Child Protection Specialist at ICRC - International Committee of the Red Cross

What we do

• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence.
• We take action in response to emergencies and, at the same time, promote respect for international humanitarian law.
• We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Purpose

• The Child Protection Specialist will provide inputs/seek to streamline child protection throughout the Nigeria Delegation’s relevant strategies.
• S/he supports protection files and other relevant departments in identifying and addressing child protection issues, also keeping in mind the intersection with Prevention and Assistance. In addition, s/he will contribute to the protection analysis and response to the conflict by supporting the documentation of NIAC-related child protection issues

Accountabilities & functional responsibilities

• Coordinates individual responses for complex child protection cases, in collaboration with other ICRC departments and/or external service providers.
• Supports/participates in focus group discussions with children at the field level – or supports other colleagues to do so.
• Coordinates (and when required leads) multidisciplinary community-level projects/responses to child protection issues like the Bama Child Protection Project, as prioritised by the Sub-Delegation. (If/when CP-led projects take place, they will constitute a large proportion of the Child Protection Specialist’s work.)
• Compiles project reports and analysis for projects where child protection leads the response.
• Proactively compiles and analyses information on child protection issues in NE Nigeria, such as trends of humanitarian consequences and alleged IHL violations impacting children across the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.
• Identifies training needs and contributes to the development and delivery of context-appropriate training materials (primarily focused on internal capacity building across métiers)
• Represents the ICRC, develops and maintains contacts vis-à-vis communities, individuals, authorities and weapon bearers, explaining ICRC’s mandate and activities.
• Undertakes other tasks (e.g. administrative, logistics, finance-related), as required.

• Ensures quality written reporting to ensure sustainability his/her work including: field trip reports, minutes of meetings, PCP events/fears (including entering data in PROT6) – this will be done in line with applicable confidentiality standards.

Certifications / Education required

• University degree in law, humanities, social sciences or a similar area of study
• At least 5 years of professional experience
• 3-4 years of protection experience or in a similar field
• At least 1 year of working in the area of child protection, specifically.
• Experience within the RCRC movement is strongly desired; experience in ICRC PROT departments is an added value
• Excellent command of English, Hausa and Kanuri.
• Strong understanding of child protection and good knowledge of child safeguarding

Desired profile and skills

• Strongly motivated by humanitarian work
• Able to work under pressure in a potentially dangerous environment
• Proven experience in data compilation and analysis, capacity building, reporting and external representation
• Proven experience in managing projects/activities

Our values:

• At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values. For more information on the ICRC values, please visit thispage.

Reports to (role)

• Deputy Protection Coordinator

People management responsibilities

• No

Relationships:

• Internally, interacts with stakeholders on matters related to the ICRC’s activities, mandate and positioning in the country.
• Externally, interacts with a network of contacts at local, national and regional level, such as authorities, civilians, international organizations, NGOs, etc., in line with the delegation’s communication line (subject to staff risk management).