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Background and objectives of the positionThe Mekong River Commission (MRC) is the intergovernmental organisation established under the 1995 Mekong Agreement, mandated to promote and coordinate the sustainable management and development of the Mekong River Basin's water and related resources. The MRC facilitates dialogue and cooperation among its Member Countries, promotes joint planning and data sharing, and supports compliance with basin procedures to ensure equitable and sustainable development across the basin.The Mekong River Basin is experiencing increasing pressures from land-use change, hydropower development, irrigation expansion, and climate variability. These drivers are altering sediment transport, nutrient dynamics, and salinity intrusion patterns, which in turn affect aquatic ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on the river system. Addressing these challenges requires sound scientific evidence and improved analytical tools to assess basin-wide water quality and its response to natural and human-induced changes.To support decision-making, the MRC has developed and recently upgraded the MRC's Decision Support Framework (MRC-DSF), which integrates hydrological and hydrodynamic modelling and scenario-based simulations using the MIKE suite of models. While the upgraded DSF provides simulations of flows, reservoir operations, and flood and drought conditions, it currently does not include water quality or sediment processes, creating a gap in the assessment of sediment transport, nutrient dynamics, and salinity intrusion. In order to address this gap, the expert will focus on extending the MRC-DSF to include comprehensive water quality modelling, covering on sediment budgets, instream sediment, nutrient, and salinity intrusion.The expert will also conduct the sediment budget assessment based on this devlopped modules and  training and capacity building to MRC and member countries to ensure effective use, interpretation and sustainable application of water quality models. Through these efforts, the expert will strengthen scientific evidence for transboundary water management, scenario analysis, policy formulation, and implementation of the MRC Strategic Plan 2026–2030. Expected outcomes The expert is expected to deliver the following outcomes:·     A harmonized and quality-assured basin-wide water quality (WQ) data, including sediment, nutrient, and salinity parameters, is established and maintained.·     Water quality modelling and simulation tools for the Mekong River Basin (e.g., MIKE+, ECOLab, or equivalent) are calibrated, validated, and integrated with hydrological and hydrodynamic models.·     Analytical reports and model-based assessments inform regional and national decision-making on sediment and nutrient management and salinity control.·     Enhanced capacity for both MRCS and MC  national modelling and monitoring teams to operate and maintain WQ models.·     Technical inputs provided to basin indicators, the State of Basin Report (SOBR) and Basin Development Strategy (BDS). Deliverables and responsibilitiesUnder the management direction of the Division Director and technical advice of the Chief Hydrologist, and in close collaboration with the other Modeller, the expert shall be responsible for delivering the indicative outputs and tasks. The final products shall be delivered within a reasonable timeframe following discussion and mutual agreement. Deliverables·     Inception report with detailed work plan and capacity building roadmap for both basin and site-specific water quality and sediment assessment.·     Comprehensive basin-wide water quality database covering sediment, nutrient, and salinity, including metadata, quality assurance, harmonization of historical and current datasets, and integration of monitoring data.·     Sediment assessment outputs including:•      Basin-wide sediment budgets (source, transport, and deposition estimates).•      Instream sediment dynamics for key river segments and hydropower reservoirs.•      Identification of hotspot areas of sediment accumulation or erosion.·     Nutrient and salinity dynamics assessment including:•      Spatial and temporal distribution of key nutrients (N, P) across the basin and critical sites.•      Salinity intrusion mapping for Mekong Delta.·     Calibrated and validated water quality models (e.g., MIKE+, ECOLab, or equivalent) integrated with hydrological and hydrodynamic models, capable of supporting scenario analysis for development, land-use, and climate changes.·     Scenario analysis reports on sediment, nutrient, and salinity impacts under different development and climate conditions, including site-specific case studies for hydropower reservoirs, irrigation schemes, or other critical locations.·     Technical guidelines and QA/QC procedures for WQ monitoring and modelling.·     Training materials and workshops for national modeling and monitoring teams (at least one regional/national workshop per year).