Child Protection in Emergency 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 80 countries.

role PURPOSE

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; support case workers, social workers…collaborate and work with SRH officers. 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:

SRHR Intervention; Support the implementation of the project’s CPiE interventions truly integrated with SGBV  activities. A strong understanding of CPiE and SRHR , especially in emergency response settings, SGBV, adolescent needs and gender equality,

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;
• Building capcities of key sectors/actors;
• Develop manuals, modules, tools, referral pathway checklist,…
• 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); MPSS and PFA for survivors, staff, community, sector
• 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 staff, implementing partners, caregiver/families and the community and opinion leaders (Traditional and religious leaders, WLOs, Youth-led organizations, volunteers, school SRH/Gender clubs, strengthen/support SGBV committee/CPiE committee) 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.

Educational Qualification and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, Law, Community Development or other related fields of social science studies.
• Minimum of 3 years experience in implementing child protection in emergency or other similar projects and clear understanding of child protection technical areas such as case management, MHPSS, CBCPS etc
• Experience of working with child survivors and at risk children in NGO working system;
• Experience in organizing and facilitating capacity building trainings on key child protection topics for a range of target groups including government frontline workers and Social Workers;
• Experience in community mobilization and conducting outreach activities.
• Fluent spoken and written English and Amharic languages. Knowledge of the local language of the project area will be considered an asset
• Experience in capacity building and mentoring.
• Good computer usage skills: e.g. MS Word, Excel, power point etc
• Good interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills and flexibility
• Good understanding of Child Protection program approaches and practices

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

Location: Dessie, Woldiya, Tehulederie, Kalu & Kutaber

Type of Role: CPiE Officer 

Reports to: SGBV Project Coordinator 

Grade: C1

Closing Date: May 12, 2023

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.