Back Child Protection Officer

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 75 countries.

ROLE PURPOSE

The position holder is responsible to ensure that child protection in emergency projects are implemented in accordance with the Minimum Standard for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA), Plan International’s child protection in emergency policy/guidelines and other established CPiE standards and procedures.

The Role

The Child Protection in Emergency Officer (CPiE-Officer) is responsible to ensure implementation of child protection activities designed to prevent and respond to child protection risks/concerns affecting crisis impacted children in target locations. He/she will coordinate project activities at woreda level and make sure that the project is implemented in target woreda/locations in line with the agreement entered with respective government line offices/signatory bodies. The post holder is expected to provide guidance, mentoring and coaching to Social Workers/Community Volunteers to enhance the quality of child protection case management and provision of psychosocial support services. In addition, he/she will ensure a periodic and timely reporting of project activities as per donor and PIE’s internal reporting requirements.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Project Planning and Implementation

• Develop important project management plans and tools including detailed implementation plan (DIP), procurement and spending plan etc and revise them as necessary;
• Implement activities as per set quality standards and monitor progress of activities from time to time;
• Undertake and ensure situational assessments, data collection, compiling and analysing as per the required standard.
• Takes primary responsibility for the implementation and follow-up of child protection activities and programs including development/update of relevant strategies, SOPs and referral pathways, case management mechanisms, CPIMS, psychosocial support interventions and community-based support for at-risk children including unaccompanied/separated children;
• Ensure that there is a functioning child protection coordination mechanism/platform in project areas that addresses the needs of child survivors and at-risk children including UASC;
• Support program staff including Social Workers and Community Mobilizers in the design and implementation of effective community mobilization and awareness raising strategies;
• Maintain standard, design and undertake diversified psychosocial support activities at child friendly spaces (CFSs);
• Facilitate and take a lead role in ensuring that case management services are of high quality including arranging family-based care system or other appropriate care system for unaccompanied and separated children and children without appropriate parental care;
• Provide training for CP staffs, implementing partners, caregivers/families and the community and opinion leaders including children.
• Strengthen protection mechanisms through mobilizing and involving the community in reducing risks
• Work with the community and caregivers /parents through undertaking a positive parenting skills and ensure a positive parents and child communication skills.
• Responsible for planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring of the program in line with organizational and donors’ guidelines, policy and procedures.
• Follow-up, monitor and supervise the implementation of program activities based on the work plan, spending plan and ensure the proper utilization and tracking of budgets and resources/materials allocated to the project.

  Program Liaison, Coordination and Networking

  • Develop and maintain skilful and effective communication and working relationships with relevant partners including children, families, community leaders, government stakeholders and other implementing partners.
  • Represent the program in all partner meetings and communicate the outcomes of the project in a professional manner;
  • Coordinate, lead and facilitate regular meetings with the community, children and implementing agencies and sectors including preparation of agenda and circulate the minutes of the child protection working groups (coordination body) meetings;
  • Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of CP project implementation and follow up on agreed points;
  • Collaborate with other Project Officers to ensure the integration of CP into other sectors such as Education, Health, Sanitation and Nutrition etc programs.
  • Mentor and support social workers and other child protection staff and develop a positive team spirit to encourage innovative and quality programming.

    Monitoring and Evaluation

    • Initiate/participate in periodic program review meetings with partners and community members.
    • Support the CP team in ensuring the availability of accurate, complete and up-to-date information required for effective Child Protection program implementation, follow-up, review, and M&E.
    • Regularly review and give feedback on the child protection project information management system and follow-up and report on the progress of the CPIMS data.
    • Prepare quality reports of project activities on regular basis and share with relevant actors as directed by the Child Protection Project Manager and review budget performance.

      Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)

      • Understand and put into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC).