Child Protection Officer at Save the Children

Role Purpose

The Child protection officer will lead the implementation of SCI's activities under Joining Forces alliance. S/he will be implementing activities addressing violence against children, by strengthening Child protection systems at national, County and community level. Work specifically with families, communities and institution to improve child protection capabilities, attitude and behaviours; increase the capacity of the children themselves to prevent and respond to violence against them and increase learning and generate best practices related to child protection approaches. "Joining Forces" is a global collaboration between six of the world's largest child rights organisations - Child Fund, Plan International, Save the Children, SOS Children's Villages, Terre des Hommes and World Vision. It aims to fight for child rights and end violence against children, by working together to share learning and experiences and maximize our impact.

Contract Duration: 12 months renewable.

No of Vacancies: Two (2) Positions

Location: Bungoma and Nairobi

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

• With support from Program managers, the Child Protection Officer will take the lead role for the planning and implementation of all project activities while ensuring compliance with both Save the Children and donor guidelines.
• With support from Programme manager and advocacy coordinator, the Child Protection Officer will establish, improve and maintain regular working relationships between Save the Children, County Authorities (MoH, Department of children services, Police, Ministry of education), representatives of other organizations (INGOs, NGOs, CBOs, FBOs), Child rights networks, community leaders and community members.
• Supporting in planning and implementing Covid-19 related activities while ensuring compliance with Covid-19 guidelines (use of technology is highly encouraged and physical meetings only held when necessary).
• Work with child protection technical specialist and advisors within SCI to benefit from their technical input, especially in reviewing of key documents and reports, learning meetings or redesign of any project activity.
• Ensure that the principles of child safeguarding and 'do no harm' are embedded in all project activities. Ensure transparency in targeting beneficiaries, delivery of services and participation of beneficiaries and partners in planning and monitoring of process is reflected in programme delivery.
• Identifying the needs and facilitating capacity building sessions for partner's staff, local authorities and, religious leaders and other community leaders particularly in the area of child protection, children's rights, disability.
• Support establishment or re-activation of Case management system at sub-county and community level.
• Work with Department of Children Services to strengthen community referral mechanisms.
• Working with partners and local communities to develop IEC materials to be delivered to communities during dialogue days, community sensitization forums, national events and any other forum.
• Ensuring the participation of the community (especially children), cultural leaders, religious leaders and local authorities in the planning key events on child rights and child protection e.g during International Day of the African Child, the international day of children's rights, international day of people with disabilities...).
• Regularly update the detailed implementation plan, monitoring tools, procurement plan, and risk matrix among other relevant project documents.
• Organize and implement capacity building activities targeting communities' e.g life skill training activities for children, positive parenting sessions, and training of Child protection volunteers among others.
• Support the development and implementation of a capacity building system for community based child protection structures including children's groups and committees in applied child rights and protection
• Provide support to community-based child protection structures including children's groups and community child protection committees/networks through monitoring, problem solving and producing community-led action plans
• Work with the Child right networks to organize joint advocacy forums targeting relevant authorities to address identified gaps.
• Ensure that the confidential, child-friendly reporting systems for identifying, documenting, and reporting cases is maintained and adhered to.
• Ensure effective management of programme resources
• Participate in coordination meetings to build linkages with other partners/agencies, the Government and the community to ensure that issues related to child protection are raised and addressed.
• Submit timely and high quality activity and donor progress reports
• Lead the Child protection project Monthly Awards Progress Review Meetings and ensure follow up actions are implemented.
• Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to child protection, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies.
• Experience in providing psychosocial support.
• Experience in providing positive parenting.
• Experience in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support will be an added advantage.

Qualifications and Experience

• Graduate degree in social work / social sciences or equivalent with 3 years' work experience implementing similar projects.
• Strong self-starter, able to take initiative and adapt to changing circumstances and priorities
• Excellent planning and coordination skills, with the ability to organise a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities;
• Previous experience managing teams.
• Strong analytical, monitoring and evaluation and report-writing abilities;
• Demonstrate good understanding of any other Save the Children sectors health, livelihoods, child protection, education, nutrition, child rights governance, HIV/AIDS or WASH;
• Willingness to work and travel in often difficult environments;
• Computer literacy, particularly in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Understanding of child rights programming.
• Good communication skills with fluency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili
• Commitment to Save the Children's Child Safeguarding and other global policies, and to Save the Children's vision, mission and values.

Please apply in English saving your CV and covering letter as a single document, including your salary expectations for this role. To see a full a job description, please visit our website at https://kenya.savethechildren.net/careers

We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. Employment is subject to our Child protection standards including background checks and adherence to our Child Safeguarding Policy.

Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best qualified talent.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Disclaimer: Save the Children International does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process and does not act through recruitment agents