- Job Title: CTWWC Child Protection Advisor
- Reports to: Chief of Party, CTWWC MD
- Department: CRS Moldova, Programming
Job Summary
The Child Protection Technical Advisor will provide technical expertise and guidance to CTWWC to ensure the delivery of high-quality child protection programming in Moldova. In coordination with the global technical advisors, the Child Protection Technical Advisor will support the advancing key strategic objectives in Moldova aimed at moving the care system towards one that prioritizes, resources and promotes safe and nurturing family care.
The Child Protection Technical Advisor will provide technical assistance, including designing approaches, tools, and training content to care reform actors, government, NGO and faith-based, in their efforts to develop new policy frameworks, relevant tools and training packages which promote family strengthening interventions, expand family-based alternative care services in Moldova and reduce reliance on residential care for all children.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
- In coordination with CTWWC global technical advisor, provide technical assistance to CTWWC partners/care reform actors in their development of new legal frameworks, regulations, standard operating procedures, standards and guidelines as part of care reform, including frameworks related to public funding, family strengthening and family-based alternative care services, the minimum package of services, intersectoral cooperation, inclusive education, positive parenting, strengthening the capacity and expanding the reach of the social service workforce, and capturing learning from the process to both inform policy and practice as well as share with others in and outside of Moldova.
- In coordination with CTTWWC partners, support the implementation of an advocacy agenda focused on ending the placement of children in residential care in Moldova, transformation of residential institutions into services that promote family and community care for children and families, and strengthening family support and family-based alternative care services.
- Informed by action plans developed with targeted local public authorities, provide technical support to local child protection authorities and other subnational care reform actors in their efforts to improve existing and/or develop new family-based alternative care and social service to meet national standards and ensure the minimum package is resourced and made available.
- Support the implementation of the collective impact approach in Moldova through facilitation of meetings and supporting the set-up of inclusive working groups, communities of practice and other collaborative initiatives focused on advancing care system reforms. Regularly check in to see that other actors who might have a role to play or something to contribute to care reform are approached, included, and heard. Capture key learning related to this approach.
- Collaborate with MEAL team to ensure that key data are being captured, used to inform programming, and shared widely with CTWWC MD, CTWWC global and with other relevant actors or platforms.
- Contribute to high-quality internal and external updates and programmatic sharing, including contributions to progress reports as per CTWWC and donor reporting requirements.
- Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact programming.
- Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for CRS and partner staff and recommend and coordinate trainings and technical assistance.
- Maintain relationships with CTWWC global team in regard to area of responsibility and seek opportunities for exchange and learning. Contribute to regional and global influence, learning, and engagement (ILE) activities of the initiative, drawing-on experiences from Moldova as well as activities related to CRS’ Strategic Change Platform on Family Strengthening.
Basic Qualifications
- Master’s degree in social work, social protection, psychology, pedagogics, or other social sciences.
- Minimum of ten years of work experience in the area of child protection, with preference for a combination of practical experience in providing social protection services and policy development experience.
Required Languages
Romanian and English.
Travel
Must be willing and able to travel up to 20% within Moldova and periodically internationally.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Very good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
- Very good relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
- Experience using a strengths-based approach and learning mindset.
- Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams.
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions-focused and results-oriented.
Preferred Qualifications
- Recognized technical experience and qualifications in the child protection sector.
- Policy development experience.
- Facilitation and training experience.
- Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships.
- Strong writing and presentation skills.
- Ability to multi-task, regularly seek learning opportunities, and link to global care reform efforts and contextualize them to Moldova.
- Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
- Integrity
- Continuous Improvement & Innovation
- Builds Relationships
- Develops Talent
- Strategic Mindset
- Accountability & Stewardship
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Key Working Relationships:
- Internal: CTWWC Moldova Team, CTWWC Global team, especially the global technical advisor and global technical director.
- External: Implementing partner NGOs, national and local government representatives, individuals, partners and collaborators in the Collective Impact approach.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are welcome to apply by sending their CV with email to crsapplicationsmd@crs.org mentioning in the subject line the title of the position “Child Protection Advisor”.
About Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, micro-finance and peacebuilding.
About Changing the Way We Care
In Moldova, CRS is implementing Changing the Way We CareSM (CTWWC), a global initiative to promote safe, nurturing families for children at-risk of family separation and children from residential institutions. This work involves coordination among a variety of government and non-government stakeholders at the national and international levels to advance childcare reform and strengthen families. CTWWC is also working to support the capacity strengthening and organizational development of Moldovan NGOs inclusive of training, on-the-job coaching, and accompaniment. Activities include reforming national systems of care for children and young people focused on family strengthening and prevention of separation; supporting separated families with reunification and reintegration; strengthening the capacity and reach of the social service workforce, developing, strengthening, and expanding alternative family and community-based care options; closing harmful residential institutions; and calling for funders to divest from supporting institutions for children and young people and redirect their funding to alternatives that strengthen communities and keep families together.
*** Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer