Child Protection Project Manager at Search For Common Ground’s International

Location: Maiduguri, Borno

Duration: Open for a one year assignment with possible extension

Position Summary

• Search Nigeria is seeking a Child Protection Project Manager who leads both the technical aspects of child protection and the overall management of the project.
• S/he is responsible for the planning, management, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the project within the country program.
• S/he provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes.
• S/he facilitates the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable contributions with the overall goal to support the long-term reintegration of children associated with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and other vulnerable children, in North East Nigeria using Search’s Common Ground Approach.
• The position requires a child protection specialist who is also experienced in conflict transformation, peace building, and reintegration; and also conversant with project management cycles and relevant experience in program development in child protection related areas.
• S/he will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Office, North East and work closely with the Country Director, DMEL Manager and other senior managers.
• The position holder will supervise the project team of 47 personnel consisting of a Deputy Project Manager, Media Coordinator, Education, Enterprise and Case Management Officers and Assistants; Community Mobilisers and Community Case Workers, in addition to consultants.
• This position is based in Maiduguri with occasional visits to the different working local government areas (LGAs) in Borno, including Mafa, Dikwa, and Gwoza (dependent on security assessment and approval).

About the Project

• In the past decade, states in the North East region of Nigeria have faced frequent attacks by Boko Haram militants leading to widespread displacement, violations of national laws, international humanitarian and human rights laws, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. Children, who are the most vulnerable members of society, have suffered the worst impacts as pre-existing problems of access to social protection, education and healthcare increase, new threats emerge, and the systems to protect children fail. 
• This project aims to ensure that children verified and separated from CJTF, and other vulnerable children, receive a comprehensive child protection package including psychosocial support and socio-economic reintegration, and that their communities understand the importance of their separation and reintegration.
• Search will work closely with the children, their families and communities, and CJTF to address the psychosocial and economic needs of the children, and to influence the attitudes of communities and CJTF so they understand the negative impact of associating with armed groups on children and prevent grave violations against children. By increasing the resilience of children associated with CJTF and increasing their employability, this project will facilitate lasting reintegration of these children and amplify positive narratives around their role in communities as productive civilian actors and agents for peace.

Roles and Responsibilities
Strategy, Capacity Development, and planning:

• Support the planning, design and updating of the situation analysis for the child protection project to set program priorities, strategies, and design and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance program management, efficiency and delivery;
• Provide senior technical and management leadership to the delivery of a comprehensive child protection package including psychosocial support and socio-economic reintegration;
• Build the capacity of the team in child-protection and community-based approach;
• Takes primary responsibility for the development of the work plan and technical decisions as well as for program management, implementation and monitoring of assigned activity, in compliance with the defined project strategies and approaches; and

Project Implementation, Quality Assurance, Reporting:

• Ensures proper implementation of the project based on continuous monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews to determine required actions and interventions to achieve results;
• Leads the project and facilitate attainment of project expected results in close collaboration with the Head of Office, and the Country Director;
• Ensure that the socio-economic reintegration efforts are conflict-sensitive, promotes an inclusive and community-based approach to reintegration, as guided by the Paris Principles and Guidelines on Children formerly associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups as well as more recent guidelines and Resolutions, and are in the best interest of the child.
• Ensures effective application of results-based management methodologies;
• Actively monitor the project through field visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems. Take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution;
• Collaborates with relevant staff in other Search offices for quality program development and planning. The position holder will also be a member of the Program Quality Team (PQT).
• Monitors budgets versus actuals and cash-flow for the project; confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, as well as standards of accountability and integrity. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources;
• Steer the project’s activities to meaningfully address needs in the context;
• Ensures all donor and internal reports are submitted within internal deadlines and to expected quality;
• Build coalitions and networks with local partners for project’s effectiveness; and
• Prepare regular and mandated project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of project progress.

Representation and Coordination:

• Provides strong coordination support to NGOs, partners, and national authorities through establishment of wider consultation and collaborative processes to strengthen and to achieve sustainable and broad results in child protection;
• Co-chair the newly established Reintegration Technical Working Group. Support development of reintegration guidelines and common indicators tailored to the context in the North East.
• Prepare communication and information materials to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and be support media enquiries into the project;
• Responsible for the coordination of all project activities; and
• Participate and/or represent Search with donors and in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on child protection related issues, including participation in the Child Protection working groups at Abuja and Maiduguri levels.

Job Requirements

• An advanced University Degree in one of the following fields is required: Social Work, International Development, Human Rights, Psychology, Sociology, International Law or another relevant Social Science field.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in planning and management in child protection related areas is required;
• Experience in emergency response is essential
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in programme development in child protection related areas in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is considered as an added advantage
• Highly organized and systematic with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral.
• Excellent cross-cultural communication and working skills, enjoys a multicultural work environment.