Requisition ID: req20316
Job Title: Child Protection Officer
Sector: Protection and rule of law
Employment Category: Regular
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: No
Location: Kampala, Uganda
Job Description
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict, and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 25 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education, and power.
The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, and various institutions in the country, notably the government, community-based organizations (CBOs), civil society organizations (CBOs), and the private sector. The current program portfolio in Uganda includes health and nutrition, Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL) support to persons with specific needs (PSNs) including case management, legal assistance to refugees, Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE) prevention, and response to gender-based violence, and economic recovery and development (ERD). The IRC has a country office in Kampala and field offices in Imvepi, Kyaka II, Lamwo, Moroto, Kiryandongo and Yumbe, as well as an urban office in Nsambya within Kampala.
Job Overview:
The Child Protection Officer will be responsible for the implementation of child protection activities geared towards prevention and response to violence against children including case management, operationalization of safe healing and learning space, psychosocial support for children and their caregivers in accordance with the minimum standards of child protection in Humanitarian Action and the IRC Child Protection Policy.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Actively participate in the program design process specifically in assessments and generating community priority needs for child wellbeing.
- Conduct comprehensive case management support to vulnerable children and their caregivers.
- Train staff, partners, volunteers, and caregivers on child protection case management, safe healing, and learning space, positive parenting, and the IRC Child safeguarding policy.
- Establish and liaise closely with other partners and local leaders in planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of project activities.
- Develop a multi-sectoral child protection network of information gathering relevant to child protection.
- Establish appropriate contact with local leaders & District Local Government, UN agencies, the Office of the Prime Minister, and other partner organizations.
- Work with the MEAL team to develop a project monitoring and evaluation plan.
- Facilitate awareness creation and sensitization of communities and stakeholders on child protection issues and concerns.
- Support preparation of requisitions for appropriate project supplies in line with the approved budget from time to time.
- Document success stories and lessons.
- Develop regular monthly, quarterly and annual project management reports.
Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in any Development discipline. Postgraduate training in any related discipline will be an added advantage.
- Should have a minimum of 2 years of field experience in child protection case management programming.
- Experience in implementing Early Childhood Development and Child-Friendly space program.
- Experience in forming community-based child protection structures.
- Ability to work flexibly independently and collaboratively with team members to achieve results.
- Ability to relate and work well with people of different cultures, gender, and backgrounds.
- Should have proficient computer knowledge and experience in ms word, ms excel, other ms applications, and Outlook.
- Excellent communication skills with good command in both written and spoken English.
- Ability to work under pressure and adapt well to changing environments while remaining productive and focused.
Please note: The deadline for receiving applications is October 8th, 2021.
The IRC and IRC staff 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, and Anti-Retaliation.
We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous 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. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.
All staff, regardless of role, are required to create a culture of client responsiveness by requesting and using client feedback data to make decisions. In addition, all staff is expected to demonstrate inclusiveness when making programmatic decisions and working with clients, partners, and colleagues from diverse backgrounds. You can read more about the IRC’s commitment to client responsiveness here: https://www.rescue.org/resource/client-responsiveness-introduction-and-faq
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.