Child Protection in Emergencies Technical Advisor

The Opportunity – Child Protection in Emergencies Technical Advisor

Post location:  Gaza Field Office. 

Contract Duration and Level of Effort: 12 months with possible extension. 

***Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Kindly note that the position might be filled before the vacancy announcement is closed; therefore, early applications are encouraged.***

***This role will be contingent upon securing available funds, and we might use this vacancy to fill more than one post.***

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Child Protection in Emergencies Technical Advisor (CPiE TA) in Gaza will use their in-depth contextual understanding, technical expertise in Child Protection in Emergencies, and relationship building skills to define and deliver our strategic ambition for Child Protection and MHPSS in Gaza, in coordination with Save the Children’s Country Office Child Protection and MHPSS Technical Advisor based in the West Bank. The successful applicant will be expected to demonstrate internal and external technical leadership and commitment to programme quality. The post-holder will analyse learning from the first six months of the response to refine and strengthen the child protection programme including safe identification and referral, case management, community-based alternative care, and integrated group activities for children and parents/caregivers. That includes proposal development/resource mobilisation, developing/adapting technical resource (e.g. tools, guidance, and training materials), providing advice and support for quality implementation, and strengthening monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) across the programme. The role will lead the Child Protection technical unit and directly line manage three technical specialists including Case Management Specialist, MHPSS Specialist, and GBV Specialist. S/he will work closely with a range of Save the Children and partner colleagues and be expected to role model Save the Children principles and mentor newer colleagues.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to:  Gaza Head of Technical Unit

Positions Reporting to this role: Case Management Specialist, MHPSS Specialist, and GBV Specialist

Budget Responsibilities: None

Role Dimensions: The role is expected to foster relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including Country Office Programme Development & Quality team, advocacy colleagues, Ops colleagues, and local stakeholders and partners.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Needs assessment and analysis (approximately 5%)

• Continue to build on a child centred response across program thematic areas, based on the socio-ecological model.
• Lead and coordinate on child protection assessments and multi-sector assessments using/adapting SC and inter-agency assessment processes and tools.
• Identify safe and ethical opportunities to ensure children and affected community members can participate in needs assessments and response planning.

Programme design and resource mobilisation (approximately 20%)

• Regularly review and revise the child protection and MHPSS response plan and associated programme master budget and master logframe to ensure the programme designs are appropriate and relevant for the Gaza context. Working closely with senior staff, support fundraising for child protection, including development of high-quality concept notes and proposals, and engagement with donors technical advisers.
• Lead on the contextualisation and adaptation of programming approaches related to case management, alternative care, MHPSS, integrated group activities, cash for protection, and child protection awareness-raising and advocacy.
• Pilot and learn from programming adaptations to continually strengthen services for children.
• Lead on the contextualisation and adaptation of technical resources (i.e. programme tools, guidance, and capacity building materials), promoting inter-agency collaboration and alignment as much as possible.
• Support Specialists to roll-out and build capacity on adapted programme approaches and technical resources amongst SC and partner staff.

Technical support and advice to programme operations (approximately 20%)

• Work closely with Operations colleagues (especially Head of Operations and Child Protection Programme Manager and Coordinators) to promote the technical quality of programme implementation, e.g. by revising IPTTs, providing advice on procurements etc.
• Contribute actively to awards management, including awards review meetings, BVA follow up and procurement progress, 
• Prepare timely programme and donor reports on child protection and MHPSS project activities in compliance with internal SC requirements and any relevant external donor requirements. This includes adapting standard tools to the reality on the ground.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance to the programme implementation teams to ensure that thematic programme components are technically sound, implementation methods are consistent with national and global strategies, acknowledged good practice (e.g. Save the Children Common Approaches) Monitor the quality of activities implementation in coordination with the technical specialist and program manager.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) (approximately 15%)

