Child Protection Officer at SOS Children Villages

Position Summary

• The Child Protection Officer is accountable for professional technical contribution to project design, planning, administration, monitoring and evaluation of Child Protection programme/project activities during the crisis, data analysis and progress reporting, in support of achievement of planned objectives of the emergency work plan, aligned with country programme goals and strategy

Responsibilities

• Ensure the availability of accurate, complete and up-to-date information required for effective Child Protection programme and project design, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation.
• Draft sound Child Protection programme budgets for review by the supervisor; and provide support for sharing of information with relevant partners.
• Prepare weekly activity plans with line staff as necessary and ensure smooth implementation of these plans.
• Set up/strengthen Child Protection Committees, including training and awareness raising on dangers of abduction in their communities and linking children to available services.
• Monitor and assess the implementation of the program, ensuring that case workers are using the case management forms consistently and correctly.
• Ensure all data from the case management are kept confidential and only shared on a need to know bases and in accordance with case management protocols.
• Representation of SOS Children’s Villages as necessary at community level and negotiate with local authorities when necessary.
• Perform other functions relative to Child Protection activities and initiatives that may be assigned by Line Manager.
• Coordinate with Logistics to ensure timely and safe delivery of supplies allocated to field activities.
• Uphold the SOS Children’s Villages Child Safeguarding Policy and ensure the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse in the workplace and communities of intervention.
• Identify gaps in service provision to children and proactively document, refer and advocate for those gaps to be filled to relevant authorities
• He/she will closely work with the child protection stakeholders to ensure that they are addressing child protection concerns within their respective communities.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• University degree in social sciences or relevant experience in social work, community development and working with children in Child Protection programme
• Minimum of 1 year sectoral experience
• A Project Management Professional (PMP) certification would be an added advantage.
• Good English oral and written communication skills
• Fluent in a local language
• Experience in community facilitation and mobilisation
• Good understanding of community politics and traditional networks in program
  location.
• Excellent technical understanding of child protection and community-based
  approaches.
• Good computer knowledge and skills.
• Be able to prioritise tasks
• Flexibility and ability to work independently and in a team
• Able to work to tight deadlines and under pressure
• Able to operate in extremely harsh living and working environment
• Gender awareness and sensitivity
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SOS Children’s Villages. In particular, a good understanding of the SOS Children’s Villages mandate on child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support