Child Protection Officer provide social services to children and their families in order to improve their social and psychological functioning. They aim to maximize family's well-being and protect children from abuse and neglect. They assist adoption arrangements and find foster homes where needed.

BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation, and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response. 

Job Overview: 

Under the supervision of the Senior CP officer, CP Manager and with technical support from the CP technical unit of Addis Ababa, the CP Officers based in Gota-Biki, Dolo-Bay and Hargele woreda will supervise, coordinate, and manage the child protection (CP) program in a professional manner. She /he will demonstrate technical capability and assist the CP staff to make sure the program is holistic, upholding according to standards, procedures and principles of CP. The position holder will coordinate the various services available in the camp. The CP Officer will also mentor, coach, and build the technical capacities of CP team in the field.

Major 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 CP program including development/update of relevant strategies, SOPs and referral pathways, Case management, psychosocial support interventions and community-based support for at-risk children including unaccompanied/separated children.

• Ensure well-coordinated implementation to address needs and cases concerning Unaccompanied/Separated children living in the IDP site.

• Support program staff in the design 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, caregiver/families and the community leaders including children.

• 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 site, set up a mechanism of documentation and responding to the needs of identified, verified, and planned cases, as well as 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 case management services available in the camp/IDP site.

• 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 and monitor the implementation of program activities based on the work plan, spending plan and ensure the proper 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 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 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, Health, Sanitation and CWI) programs.

• Ensure accountability and collaborate with the Operations Sections to establish and maintain sound internal controls according to financial and supply management requirements.

• 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 staffs ensuring the availability of accurate, complete and up-to-date information required for effective program implementation, follow-up, review, and M&E.

• Prepares monthly progress, quarterly and annual implementation and donor reports and review budget required for child protection assistant coordinator in Addis Ababa and field coordinator and CP and CWI manager.

Job Requirements

Education Requirements

• University Degree in Social Work, psychology/Sociology or Social Science, with 1 years for postgraduate, 2 years for a degree of proven experience specific to child protection programing.

Preferred experience and skills

• NGO experience is a plus.

• Experience in capacity building and mentoring.

• Good digital literacy: 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

• Experience in working with harmed and at-risk children in NGO working system.

Skills Required:

• Supervisory/basic managerial skills.

• Technical and report writing skills.

Key Working Relationships:

·       The CP Officer will directly report to the senior CP officer with additional oversight from the CP manager and technically to the Child Protection team based in Addis Ababa.

Language Skills: 

·       English fluent is required.

·       Local language is plus.

How to Apply:

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply using this link: CLICK HERE

• Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

• Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

• Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

·       Name of the position you have applied for

·       Date of application

·       Summary of  your qualifications and experience

·       Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

·       Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address

·       Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer.  IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.