Child Protection Capacity Building Officer

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education, and power. Given the disparity faced by women and girls, IRC seeks to narrow gender inequalities and ensure social inclusion of all vulnerable groups in broader policies, processes and actions affecting their lives. In Ukraine, the IRC started emergency programming in April 2022 in the field of child protection (CP), protection and rule of law (ProL), women’s protection and empowerment (WPE) (i.e. gender-based violence), health and cash and basic needs.

Job Overview:

Under the direct and technical supervision and guidance of the Child Protection Capacity Building Manager, the Child Protection Capacity Building Officer will be responsible for organizing and facilitating trainings on child protection related matters and IRC curricula to IRC staff, partners, community facilitators, etc. He/she will play an important role to help ensure that the implementation of IRC's child protection program activities conform to technical guidelines and meet high quality standards, as well as to provide ongoing coaching to IRC staff, IRC’s partners and IRC’s community facilitators. In addition, he / she will be leading on all activities to disseminate information to prevent, mitigate and reduce child protection risks.

The Child Protection Capacity Building Officer will be based in Odesa, with regular travel to IRC and partner intervention areas, particularly Odesa, Mykolaiv Oblasts and surrounding areas. He/she will report to the Child Protection Capacity Building Manager.

Major Responsibilities:

Training and capacity building

- Assess the training and capacity building needs of the Child Protection (CP) team, community facilitators and IRC’s partners by observing and evaluating their existing knowledge, skills and competences in the area of child protection

- Based on identified needs, design and implement tailored capacity building plans, with the support of the CP Capacity Building Manager

- Organize trainings and provide regular and ongoing coaching to build the capacity of IRC’s Child Protection teams and community facilitators on the different approaches used within IRC, such as SHLS, SEL, SAFE, Parenting Programs, etc., as well as other child protection core concepts and matters

- Organize trainings and provide regular and ongoing coaching to build the capacity of IRC’s partners

- If needed, develop, adapt and translate technical training and coaching tools, under the supervision of the CP Capacity Building Manager

Community Engagement & CP Risk Reduction

In close collaboration with the local CP team:

- Identify key protection risks and prevention/mitigation /reduction measures

- Develop, adapt and translate messages to prevent, mitigate and reduce child protection risks

- Ensure the timely elaboration and production of information, education and communication (IEC) material of CP risk-reduction messages

- Organize community meetings with adults, children and adolescents to disseminate information and messages to prevent, mitigate and reduce child protection risks

- Ensure broad dissemination of information on rights, duties, and available services

- Ensure, to the extent possible, that children and adolescents actively participate and help shape IRC’s activities

- Maintain relationships with communities, including local leaders, different groups, and stakeholders, youth groups, children etc. to foster an environment of support to children and their families and IRC programming

Administration & Reporting:

- Prepare and submit weekly activity work plans and reports in a timely manner to agreed-upon deadlines

- Contribute to monthly reports

- Complete all relevant tools for conducted activities (e.g. indicator trackers)

- File and archive all important documents and correspondence relating to the implemented activities

- Support the implementation of and compliance with work plans, spending plans and M&E plans

- Support with the translation of technical child protection material

- As requested, contribute to the collection of M&E data to support the development of project proposals in CP

Coordination & Representation:

- Coordinate with staff from other IRC sectors in the field, including Protection & Rule of Law, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Health, Economic Relief and Development

- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant local actors in the field, including community, non-governmental and governmental actors

- Upon request by his/her supervisor, take part in relevant CP coordination meetings at the local and national level (e.g. national and sub-national CP Cluster)

Other:

- Stay informed about the CP situation and developments within the communities and surrounding areas

- Consistently and proactively monitor the safety and security of field teams, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment

- Promote and adhere to the principles, objectives and code of conduct of the IRC

- Act both professionally and personally in a manner that brings credit to the IRC and does not compromise its humanitarian mission

- If necessary, provide translation and interpretation at meetings, training sessions and/or documents for a better understanding of all staff

- Conduct any other task requested by his/her supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position reports to: Child Protection Capacity Building Manager

Direct reports: N/A

Other internal contacts: Protection & Rule of Law (ProL), WPE, MEAL, ERD, Health, Finance, Supply, Grants, HR and other relevant departments

Requirements

The Child Protection Capacity Building Officer will need to meet the requirements below:

- Degree desired in Social Work, Psychology, Education, Human Rights, Social Science, Humanities or other related field

- Minimum of 1-2 years’ experience of working in a relevant field, such as education, child protection, psychosocial programming, in humanitarian or development settings

- Demonstrated experience in facilitating quality and interactive trainings

- Familiarity with IRC approaches, including SHLS, SEL, parenting skills, case management*, Now I am Stronger,* etc. is an advantage

- Experience with community work, community mobilization and engagement, and working with children affected by conflict

- Experience working with vulnerable children, including unaccompanied and separated children, children affected by conflict, children in psychosocial distress and other vulnerable children

- Ability to write clear and concise reports and make recommendations for improvement

- Demonstrated willingness to work and learn quickly and a commitment to professional development in the field of child protection

- Creative innovative, flexible, able to network and strong interpersonal skills

- Positive, highly motivated, professional attitude, including the ability to work well in a team

- High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks, maintain attention to detail

- Willingness to work in a non-stable and dynamic environment

- Willingness to travel to IRC intervention areas

- Sense of responsibility and ability to properly handle sensitive or confidential information

- Very good computer skills (Word, Excel, Power Point)

- Fluency in Ukrainian and Russian, advanced skills in English

This position will be based in Odesa, with frequent travel to field locations.

Standards of Professional Conduct

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of 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, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity

We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous 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. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

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.

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Qualifications