Background:

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 42 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in nine regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery, and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response. 

Job Overview:  

Under the supervision of the field coordinator, CWI/CP manager and with technical support from the child protection  technical unit of Addis Ababa, the Senior Child Protection Officer of Harar will supervise, coordinate and manage the CP in emergency program in a professional manner. She /he will demonstrate technical capability and support the CP incentive staffs to ensure the program is holistic, upholding according to standards, procedures and principles of CP. She /he will coordinate the various services available in the project intervention area.  The Senior CP will also mentor, coach and build the technical capacities of CP staffs at the field. 

Major Responsibilities: 

1. Program Planning Development and Implementation

• Undertake and ensure situational assessments, data collection, compiling and analyzing are to the required standard.

• Participate in the development of CP strategy, approaches and contribute actively in its revision, monitoring and improvement.

• Takes primary responsibility for the implementation and follow-up of CP  in emergency program in Harar area program (including development/ update of relevant strategies, SOPs and referral pathways, Training of Case Management, for BoCWA Zonal and woreda staff, psychosocial support interventions and community-based support for at risk women and girls).  

• Ensure well-coordinated and holistic approach to address needs and cases concerning and referred to Woreda and Zonal   BoWCA .

• Support program staff in the design and implementation of effective community mobilization and awareness raising strategies. 

• Maintain standard, design and undertake diversified psychosocial support activities at the Safe Healing and Learning Space (SHLS).

• Facilitate and take a lead in the arrangement (establishment) of family-based care system or appropriate care system and promote community-based protection mechanisms, including developing of standard process of support including case planning, referral, follow up and review of case management. 

• Lead in CP rapid assessment and other program related assessment and contribute to the CP overall intervention strategy based on feedback received from women and girls throughout the response activity engagement.

• Lead in CP IEC/BCC development both prevention and response according to the workplan, existing informed assessment, CP trends analysis or other critical information received throughout community/IDPs feedback form 

• Assist CP program manager to identify staffs capacity gap training need assessment, formal and informal capacity building plan and delivery.

• Support CP officers in their regular work with IDP, including coordination meeting, ensure staffs are support with regular community/visit.

• Strengthen protection mechanisms through mobilizing and involving the community in reducing risks and harm of (abuse, exploitation, violence, and neglect) against women, girls and children.

• Responsible for planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring of the CP program in line with organizational and donors’ guidelines, policy, and procedures.

• Assist in program work plan, spending plan, procurement plan, attend grant opening and closing meeting, BVA meeting and other management meeting as needed 

2. Program Liaison, coordination and Networking

• Develop and maintain skillful and effective communication and working relationships with relevant stakeholders including  community leaders and other implementing partners. 

• Represent the program in all stakeholder meetings and communicate the outcomes with program staff.

• Coordinate, lead and facilitate regular monthly meetings with the community, implementing agencies and sectors including preparation of agenda and circulate the minutes of the CP working groups (coordination body) meeting

• Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of CP program implementation and follow up on agreed points.

• Ensure accountability and collaborate with the Operations Sections to establish and maintain sound internal controls according to financial and supply management requirements.

• Mentor and support CP officers and social workers and develop a positive team spirit to encourage innovative and quality programming.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Initiate/ Participate in periodic program review meetings with partners and community members. 

• Support the CP team in ensuring the availability of accurate, complete and upto-date information required for effective CP in emergency program implementation, follow-up, review, monitoring and evaluation.

• Regularly review and give feedback on the CP emergency program follow-up and report on the progress.

• Prepares weekly and monthly progress, quarterly and annual implementation and donor reports and review budget as required.

Job Requirements

• University Degree (Diploma, BA, MA), in Social Science, Social Work, health or psychology/Sociology.

• 6 years for diploma holders. 4 years with the first degree and 2 years for postgraduate. 

Preferred experience & skills:

• Experience with Demonstrate confidence in discussing intimate gender and sexual issues.   

• Experience working to always maintain GBV and protection principles including knowledge and practical application of GBV guiding principles and PSEA.

• Experience working with counseling or social service provision with women and adolescent girls 

• Experience in working with harmed and at-risk children in an NGO working system.

• Demonstrated experience in field staff management.

• Strong written and verbal language skills in English, and Amharic 

• Good communication skills with women and girls and individuals from a variety of educational and cultural backgrounds.

• Strong computer skills, including MS Word and Excel, internet, and e-mail.

Language Skills: 

• Knowing more than one local language is a plus.  

• Knowing Afan Oromo language is advantageous.  

How to Apply

Candidates who meet the above qualifications; please send your CV and application letter only through IRC career site:  CLICK HERE

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information: 

• Name of the position you have applied for

• Date of application 

• Summary of your qualifications and experience

• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

• Please include at least 3 references from current and former supervisors.

                       Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer.  IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.