its capacity as an Organ of the AU.

Among other things, the Council welcomed the call for an institutionalized collaboration between itself and the ACERWC in engaging AU Member States to take necessary measures and initiatives to ensure the protection of the rights of children in armed conflicts. The Council also agreed to look into the possibility of organizing a high‐level meeting devoted to peace, security and children’s rights and welfare in Africa, as well as the need to devise appropriate mechanisms through which the Secretariats of the two Organs can institutionalize their collaboration and further strengthen their engagement in favor of children. Finally, the Council agreed to hold, each year, an open session of the PSC, devoted to issues of children on the continent. Since this decision, the PSC has increasingly focused on the issue of children, especially those affected by armed conflict, and has interacted more actively with the ACERWC. This has since been materialized in the organization of open sessions on children's issues with the ACERWC.

The ACERWC would like to further enhance its engagement with PSC and ensure that there is better collaboration in the implementation of decisions on issues of children in conflict situations. The ACERWC would like to develop a report to be submitted to the PSC on the situation of children in conflict situations. Such report can better inform the deliberations during the open sessions of the PSC on children in conflict situations as well
as the decisions of the PSC. Moreover, the ACERWC would like to identify and analyze the decisions of the PSC pertaining to children’s rights so that it can integrate the decisions in its undertakings.

In this regard, the ACERWC is looking for a Short-term Consultant to develop an on the situation of children affected by conflict situations to be submitted to the PSC and compile and analyze the decisions of the PSC on children’s rights.

Objectives of the Short-term Consultancy

The main objectives of the Consultancy include:

• Enhancing the engagement of the ACERWC with the PSC
• Analyze the status of children in conflict situations which can inform the decisions taken by the ACERWC and the PSC
• Increase awareness about the decisions of the PSC on children’s rights
• Provide guidance to various stakeholders on how the decisions of the PSC on children’s issues can be integrated in their undertakings
• Inform the mandate of the Special Rapporteur of the ACERWC on Children in Conflict Situations by identifying areas of engagement based on the two reports that will be developed
• Suggest recommendations on the protection of children in conflict situations
• Suggest recommendations on the implementation of the decisions of the PSC on children’s rights issues

Scope and Methodology

The Consultancy is intended to take stock of the mandate of the Committee and gather information that have been compiled through the mandates of the ACERWC and the PSC to develop the two abovementioned documents. The Status report will identify the key progress achieved and challenges faced in the protection of children in conflict situations. The required information will be gathered from the various activities the ACERWC has been undertaking through its State Party Reporting, Communication, Investigation, and Special Mechanisms procedures. Secondary sources will also be used as data collection tools to enrich the Report. The report will also highlight the developments that have been taking place within the African Union Commission on issues of children in conflict situations. The compilation of the decisions of the PSC will be undertaken by identifying the decisions of the PSC pertaining to children’s rights as captured in the decisions and recommendations of the PSC through its various undertakings.
The Constancy will be mainly undertaken through a desk review. Interviews with relevant stakeholders will be undertaken as necessary.

Key Deliverables

• The Short-term Consultant will be requested to:
• Produce a status report by providing updated information about children in conflict situations which will be submitted to the PSC. In doing so, the Consultant will submit:
  • i. Inception report
  • ii. First draft which will be commented by the ACERWC
  • iii. Final draft with incorporated comments
• •Compile and analyze the decisions of relevant to Children's Rights in a manner that is relevant for further undertakings of the PSC, the mandate of the ACERWC, and the undertakings of the Special Rapporteur on Children in Conflict Situations. The Consultant will:
  • i. Develop an outline for the report which can assist in systematically compiling the decisions following a preliminary review of the decision
  • ii. Submit a draft compiled report on the decisions of the PSC by incorporating recommendations
  • iii. Submit a Final draft by incorporating comments from the ACERWC and the Special Rapporteur on Children in Conflict Situations

Required competencies

The consultant should have the following qualifications and experiences:

• an advanced University degree in Human Rights, International Law or Child Rights,;
• A minimum of five years of working experience in the area of children’s rights in an African context;
• Demonstrated professional experience on matters related to child protection, child rights monitoring and reporting, children affected by conflicts, peace and security, and research and writing experience- all in an African context;
• Demonstrated good knowledge of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the work of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
• Work experience in the AU, UN, or other international organizations, especially in treaty body mechanisms;
• Excellent analytical skills, using both qualitative and quantitative methods;
• Excellent in writing, conceptual and analytical skills;
• Ability to work independently and achieve quality results with limited supervision.

Reporting Lines

The Consultant will work under the direct supervision and guidance of the Executive Secretary of ACERWC.

Dates and location

The Consultancy is based in Maseru, Lesotho, for a duration of 30 payable working days from March to June 2023. The distribution and utilization of the 30 working days will be determined through an agreement between the Consultant and the ACERWC

Consultancy fee

The Consultant will be paid a fixed fee of USD 12,000 (Twelve Thousand USD) for the assignment. The payment will be effected in accordance with the various deliverables as indicated above and is inclusive of all costs and profits as well as tax obligations that may be imposed on the Consultant.

Application

ACERWC invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing consultancy services. Interested candidates must provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience
The application document should consist of the following:

• A cover letter summarizing the background of the applicant and with names and contacts of three references;
• A Customized Curriculum Vitae not exceeding three pages;
• A Technical Proposal on:
  • Understanding and interpretation of the TOR;
  • Work plan and
  • Time and activity schedule
• A Financial proposal
• Evidence of educational background and professional experience;