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 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The IRC established operations in Ethiopia in 2000 and is currently working in seven regions across the country implementing projects in Environmental Health/Water Sanitation and Hygiene (EH/WASH), Early Recovery and Development, Child Protection and Education, Health, Emergency Rapid Response and Community Wellbeing Initiative (CWI) – women’ protection and empowerment and gender-based violence.

SCOPE/JOB PURPOSE:

Under the supervision of the camp manager and with technical support from the child protection technical team based in Addis Ababa, the Child Protection Officer will be responsible to supervise, coordinate and manage the child protection (CP) program in Kebribeyah refugee camp. The position holder will demonstrate technical capability and support the CP Assistant and refugee social workers to ensure the program is comprehensive, upholding standards, procedures and principles of child protection. The position holder coordinate the various services available in the camp.

Duties and responsibilities:

Program Planning Development and Implementation:

• Undertake and ensure situational assessments, data collection, compiling and analyzing are to the required standard.
• Participate in the development of CP strategy, approaches and contribute actively in its revision, monitoring and improvement.
• Takes primary responsibility for the implementation and follow-up of the program in Kebribeyah (including development/ update of relevant strategies, SOPs and referral pathways, Case Management, CPIMS, psychosocial support interventions and community-based support for at risk children including unaccompanied/ separated children in the camp).
• Ensure well-coordinated and comprehensive approach to address needs and cases concerning Unaccompanied / Separated children and youth.
• Support program staff in the designing and implementation of effective community mobilization and awareness raising strategies.
• Maintain standard design and undertake diversified psychosocial support activities at the Safe Healing and Learning Space (SHLS).
• Facilitate and take a lead in the arrangement (establishment) of family based care system or appropriate care system and promote community based protection mechanisms, including developing of standard process of support including case planning, referral, follow up and review of case management.
• Provide training for CP staff, implementing partners, care giver /families and the community and opinion leaders including children.
• Strengthen protection mechanisms based on professional ethics, the IRC-Way and mobilize and involve the community in reducing risks and harm of (abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect) against children in the camp and identify gaps and build the capacity of the community along with children to be able to support 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 services available in the camp.
• Responsible for planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring of the child protection 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 accurate utilization and tracking of budget and materials allocated to the program.

Program Liaison, Coordination and Networking

• Develop and maintain strategic and effective communication and working relationships with relevant partners including children, families, community leaders and other implementing partners.
• Represent the program of the camp 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 based child protection working groups (coordination actor) meetings
• In collaboration with the CWI, health and Sanitation staff hold community awareness raising campaigns/ keep fit on child protection concerns
• Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of CP program implementation and follow up on agreed points.
• Collaborate with other Program Officers to ensure the integration of other (Education and youth and livelihoods) programs and with other sectors specifically CWI, Sanitation, Health and PU
• Mentor and support social workers and develop a positive team spirit to encourage innovative and quality programming.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• 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, monitoring and evaluation.
• Regularly review and give feedback on the child protection program information management system and follow-up and report on the progress of the IA CP IMS.
• Prepares weekly and monthly progress, quarterly and annual implementation and donor reports and review budget as required.

• University Degree (Diploma, BA, M) in Social Science, Social Work, health or psychology/Sociology.
• 5 years of validated experience for diploma holders.
• 2 years Proven experience for first degree holders.
• 1 years of proven experience for post graduate degree holders.
• Experience working with at risk children in NGO working system is advantageous.
• Proven experience in field staff management.
• Strong written and verbal language skills in English, and Amharic is required.
• Good communication and social skills with children and individuals from a variety of educational and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong digital literacy, including MS Word and Excel, internet, e-mail.