Child Protection Technical Expert

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Save the Children

TITLE: Child Protection Technical Expert

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Programme Development & Quality

LOCATION: Dakar, Senegal

CONTRACT LENGTH: 2 years

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 2: Job responsibilities may require the staff member to have regular contact or interaction with children or young people.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Child Protection Technical Expert (TE) has a central role in the country office given our focus on quality programming. The Child Protection (TE) will use their in-depth understanding of the context, technical expertise and skills to define and achieve our strategic ambition for child protection in Senegal, particularly in strengthening child protection systems. at national and local level, the protection of girls and boys from all forms of GBV, the protection of children on the move as well as the protection of girls and boys in and around schools. The role will involve the technical design and implementation of high quality programs that bring about change for girls and boys, in both emergency and development programs. The role is to support advocacy at the national level, while supporting strategic partnerships for the development of new programmes. He/she supports the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems to demonstrate impact, while sharing learning with our teams and partners. The post holder will work closely with colleagues in operations and with partners in Senegal, building their capacity and developing the ownership and agency of local organisations. This role includes external engagement Inter-agency, state and with strategic partners on priority issues, including the elimination of all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of children, including GBV , in all settings, and strengthening an effective and sustainable child protection system. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the job holder will be required to work outside of their normal profile and be able to vary their working hours accordingly.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Programme Quality & Development Director

Staff reporting to this post: no direct reports but expected to provide coaching and mentoring support to operational and other technical colleagues and local partners

Budget Responsibilities: None

Primary Technical area: Child Protection

Primary Sub technical area: Prevention and Response to Violence against children, GBV

Secondary Sub technical area: Child Protection Systems

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY :

The role of each member of the office is to enable our Programs and Advocacy and Campaigns teams to do more and better work for and with children, on time, on budget and in compliance, in order to achieve our three breakthroughs.

Strategy and planning (15%)

  • In collaboration with Regional Technical Advisors and members, lead the definition of Child Protection strategies and action plans, in line with Save the Children International's child rights-based approach;
  • Develop country strategies for child protection, based on an analysis of the context of Senegal, the situation of child protection and rights and priority national issues;
  • Promote synergies with other programs and coordinate exchanges with other key actors in the country and relating to child protection;
  • Promote a continuous analysis of the situation of the Rights of the Child relating to the protection of the child in Senegal;
  • Create synergies with other themes (Health, Education, Social Protection, Climate Change, Gender) when developing new project proposals as well as integrated strategies with Child Protection based on children's rights;
  • Ensure the quality of monitoring of child protection projects and position themselves for new funding opportunities but also at the strategic level;
  • Develop programs and projects adapted to the needs and priorities of the communities and in alignment with the country's multi-year strategic plan, in close collaboration with our members;

Program design and technical guidance (25%)

  • Design and develop high quality Child Protection programs that contribute to country office strategies and plans;
  • Provide technical and innovative support in the implementation and monitoring of child protection programs;
  • Provide optimal and appropriate levels of technical assistance and capacity building to partners and staff to deliver quality programs reflecting the Child Protection sector strategy;
  • Liaise with other technical teams in the coordination and integration of thematic programs and projects;
  • Conduct regular risk and needs mapping and analysis on Child Protection programs and their implementation;
  • Liaise with regional thematic advisors and global technical teams for technical assistance in the thematic area of ​​Child Protection.

Program quality (30%)

  • Support program and MEAL teams to ensure that child protection projects and components have robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning plans as well as data analysis to ensure that work on Child Protection contributes to all relevant global agendas and indicators;
  • Ensure the development, monitoring and periodic analysis of Quality Standards for Child Protection projects;
  • Ensure that girls and boys have a voice in all Child Protection programmes;
  • Identify and lead strategic research in Child Protection for the development of innovative programs and aim to positively change existing gender inequalities, including GBV;
  • Facilitate appropriate dissemination of research results and documentation of good practices in internal and external projects;
  • Build the capacity of national staff and partners in key technical approaches related to child protection, including common child protection approaches and inter-agency approaches validated and adopted by the organization;
  • Validate the technical and programmatic content of the reports produced by the country office, whether donor reports, study reports (carried out by SC or by consultants), summary documents and any document country office;
  • Contribute to building the capacities of partners and teams of child protection projects in order to ensure quality implementation.

