Technical Advisor for Child Protection

PQU has three central objectives that we work towards:

1. Guide program design to achieve outcomes by incorporating the best available evidence

2. Build technical capacity of country program staff to implement, measure and continuously improve programs

3. Influence the IRC, peer agencies and donors to use proven interventions and generate new evidence to achieve change in peoples’ lives

PQU is comprised of seven Technical Units, all of which have deep expertise in their respective sectors: Education, Economic Wellbeing, Gender Equality, Governance, Health, Violence Prevention and Response, and Research Evaluation and Learning (REL).

The Violence Prevention and Response Unit (VPRU) works to reduce people’s vulnerability to and support their recovery from violence, and promote transformative work for a future free from violence. The unit houses expertise in the fields of Child Protection, Protection and Rule of Law, and Women’s Protection and Empowerment to support women, children and other vulnerable groups through violence prevention programs that help stop violence before it happens and violence response programs that ensures lifesaving services for people affected by violence. VPRU has programs across 31 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.  Child protection areas of focus include case management for vulnerable children, parenting programs, psychosocial support services for children at risk and strengthening community based child protection responses.

Specific Responsibilities:

The Child Protection Technical Advisor (TA) will spend at least 80% of their time delivering technical assistance in-person and remotely to country program colleagues implementing child protection programs in countries (TBD). This is a primarily field facing position with the central responsibility focused on program quality. The remaining 0-20% of their time is spent on influence, advocacy, research and internal initiatives at the discretion of their supervisors. Technical Advisors’ specific responsibilities are as follows:

Guiding program design:

• Support country program staff to design programs and projects, ensuring that they are:
• Help define approach to teaming / partnering with other organizations

• Support selection of indicators for country programs

Engaging in business development:

• Review technical quality of proposals, including review of  technical activities and ensuring alignment to IRC’s outcomes
• Input into go / no go decisions on proposals

• When necessary, write technical narratives of proposals

• Provide input on budgets required for project delivery
• Engage with donors and do outreach in support of country programs

Building technical capacity of country program staff to ensure ongoing program quality and innovation: 

• Work with country program colleagues to help analyze data that inform periodic review and course correction as-needed

• Share cross-context learning with country program staff across the region

• Conduct technical training and ongoing technical coaching for country program staff, including on IRC outcomes, theories of change, evidence and indicators

• Review and share program-specific tools / resources / curricula and work with Technical Unit specialists to contextualize and adapt global and country-specific materials

• Support senior country program staff recruitment and onboarding

  Influence the IRC, peer agencies and donors to use proven interventions and generate new evidence:

• Present IRC research findings across contexts and relevant conferences

  Representation and Thought-leaderships:

• Lead on child protection M&E tool development and support the child protection sector in advancing thinking on M&E.

• Participate in VPRU initiatives as required in line with action plan, including VPRU task teams and other regional coordination meetings.

• Represent IRC in various working groups and task forces of the CP Alliance as well as other IA groups as required.

Work Experience: A minimum of 8 years in implementing and/or managing Child Protection programs is required, preferably also within a humanitarian, international development setting.   Experience in technical tools and materials development, monitoring and evaluation, and research in relation to education is highly desired.  Experience in strategy development and working across sectors or disciplines is highly desired.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: Demonstrated expertise in program design, monitoring and evaluation, with the ability to turn concepts and strategy into measurable action.  Strong verbal and written communication skills.  Demonstrated commitment to renewing and maintaining currency with best practices. 

Language Skills: Fluency in English required; proficiency in Arabic and/or German is desired/an advantage.

Working Environment: Up to 40% travel may be required.  This position will be based in New York.

#LI-GR1