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Requisition ID: req52396

Job Title: Child Protection Manager, Gaza

Sector: Child Protection

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Gaza, occupied Palestinian Territory (oPT)

Work Arrangement:In-person

Job Description

Fluency in English required.

The IRC launched an emergency response in oPt in 2023, responding to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. Prior to October 7th, in June 2023, we conducted a scoping mission to oPt, in the West Bank, and subsequently developed a strategic plan to initiate programming in the West Bank. Since then, and in the context of catastrophic fighting and renewed violence, the IRC has initiated an emergency response in Gaza and developed a response plan with partners which includes Gaza and the West Bank. Implementing a diverse, integrated program of health, protection, cash, and scaling up in WASH and nutrition, these programs prioritize local partnerships with both public institutions and civil society, and span emergency, humanitarian, recovery, and development modalities, while serving vulnerable Palestinians in oPt.

In Gaza, the IRC is currently scaling up its direct program implementation in protection, with a particular focus on child protection and women’s protection and empowerment / gender-based violence (GBV) programming. The aim of IRC’s WPE programming in Gaza is that women and girls receive GBV response services and are supported through risk mitigation.

Position overview

The Child Protection Manager will be responsible for supporting the set-up and managing IRC’s Child Protection program in Gaza, targeting children at risk of or experiencing violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation, particularly unaccompanied and separated children. He/she will supervise and support the work of CP staff to ensure that the program will be implemented within time, budget and according to CP best practices, minimum standards, IRC’s program guidelines and IRC’s and donor policies. In addition, he/she will provide technical support and monitor the child protection activities implemented by IRC’s local partners. The Child Protection Manager will oversee that all CP interventions are adapted to the context and will work with other actors to ensure that protection risks for children are reduced, and that children experiencing or at risk of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation as well as women at risk of or experiencing gender-based violence receive the support they need, and that protection risks faced by women and children are mitigated.

Responsibilities

Program Management

• In close collaboration with the Integrated Protection Coordinator, support the set-up of IRC’s child protection program in Gaza, focusing on unaccompanied and separated children and other children at high-risk.

• Provide management leadership, supervision and support to the CP program in Gaza.

• Ensure that activities are implemented in line with the project proposal(s), and, in particular, the work plan, spending plan, procurement plan, monitoring and evaluation plan developed for the respective grant.

• Manage activity budgets in accordance with the approved budgets and spending plans.

• Develop, submit and follow-up on procurement requests; develop and ensure the implementation of distribution plans.

• Develop and monitor monthly and weekly plannings to ensure the timely implementation of CP activities and achievement of targets.

• Supervise and support CP teams on the ground to ensure that activities are implemented within time and budget; conduct regular field visits to monitor activities.

• Work closely and coordinate with IRC Supply Chain, Finance and Grants to ensure timeliness and compliance with grant requirements.

• Closely work and comply with IRC’s Security and Safety Department

• Compile, draft and submit monthly reports to the Integrated Protection Coordinator on the agreed-upon deadline.

• Ensure regular communication with the Integrated Protection Coordinator on the program’s progress, achievements, challenges, lessons learned and opportunities.

Technical Quality

• Provide technical leadership, supervision and support to the CP teams in Gaza.

• Ensure the implementation of high-quality activities in accordance with CP best practices, minimum standards and donor and IRC guidelines and program models; conduct regular field visits to monitor the quality of child protection activities.

• Ensure that solid case management, referral and information management systems are in place for appropriate identification, responses and follow-up for children harmed or at risk of being harmed.

• Ensure that CP activities for children and their caregivers are delivered in accordance with IRC program models and curricula, appropriately adapted to the local context.

• Ensure that risk reduction activities are implemented according to CP best practices and IRC guidelines.

• Closely work with the MEAL Department to ensure and support the implementation of all MEAL activities.

• Ensure respect for IRC’s clients’ participation in all activities, particularly children, and consulting them regularly and proactively.

• Ensure regular communication with the Integrated Protection Coordinator to strengthen safety outcomes for children.

Staff Supervision & Development

• Supervise the CP team.

• Support with the recruitment of CP staff, in coordination with the Integrated Protection Coordinator and the Human Resources Department.

• Ensure the timely submission of monthly timesheets, probations reviews, annual performance reviews etc. by the team.

• Facilitate ongoing coaching and capacity building for child protection staff on technical and management skills; identify needs to further strengthen capacities of child protection staff.

• Maintain open and professional relations with CP team members, promoting a strong team spirit, and providing oversight and guidance to enable CP staff to successfully perform in their positions.

Partner Management

• Maintain and strengthen effective working relationships with IRC’s local child protection partners.

• Support the regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives, in close collaboration with the Integrated Protection Coordinator and the Partnerships Teams.

• Provide regular technical support and guidance to IRC’s local CP partners in line with the partnership agreement.

• Work with partner organizations and IRC’s MEAL team to conduct regular analysis of data collected from the field to inform collective programming decisions.

Coordination & Representation

• Coordinate with other IRC sectors to receive and provide input and support regarding responses for children harmed and at risk of being harmed.

• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including IRC’s implementing partners, local authorities, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, community actors and other relevant stakeholders

• Attend Child Protection and CP Technical Working Groups at the sub-national and national level, as well as other relevant coordination meetings, to contribute to coordination and advocacy for child protection responses across agencies.

Program Development

• Proactively identify new or emerging needs, gaps, and opportunities for IRC’s child protection programming to enhance the safety of children in their homes and communities.

• In close collaboration with the Integrated Protection Coordinator, contribute to the development of project proposals and the strategic direction of the child protection program.

Other

• Attend trainings organized by the IRC

• Promote and adhere to the principles, objectives and code of conduct of the IRC.

• Act both professionally and personally in a manner that brings credit to the IRC and does not compromise its humanitarian mission.

• Consistently and proactively monitor and assess 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.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Qualifications

• BA or equivalent in Social Work, Psychology, Education, Human Rights, Social Science, Humanities or other related field. MA preferred.

• At least 4-5 years’ experience in implementing child protection programs, preferably in the field of unaccompanied and separated children, MHPSS, case management and child protection risk reduction, in humanitarian and/or development settings.

• Technical expertise in CP case management, MHPSS programming for children and caregivers, and child protection risk reduction activities

• Demonstrated experience in project and budget management and reporting.

• Previous experience supervising and managing a team

• Demonstrated experience in capacity building and mentoring of staff

• Previous experience in emergency preparedness and response preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to liaise with partner organizations.

• Good planning and organizational skills, strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Good computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

• Personal qualities: Team player, network-builder, flexible, ability to multi-task and handle pressure well,

• Fluency in Arabic and English required.

• Available to travel within Gaza