Tasks of a Child Protection Monitor

Terms of Reference for Birth Registration Data Operator

Local Government - FATA Secretariat

Introduction

Millions of children in Pakistan are denied a fundamental right – namely, the right to a legal identity, through birth registration. Children whose births go un-registered may be denied access to a number of protective measures, including those to prevent child marriage, child labour, recruitment by armed groups and illegal adoption and/or trafficking. Without a birth certificate, such children are also at risk of being denied valid inheritance claims, or being treated as adults if in conflict with the law. In the absence of a registered birth, it becomes ever-more difficult to help separated children and those who are without parental care, to be reunited with their families. Further, a child who is not counted is less likely to be included in development policies and planning for the provision of social services. Universalization of birth registration is, therefore, absolutely vital for the future wellbeing of children in Pakistan and the country’s sustainable development.

Pakistan, as a signatory to the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), is obliged, as per Article 7 of the Convention, to undertake all appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures to register a child immediately after birth and thereby afford the right to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and, as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents. In the 2009 Concluding Observations to the Pakistan Periodical Report, the CRC Committee notes that while many measures have been implemented by the Government of Pakistan to promote timely birth registration, still more than 70 per cent of children are not registered at birth, especially girls, children belonging to a religious or minority group, refugee children and children living in rural areas. It further recommends that full implementation of measures should be “taken to remove structural obstacles to birth registration…” and “…simplify the procedures for birth registration in order to cover all persons in the country, regardless of sex, religion, status or nationality.”

The number of registered births is alarmingly low in FATA. According to the latest Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, only 1 per cent of children in the territory are registered at birth and have a birth certificate. On January 10, 2012, a child protection policy was endorsed by the Government in which the registration of children’s births is highlighted as a priority area. In this respect, the Government has notified an inter-departmental Working Group for Birth Registration, which coordinates efforts by multiple partners to improve birth registration rates. In the recent past, the Working Group initiated birth registration initiatives in two Tehsils of FATA - Yakaghund and Jamurad - but in the absence of a strategy incorporating a clear set of methodologies and interventions for improving birth registration in the region, sustainability was an issue. Accordingly, based on an initial assessment of the previous intervention, the Local Government Department, with the technical assistance of UNICEF, developed a comprehensive birth registration strategy in 2013 and same has been reviewed and endorsed by the Working Group.

Based on the findings of the pilot interventions, it was concluded that a major cause of the slow pace of birth registration in the piloted agencies was the accessibility of the service to the people, as well as limited knowledge and information about the birth registration process. Based on mutual consensus between the major stakeholders (Local Government Department FATA, NADRA and UNICEF) a revised approach has been introduced in Bara Tehsil. Accordingly, Bara Tehsil has been selected for the upcoming birth registration intervention, based on circumstances where Temporary Displaced People (TDPs) have recently returned to Bara and rehabilitation and reconstruction activities are underway. In addition, activities in support of the protection of children are also being implemented in Bara, which serve to complement the registration of children’s births.

The pilot exercise will be carried out for a period of 6 months, after which it will be reviewed in detail by all stakeholders to assess its scalability. The target number of children to report the fact of their existence/apply for birth registration certificates in Bara during the implementation period is estimated to total 250,307 children. Once applications are submitted, it is estimated that approximately 41,718 birth certificates will be issued per month to clear the backlog of unregistered children in Bara. For this purpose, the following staff will be provided to the Local Government Department FATA for the implementation of the activities under the pilot project.

Job Purpose:

The Birth Registration data operator hired through ‘ASK’ will provide direct support to the Local Government Department FATA and will be primarily responsible for the entry of birth registration application form data in the NADRA software and subsequent printing of respective birth registration certificates.

Place of Work: Local Government Department – FATA Secretariat - Peshawar.

Number of post: Three

Reports to: Assistant Director, Local Government, FATA

Duration of the contract: January 2017 to June 2017

Remuneration: Monthly salary: RS. 25,000/=

Key Responsibilities

·  Insert data by inputting text-based and numerical information from source documents within time limits.

·  Review data for deficiencies or errors, correct any incompatibilities if possible and check output.

·  Obtain further information for incomplete documents.

·  Generate reports, store completed work in designated locations and perform backup operations.

·  Scan documents and print files, when needed.

·  Maintain confidentiality.

·  Respond to queries for information and access relevant files, as appropriate.

·  Comply with applicable data integrity and security policies.

·  Ensure proper use of office equipment and address any malfunctions.

Skills/Qualification/Experience:

·  Bachelor degree in computer sciences, or relevant diploma.

·  Proven data-entry work experience, as a data-entry operator or office clerk.

·  Experience with MS Office and data programs.

·  Familiarity with administrative duties.

·  Experience using office equipment, including fax machine and scanner.

·  Typing speed and accuracy.

·  Excellent knowledge of correct spelling, grammar and punctuation in English and Urdu.

·  Attention to detail.

·  Organization skills, with an ability to stay focused on assigned tasks.

·  Locals of Khyber agency especially Bara will be preferred.