The African Union (AU) is the primary pan African platform for promoting and protecting human rights, including the rights of children. ChildFund International seeks to second a Technical Assistant to the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa in line with Childfund International’s Global strategy “Growing Connections” with the ambition to protect children from Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. The Technical Assistant will provide technical support to the Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) program.
The program falls under the AU Child Protection programs: the AU Campaign to End Child Marriage, Saleema Initiative for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation and OCSEA (Plan of Action and Strategy on Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse). The programs are dedicated to accelerating an end to harmful practices on the continent by enhancing continental awareness of the implications of the practices and supporting legal and policy actions in the protection and promotion of human rights; mobilizing continental awareness of the negative socio-economic impact of harmful practices; building social movement and social mobilization at the grassroots and national levels and increasing the capacity of non-state actors to undertake evidence based policy advocacy including the role of youth leadership through new media technology, monitoring and evaluation among others.

Deliverables

• The main duties of the Technical Assistant will be to provide technical support to the OCSEA program as follows:
• Prepare and design OCSEA communication tools and materials including key messages;
• Engage ChildFund extensively on wider CSO engagement and link ChildFund with AU Harmful Practices projects and also with other organs such as AU, human rights and academic institutions under the overall framework of AU child rights and protection frameworks;
• Support ChildFund with more visibility with Member states particularly through high level forums such as the AU Summit, Girl’s Summits and other high level Advocacy events to protect and prevent online violations and bullying against children;
• Liaise directly with ChildFund on the AU workplan and priority areas in implementing agreed joint OCSEA activities;
• Support effective internal communications and digital transformation platforms and communication innovations with other AU related departments and partners;
• Draft and edit communications documents (e.g., press releases, media advisories, save the date cards, publications, social media posts);
• Review and edit key project documents (including but not limited to evaluations, MoUs, LoAs, strategy documents, meeting reports)
• Update databases on Ministry focal persons on harmful practices and/or Ministries on children issues including National Human Rights Commissions,
• Prepare statements, talking points and presentations and reports for key events;
• Support fundraising efforts for the OCSEA program;
• Perform all other duties may be requested by the supervisor.
  Expected Results
• Key documents (statements, talking points, presentations, reports, strategy documents etc.) drafted and/or edited accordingly;
• Support to AU Harmful Practices Unit particularly on online digital child rights and protection achieved;
• Liaise with ChildFund extensively on wider CSO engagement and link ChildFund with AU Harmful Practices projects with other organs such as AU, human rights and academic institutions under the overall framework of AU child rights and protection frameworks;
• Databases on Ministry focal persons on harmful practices and/or Ministries on children issues including National Human Rights Commissions updated;
• Effective internal communications with other AU related departments by organising internal and partner meetings in line with collaborating with ChildFund achieved;

Job Requirements

Qualifications/Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Communication, Marketing or other related discipline;
• First hand experience and good knowledge on AU projects on Harmful practices is crucial;
• Excellent writing skills in English and ability to work with more than one AU official language is highly desirable;
• Experience in Digital Marketing and technical report writing;
• Excellent computer skills: experience with digital communications strategy, including social media, email, and website management.
• Experience working in a fast-paced and team-oriented environment.
• The ability to work quickly to tight deadlines under pressure
• A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in the AU, related government ministry on Gender or Child issues, UN, or NGO is recommended.

Conditions of service

The Technical Assistant will be seconded to and work in the AU Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development Department and under the overall supervision of the Head of Social Welfare and Vulnerable groups and the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the Harmful Practices projects.