Since 1979, Afghanistan has experienced continuous armed conflict. The IRC began work in Afghanistan in 1988, launching relief programs for persons displaced by the invasion of the Soviet Union. The IRC continued to provide aid under Taliban rule and expanded community development projects. The organization now works with thousands of villages across nine provinces, with Afghans making up more than 99% of IRC staff in the country. As Afghanistan works to recover from ongoing conflict and natural disasters, the IRC supports by: working with local communities to identify, plan and manage their own development projects; provide safe learning spaces in rural areas; provide uprooted families with tents, clean water, sanitation and other basic necessities; and helps community members access employment. Integrated Protection in Afghanistan covers Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL), Child Protection and Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) with a strong focus on ensuring gender equality in both programming and organizational practice.
Job Overview/Summary: The Deputy Child Protection Coordinator will lead the implementation, budget and technical quality of child protection programming across Afghanistan. He/she is responsible for ensuring timely implementation, tracking of targets, quality assurance at the field level and technical assistance to child protection staff in provincial offices. The Deputy Child Protection Coordinator will be the country focal point for all child protection related programming and work in Afghanistan including sector working groups, child protection trainings, grant management and staff management within the child protection team. Child Protection programming includes Safe Healing and Learning Spaces (SHLS), Families Make the Difference (FMD), Safer Adolescents and Families in Emergencies (SAFE), child protection case management, community based child protection, and psychosocial support. The Deputy Child Protection Coordinator is responsible for managing two Child Protection managers, and ensuring quality timely implementation across all current and future programming areas.
Major Responsibilities:
Staff Management and Development
•Recruit and lead CP program staff, encouraging a positive and committed team spirit, which fosters participation and innovation from all staff.
•Build capacity of CP Managers to strengthen quality of national leadership in CP team, and ensure strong technical oversight from two CP managers for field teams.
•Provide direct supervision to two child protection managers, across six provinces, with potential to expand.
•Coach, train, and mentor staff with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing professional development guidance
•Implement capacity building plans for individual staff and teams, including delivery of trainings and on the job coaching and mentoring with a focus on parenting, SEL implementation in SEL and case management.
Program Implementation and MEAL
•Monitor the timely implementation, financial management and quality reporting of the child protection programming, in compliance with donor requirements.
•Provide technical guidance and project implementation guidance for Child Protection programs
•Promptly identify and recommend solutions to technical, programmatic, spending and procurement issues in child protection programming
•Ensure that all interventions are in compliance with the IRC’s program strategy, national policies, and CP Minimum Standards
•Work closely with operations and grants to coordinate to ensure quality, timely, implementation and development of programs, including providing oversight over the budget versus actual, indicator tracking tools, and other grant management tools used by the IRC; participation in monthly grant review meetings; and regular monitoring of internal program purchase request tools
•Undertake regular field monitoring visits to assess progress and identify technical quality issues and/or other implementation issues, provide solutions and implement modifications as required
•Provide input into program design and needs analysis for new Child Protection programming
•Assist in writing and reviewing Child Protection proposals in coordination with Integrated Protection Coordinator
Program Quality Assurance
•Ensure that all child protection activities are consistent with established international and national best practices, in close collaboration with the Integrated Protection Coordinator and HQ Child Protection TA
•Monitor evolving needs in the target communities and adjust the programmatic priorities as necessary
•Lead all research and learning activities in relation to child protection
•Ensure regular performance monitoring of staff and/or partners to achieve the project’s objectives
Grant Monitoring and Reporting
•Ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems are developed (including indicator tracking sheets) and implemented in all Child Protection programs in collaboration with the M&E team and Integrated Protection Coordinator; and that activity, output and outcomes data are captured in an accurate and efficient manner, and that programs are continually tailored to optimize quality
•Contribute to IRC and donor reports as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly and annually) on grant activities, indicators and achievements, and as requested by the Integrated Protection Coordinator
Communication, Coordination, Representation and Advocacy
•Co-chair the Child Protection Case Management Working Group with UNICEF at national level
•Ensure that all CP program data, including clients’ data, is shared in strict accordance with the existing Information Sharing Protocol and international ethical standards and information sharing principles
•Act as the focal point and strengthen and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant stakeholders including community members, NGOs, government authorities, donors and UN agencies on child protection.
Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor to improve IRC programs for children and families
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Integrated Protection Coordinator
Position directly supervises: 2 x Child Protection Managers