• Work with Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) teams to conduct quality monitoring against international standards through participatory methodologies that promote gender equality and social justice (including child-friendly and gender sensitive/transformative methodologies), and use the learnings to inform programming, in coordination with the Technical Advisor
• Work closely with the MEAL team put in place a child protection M & E plan for the programme and each project, ensuring this links to reporting requirements, and capacity build child protection and MEAL staff in carrying out the work.
• Ensure Quality Benchmarks monitoring of main CP programming areas.
• Identify opportunities for learning and research. 
• Working closely with the Child Participation & Accountability Coordinator put in place accountability activities for child protection, ensuring that feedback from all relevant stakeholders is considered in programme design.
• Ensure that the humanitarian minimum standards are maintained in accordance with the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, the Sphere Charter and Minimum Standards and the Core Humanitarian Standards.

Building a high performing team (approximately 20%)

• Ensure effective working relationships between Gaza Child Protection technical team and oPt Country Office and regional/ global TE. 
• Working closely with the HR team, identify child protection staffing needs (both national and international) for emergency programmes, and ensure rapid recruitment, induction and training of new staff.
• Support capacity development of thematic specialists under their line management with support from country office and regional/ global technical experts. 
• Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their role in full spectrum programming
• Manage the performance of all staff in their team through: 
• Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measurable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations.
• Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities.
• Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance.
• Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ workplans 

Capacity Building (approximately 10%)

• Develop learning needs assessment and capacity building plans for both SC and partner staff, linking capacity building initiatives to wider opportunities identified via coordination and network.
• Together with other sectors identify sector-integrated capacity building opportunities.
• Deliver and adapt trainings on the following thematic areas: safe identification and referral, case management, alternative care, MHPSS, integrated group activities, GBV prevention and risk mitigation, disability and inclusion mainstreaming and child protection community engagement and monitoring.
• Actively mentor and support national colleagues, acting as a role model at all times.
• Together with other sectors, identify sector-integrated capacity building opportunities.

Representation, Advocacy & Organisational Learning (approximately 10%)

• Ensure that Save the Children's work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and authorities
• Take a proactive a leadership role within Interagency Coordination forums, ensuring the specific needs of children are being addressed. This will involve taking the lead in the Child Protection Working Group and/or sub-groups, including developing/maintaining workplans and leading on strategic initiatives and resource development.

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

QUALIFICATIONS   

• Master’s degree in social work, Child Protection or related field, or equivalent experience
• Social Work, Child Protection, Child Welfare or related qualification

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Experience working directly with children and families affected by violence and armed conflict.
• Strong background in child protection case management and alternative care.
• Significant experience of designing and implementing child protection programmes in first phase humanitarian responses.
• Previous experience in project management, including direct implementation, budget and expenditure planning.
• Experience working in a complex country programme in an emergency response or fragile state.
• Proven ability to lead on needs analysis and response design, including emergency preparedness planning, strategy development, and response planning.
• Proven ability on fundraising or business development, particularly strong project design skills with experience from donors such as BHA, ECHO, UNICEF, FCDO etc.
• Experience of adapting programming approaches and technical resources, including for mobile, integrated, and community-based programming.
• Experience designing research and other MEAL approaches, including child friendly feedback and complaints mechanisms. 
• Proven ability to design/adapt and deliver training to staff, volunteers, and community members.
• Fluent written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Familiarity with child protection in Gaza 
• Fluent written and spoken Arabic.
• Skilled at networking, representation and partnership development in order promote learning, strengthen civil society and mobilise resources.
• Experience in implementing MHPSS programming
• We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. 

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This role is offered on the basis of national/international terms and conditions. Priority will be given to nationals at national contract.

Save the Children promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, women and people with different abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Organisation

Save the Children works in development and humanitarian contexts with children and partners to help families, communities, and governments identify and use innovations to ensure all children survive, learn and are protected.

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 realize 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 

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued. 

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.  A copy of the full role profile can be found at Search Jobs - SCI Career Site Careers (oraclecloud.com).

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.