Position Title: Child Protection Officer
Location: Kakuma and Kalobeyei
Reports to (Hierarchically): Program Manager
(Functionally):
Number of subordinates: 0
Working time in % : 100%
Context:
Terre des hommes Foundation is an independent, neutral, and impartial Swiss organization founded in 1960, dedicated to bringing about significant and lasting change in the lives of children and young people, especially those most at risk. Tdh ensures their well-being and the effective implementation of their rights as defined in the Convention on the Child's Rights and other human rights instruments. To make a difference, Tdh focus our efforts on maternal and child health, children and young people in migration situations, and access to justice. Tdh promotes the active participation of children and young people to empower them. We advocate for their rights and support them in expressing their needs and interests. Tdh works in fragile contexts and conflict zones, as well as in more stable environments.
Tdh is present in Kenya since 2011. Currently Tdh is providing protection services for children and families affected by migration, natural crises and poverty in Dadaab refugee camps, in Garissa County, and in Korogocho informal settlement in Nairobi.
The intervention in Dadaab refugee camps is focused on prevention and response to child protection needs while strengthening protection community-based mechanisms in the refugee operation and its host communities.
In Korogocho informal settlements, Tdh implements early child development activities and child protection activities with a strong community-based approach aiming at decreasing violence against children and strengthening child protection mechanisms.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct proper recording, documentation for all the children and their caregiver seeking child protection services and information at the sectional level.
- Provision and Dissemination of appropriate child protection information to support decision making on voluntary repatriation and sustained protection for the children remaining in the camps.
- Provide trainings and monitoring to the Community’s-Own Resource Persons and help desk social workers on behavior change and General Child protection concerns.
- Supervises the Social Empowerment Assistants and Child Protection Volunteers.
- Review and develop child friendly and child focused protection messages on emerging concerns and threats (with an emphasis on concerns of undocumented children, children in the Voluntary repatriation process and special protection cases, specifically prevention of and support to survivors of harmful traditional practices and SGBV and inclusion of children with specific needs).
- On a monthly basis, conduct/ organize information forums (information clinics) involving other protection partners and service providers to strengthen the support to individual children.
- Conduct monthly radio shows to provide further information, and an opportunity to take questions and feedback regarding the information forums sessions for both Refugee and host communities.
- Conduct sports for protection activities for children from for both Refugee and host communities.
- Facilitate quarterly Area Advisory Council meetings in collaboration with Sub-County children’s Officer.
- Organize and facilitate separate adolescent boys and girls’ symposiums and peer to peer activities at the child friendly help desks.
- Enhancing Empowerment, Partnership and Advocacy for Child Safe Repatriation, to access services including CP in camps and host communities.
- Coordination with UNHCR, Department of refugee services (DRS) and other humanitarian actors to strengthen referral pathway.
- Supports the recruitment of CP volunteers.
- Reports incidents and difficulties encountered with any CP staff or community worker to Empowerment Senior Officer or CP project manager.
- Ensure that assigned activities are appropriately implemented and, when necessary, ideas on amendments deemed will be shared with the Empowerment Senior Officer.
- Sharing and provision of appropriate child protection information to support decision making on voluntary repatriation and sustained protection for the children remaining in the camp.
- Organize and facilitate separate adolescent boys’ and girls’ symposiums and peer to peer activities at the child friendly help desks.
- Supports in child led advocacy campaigns, mass awareness and special events throughout the project in close consultation with empowerment officer and Case work officer.
- Conduct refresher training and mentorship for children (Child Council members, peer to peer support network members and Children Ombudsman) to reinforce knowledge on Child Protection topics and provide information on any emerging issues and camp consolidation to strengthen child participation on issues affecting them.
- Life skills training for girl mother’s, adolescent boys and girls, foster parents and provision of start-up kits and nurturing kits for the girl mother’s babies (0-5). The aim of the training is to enhance the groups to start their own income generated activities as a source of livelihood support leading to their self-reliance.
- Reinforce the capacity of vulnerable foster parents, UASC and other vulnerable families through cash transfer program, and life-skills education.
- Participates in a base line, mid-term and end term survey and evaluation of the CP project.
Education, technical Knowledge and Experience
- Three years’ work experience in Child Protection, including in empowerment, prevention, community development, advocacy and networking.
- University degree in Community development, Social Work, Social sciences, Psychology, International studies and other relevant training qualification.
- Trainings in Behavior change communication, life skills, advocacy and empowerment are an added advantage.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Kiswahili.
- Proven ability in implementation of empowerment, prevention, community development, advocacy and networking initiatives.
- Experience in designing and delivering trainings.
- Good understanding of the rights –based approach, conflict sensitivity and DO NO HARM, and gender justice.
- Strong analytic skills, with ability to think innovatively and operate strategically.
- Flexibility, stamina and ability to work under pressure and beyond regular working hours if necessary.
- Personal qualities that ensure effective work with communities as well as self-management, including flexibility and respect for others
Skills
• Required qualities: proactive, autonomous, rigorous, organized, good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Competency in computer applications and packages with Good IT knowledge (Microsoft Office, Internet)
Languages:
Fluency in English and Kiswahili. Ability to communicate in Turkana language is a plus
Application modalities:
Interested candidates from the area of operation who meet the criteria above are encouraged to send their applications letter and detailed CVs to KEN.recruitment@tdh.ch Candidates are required to indicate the position title on the subject line of the email when applying. Kindly note only applications sent to this email address will be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Closing date for the application of this position is 26 January 2024.
Tdh’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protect children’s rights, which includes the prevention of all forms of child abuse.
Tdh is an equal opportunity employer