·     Final synthesis report summarizing basin-wide and site-specific assessments, model results, lessons learned, and recommendations for transboundary management and policy support. Tasks and Responsibilities1.   Data Review and Harmonization·     Collect, review, and harmonize historical and current water quality datasets from Member Countries, hydropower monitoring, and research studies.·     Conduct QA/QC of sediment, nutrient, and salinity datasets, including filling gaps and ensuring metadata standards.2.   Sediment Modelling and Assessment·     Develop and calibrate sediment transport models for the basin, including instream dynamics, deposition patterns, and sediment budgets.·     Conduct site-specific sediment assessments for hydropower reservoirs and critical river segments.·     Analyze sediment connectivity, hotspot erosion/deposition areas, and cumulative sediment impacts from land-use changes and infrastructure.3.   Nutrient and Salinity Modelling·     Calibrate and validate nutrient transport and cycling models, considering point and non-point sources, land-use impacts, and hydrological variability.·     Model salinity intrusion and variations under low-flow and high-flow scenarios, including site-specific assessments for estuarine and upstream areas affected by infrastructure or water regulation.4.   Integration with Hydrological and Hydrodynamic Models·     Link water quality models with existing MRC-DSF models for scenario analysis and decision support.·     Develop model applications for both basin-wide and site-specific scenarios, supporting planning, development, and operational decision-making.5.   Scenario Analysis·     Conduct scenario simulations of sediment, nutrient, and salinity dynamics under key development plans (hydropower, irrigation, flood protection), climate variability, and land-use changes.·     Produce reports highlighting potential impacts, risks, and mitigation options for transboundary and site-specific water quality management.6.   Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer·     Develop training materials and conduct workshops for national and regional technical teams on water quality monitoring, modelling, and interpretation of results.·     Provide ongoing technical support and advice to national experts to strengthen local capacity in water quality assessment.7.   Reporting and Documentation·     Maintain detailed documentation of models, input data, calibration procedures, and outputs.·     Contribute technical inputs to basin indicators, the State of Basin Report (SOBR), and other transboundary case studies.·     Prepare synthesis and technical reports summarizing findings and recommendations for the Technical Guidelines on the Implementation of the Procedures for Wate Quality (TGWQ). Intellectual property rightsIntellectual property and copy rights - IPR: All the codes and scripts develop and use in developing  the Mobile App, Information, data, database, knowledge resources in the forms of briefings,  reports, proceedings, articles, essays, etc. issued by and for the MRCS will be the MRCS property.  The expert may not share or use for personal gain in anyway. Any utility, announcement and disclosure that are without MRCS highest levels of authority'  permission is considered illegal and will be charged by relevant local and international legal  procedures. Declaration of non-fraudulence and protection of personal dataThe expert shall adhere to the MRC's relevant rules and regulations of the MRC on personal  data protection, business exclusion, and fraud prevention and anti-corruption principles, and  shall be under strict disciplinary measures should any violation occurs.  Working arrangementThe secondment expert will be working under the overall guidance of the Director of Technical Support Division and technical advice of the Chief Hydrologist, and in close collaboration with the other Modeller and other relevant divisions. Qualifications and requirementsEducation•      Master's degree (or higher) in Environmental Engineering, Water Resources, Hydrology, Environmental Science, or a related field (PhD preferred). Experience & Skills•      Minimum 7 years of professional experience in water quality assessment and modelling.•      Proven expertise in sediment and nutrient dynamics, and/or salinity intrusion processes.•      Demonstrated experience in using modelling tools such as MIKE HYDRO Basin, MIKE+, MIKE 11, MIKE ECOLab, SWAT, or similar.•      Experience with large river basins or transboundary water management projects.•      Familiarity with MRC-DSF or comparable systems is an asset.•      Experience in capacity building and working with multi-country technical teams.•      Strong data analysis, QA/QC, and geospatial integration skills.•      Excellent communication and report writing in English.•      Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary and multicultural environments. Duty station: MRC Secretariat, Vientiane, Lao PDR Starting date and duration: Asap (or after mutual agreement) for 12 monthsSwiss citizenship or a 'C' residence permit for Switzerland is mandatory.MiscellaneousFor reasons of duty of care (increased risks due to other privileges and immunities) and to avoid conflicts of interest and potential bias, employees and their accompanying persons who hold dual or multiple citizenships shall, as a matter of principle, not be assigned to countries of which they are nationals. Contact/Application:Please submit your application by email no later than May 31, 2026 to Ms. Odette Mauron, odette.mauron@eda.admin.ch

