Child Protection Officer(White Nile) – Save the Children

Job Description

Section/Unit	Protection
Supervisor	Head Of Child Protection
Duty Station	White Nile
Closing Date	13 March 2024

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

The Child Protection Officer is responsible for the implementation and delivery of quality preventative and remedial child protection interventions to improve response to emergency humanitarian child protection needs in communities affected by conflict and disaster.

ROLE PURPOSE:

Under the direction guidance of the Child Protection or Education Coordinator, the Child Protection Officer is responsible for providing technical and operational leadership to the Child Protection (CP) programs with an emphasis on integration in educational facilities to improve the quality of teaching and learning among children affected by ongoing conflict and community-based protection mechanisms, and s/he is responsible for the daily activities in the program areas and targeted schools.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Promote the use of the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPMS) in all aspects of the work and lead on the contextualization and implementation of the CPMS in both CP programming with a focus on protection education platforms.
• Provide technical input and deliver (or support the delivery of) activities in the area of child and family-focused protection, psychosocial support, community child protection mechanisms, and child protection monitoring and ensure that Child Protection programs are closely linked with other sectors, such as Education.
• Ensure that project activities are implemented in a manner that benefits the affected population, and meets the donor obligations and SCI’s policy, procedures, rules, and regulations as well as governmental regulations.
• Ensure that comprehensive service mapping and referral pathways are updated for all targeted schools coordinated with other actors and reviewed regularly.
• Together with the CP Assistant or community mobilizers and the CP Coordinator, develop detailed plans and conduct regular progress reviews with the Child Protection team and partners to ensure the project is implemented as per agreed work plans.
• Work closely with the case management and education teams to ensure that all complement each other, that the referral mechanisms work, and that children with protection needs are identified and receiving appropriate services.
• Coordinate and contribute to establishing and/or strengthening community-based child protection mechanisms including Parent and Teacher Associations (PTA), and make sure that a clear ToR is developed and followed, and that the CBCPCs are receiving appropriate capacity building, support, and coaching.
• Prepare financial and administrative documentation related to project activities, such as purchase and procurement requests, and ensure that reports, monitoring, evaluation and activity progress are collected accurately and regularly.
• Collect and compile weekly, monthly, progress and other reports from the Child Protection Supervisors/ Community Mobilizers, as required, and regularly report to the Child Protection coordinator.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening for teachers on MHPSS across targeted schools and support children with PSS activities (Team Up) & return to Learning (RtL) packages.   

Human resource management

• Hold weekly planning and supervision/ evaluation meetings with the CP Supervisors/ Community Mobilizers to ensure that plans are followed, and activities implemented according to standard operating procedures and quality benchmarks. 
• Identify capacity-building needs and opportunities within the child protection team, as well as other sectors, civil society, and among partners. Facilitate the training as required.
• Responsible for mentoring, coaching, and capacity building of the staff under her/his responsibility. 
• The CP Officer provides hands-on coaching and support to staff and community incentive workers and spends at least 20% of her/his time in the program implementation sites.
• Follow up staff attendance, leaves, and coverage during leave for the staff under her/his supervision. 
• Ensure regular feedback to the staff under her/his responsibility and appraisal process when needed.
• Support disciplinary measures application if needed.

Coordination and representation

• Actively participate and contribute to Child Protection and Education Working group meetings and Child Protection Committee meetings.
• Work closely with the community to develop and support child protection activities and ensure a close link to the local community to mobilize and improve community child protection mechanisms.

Other   

• Ensure risks are appropriately managed, including financial, safety and security, programmatic and reputational, in consultation with relevant program staff,
• In collaboration with the MEAL team, ensure that culturally appropriate and child-friendly monitoring and complaint mechanisms are developed, implemented and monitored.
• In agreement with the line manager, perform other required duties within reason (in line with your skills and experience).
• In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, or if high-risk cases need urgent actions, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal job description and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
• Inform the direct supervisor about any challenges, difficulties, and concerns in the implementation of activities or issues in the social context.
• Ensure a strict adherence to the principles of child protection and child safeguarding at all times, including respect for confidentiality and always acting in the best interests of the child.
• Comply with Save the Children policies and practices for child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies and procedures.

Minimum Qualification, Skills, and Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, psychology, or another relevant field, or equivalent experience from working directly with children. 
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for the positions. Female candidates who may not meet the formal education requirements, but show a good understanding of gender dynamics, including gender-based violence may be considered for the role.
• Experience and/or excellent understanding of child rights, child protection in emergencies, child and youth development, child and youth resilience and empowerment. 
• Demonstrates sensitivity to gender equality and GBV issues.
• Demonstrates ability and commitment toward diversity and inclusion.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills and capacity to maintain relations with government officials, community leaders, children, and youth.
• At least two years of experience in managing projects, including supervision of staff. 
• Proficiency in computer use including Microsoft Office and Excel.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values, and principles including rights-based approaches and child safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Strict adherence to humanitarian, Protection and GBV principles and standards, as well as organizational policies including the Code of Conduct and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA)
• Flexibility and willingness to change work practices and hours and spend time in the field, sometimes in difficult conditions and with limited resources, and with remote management.
• The successful candidates must know and understand the local context including child development in the context; relationship dynamics within the community; and cultural practices impacting child welfare.
• The ability to manage complex and diverse workloads and to work with tight deadlines
• Ability to contribute to a small, proactive team, motivating staff to work collaboratively with colleagues and providing support and advice as necessary.
• Good understanding of English and Arabic
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.

How to Apply

Females are highly encouraged to apply.

Kindly apply through the below link. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for next steps. The closing date will be on 13/03/2024. Any application after this date will not be considered. All interviews will be done in the Save the Children office or remotely.

Disclaimer: Save the Children International does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process and does not act through recruitment agents. SCI will be undertaking child safeguarding checks for all candidates. The selected candidate will be asked to provide a police check before signing the contract.