Job Description

Job Title: Senior Child Protection Capacity Building /Partnership Officer- Roving

Band/Level/Grade: 8A

Department: Child Protection

Location: Aden with up to 50% travel to field locations (Abyan, Al Dhale’e, Al Hudaydah)

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees required to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity, and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The IRC Yemen began its programs in October 2012. Since establishing its presence in the South of Yemen, in the Red Sea Coastal city of Aden, the organization has grown from just an implementing small project to handling large-scale emergency and relief operations. Following the war which broke out in Yemen in March of 2015 and the humanitarian disaster, which was crafted by the same, IRC launched an emergency response program in the southern governorates of Aden, Lahj, Abyan, Shabwah, and Aldalea. Currently, the IRC Yemen is operating in eight governorates in the south and north of Yemen and Sana’a and Hodeidah in the North through direct programming and local partnerships, in Health, WASH, Nutrition, Economic Recovery Development, Education, Child Protection, Gender, and Women Protection and Empowerment.

Scope of Work: IRC is currently seeking a qualified and experienced individual for the role of Senior CP Capacity Building Officer/ Partnership Officer (SCBPO). The primary responsibility of this position is to provide accurate and quality delivery of the Child Protection (CP) interventions, support, and guidance to the partner regarding the design and implementation of CP programming and provide supervision, and technical training on CP topics to the implementing partners and child protection team in Abyan, AlDhale’e, and Al Hudaydah. The Senior officer will manage a team of CP Officers, assistants, and case workers with general oversight of CP projects with the partnership as well as partnership processes following the Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS).

Job Summary: Under the direct supervision of the Roving CP Manager, the Senior Capacity Building/ Partnership Officer will be responsible for training activities aimed at improving the capacity of IRC partners and local organizations in implementing CP-related activities. The SCBPO will design and implement training on CP basic concepts, psychosocial support, and other CP topics as required. Preparing training outlines, and materials, completing all financial and logistical procedures associated with the training, and submitting training reports. The SCBPO will also assist CP officers in the other locations with general programmatic responsibilities and administrative tasks as needed and attend relevant meetings and workshops when assigned.

Working Relations:

• Position Reports to Child Protection Manager.
• Position directly supervises CP Officers.
• Other Internal and/or external representatives: Internal: IRC Yemen program and operations departments, CP Department, and Program Coordinators.
• External: In-country donor counterparts, and partner organizations.

Main Responsibilities:

Program Planning and Implementation:

• Develop annual and quarterly CP program implementation plans and ensure timely implementation of activities in line with IRC and donor requirements.
• Ensure project activities are executed according to approved work plans and with the involvement of partners and stakeholders at all levels.
• Participate in or take the lead in joint activities such as assessments, partner/actor mapping, distributions, and other tasks as assigned.
• Support collaborative program design processes that fully influence the perspectives, experience, and expertise of local actors, where possible based on collaborative needs assessment processes.
• Ensure the quality implementation of CP activities by partners following both IRC standards and international standards.
• Ensure that all CP activities that are implemented by partners are conducted in a participatory and community-led manner, actively engaging beneficiaries and local partners.
• Conduct training needs/capacity assessments for IRC CP staff and Partners.
• Design and implement capacity-building plans and strategies, with the support of the CP Manager and with coordination with the NGOs’ focal points, ensuring detailed and time-bound implementation plans for active grants.
• Organize training and provide ongoing coaching to build the capacity of IRC’s CP team, implementing partners, community facilitators, and other CP actors on the different approaches used within IRC, such as SHLS, SEL, SAFE, Brighter Future, Case Management, and Parenting Programs.
• Provide mentorship and support to the community supervisors and workers through on-the-job training and guidance to enhance their case management skills and competencies.
• Ensure all training and capacity-building activities are carried out following IRC policies and procedures.
• Provide support to the development and implementation of community engagement and outreach strategies, plans, and activities.
• Identify and build links with other partners, ensuring that issues/needs for child protection are raised and addressed.
• Support with the development or revision of guidelines and resources used for awareness-raising sessions and information dissemination activities.
• Work closely with the partner Partnership team to prepare and update the partnership tracker.
• Participate in the Partner's Capacity Analysis (PCA) of partners.
• Ensure that the partner provides timely and accurate reporting on CP program activities, including data collection and analysis and the compilation of regular progress reports.
• Support the development and review of partners' CP program budgets and proposals for new funding opportunities within the IRC program.
• Conduct any other task requested by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Reporting, Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Conduct regular data collection using existing tools to track project performance on indicators and measure overall impact for donor reporting purposes and make recommendations on the improvement of these tools.
• Ensure that good practices and lessons are documented and shared with the MEAL and grant team and the CP team for replication and wider dissemination.
• Work with the CP manager and the MEAL Team to prepare and/or revise project monitoring tools (LOGFRAME, ITT, MEAL PLANs) to track indicators and monitor the achievement of objectives and impact of the program.
• Measure training impacts through baseline surveys, pre-and post-tests, and follow-up interviews, and continually reflect on training experiences and supervising data to improve future training.
• Consistently and proactively supervise the safety and security of field teams, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment.
• Collaborate with partners on the development and implementation of project monitoring frameworks.
• Review partnership project narrative reports and provide feedback as appropriate (and support partners in the development of reports as necessary).
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor and support the implementation of CP activities and provide technical advice and guidance to partners.

