Child Rights Governance Specialist

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3: √ the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children has been working in the child rights governance (CRG) sector on Mainland and Zanzibar, for many years with notable success.  The position of CRG Specialist will advance this work on a technical level and ensure excellence in programming, including demonstration of tangible results for children in Tanzania.  The CRG Specialist will provide strategic and operational leadership in this process.  She/he will assume the overall responsibility for the growth, development and implementation of the Child Rights Governance portfolio. S/He will also be part of further exploring SCI Tanzanias engagements in Child Rights and Business (CRB), targeting key sectors and authorities on Mainland and Zanzibar. S/He must bring an innovative leadership profile with a proven track record of working with children and governance and a sound technical background in programme design and delivery. The post holder should also have a solid understanding of the child rights governance sector and government structures (national and local level) in Tanzania and some of the current challenges to enforce, protect and fulfil child rights in the country. The CRG Specialist also works to integrate CRG strategies in Save the Children’s Thematic Sectors by providing technical support, and developing tools and methodologies.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Save the Children began operations in Tanzania in 1986. Currently, the Country Program is implementing development and humanitarian programming in 11 regions in Mainland and Zanzibar in the thematic areas of: child rights governance, child protection, education and health & nutrition. The estimated value of the Country Program’s portfolio for 2020 is $13M. The operating context is very dynamic, affecting the rights of children and the operating environment for all NGOs.

Reports to: Director of Programme Development and Quality (DPDQ)

Dimensions: The job has five core functions: project management, strategy, quality programming, resource mobilisation, monitoring and evaluation and advocacy and representation.  Child rights and child participation forms part of all that Save the Children does throughout spectrum of humanitarian to development.

Staff directly reporting to this post:  None.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Strategy:

• Provide overall oversight and strategic guidance, strong leadership and technically sound decision-making processes in the CRG portfolio.
• Lead on development of thematic strategy for CRG in line with Save the Children’s Country Strategic Plan for the United Republic of Tanzania, with support and guidance from the Director of Programme Development and Quality (DPDQ).
• Lead in developing and realising practical CRG plans as part of Country Annual Plans.
• Contribute to strategic discussions regarding child rights and participation in the country office.
• Further develop and activate Save the Children Tanzania’s strategic priorities in Child Rights and Business (CRB) in Tanzania key sectors – agriculture, mining, and tourism, and identify opportunity for CRB-integration into programmes where appropriate.

Technical Programme Quality:

Based on guidance and in coordination with the DPDQ

• Support the effective implementation the SCI Programme Quality Framework, following the principle of putting child rights at the Centre of everything we do. This includes support to initiatives of rolling out Save the Children’s common approaches to ensure design of innovative and evidence based quality programs.
• Support the operations team in identifying and addressing technical gaps in planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of CRG projects, in coordination with quality programmes team
• Lead on and ensure the technical quality delivery of CRG projects of the country programme
• Support operations teams and relevant project/programme managers in relevant technical capacity of children, parents, communities, schools, other institutions and government to improve child rights government and child participation, including in humanitarian settings as well as in relation to private sector operations.
• Build technical capacity in the operation teams, partners and child rights networks to produce top class donor reports of projects related to child rights governance, by working with MEAL and Award Management teams.
• Review all CRG reports for technical quality and ensure information is correctly presented as per Save the Children global standards, evidence base and reality in Tanzania.
• Collaborate with and respond to technical assistance from Save the Children Members, coordinating inputs as appropriate for projects.
• Review research and participate in discussions related to CRG programming to ensure technical excellence and innovation in our projects.
• Represent the CRG portfolio to the Programme Development and Quality team, especially in weekly and quarterly programme review meetings.
• Support the Programme Development and Quality team, in identifying and pursuing opportunities to deepen engagement in Child Rights and Business, and private sector accountability in key sectors.

