Child Protection (CP) and Child Rights Governance (CRG) Technical Specialist at Save the Children

ROLE PURPOSE: 

• Under the guidance and direction of the PDQI Director, the Child Protection (CP) and Child Rights Governance (CRG) Technical Specialist will support the implementation of KCOs CP and CRG ambitionsin coordination with national and regional stakeholders to influence decision-makers to uphold and protect children’s rights. The post holder will ensure all Protection and CRG programming is well monitored and is of excellent technical quality, attracts significant donor funding and contributes to national/global learning, advocacy and programme development. The post holder is expected to provide technical advice and support to project staff to ensure programming objectives are successfully achieved. 
• Working closely with the local and national actors, S/He will focus on ensuring Technical excellence in Child Protection and Child Rights Governance Programming. The role includes a focus on external representation on priority issues to ensure that governments and other powerful actors become more responsive and accountable for children's rights by by advocating for laws, policies and budgets that put children first, empowering children to claim their civil and political rights, promoting and society voice and space, public financial management and how it impacts Public Investment in Children (PIC). 
• The CP & CRG Technical Specialist will be responsible for coalition building and the mobilization of public support for the organization’s mission-driven work.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

• Reports to: Director - Programme Development, Quality and Impact
• Number of direct reports: (1) - Child Protection Cordinator 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Program development 

• Work with BD teams to assist in the development of new innovative project proposals and the  evaluation and documentation of programme activities. 
• Work together with PDQI and operations teams to initiate and design high quality, cost-effective,  innovative and sustainable CP and CRG project proposals and concept notes for the sector.
• Working with the programme teams and Departments of children Services to identify gaps in formal  and informal child protection systems with a focus on the most deprived children and  recommending actions to be taken. 
• Proactively seek information on potential donor sources and share project opportunities in CP and  CRG linking to Country strategic plan.
• Seek strategic linkages, wherever applicable, with other thematic areas of the Kenya programme i.e. 
• Health, Nutrition, education, child poverty for developing integrated programmes for difficult to  reach children.
• Stay abreast of developments and innovations in the field of CP and CRG and integrate these  developments into programming as appropriate.

Technical assistance and capacity building

• Working with other TEs and the PDQI Director, and assist program implementation teams to identify the  technical support required in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of CP and CRG activities to ensure effective implementation of high quality CP and CRG programmes.
• Keep appraised of national and county level policies, strategies and other initiatives by government  and other stakeholders related to CP and CRG and work with civil society engagement in Kenya.
• Support in identifying policy gaps and being responsive to policy questions that arise from evidence  generated by our programmes. 
• Provide overall technical guidance to ensure quality delivery of CP and CRG interventions, including  conducting quality checks in the case management process and other related technical areas. 
• Develop and undertake training in aspects of CP and CRG for programme and project staff as well  as children, partners and community-based networks. 
• Develop understanding on children’s meaningful participation throughout the programme, and work with program teams on strategies to enable children to identify and address the issues of concern  to them and promote their voices in local, regional and national. 
• Provision of required technical guidance to program implementation teams on appropriate  approaches and methodologies; conceptual and practical frameworks; standards and tools for  effective and quality delivery of CP and CRG programmes.
• Participate and champion KCO contribution to human rights/child rights governance sectors in  Kenya.
• Support monitoring and reporting on child rights and national development planning processes  under the various reporting mechanisms, including UNCRC, ACWRC, UPR and SDGs. 
• Support technical review of donor reports to ensure they are of high quality with respect to  technical formats and deadlines. 
• Developing learning needs assessment and capacity building plans for both Save the Children and  partner staff, linking capacity building initiatives to wider opportunities identified via coordination  and networks.
• Liaise with the global and regional CP and CRG teams to lead the country office’s work on issues  affecting communities in fragile and conflict-affected regions. 
• Strengthen collaborative partnerships by participation in national child rights networks and  associations, working groups and technical fora.
• Support advocating for increased public investment in specific areas that directly benefit children  through national and subnational budgets.
• Implement human rights-led approaches to child rights programming for the KCO 

Monitoring , Evaluation Reporting and Knowledge management 

• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Research and Learning (MEARL) team  for monitoring and evaluation of programme activities including taking corrective action where  necessary.
• Conduct regular field visits to support programme and MEAL teams in monitoring the  implementation of programmes, identification of challenges and bottlenecks in implementation and  developing of solutions to address these bottlenecks. 
• Lead the development of quality benchmarks for new CP programmes, including piloting and  refining together with relevant programme and MEARL staff. 
• Ensure documentation and sharing of processes, challenges, good practices and lessons learnt  during programme implementation and identify channels for dissemination.
• Work closely with the MEARL team and take a lead in ensuring that all CP and CRP projects/components have robust monitoring plans, baselines, reviews and evaluations in line with  project designs and donor guidelines.
• Technically assist the PDQI team in measuring milestones towards child protection program goals  and results through the MEAL system.
• Work closely with the PDQI team to identify and lead strategic research and studies in CP and CRG for development of innovative programmes and issue-based advocacy.
• Facilitate appropriate dissemination of research findings and good practices documentations in the  projects internally and externally to donors, governments, consortium partners and other key  actors.
• Support in development of a MEAL framework and indicators (with MEAL team) for CP and CRG  that helps to clearly articulate progress and impact. 

Representation, Coordination and Advocacy 

• Ensure close coordination with other agencies, governmental institutions, local partners to foster  sustainability.
• Actively identify the and represent Save the Children in relevant national forums including  representation in various technical working groups and interagency forums at the national level to  ensure complementarity and synergy.
• Leverage donor interest and government policies for the difficult to reach children in both in  humanitarian and development situations through targeted advocacy/key messages.
• Identify and capitalize key opportunities and events to position Save the Children as the leading  organization for child protection and CRG in Kenya.
• Work with SC member child protection TAs and peer organizations wherever applicable to further  Save the Children’s mission for children.
• Work with the ACCM team to identify and develop appropriate communication materials to raise  the profile and urgency of the need to increase coverage of high impact interventions for the most  deprived children. 

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability: 

• holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role  modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the  freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve  performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition: 

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their  own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration: 

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external  partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity: 

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity: 

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE 

• Essential: Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Law, Public Policy, Social and Political Science - a post  graduate degree desirable 
• A minimum of ten plus years of experience managing child protection and CRG programs in an  NGO environment in Kenya
• Demonstrable competence in program design including ability to write innovative concept notes  and winning proposals.
• Experience working with the Government in systems strengthening community participation, ownership and empowerment
• Demonstrable experience in child protection and best interest determination process in refugee  set ups in essential.
• Experience in influencing government, donors, and other organisations through representation  and/or advocacy
• Demonstrable creative ability in accessing new opportunities, expertise and idea
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing and negotiation 
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an environment with people  from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Experience of working in both development and humanitarian contexts and knowledge of key  trends in the humanitarian sector 

Desirable

• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner
• Strong research and policy development skills 
• Experience of building networks, resulting in securing significant new opportunities for the  organisation 
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and  ensuring buy in
• Knowledge of children’s rights key international agreements and conventions 
• Commitment to Save the Children values