ROLE PURPOSE

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice.

We actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. We support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 75 years and are now active in more than 70 countries.

The CPiE Specialist will be responsible for supporting the strengthening of the quality of Plan International’s child protection in emergencies programme, with a focus on case management including support to implementation of durable solutions such as repatriation and resettlement, community-based protection and community and family based psychosocial support. S/he will be responsible for strengthening community groups and mechanisms that have a role in protecting children in humanitarian settings, enhancing accountability to the affected population with a strong emphasis on meaningful child participation. In addition, the specialist will ensure implementation of the child and youth safeguarding policy, PSEA and CP mainstreaming. The Specialist will also play a lead role in external advocacy and coordination at response and district levels as necessary.

Dimensions of the Role

Programme Development and Quality Implementation: Programme Development and Quality Implementation: Provide technical support for case management, including CPIMS and transition to primero when necessary, community-based child protection and PSS elements of the emergency response programme including the implementation of durable solutions. This would also include (not limited to) regular assessment and analysis, making strategic suggestions for programme design / modification, document of learnings and resource mobilisation.

Representation and Advocacy: Represent Plan in government / inter agency coordination meetings and initiatives on child protection. Contribute to ongoing efforts to develop context specific guidance notes and policy-making efforts.

Accountabilities

Programme implementation:

• Contribute to child protection programme design and implementation to effectively respond to the protection and development needs of vulnerable children
• Ensure participation in inter agency and plan initiated assessments and other relevant studies
• Work in close collaboration with the sector leads and support staff coordinators to ensure child protection mainstreaming in all Plan’s activities
• Lead case management activities by developing case management tools and guidance to ensure appropriate and safe alternative care arrangements with special attention to the unaccompanied and other most vulnerable children.
• Provide technical backstopping for the strengthening of case management, community-based child protection systems and PSS
• Regularly visit Plan’s field activities and provide on ground technical support where needed
• Develop a strategy and mechanisms to integrate child protection into other Emergency Response Program activities with IASC guidelines and CP Minimum Standards (CPMS) in humanitarian settings.
• Ensure the access of child protection services and psychosocial support as needed to the affected population (precise programming depending on identified needs, existing services and capacities and actions of other agencies)
• Develop or support development of programme tools including case management
• Co/lead the development of funding proposals and donor reports.
• Act as the Child Safeguarding and SEA Focal Point for the office; deliver orientation sessions and full training packages to staff, ensure compliance to policies.

Representation and advocacy

• Respect and work according to local policies and regulations
• Work in close relationship with the government representative in the area of operation and other partners/UN agencies present in the refugee setting
• Support liaison between Plan International and any relevant stakeholders, local, national and international partners and local authorities

• Participate in protection, child protection and SGBV working groups/bilateral meetings and represent Plan in all relevant forums as need arises
• Maintain regular interaction with other NGOs and UN bodies to effectively respond to emerging child protection and strategic issues
• Coordinate with Country office advocacy teams to develop child rights and child protection advocacy initiatives

Documentation and M&E

• Lead, facilitate or conduct annual child protection assessments to guide context specific programming
• Contribute in documenting Plan’s experiences, lessons learned, case studies, impact stories and advocacy documents
• Support teams to write quality donor and other reports
• Conduct regular assessments, analyses and thus advise programme design and modifications to meet the existing needs and ground realities
• Participate in the development/ operation of a monitoring and evaluation system including CPIMS (Child Protection Information Management System)
• Participate in inter agency MEAL engagements at all levels as required     
• Support the establishment and strengthening of child friendly and/or centred complaints and feedback mechanisms

Capacity Building

• Conduct capacity building assessments and develop a comprehensive capacity building plan for staff teams including inter agency ones and other resource plans
• Train Plan staff in key aspects of CP programmes and relevant aspects of IASC guidelines and CPMS
• Build capacity of national staff to implement Child Protection CM, PSS and MCBCPM activities

• Lead the development of orientation and training materials for staff and stakeholders including children
• Conduct training for staff and partners including tailored Training of Trainers on children with special needs and gender equality

• Coach and mentor Plan staff to implement timely, quality and appropriate CP interventions 

Team Management

• In strong linkage with the Team Leader, ensure good communication and coordination with team members through regular programme coordination meetings (or other if needed)
• Continuous meetings with CP Teams for activities follow up and with youth and Education teams for effective coordination and integration to respond the holistic needs of children and adolescents.

Key relationships

The Specialist will have significant contact with Plan’s Child Protection team and will liaise closely with the ERM, MEAL, EiE and Youth teams. The role will also play a role in the effective functioning of the Inter-Agency Child Protection Sub Working Group, work closely with counterparts at IRC and Save the Children in an ECHO funded protection consortium, and will contribute to Plan International’s global community of practice and professional network in child protection in emergencies.

Technical expertise, skills, and knowledge

The qualified candidate will be child protection in emergencies professional with relevant degree in Psychology, anthropology, Social work or equivalent.

Essential:

• At least 3-5 years’ experience of working in child protection in emergencies, Particularly on Case Management, Best Interest Assessments and Child Protection Information Management System and alternative care arrangements

• Experience of working in refugee settings and in host communities
• Excellent project design, participatory monitoring and evaluation skills
• Experience in coordination and technical assistance provision at the level of working group/task force or equivalent
• Proven capacity to train and coach staff and provide supportive supervision
• Effective team management skills across several locations and operating in a cross-cultural structure
• Strong communication and reporting skills in English
• Ability to work under high pressure with a great level of personal organization
• Good knowledge of and experience in Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, Inter-agency Guidelines on Separated and Unaccompanied Children, case management, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
• Experience leading child and youth safeguarding implementation as well as Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse

Desirable:

• Previous experience in leading/co-leading a child protection coordination mechanism
• Previous experience leading/being part of an inter-agency transition to CPIMS Primero
• Experience of managing grants and donor’ reporting requirements
• Experience supporting implementation of durable solutions such as repatriation and resettlement
• Previous experience leading and providing oversight regarding child and youth safeguarding to ensure we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people.

• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

1. Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

1. Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
2. Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
3. Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
4. Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
5. Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

1. Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
2. Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
3. Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
4. Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

1. Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
2. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
3. Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
4. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

5. Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
6. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
7. Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
8. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

Physical Environment

The position will be based in Kibondo and frequent travel to the field.

Level of contact with children

High level: Frequent interaction with children.