Senior Education and Protection Program Officer

BACKGROUND

Rift Valley Children and Women Development Organization (RCWDO) is a local non-governmental organization established in 1993 G.C., operating across multiple woredas in Oromia Regional State, including East Bale, Bale, Arsi, West Arsi, East Shoa, Kellem Wollega, West Wollega, Guji, and West Guji zones. RCWDO implements projects under five program areas including livelihood, education, citizen rights, peacebuilding & governance, and emergency response in partnership with INGOs & NGOs, targeting populations affected by poverty and marginalization.

Currently, in partnership with Geneva Global Ethiopia (GGE) and funded by the Government of Finland and UNICEF, RCWDO is going to implement the project “Increasing Access to Protective and Inclusive Learning Opportunities for Crisis-Affected Children in Oromia, Ethiopia.” Key interventions include rehabilitating schools and providing WASH and MHM facilities, supplying learning materials and ICT equipment, and implementing Accelerated School Readiness and Accelerated Education Programs with inclusive curricula, life skills, and social-emotional learning.

Teachers, facilitators, and communities are trained on child-centered, inclusive, and evidence-based approaches, and mobilized through school clubs, awareness campaigns, and parenting programs to foster safe and protective learning environments. Complementary protection and GBV activities, including referral pathways, awareness campaigns, and multi-sectoral coordination, ensure holistic development and resilience for marginalized children.

To this effect, RCWDO would like to invite qualified and competent applicants for the following positions.

Senior Education and Protection Program Officer

Vacancy Category: Internal / External

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Reports to: Executive Director/Head of Program

Supervises: Project Area Coordinator

Contract Duration: Two (2) years with possibility of extension

Required Number: One (1)

Salary: As per RCWDO salary scale

Job Overview

The Senior Education and Protection Program officer provides strategic, technical, and institutional leadership for RCWDO’s education, child protection, and GBV portfolio at the national level. The role ensures technical excellence and consistency across all operational zones, alignment with national policies, donor frameworks, and global standards, and the implementation of strong safeguarding, accountability, and risk management systems. It also provides effective supervision and support to zonal coordination structures while ensuring high-quality donor engagement, reporting, and resource mobilization.

Duties and Responsibilities

A. Strategic Leadership & Program Direction

• Lead the development, review, and implementation of RCWDO’s education, child protection, and GBV strategies, frameworks, and SOPs.
• Ensure coherent integration of Education in Emergencies (EiE), inclusive education, child protection, and GBV prevention/response.
• Translate donor priorities and global standards into practical operational guidance.

B. Technical Oversight & Quality Assurance

• Provide high-level technical oversight for ASR, ALP, inclusive education, SEL, ICT integration, and safe school initiatives.
• Lead organizational standards for child protection case management, GBV response, referral pathways, safeguarding, and PSEA.
• Conduct regular technical reviews, field support missions, and quality assurance checks.

C. Supervision & Capacity Strengthening

• Directly supervise and mentor project based staffs.
• Lead national-level capacity-building plans for education and protection staff.
• Promote staff care, ethical leadership, and emotional wellbeing, particularly for CP/GBV personnel managing sensitive cases.

D. Donor Engagement & Resource Mobilization

• Serve as technical focal person for education and CP/GBV donors.
• Lead or substantially contribute to proposal development, concept notes, budgets, and donor reports.
• Ensure donor compliance, results-based reporting, and timely submission of deliverables.

E. Coordination, Representation & Advocacy

• Represent RCWDO in national-level education, child protection, and GBV coordination platforms.
• Strengthen partnerships with regional bureaus, federal ministries, UN agencies, INGOs, NGOs, and networks.
• Advocate for inclusive, safe, and protective education systems for crisis-affected children.

F. Monitoring, Learning & Accountability

• Oversee national-level indicator frameworks, data quality standards, and learning systems.
• Promote evidence-based decision-making and adaptive programming.
• Ensure effective safeguarding, complaints, and feedback mechanisms across all programs.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in Education, Educational Psychology, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology or a related field.
• Bachelor’s degree with extensive relevant experience may be considered.

Experience

• At least 6 years of progressive experience in education, child protection, GBV, or humanitarian programming.
• At least 4 years in a senior coordination or leadership role.
• Strong experience in Education in Emergencies and protection programming; and proven experience working with donor-funded projects.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong strategic leadership and people management skills
• Advanced technical expertise in integrated education and protection programming
• Excellent analytical, reporting, and proposal-writing skills
• High ethical standards and strong safeguarding awareness
• Ability to operate effectively in emergency and multi-stakeholder environments

Language & IT Requirements

• Fluency in Affan Oromo and Strong working proficiency in English
• Advanced skill in ICT.

Other requirements for all positions

Code of conduct

Applicants are expected to uphold RCWDO’s and donor ethics and compliance standards, act with integrity, and prevent violations such as fraud, corruption, harassment, or conflicts of interest. Applicants must be willing to report any suspected breaches of the Code of Conduct or Safeguarding Policy and demonstrate ethical behavior in all aspects of their work.

Safeguarding

Applicants are expected to take responsibility for protecting and safeguarding all people we work with, including children and vulnerable adults. They must help prevent and report any misconduct by staff or partners, including sexual exploitation and abuse, neglect or abuse of children or adults at risk, and human trafficking.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage people with disabilities and/or women to apply for this position.