Ministry of Justice, Constitutions, Religious Affairs and Rehabilitation
TERMS OF REFERENCE – JUSTICE FOR CHILDREN TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Background
Somalia, one of the world’s poorest countries, is also one of its least protective environments for children. Much of the country has been entrenched in civil conflict for over 20 years with children as young as nine forced to fight. Somali women and children have become increasingly vulnerable to all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation, much of it is practiced in a climate of total impunity. The internally displaced, children from minority groups, the very poor, orphans, children with special needs, working children, children living in the streets, militia children and children in conflict with the law, are all in special need of protection.
Moreover, young people have had little opportunity for education, or have had their education interrupted. They are frequently exposed to violence, risk of HIV and AIDS and drug abuse especially the use of Khat. These challenges, coupled with unemployment, have worsened young people’s overall vulnerability to different forms of violence and exploitation, and increased their involvement in criminal activities, including piracy and armed conflict, in search of alternative livelihoods.
In addition, population displacement due to chronic conflict, recurrent droughts and famines has resulted in the separation of children from their families, which exposes them to exploitation, violence and abuse; children of Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) and minorities are particularly vulnerable. Societal acceptance of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) often stands between child victims and justice. Child protection is inadequate from the very start of life with only three per cent of births registered undermining children’s access to rights. Impunity is widespread resulting in grave child rights violations including the recruitment, arbitrary arrest and detention of children. Rape and sexual assault are widespread problems which, because of the strong stigma attached to rape in Somali culture, frequently go unreported. Prosecutions and convictions for rape and other forms of sexual violence are extremely rare, and there is a climate of impunity.
Equally problematic, about 1 in 10 Somali marriages occur before the girl is 15 years old, and about half before they are 18. Rates of child marriage tend to be high where poverty, birth and death rates are also high; where civil conflict is commonplace; and where there are lower overall levels of development, including schooling, healthcare and employment. Also, about 1 per cent of Somali children are ‘double orphans’ and the incidence of children living in households without a biological parent has been rising over recent decades and is higher the older the child is. About half of Somali children aged between 5 and 14 engage in child labour. The rate is higher for rural than for urban children, and somewhat higher for girls
than for boys.
Notwithstanding with the above, the ratification of the Convention on the Rights (CRC) of the Child by the Somalia Federal Government in 2015 provides an opportunity to streamline existing child related legislation and mechanisms with international standards. It also paves the way for the framing of protective policies and legislation and the establishment of state owned mechanisms and structures that will enable service provision and protection of children from all forms of neglect, abuse, violence and exploitation.
Nonetheless, the UNICEF Child Protection Programme will continue underpinning the efforts of Puntland State Government in protecting the children through a) changing harmful social norms that affect children and women b) strengthening child protection systems including framing relevant laws and policies and, c) providing protection services to children in emergencies, including fair trial standards and protection of children in conflict and contact with the law.
Key Responsibilities – Justice for Children Technical Advisor
Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Director of Protection of the Ministry of Justice,
Religious Affairs and Rehabilitation, the Justice for Children Technical Advisor will undertake the
following tasks:
a. Take a lead role in the coordination, planning, implementation and monitoring of child protection
programming with MOJRAR specifically, the implementation of Juvenile Justice Law, monitoring of children in detention, rehabilitation and diversion of children in conflict with the law and overall
improvement of justice for children including access to justice for GBV survivors and other child victims.
b. Assist the roll out of child friendly justice system including juvenile justice courts, child protection
desks and child friendly spaces in police stations and prisons and provide technical input and support to the child protection sub-cluster and working groups and other existing child protection coordination mechanisms.
c. Provide the MOJRAR leadership with policy advice and strategic thinking; conduct policy briefings and contribute to the child protection related policy and legislative making processes; and promote consultative approach and flow of information to relevant stakeholders including UNICEF.
d. Closely work with the Director of Protection and technically backstop the coordination, planning,
implementation and monitoring of justice for children programming including the juvenile courts,
CP desks and child friendly spaces in police stations and prisons and monitoring the situation of
children in detention.
e. Work closely with key stakeholders at state level to advise on addressing gaps in current state
legislation and policy framework on justice for children in line with international standards and help finalize guidelines on the rights of child victims and restorative justice.
f. Identify capacity gaps and challenges within the justice institutions regarding protection of children
and facilitate capacity building for justice personnel including judges, prosecutors, police, custodial
corps, para-legal, social workers and rights groups and maintain abreast information and retrievable
data on training and capacity building interventions.
g. Support all assessments, baselines and evaluations related to justice for children implementation
and ensure that findings, best practices, lessons learned, and recommendations are well captured
and implemented and fed into future programming of justice for children.
h. Provide monthly update and information on the justice for children implementation including
children in detention, child related prosecutions and convictions, children released from detention
and overall juvenile delinquency trends and available protection services for children in conflict with the law and provide technical support in strengthening information management system on justice for children.
i. Participate in field visits to review jointly with the communities and law enforcement institutions
the progress of implementation and documenting achievements as well as constraints, recommending possible steps for addressing identified constraints in implementation.
j. Provide weekly updates, monthly, quarterly and yearly reports capturing key progress, challenges
and recommendations with ministry leadership and UNICEF and help assist the Finance Department in timely liquidation of funds related to justice for children implementation.
k. Facilitate knowledge sharing and develop human interest stories/case studies/success stories that relate to justice for children implementation and achievements. Undertake any other assignment or task as requested.
Key Deliverables of the Justice for Children Technical Advisor
1. Quarterly work implementation and monitoring plans.
2. Weekly updates, monthly, quarterly and yearly reports.
3. Minutes of justice for children coordination and review meetings.
REQUIRES SKILLS AND EXPERTISE
The candidate should have the following qualifications and experience:
- Must have a law degree or any other relevant degrees in social science and humanities
- At least 2-3 years relevant experience in justice for children – Justice programming and protection
service delivery. - Familiarity with, as well as experience concerning, the instruments of Research and should be
well versant with the local political context; - Knowledge of training tools and methods and proven experience delivering training on gender responsive programs
CORE COMPETENCIES - People Skills: Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership and is able to support and train internal and external stakeholders.
- Communication Skills: Well developed written and oral communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of MoJCRAR.
- Integrity: Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to MoJCRAR’s core values.
How to Play
To apply for this position, please submit the following the relevant documents
• CV along with the application letter and
• Verified copies of academic certificates of transcripts.
Interested candidates should submit their CV along with their application letter via email
Mojcrarfinanceoffice@gmail.com not later that 30th June 2026.