Child Protection Officer - Misrata

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 in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Job Overview/Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Manager, the Child Protection Officer will be responsible for the supervision and implementation of all child protection activities targeting children and care givers in the selected communities/locations within Misrata and Tawergha. He/she will provide direct line management to four Child Protection staff.

Major Responsibilities: The CP Officer will

·Conduct consultations with different community members (parents, teachers and children) in order to introduce child protection concepts and understand the context in which the IRC will work;

·Together with the Recreational Facilitator, develop and update a clear schedule of all activities for children in target locations and share it with the supervisor;

·Plan and ensure implementation of daily activities for children and their parents in the target locations.

·Ensure that children harmed or at risk of being harmed are identified and receive individual case management support by direct counseling to the families or by providing the CP caseworker with guidance on conducting case management, in accordance with the IRC standard tools and procedures;

·Supervise content and ongoing awareness raising campaigns, meetings and FGDs with children and their parents.

·Liaise with other IRC staff for referral of cases and to conduct joint activities (when relevant);

·Ensure regular communication with the Protection Manager for updates on achievements, challenges and any other relevant report as requested;

·Maintainopenandprofessionalrelationswithteammembers,promotingastrongteamspiritand providingoversightandguidanceto CP staff working.

·Develop monthly and weekly plans and any other reports according also to donors’ requirements;

·Directly supervise Child Protection staff: 1 recreational facilitator and 1 caseworker;

·Ensure that the identified spaces have all materials needed for activities with children, monitor all distributions and provide a list of needs to the Protection Manager/Supply Chain;

·Nurture and strengthen a good working relationship and environment with the local community;

·Provide support to the Protection Manager as per need.

·Any other task as assigned by the line manager

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Women Protection and Empowerment Manager

Position directly supervises: Child Protection Caseworkers and Recreational Facilitators

Indirect Reporting: Protection Coordinator

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: WPE Officer, Protection Information Management Officer, Senior Capacity Building Officer, Community Engagement and Outreach Officer

·Technical diploma or degree in social work, psychology, human rights, or related degree;

• Minimum two years experience working in the field of child protection or related field;
• Previous experience in working with children with special needs or psychological distress;

·Good understanding of child protection in emergencies;

• Confident communicator, excellent negotiations skills;
• Very well organized and with good reporting skills;
• Able to work under pressure;
• Works well in teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well
• Good Computer skills: MS Word and Excel
• Fluency in Arabic required
• Previous experience in NGOs desirable

Working Environment:

The Child Protection Officer will be based in Misrata with frequent travels to Tawergha. He/she will oversee CP activities both in Misrata and Tawergha. 

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The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.