Child Protection Officer

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. IRC has been working in Ethiopia since 1999 and is implementing coordinated, community-managed programs aimed at improving the quality of lives and recovery of livelihood of the disaster-affected population, including host communities, through promoting individual participation, strengthening institutions, and emergency response

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is planning to implement a Multi-Sectoral Emergency support to conflict and natural disaster -Affected school children across the country funded by Lego Foundation Play matters (PM) Emergency Response Mechanism (ERM) managed by IRC. Under this program, the IRC will provide Education in Emergency, Protection, WASH, Nutrition, and Health intervention at school. IRC is currently seeking a highly motivated, Child Protection Officer, who will take overall responsibility for the quality implementation of child protection in emergency.

Scope:

With the direct supervision of the CYPD Manager, the Child Protection Officer is responsible for the quality implementation of child protection in emergency, regular data collection, monitoring and evaluation and reporting of agreed activities.

Specific Responsibilities:

Program Implementation

• Undertakes situational assessments, regular data collection, compiling and analyzing the collected data.
• Ensures the day-to-day implementation of CPiE program activities.
• Coaches/supports the social workers in the school environment.
• Supports social workers with effective community mobilization and awareness raising activities.
• Closely works with the government structure, particularly with Women and Children’s Affairs in arrangement of family-based care system or appropriate care arrangement and promote community-based protection mechanisms, including developing of standard process of support including case planning, referral, follow up and review of case management.
• Provides technical support for the Women and Children’s Affairs focal points, supervise and give feedback on the implementation of program activities.
• Establish /Strengthen Key community-based structures /groups and promote their involvement in community mobilization and program activities.
• Undertakes structured and unstructured psychosocial support activities at the Safe Healing and Learning Space (SHLS) and documents the daily accomplishment of activities of the SHLS.
• Ensures that the SHLSs are equipped with age appropriate indoor and outdoor materials.
• Strengthen protection mechanisms through mobilizing and involving the community in reducing risks and harm of (abuse, exploitation, violence, and neglect) against children in the IDP sites and at school.
• Supports harmed and at-risk children and their families including unaccompanied/ separated children and promote understanding among the community on the rights of children and ensure their access to case management services available in the government structure.
• Ensures the appropriate material support are provided to the Women and Children’s Affairs Office.
• Raises PRs on timely manner for all program supplies in close collaboration with supply chain and finance team.
• Distributes material support to UASC and other vulnerable children and caregivers and properly document the distribution list.

Coordination and Networking

• Represents the program in all partner meetings and communicate the outcomes with program staff.
• Coordinate, lead and facilitate regular monthly 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
• In collaboration with the CWI team, actively involves in community awareness raising campaigns on child protection concerns.
• Develops and shared the 5Ws on monthly bases.
• Collaborate with other Program Officers to ensure the integration of other child protection  and GBV programs.
• Ensure accountability and collaborate with the operations sections to establish and maintain sound internal controls according to financial and supply management requirements.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Participates in periodic program review meetings with partners and community members.
• Ensures the availability of accurate, complete and up-to-date information required for effective child protection program implementation, follow-up, review, and monitoring.
• Drafts monthly progress reports with derail information and share with technical team.

• University Degree in Social Science, Social Work, health or psychology/Sociology with 1 years of relevant experience for postgraduate, 2 years for a degree or 4 years for diploma holders.

• NGO experience is a plus.
• Experience in capacity building and mentoring.
• Good computer skills: MS Word and Excel.
• Good interpersonal and problem-solving skills and flexibility.
• Good understanding of CP program approaches and practice.
• Confirmed experience in developing competency-based training modules!
• Female applicants are encouraged to apply!
• Experience in working with harmed and at-risk children in NGO working system
• Fluent spoken and written English and local language.