UNITED NATIONS

NATIONS UNIES

NACIONES UNIDAS

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (UN-OCHA)

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

Terms of Reference
World Humanitarian Summit Consultant (Project Development: MENA Protection
Network and Arab Humanity Council)
Location: Cairo
Duration of initial contract: 3 months
Expected start date: 17 April 2016
Deadline for applications: 7 April 2016
Background and Context:
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a global response to address the
suffering of millions of women, men and children affected by humanitarian crises. The first-ever
World Humanitarian Summit is an opportunity to confront these global challenges head-on and
generate greater global leadership and political will to end conflict, alleviate suffering and reduce
risk.
The Summit will be held in Istanbul from 23-24 May 2016. It will reflect the thousands of voices
across the globe who contributed to a regional consultation process. In the MENA region,
stakeholders have called consistently for concrete actions to address humanitarian crises,
stressing the need to keep affected people at the heart of humanitarian work. In support of their
call to action, OCHAs Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA) as co-chair
of the WHS Regional Steering Group would like to support the development of tangible, peoplecentred initiatives that drive forward some of the key recommendations to emerge from the
MENA consultations.
The WHS Regional Steering Group has developed two project concepts that seek to address these
goals: the MENA Protection Network and the Arab Humanity Council. ROMENA is seeking
expressions of interest from a dedicated Consultant with experience in research and programming
on protection issues, international humanitarian and human rights law and humanitarian
principles, in particular here in the MENA region, to develop the ideas further and to produce a
single concept that would pave the way for implementation.

19 P ORT SAID ROAD, MAADI SARAYAT, P.O.B OX 48 MAADI, TELEPHONE MAIN L AND L INES: +(202) 27508195/96/98, FAX
L INE: + 20227508199, W EBSITE: WWW. UNOCHA. ORG/ROMENA

Project 1. The MENA Protection Network

Of all the many pressing concerns among MENA stakeholders, a clear and urgent priority is
protection of civilians. The MENA Protection Network would be a multi-actor protection initiative
to be rolled out in the MENA region. It would consist of legal practitioners, advocates, academics
and media professionals, drawn from the region. These members would form an independent
expert group to monitor and advise the international humanitarian community on overall
protection challenges and specific protection cases, and to develop policy ideas. The Network
would provide a standing advisory capacity for all humanitarian actors, and support the
development of compliance mechanisms, including new regional instruments and IHL initiatives
from the ICRC. The work of the Network would extend beyond the WHS as it becomes a
permanent and vital voice in the region, playing a key role as a regional advocate, encouraging
Member State engagement on protection issues, and raising awareness of State obligations.
Project 2. Arab Humanity Council
In the model of The Elders, an initiative of Nelson Mandela, an Arab Humanity Council would be
a home-grown, cohesive and neutral voice made up of wise and eminent figures with regional
profile who can truly be described as beyond reproach. Members would be drawn from among
former political leaders, business, media, academia, sports and cultural icons. The Council would
provide a permanent and vital voice in the region and represent its moral compass. This group of
agents for peace would play a key role as a regional advocate, encouraging Member State
engagement on protection issues, and urging compliance with international humanitarian and
human rights principles through subtle diplomacy.

Duties and Responsibilities:

As part of the WHS ROMENA team, the Consultant will undertake an initial study into the
prospects for implementing these projects, including an environmental scan, research and
outreach to key potential partners. Based on the results of the feasibility study, the Consultant
will develop a final concept for one or both of the projects, or a combination thereof, including:
mandate, possible membership, terms of reference, funding options, and composition and
functionality of the secretariat. The Consultant will also develop an event concept and
implementation plan to feature the final project(s) at the WHS in Istanbul. Travel in the region
may be required as part of the consultancy.

Key Deliverables:
1. Feasibility study for the establishment of a MENA Protection Network and/or Arab
Humanity Council
2. Final concept paper
3. Event concept and implementation plan for the project to be showcased in Istanbul

Required Skills and Experience:

Education:
Master degree in law, economics, political or other social sciences, communications or journalism.
Experience:
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Two years of relevant professional experience within an international setting, humanitarian or

development institution;
Knowledge of the international humanitarian system and of humanitarian challenges specific to
the MENA region;
Knowledge of international legal norms and principles as they apply to humanitarian crises;
Experience in conceptualizing events and advocacy opportunities would be an advantage.
Language:
Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English language;
Knowledge of Arabic would be an asset.
How to apply:
Interested candidates for this Consultancy should submit a financial proposal with their
application, indicating the proposed monthly rate of payment. In addition, kindly forward a CV or
P11/PHP and cover letter explaining why you are interested in joining the WHS ROMENA team to
Louise Barber: barber@un.org

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