Duty Station:  Karamoja (Napak)

Reports to: Senior Social Worker

About US:

Our client is a foreign NGO that supports, protects, and upholds the rights of vulnerable and marginalized children, those on the edge of society, in particular those who have limited or no parental care, and those who are very vulnerable to all forms of abuse and who are survivors of abuse and conflict. It focuses on the creation of protective environments for children in impoverished and vulnerable communities through the creation of safe places for children where they can be protected and where they can thrive. In particular, safe places for young children create environments that foster the physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual development of children. This holistic development is facilitated in the context of play and healthy child-adult interaction.

Job Summary:  The Project Officer Child Protection will ensure the timely and quality implementation of Child Protection (CP) interventions. Engagement will be at household, community, village, parish, sub-county, and district levels. This role requires the staff to have good communication, networking, and collaboration abilities, and training abilities for communities, especially children. Core to the role are skills to raise awareness for prevention and response to child rights violations and the ability to link affected children to services in time, and documentation of on-the-ground experiences and emerging issues in child protection.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Actively participate in the planning processes for CP interventions in Napak, including the development of Detailed Implementation Plans (DIPs).
• Gather, analyze, and document community perspectives and needs on different CP issues to inform CP programming.
• Support the collection and documentation of impact and success CP stories.
• Build the capacity of children, families, and the community to collectively engage local leaders on identified CP issues.
• Routinely coach and mentor the community CP structures and other actors, including but not limited to faith and cultural institutions, teachers, etc, on CP matters.
• Mobilize and sensitize the community (community leaders and other community members) on CP programs issues and facilitate participation in the management of various community CP initiatives.
• Mobilize communities to participate in the relevant children's days and celebrations, such as the Day of the African Child, Day of the Girl Child, among others.
• Represent  at stakeholder engagements in the district and be a regular advocate on issues of Child Protection
• Support multi-sectoral, Inter-agency networking and coordination in establishing Child protection prevention, response, and service provision mechanisms/ referral pathways
• Monitor the well-being and child abuse cases and report any incidents in line with child protection policy and guidelines.
• Work with local leaders and CP structures to protect children from child abuse and abuse
• Sensitize children, including RCs, guardians/parents, and other stakeholders, about children’s rights and responsibilities.
• Facilitate the proper formation of Child Protection teams/groups in line with the Child Protection approach.
• Participate in the development and ensure the application of monitoring and evaluation tools in project implementation.
• Monitor the progress and achievements of the CP in our areas of intervention.
• Support and participate in scheduled CP assessments, evaluations, monitoring, and designs.
• Document and share impact stories, lessons, and best practices.
• Compile quality and timely reports to keep track of the progress of implementing planned activities on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, and annual basis as per the company's requirements.
• Monitor the progress of project interventions against plans.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:

• The applicant for the  Project Officer Child Protection job must hold a degree in Social Sciences, Social Work, Development Studies, Education, or any relevant field.
• Post Graduate Qualification in Human Rights, Project Planning & Management, Development Studies, or law from a recognized institution is an added advantage.
• Three years of child protection programming, preferably in an NGO setting, with experience in engaging communities and other partners. Experience working with children and partners is an added advantage
• Fluency of Ng Karimojong
• Familiarity with standards and guidelines for Child Protection programming and child and adult safeguarding
• Experience of and commitment to working through systems of community participation and accountability
• Good understanding of local government functions.
• Writing, reporting, and documentation skills
• Track record demonstrating high integrity, reliability, and dependability.
• Must be highly reliable and independent, able to work with minimal or no supervision.
• The ability to ride a motorcycle is a must with a valid riding permit.