Partnerships and Coordination:

• Develop partnerships and rapport with the community structures to enhance community participation, ownership, and sustainability of programs by orienting them on the project goals and soliciting their involvement in the implementation of the project.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with IRC’s partners, networks, and stakeholders.
• Collaborate and coordinate with other organizations, governmental institutions, and other child protection organizations to promote cooperation and strengthen systems for children.
• Represent the IRC in interagency with the cluster and other coordination meetings and partner training as may be required by the CP manager.
• Coordinate with other departments to ensure operational systems are in place to support field activities including logistics (transport, warehousing, and asset management), procurement, security, and administration.
• Coordinate with other IRC programs/sectors to ensure integration and that the project runs smoothly and efficiently and draws from the best experiences and lessons for improved programming.
• Collaborate with partners on the development and implementation of project monitoring frameworks.
• Ensure that supported partner projects are consistent with humanitarian and sector principles and standards.
• Represent IRC in CP-related meetings with government officials, and other partners, as needed.
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with relevant government agencies, non-governmental organizations, IRC partners, and other partners working in the CP sector.

Grants Management and Accountability:

• Under the support of the CP manager work closely with partnership, finance, and grant teams to ensure effective budget monitoring for the project in line with donor requirements and contractual obligations, including project opening, implementation, closing, and learning meetings.
• Ensure timely production of activity/events reports as well as monthly reports as per the agreed timelines.
• Contribute to the review of the performance of the partner, of the IRC (including on the basis of partner feedback), and of the partnership, including successes, challenges, and lessons learned, fostering ongoing partnerships beyond the sub-award project cycle.
• Integrate technical capacity-sharing approaches, including how IRC can learn from local partners.
• Participate in Project Opening, Review, and Closing Meetings, together with the Partnership Lead.
• Participate in the partnership project review and reflection (monitoring), identify appropriate follow-up actions, and provide completed reports to the Partnership Lead.

Staff Management and Capacity Building:

• Ensure the CP officers and partners are fully supported and managed, through coaching and mentoring.
• Develop SMART objectives for all line reports and ensure continuous performance management and review.
• Foster continuous learning, open dialogue, and self-reflection to enhance safeguarding measures and uphold the values and policies of the IRC.
• Develop leave plans and work plans that are in line with the project timelines and ensure close collaboration with HR on matters of staff management.

Child Safeguarding:

• Ensure the safety and protection of all children through child-friendly interventions and ensure concerns are managed using the appropriate channels.
• Ensure programs and activities do not put children and their families at risk and that risk assessment is done in all activities.
• Ensure all line reports CP officers and assistants understand the child safeguarding policy and mechanisms for reporting concerns.
• Provide briefings on child safeguarding and appropriate behavior with children to all case management staff; ensure any concerns are reported and addressed immediately.

Requirements (Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities): Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, education, social science, or a related field, or equivalent years of experience implementing CP or protection intervention.

Experience:

• Excellent professional track record with demonstrated ability within an INGO/ NGO, with a minimum of two years of working in child protection and/or psychosocial programming, in humanitarian program implementation in the Yemen context.
• Strong knowledge of child rights and child protection needs in humanitarian settings.
• Strong knowledge of child protection minimum standards (CPMS) is required.
• At least 2 years of staff management experience, including staff capacity development and team-building experience is required.
• Proven experience in designing and conducting capacity assessment, and capacity building. Experience. Planning and facilitating child protection, Protection, and psychosocial support training is an added value.
• Understanding the dynamics, local language, and context of the CP projects is essential.
• Demonstrable ability to adapt to changing program priorities and emergency priorities that may arise.

Skills and Abilities:

• Personal qualities: Team leader, flexible, strong social skills with children, caregivers, analytical skills, network-builder, able to handle pressure well, and work in a cross-cultural setting.
• Planning, monitoring, and evaluation skills.
• Understanding of how to support the transition from direct service delivery to working in partnership with local actors (government ministries, civil society organizations, etc.)
• Good knowledge and understanding of international child protection, youth, and education policy and practice issues.
• Positive attitude towards community work with emphasis on the ability to learn from communities and support innovative approaches to problem-solving.
• Proficiency in budget management, grants management, and reporting.
• Strong coordination and project management skills.
• Good coping strategies in stressful and emergency situations, calmness is a requirement.
• Very good computer skills (Word, Excel, Power Point)

Proficiencies:

• Proficiency in Arabic.
• Excellent written and spoken English is required.

Work Environment: The position is based in Aden with approximately 50% of the time expected to be spent traveling to the field locations (Abyan, Al Dhale’e, Hodeida).

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 carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

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

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who, as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.