Monitoring and Evaluation  Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

• Work closely with quality programmes and operations teams to ensure that all projects related to CRG(and CRB) have robust monitoring plans, baselines, reviews and evaluations in line with project designs and donor guidelines.
• Assist the operation team in technical assessments of local/implementing partners.
• Assist MEAL team, Operation teams and partners to carry out regular monitoring and measure and report on achievement and progress towards project objectives and results.
• Organise periodic technical project review meetings with operation teams (programme/project managers) and partners and internally share progress and action.
• Carry out extensive field visits to document observations and experiences and share them with operation, MEAL and finance teams and influence management action for improvement of technical and quality aspects in projects. 
• Work with MEAL and operation teams to carry out relevant studies and document and disseminate good practices in projects related to CRG.
• Develop monitoring and reporting systems for existing programmes with field staff and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team, and update senior management on progress towards targets, as well as programme learning.
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• Coordinate innovation and testing of new strategies through operational research and careful documentation of project decisions and outcomes.
• Write case studies of CRG successes and challenges.

Advocacy and Representation:

• Work with quality programmes team to support operations teams in developing local-specific advocacy strategies and messages in the area of CRG.
• Support operation teams as requested and build their capacity to lead representation and advocacy in technical, government, private sectors and civil society fora within Tanzania for CRG.
• Participate as delegated in relevant internal and external fora including donor meetings and clusters related to CRG and thereby take proactive actions to profile SC’s work and exploited possible opportunities.  
• Take part in Pan-african and global technical learning platforms to deepen the country programme’s capacity in CRB-integration and programme development.
• Identify key opportunities and events for Save the Children to position itself as the leading organisation for CRG in Tanzania.
• Identify key forum’s and opportunities to acquire contextual expertise on CRB, and to promote technical advocacy based in Save the Children Tanzania priorities and expertise.
• Identify and secure potential technical resource persons and organisations for their support in advancing Save the Children’s advocacy in the CRG sectors (and CRB). This involves forging partnerships with local and international child rights agencies.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationship with CRG technical advisors of SC members and SCI CRG Initiatives (globally and regionally), thereby ensuring that the country programme benefits from possible opportunities (funding and other programme developments areas) arising from such relationships.
• Take part in Pan-african and global technical learning platforms to deepen the country programme’s capacity in CRB-intergration and programme development.

Resource Mobilisation:

• Work together with programme operation team to initiate and design high quality, cost-effective, innovative and sustainable project proposals and concept notes related to child rights.
• Proactively seek information on potential donor sources and share project opportunities in CRG with quality programmes and operations teams linking to country CRG strategy.
• Write proposals and design logframes/results frameworks for new CRG projects.
• Develop concept notes for potential donors.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds himself/herself and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for himself/herself, takes responsibility for his/her own personal development and encourages others to do the same.
• Widely shares his/her personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, within the team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.
• Always acts in the best interest of children.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelors degree with extensive experience in Child Rights Governance work
• At least 6 years’ solid experience in planning and coordinating child rights work at National level.
• Strong experience in working with diverse partners (government, Civil Society, Academia, National Human Rights Institutions) in the implementing child rights in general and CRG work in particular.
• Depth knowledge on child rights (UNCRC and ACRWC), social accountability and Investment in Children programming.
• Experience in National Budget and Expenditure tracking.
• Experience in development of child-related policies, strategies and plan of actions as well as social policy in general.
• Experience in Child Rights Governance and Child Rights Programming, and commitment to Save the Children values.
• An understanding on the Concluding Observations of UNCRC and ACRWC Committees of Expertise on State Party Reports.  
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing and negotiation.
• Previous work experience in government Ministries (National Level) and NGO environments is an added benefit.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English.
• Ability to read, write and speak in Kiswahili. 

DESIRABLE:

• Exposure to NGO project design and delivery: at least 5 years working on child rights development projects.
• Theoretical undertanding on Business & Human Rights-frameworks, private sector accountability, General Comment no. 16 to CRC and CRBP.
• 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 mind sets.
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in.

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures;

Child Safeguarding:

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.

Safeguarding our Staff:

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.