Child Protection Specialist - Capacity Building Unit - Beirut

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity, and hope to millions uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Contextual Background:

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Inside Syria, 7.6 million people are internally displaced and 12.2 million need humanitarian assistance, with 4.8 million in hard-to-reach areas. There are 4 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes, and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syrian crisis. The IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, education, women’s protection and empowerment, NFI and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding, and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

The CP specialist will play a key role in the representation, coordination, and implementation of the IRC CP Coaching and capacity-building activities throughout Lebanon where needed. In close collaboration with the donor, sector focal points, and other CP actors, along will communicate with key stakeholders and partners regarding the vision, planning, and implementation of activities at the country and governorate levels.

She/he will lead the implementation of capacity-building initiatives for CP caseworkers, supervisors/managers of CP caseworkers, CP Actors, and non-CP Actors throughout Lebanon via sessions, workshops, and training as needed and as resources become available. This includes developing and facilitating monthly sessions for the actors and bi-monthly peer-to-peer sessions for supervisors/managers of CP caseworkers, as well as building the capacity of caseworkers and supervisors/managers to facilitate peer-to-peer sessions themselves. In addition, will be responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of the Program Program unit and reporting to the donor and other key stakeholders.

This position will directly supervise and mentor the CP capacity building and Coaching Officers.

Major Responsibilities:

Program:

• Continuous follow-up with, CP CM agencies, MoSA, mandated local organizations, on-CP actors CP Officers, and other CP team members and IRC departments through e-mails, phone calls, meetings, sharing updates, schedules, and reports to ensure proper implementation of the CP Coaching Program.
• Operationalize and implement the capacity-building programming for CP caseworkers and supervisors/managers of CP caseworkers according to the vision and strategy developed and outlined by the CP coordinator, incorporating adjustments as needed according to the expertise and the participants’ needs.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments to identify capacity gaps among partner organizations and individuals working in the child protection sector and programs.
• Analyze findings to develop targeted capacity-building plans aligned with organizational and programmatic objectives that meet the donor's requirement and are aligned with the CP SOPs.
• Strengthen relationships with UNHCR colleagues, CP Coordinators, and CP CM partners at the country and governorate levels to ensure the Coaching Program is meeting their CP CM capacity development needs.
• Provide oversight of and technical support for the OVs Coaching Project.
• Develop a quarterly newsletter for the capacity building and coaching activities to be shared with donors and partners.
• Support other Program activities as needed, as well as other CP CM capacity-building initiatives as needed both within IRC and externally for IRC partners.
• Coordinate closely with the program consultants when needed,
• Provide regular technical support for the Union for the Protection of Juveniles in Lebanon.
• Provide advanced workshops and training sessions for the CO actors including MoSA and other mandated local organizations per year.
• Develop and implement a strategic and systematic approach to capacity building, ensuring alignment with best practices and international standards in child protection.
• Collaborate with internal and external focal points to develop and amend training materials, resources, and tools that are relevant to child protection issues and the local context.

Management & Administration:

• Manage, supervise, and mentor CP capacity building Officers, inclusive of communicating clear expectations, work planning, delegating, and following up on weekly tasks, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and leading documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Support the logistical and coordination requirements of the Project with the Senior Support Officer (including raising PRs, liaising with field procurement, and regular contact with CP case management organizations).
• Maintain close coordination with the CP senior Support officer making sure targets and activities are in alignment with the budget.
• Support the capacity-building officers in all administrative processes and follow up to ensure that all relevant financial documentation is completed accurately as required by IRC Finance and Supply Chain departments.

Grant Monitoring & Reporting:

• Closely monitor the project activities for CP caseworkers and supervisors/managers to ensure objectives, programming, and targets are met according to IRC’s agreement with the donor and according to the needs of the CP CM partners.
• Ensure systematic reporting, including the completion of evaluations after each session by participants, submission, and sharing of session reports by the facilitator after each peer-to-peer session, completion of journal entries by participants at the end of each peer-to-peer session, and other reporting as needed. 
• Work with the CP Coordinator to incorporate the feedback gathered from the session reports and evaluations into the program design for continuous improvement of the peer-to-peer programming.
• Gather and review weekly reports submitted by the CP Officers and provide feedback as needed.
• Develop reports as needed and requested by the CP Co.
• Follow up with reporting on Activity Info and the monthly IRC Internal Beneficiary Count for the peer-to-peer sessions for caseworkers and supervisors/managers, and ensure reporting is done by the CP Capacity Building Senior Officer, inclusive of reviewing data for accuracy.
• Assist in and provide guidance on the development of M&E tools to be regularly updated and monitored.
• Regularly assess the impact of capacity-building efforts and activities to show the impact of the training and increase of knowledge.

Coordination & Representation:

• Attend CPiEWG meetings at the governorate level as needed to represent the CP Coaching Program and share updates on program activities, as well as to understand CP CM challenges and needs from the field to incorporate into the Coaching Program to ensure that the programming remains relevant.
• Organize at minimum bi-weekly meetings with the CP Officers to ensure proper implementation of the Coaching Program, including the OVs Coaching Project.
• Organize at minimum bi-annual meetings with UNHCR and CP CM agencies at the governorate level to ensure progress, challenges, and lessons learned on the peer-to-peer programming are shared and to receive feedback and recommendations.
• Support the IRC Internal CM meetings and team meetings as needed and advised by the CP coordinator.
• Maintain positive coordination and relationships with partners and other IRC programs.

Other:

• Ensure activities are done by IRC logistics policy and promptly to ensure the successful implementation of programs.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to CP Coordinator
  Position directly supervises: CP Officers
• Indirect Reporting:
• Other Internal and/or external contacts:
  • Internal: Case management department, IRC Programs involved
  • External:  Stakeholders (UNHCR/Child protection case management agencies)