Social Behaviour Change and Justice Consultant, UNICEF Child Protection, Prevention of Harmful Practices, Nairobi, Kenya, 6 months (remote) #594707

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them reach their full potential. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of child rights as a calling. UNICEF offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development in a passionate and diverse culture.

Job Purpose

This consultancy aims to develop practical continental guidance for engaging community-based and informal justice mechanisms to strengthen their alignment with child rights standards and laws protecting girls from female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage across Africa. Building on UNICEF's recent community justice scoping exercise and broader evidence base, the consultancy will analyze different models of interaction between formal and informal justice systems. It will define typologies of alignment, identify promising practices, and develop practical guidance and recommendations for governments, practitioners, and development partners to support this alignment, ultimately safeguarding children's best interests and protecting girls from harmful practices.

Responsibilities

The consultant will analyze different models of interaction between formal and informal justice systems, focusing on countries within the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage and the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM. The role involves defining the different typologies of alignment between formal and informal justice across Africa. Key responsibilities include identifying promising practices and developing practical guidance and recommendations for governments, practitioners, and development partners. This will support the alignment between informal justice mechanisms and laws protecting girls from child marriage and FGM. The consultant will also synthesize findings from stakeholder interviews and literature reviews to inform the development of evidence-based recommendations and knowledge products, ensuring the guidance is practical and applicable within diverse cultural and community contexts across the African continent.

Work Experience

A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in child protection, justice sector reform, legal pluralism, governance, human rights, social and behaviour change, community engagement, gender equality, or prevention of violence against women and girls. Demonstrated experience in preventing harmful practices like child marriage and FGM in Africa, conducting qualitative research, analyzing legal frameworks, and developing technical guidance is required.

Skills

Child Protection, Justice Sector Reform, Legal Pluralism, Governance, Human Rights, Social and Behaviour Change, Community Engagement, Gender Equality, Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls, Qualitative Research, Policy Analysis, Development of Guidance

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