Advocacy and Networking (10%)

  • Support the development and implementation of thematic advocacy plans and strategies for Child Protection;
  • Representation and participation in networks and strategic forums on the promotion of Child Protection, including multi-stakeholder platforms and organizations working on the rights of girls and boys;
  • Establish, maintain and improve active and regular working relationships with government, partner agencies including humanitarian and development partners/donors, local and international NGOs in the thematic area;
  • Identify opportunities and key events for Save the Children Senegal to position itself as the leading organization in the protection and rights of children in Senegal;

Innovation (10%)

  • Promote innovation, research, capitalization and production of knowledge on our interventions in Child Protection.
  • Disseminate widely information relating to the results of research and - in particular - to the government and other humanitarian and development actors, and to the technical teams of members and PDQ/PQI;
  • Keep abreast of emerging trends in the Child Protection thematic area by reviewing technical publications and actively participating in technical working groups and professional associations;
  • Ensure the effective integration of cross-cutting issues such as gender, climate change and inclusion;

Staff training, mentoring and development (10%)

  • Ensure that all child protection staff proactively acquire and maintain the technical skills and competencies required to lead and/or advise high quality programs, whether developmental or emergency.
  • Support the recruitment, training and technical development of staff.

Specific Responsibilities in regards to Child Safeguarding:

Contribute to the implementation of the child safeguarding policy and standards within the framework of the program he/she technically supports in close collaboration with the Safeguarding team, which includes:

  • Ensure that Safeguarding is reflected in the project proposal development process in accordance with existing checklists.
  • Ensure that Safeguarding is integrated into the kick-off meeting and the launch of the project
  • Include Safeguarding in terms of reference for field missions
  • Include Safeguarding in the risk assessment of all projects, programs and campaign activities.'
  • Ensure that Safeguard is reflected in reports when reviewing program reports
  • Ensure that Safeguarding is part of the TOR of project evaluations
  • Adjust the program approach to ensure better control of safeguarding risks and approaches that would better protect children from further risk of harm
  • Work in collaboration with the National Safeguarding Focal Point whenever necessary
  • Contribute to the establishment of a child-friendly reporting mechanism
  • Report any concerns regarding compliance with procedures

Save the Children has zero tolerance for child abuse

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Have a Master's degree in social sciences/legal/social work/international development, with a focus on child protection or human rights.
  • A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience, including at least 3 years in a management position in an international NGO.
  • Analytical and strategic skills: ability to facilitate, write, edit and promote strategies in the form of program and project designs, briefing notes, policy support documents.
  • Excellent planning, coordination and reporting skills, with the ability to organize a large workload consisting of complex and diverse tasks and responsibilities.
  • Ability to negotiate effectively with potential donors and demonstrated ability to develop and write detailed technical project proposals that meet donor requirements, including donor budgets.
  • Good knowledge of the context and issues relating to children's rights and protection in Senegal and Senegal's policies, commitments and priorities in this area.
  • Experience in supporting and managing partnerships (working with community, civil society, government, children, GBV and Child Protection Clusters, etc.)
  • Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including excellent oral and written communication skills in French and English.
  • Ability to link education, child protection and health interventions within the context of an integrated program approach.
  • Experience working with children (girls and boys) and at the community level.
  • Have access to a large network of protection and human rights actors (particularly children's rights, girls' and women's rights) in the country or have the proven ability to establish a network.
  • Knowledge of one or more local languages ​​is a plus.

Desirable

  • Gender sensitive and able to use gender analysis in relevant areas of work and drive transformative change in promoting gender equality.
  • Graduate or post-graduate training in project planning and management, monitoring and evaluation, community development and research or related field is an added advantage.
  • Previous experience with Save the Children, as well as a commitment to the values and mission of Save the Children.
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