Background:Birth registration is a fundamental human right and a critical entry point for ensuring a child's legal identity, nationality, and access to essential services. A birth certificate provides official recognition of a child before the law and enables access to education, health care, social protection, and justice systems.Proof of age is also an important protection mechanism. It contributes to preventing child labor, child marriage, recruitment of children into armed forces, and the prosecution of minors as adults in criminal proceedings. Without legal documentation of birth, children face increased risks of marginalization, exclusion from services, and statelessness.Birth registration is recognized as a global development priority under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Target 16.9 calls for providing legal identity for all, including birth registration, by 2030, while Target 17.9 emphasizes strengthening national statistical capacities, including civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems.In Yemen, birth registration rates remain critically low. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2023–2024, approximately 70 per cent of children in Yemen are not registered at birth. Under Yemeni law, births should be registered within 60 days. However, implementation of this requirement has been significantly affected by the protracted conflict, which has weakened state institutions and disrupted administrative services.Several barriers contribute to the low registration rates, including:Limited access to Civil Registration Authority (CRA) offices due to distance and insecurityComplex administrative procedures and associated costsLimited public awareness of the importance of birth registrationFragmentation of institutional systems due to the ongoing conflictIn practice, many families only seek birth registration when documentation is required for administrative purposes such as school enrolment, passports, or national identification.Over the past several years, UNICEF has supported efforts to improve access to civil documentation in collaboration with the Protection Cluster, the Legal Aid Technical Working Group (LATWG), and partners including UNHCR and ICRC. These efforts have included support to CRA offices, advocacy for flexible documentation requirements, awareness campaigns, and pilot initiatives linking birth registration with health services.UNICEF has also contributed to key analytical work, including the MICS 2023–2024 and the 2024 "Towards Universal Birth Registration in Yemen" assessment. Despite these efforts, access to birth registration remains limited and systemic challenges persist.In this context, UNICEF Yemen seeks to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the civil registration system in Internationally Recognized Government (IRG)-controlled areas in order to identify strategic entry points for strengthening birth registration systems and expanding access to legal identity for children.Birth registration has therefore been identified as a strategic priority in UNICEF Yemen's 2025–2026 programme framework.   Purpose of Assignment The purpose of this assignment is to conduct a comprehensive review of the civil registration system in IRG-controlled areas of Yemen and provide strategic recommendations to guide UNICEF's support to strengthen birth registration systems.The assignment will generate evidence-based, context-sensitive analysis and identify practical opportunities for UNICEF engagement to expand access to birth registration, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized populations.  ObjectivesFirst Six MonthsThe Child Protection Specialist (Birth Registration) will:Map the institutional structures, workflows, and service delivery models used by Civil Registration Authority (CRA) offices in IRG areas.Analyse legal, technical, operational, and political barriers to universal birth registration.Assess gaps in data integrity, digitization, and service coverage, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and marginalized communities.Identify opportunities for strengthening the system through integration with health services, mobile registration services, digitization, and procedural harmonization.Develop context-specific and phased recommendations for UNICEF support that reflect operational realities, equity considerations, and protection principles.Second Six MonthsSupport UNICEF Yemen in the design, development, and launch of a birth registrationprogramme aimed at scaling up birth registration rates in IRG-controlled areas.  Scope of WorkThe Child Protection Specialist (Birth Registration) will undertake a conflict-sensitive and context-responsive assessment aligned with UNICEF's child protection mandate and the operational realities of Yemen's divided governance environment.Key areas of work include:1.     Systems Mapping and Institutional ReviewConduct a comparative analysis of CRA institutional structures and operational procedures in IRG-controlled areas.Review the legal and regulatory framework governing civil registration and birth registration in Yemen.Assess the degree of decentralization, operational capacity, and integration with other government systems, particularly the health sector.2.     Barriers and Vulnerability AnalysisIdentify barriers that limit access to birth registration services.Analyse risks of exclusion affecting vulnerable populations, including:Internally displaced persons (IDPs)ReturneesChildren born out of wedlockMarginalized communities such as Al-Muhamasheen3.     Stakeholder EngagementConduct consultations with key stakeholders including:Government authorities and CRA officialsHealth sector actorsHumanitarian and legal aid organizationsCommunity leadersFamilies and caregiversThese consultations will capture institutional perspectives as well as community-level experiences with birth registration. 4.     Strategic Options for UNICEF EngagementIdentify priority areas where UNICEF support could strengthen birth registration systems, including:Mobile civil registration servicesIntegration of birth registration with health facilitiesSimplification of administrative proceduresDigitization and data management improvementsInterim documentation and alternative identity pathways5.     Programme DevelopmentBased on the findings of the assessment, support UNICEF in designing and launching a birth registration programme to increase registration coverage in IRG areas.  Expected DeliverablesThe Child Protection Specialist (Birth Registration) will produce a concise analytical report that will inform UNICEF Yemen's strategy for strengthening birth registration systems.The report will:Provide an overview of CRA institutional structures and operational practices in IRG areas.Identify systemic and operational barriers to birth registration.Analyse exclusion risks affecting vulnerable populations.Present a set of realistic and phased recommendations for UNICEF engagement.Identify feasible interventions such as:o   Health-linked birth registration pathwayso   Mobile registration serviceso   Interim documentation strategiesOutline operational entry points and strategic partnerships suitable to the Yemen context.Include an implementation roadmap and action matrix aligned with UNICEF programming cycles. Qualifications: Education:Advanced university degree (Master or higher) in International Law, Human Rights, Social Sciences, International Development, or a related field. Experience:A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in child protection with at least two of which must have been abroad. Experience in civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS), legal identity, or related areas, preferably in humanitarian or fragile contexts, is an asset;Knowledge of the multilateral environment and its mechanisms;Proven ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with government officials, public sector institutions, and state authorities. Language:·        Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is considered a strong asset.·        Good knowledge of two Swiss official languages Ability to Work in Fragile Contexts:Demonstrated experience working in conflict-affected or post-conflict environments, with an understanding of the operational, security, and institutional challenges;Ability to adapt strategies and approaches to complex, fluid political and security situations.Ability to work effectively under challenging conditions, and maintain productivity and quality of work despite operational constraints, limited resources, and time pressures inherent to humanitarian and development work. --> Swiss citizenship or a "C" residence permit for Switzerland is mandatory.  Duty station: Aden, Yemen P-Level / Salary scale: P3 / LK22 Starting date and duration: Asap for 12 months Please note that the COVID-19 vaccine is mandatory for SHA-Secondments UNICEF! MiscellaneousFor reasons of duty of care (increased risks due to other privileges and immunities) and to avoid conflicts of interest and potential bias, employees and their accompanying persons who hold dual or multiple citizenships shall, as a matter of principle, not be assigned to countries of which they are nationals. Deadline for application: 04.05.2026 Contact/Application:Please send your application (letter of motivation, CV, diplomas and work certificates) to:Lotti Roth, Field Resources H, lotti.roth@eda.admin.ch