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Requisition ID: req52392

Job Title: Child Protection Officer - Unaccompanied & Separated Children , 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

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. IRC’s child protection program in Gaza aims to ensure that girls and boys are protected from and treated for the consequences of violence, abuse, and exploitation, family separation is prevented, and appropriate care is provided in emergencies.

Position overview

The Child Protection Officer – Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC) will be responsible for supervising and coordinating all activities related to unaccompanied and separated and high-risk children implemented by IRC’s Child Protection Team in Gaza. He/she will ensure that they are in line with IRC’s program guidelines and implemented according to CP best practices, minimum standards and principles. The CP Officer – UASC will closely work with community workers to provide individual protection support to children who were separated from their usual caregivers as well as other children who are at high risk of or have experienced abuse, neglect, exploitation, and/or violence. This will also include home visits to monitor recovery, provide follow-up and referrals, and assess CP risks/issues in the home (including other children). Furthermore, the CP Officer – UASC will lead on implementing risk reduction activities for children and caregivers and liaising with other stakeholders (other IRC sectors, partner organizations, service providers, community members) to ensure that CP activities meet the needs of affected children and caregivers.

Responsibilities

Program Implementation

• Provide daily guidance and monitoring of community workers to ensure that activities and services for UASC and other children at high risk are implemented in line with IRC’s program guidelines, workplans and according to CP best practices, minimum standards, and principles

• Conduct structured observations of community workers and document this

• Support the identification of children who have been separated from their caregivers and who have been harmed or are at risk of harm.

• Work closely with community workers to provide individual protection support to children who were separated from their usual caregivers as well as other children who are at high risk of or have experienced abuse, neglect, exploitation, and/or violence.

• Ensure that home visits of unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) and other high-risk children and their caregivers are conducted to monitor their placement, provide emotional support to children and their caregivers as well as hands-on parenting support, and asses CP risks/issues in the home (including other children),

• Ensure that children and caregivers with more specialized needs are referred to the relevant services and receive the information they need

• Ensure that UASC are referred to family tracing and reunification (FTR) and if needed, alternative care options, and monitor these referrals

• Ensure that high-risk children, including UASC, and their caregiving families benefit from MPCA / in-kind support, according to their needs

• Receive referrals from other sectors for child protection services and ensure that children and caregivers are well-integrated into CP activities and services

• Ensure that registers of children, caregivers and community workers are accurately recorded and reported.

• Lead the recruitment and training of community workers, in coordination with community representatives and the CP Manager.

• Ensure respect for children’s participation in all activities, including their regular and proactive consultation to support the quality and relevance of interventions.

• Support MEAL activities to support quality programming, in coordination with the CP Manager and MEAL Team.

• As requested, contribute to the collection of MEAL data to support the development of project proposals and strategy of the Child Protection sector.

• Ensure that there is regular interaction between the IRC and community members.

• Regular communicate with the CP Manager for updates on achievements, challenges, lessons learned and opportunities.

• Assist in regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives.

Supervision and Development

• Supervise and train community workers.

• Ensure support and ongoing capacity-building opportunities for community workers on technical and managerial skills.

• Ensure timely completion and submission of attendance trackers/timesheets by community volunteers.

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

• As requested, assist in providing capacity-building support for partners

Administration and Reporting

• Lead and coordinate all planning and reporting of CP-UASC activities.

• Prepare and submit weekly activity work plans, reports and other required documents in a timely manner to agreed-upon deadlines; contribute to monthly reports as requested.

• File and archive all important documents and correspondence related to CP-UASC activities.

• Support the implementation of and adherence with CP work plans and MEAL plans.

Coordination and Representation

• Actively coordinate with staff from other IRC sectors, including women’s protection and empowerment (WPE), nutrition, WASH, supply, security, finance, etc. in the field.

• Actively develop, coordinate, maintain, and strengthen effective working relationships with the Partners.

• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant local actors in the field, including community, non-governmental, and governmental actors.

• Participate in relevant coordination meetings at the community level.

• Closely collaborate with organizations and partners working in the implementation area.

Other

• Attend trainings organized by the IRC.

• Stay informed about the child protection situation and developments within the communities and surrounding areas.

• Consistently and proactively monitor 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.

• 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.

• If necessary, provide translation and interpretation at meetings, training sessions, and/or documents for a better understanding of all staff.

• Assist in identifying new implementing partners and arrange meetings with partners to discuss their program implementation when necessary.

• Conduct any other task requested by his/her supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Qualifications

• Degree desired in Social Work, Psychology, Human Rights, Social Science or other related field.

• At least 2-3 years experience in implementing child protection programs, preferably in the field of unaccompanied and separated children and CP Case Management in humanitarian or development settings.

• Demonstrated understanding of working with children who have been affected by conflict, disasters, or other humanitarian crises, particularly unaccompanied and separated children and children at risk of violence, exploitation, abuse, or neglect.

• Previous experience supervising and coordinating a team preferred.

• Previous experience in capacity building and mentoring preferred.

• Previous experience in emergency response preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to liaise with partner organizations.

• Positive and professional attitude, including ability to lead and work well in a team setting.

• Good organizational and planning skills.

• High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks, and maintain attention to detail.

• Highly motivated, interested, and eager to learn.

• Fluency in Arabic; good English skills.

• Available to travel within Gaza, as required.