Consultant for Child-sensitive Mediation Training

Government officials and diplomats involved in mediation, engagement with governments and armed groups, and ceasefire processes will have strengthened knowledge and practical capacity to apply child-sensitive approaches to mediation and related processes. OSRSG-CAAC will retain the training materials and resources developed under the programme for use in future capacity-building activities with relevant audiences.

Hybrid (remote preparation and 3 days in-person training delivery).

Seven (7) days

A. Background The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG CAAC) serves as the leading United Nations (UN) advocate for the protection and well-being of children affected by armed conflict. The mandate of the SRSG CAAC was created by General Assembly Resolution A/RES/51/77 following the publication, in 1996, of the report by Graça Machel on the impact of armed conflict on children. Since 1999, the systematic engagement of the UN Security Council has placed the protection of children affected by armed conflict at the heart of its international peace and security agenda. In 2005, the Security Council adopted resolution 1612 which established the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) on Grave Violations against Children in Situations of Armed Conflict. The six grave violations monitored and reported on under this mechanism are: 1. recruitment and use of children 2. killing or maiming of children 3. rape and other forms of sexual violence against children 4. attacks on schools and/or hospitals 5. abduction of children 6. denial of humanitarian access for children. The SRSG CAAC regularly reports to the UN bodies (Security Council, General Assembly, and Human Rights Council) on the situation of children in armed conflict, and further engages in a variety of activities to foster the protection of conflict-affected children, including engagement with parties to conflict in situations covered by her mandate, engagement with a global network of partners, promotion of lessons learned and best practices, and the fostering of regional partnerships. Further information on the CAAC mandate and the Office of the SRSG CAAC can be found here: https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org. B. Project Description and Objective The Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG-CAAC), through its Analysis and Outreach Hub in Doha, is organizing a three-day specialized child-sensitive mediation training programme for government officials and representatives, diplomatic staff and mediators working on mediation and ceasefire-related issues during the last week of September 2026 in Doha, Qatar. The training will strengthen participants’ ability to integrate child-protection considerations into mediation, negotiation and ceasefire processes through practical content, case studies and simulation exercises, while supporting government institutions in identifying opportunities to institutionalize child-sensitive mediation within their practice. Project Objectives • Strengthen participants’ understanding and practical application of child-sensitive mediation principles. • Build capacity to integrate child protection considerations into mediation, ceasefire and peace processes. • Develop practical skills through simulations on humanitarian ceasefire drafting, children associated with armed forces and armed groups/disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR), and principled negotiation. • Support the government institutions in identifying practical entry points for institutionalizing child-sensitive mediation approaches. In this connection, OSRSG CAAC seeks a specialized consultant to support the Office’s Analysis and Outreach Hub in Doha, Qatar, to design and deliver this in-person child-sensitive mediation training at its three-day training programme during the last week of September 2026, as mentioned above. The consultant will provide substantive input to the training concept and materials, develop and facilitate practical case studies and simulation exercises on humanitarian ceasefires, children associated with armed forces and armed groups/DDR and principled negotiation, deliver the child-sensitive mediation component and prepare a short after-action report with recommendations to governments for institutionalizing child-sensitive mediation practice. C. Responsibilities Under the supervision of the Programme Officer, the consultant would carry out the following: • Review and provide substantive feedback on the draft Concept Note of Mediation Training, provided by OSRSG CAAC Doha Hub team. • Finalize training content, case studies, and mediation simulation exercises in coordination with the OSRSG-CAAC Doha Hub team. • As part of the OSRSG-CAAC training programme, the consultant will deliver, in-person, the child-sensitive mediation-process content and facilitate the simulation exercises portion in the training. • Facilitate the mediation simulation exercises and negotiation-strategy segments as set out in the programme, including the exercises on humanitarian ceasefire drafting, child soldier DDR, and principled negotiation. • Prepare a short after-action report summarizing key themes, participant engagement and recommendations for institutionalizing child-sensitive mediation practice at the institutional level. • Provide any outstanding training materials or guidance notes to OSRSG-CAAC for internal use.

Education •Advanced degree (Master's or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, or other related disciplines. •A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with five additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience • A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience working on issues of peace and security, mediation, political affairs, human rights, protection, and/or data analysis is required. • Demonstrated experience in mediation, negotiation, peace processes, and/or ceasefire processes, including experience integrating protection considerations into mediation or peacebuilding processes, is required. • Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering training tor government officials, diplomats, mediators, or other practitioners on mediation, negotiation, peace and security, protection, or related subjects is required. • Experience in developing and facilitating scenario-based exercises, case studies, simulations, or negotiation exercises is desirable. • Experience working on children and armed conflict (CAAC), child protection, or child-sensitive approaches to mediation and peace processes is desirable. • Experience working with the United Nations, international or regional/subregional organizations, or government institutions is desirable. • Experience working in the Middle East and/or contexts affected by armed conflict is desirable.

•Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. •Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Functional Competencies • Strong expertise in mediation, negotiation, and peace processes, including the ability to translate concepts into practical tools and approaches. • Solid knowledge of child-sensitive mediation and child protection considerations in mediation, ceasefire, and peace processes. • Solid training and facilitation skills, including the ability to facilitate simulations, role plays, case studies, and negotiation exercises with senior government and diplomatic participants. • Solid analytical, drafting, and communication skills, with the ability to develop clear, practical, and context-specific training materials and guidance. • Familiarity with the United Nations system and relevant international and regional actors working on mediation, peace and security, and child protection.