Programme Officer (CAAC) at Save the Children

Location: Save the Children operates in 12 Countries within the East and Southern Africa Region i.e. South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. 

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

This role will be based in any Country Office with SCI Presence under National Contract terms

The CAAC Programme Officer – Youth and CSOs in Peacebuilding will provide leadership and technical guidance on the Youth and CSOs in Peacebuilding component of the ‘Protecting Children in Conflict Africa’ Programme, and contribute to Save the Children’s Protection of Children in Conflict programmatic ambitions and the Stop the War on Children Campaign through a complex cross-regional Programme that has been growing since its inception in 2013. The CAAC Programme supports programming and advocacy initiatives targeting children in situations of armed conflict and a wide range of actors such as the African Union, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Mechanisms (RMs), Treaty Bodies, Bilateral Institutions, Member States, Civil Society Organizations and Armed Actors both State and Non-State at strategic policy and decision-making level to address the complex subject of children in situations of conflict.

The CAAC Programme Officer – Youth and CSOs in Peacebuilding will be responsible for technical and operational implementation of the Youth and CSOs in Peacebuilding workstream of a complex cross-regional Programme targeting children, Civil Society Organizations and a wide range of actors such as the African Union, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Mechanisms (RMs), Treaty Bodies, Bilateral Institutions, Member States and Armed Actors both State and Non-State at strategic policy and decision making level where decisions will require independent judgement within the role’s technical scope, as guided by existing guidelines, standards and guidance of the Head of CAAC Programmes. 

The CAAC Programme Officer – Youth and CSOs in Peacebuilding will provide technical direction in the design and business development, lead on the quality implementation and management of the Youth and CSOs in Peacebuilding workstream deliverables. The role will provide technical guidance to influence change and manage relations with actors at all levels in relation to Youth and CSOs in Peacebuilding. The role, within its technical scope, will be expected to contribute to adaptation, development of solutions and recommendations for change linked to procedures and practices with long-term impact in the field of CAAC, Peace and Security, and Relations with Armed Actors.  

In order to be successful, you will bring/have:

Essential

• Undergraduate degree in Social Sciences and extensive thorough working knowledge in Child Protection in Armed Conflict and Emergencies
• 5 years or more experience in Child Protection Programming with at least 3 years cross-regional level experience. Demonstrated Postgraduate Professional or Specialist working knowledge and experience in Child Protection and specifically CAAC and Peace and Security Programming.
• Demonstrated Professional or Specialist working knowledge and experience in Youth and CSOs in Peacebuilding and specifically CAAC and Peace and Security Programming. 
• Solid understanding and engagement with the African Union Peace and Security Architecture.
• Solid understanding of Armed Actors engagement and relations
• Demonstrated experience working on Youth and CSOs in Peacebuilding tools, methodologies and approaches.
• Demonstrated capability to make decisions with creativity and some independent judgment
• Demonstrated experience in influencing to obtain the cooperation of others.
• Proven excellence in working in a team, being a team player, and significant experience working in an international organisation.
• An appreciation and understanding of how to manoeuvre in a context of shrinking space for civil society, ensuring Save the Children’s integrity and child rights are not compromised
• Demonstrated knowledge of issues facing children and youth, rights-based program approaches, and child safeguarding principles.
• Strong skills and proven experience in program management processes; also from the knowledge and learning perspective.
• Able to work well under pressure and deadlines
• Excellent listening, interpersonal, communication and networking skills; proven experience and effectiveness working across functional teams and in a matrixed structure; and an ability to work with diverse populations.
• High level of self-awareness and willingness to take feedback for growth and self-development.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Effective negotiator, with the ability to positively influence cross departmental and cross sector work
• Proven experience in designing Terms of Reference, and ability to design and review evaluation tools and approaches.
• Direct experience of working with communities in participatory activities, including confidence in working with youth and an understanding of youth-friendly participatory methodologies.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner
• Exemplary level of spoken and written English.

Desired

• Fluency in French, both verbal and written, desirable