Child and Youth Protection and Development Coordinator

Côte d’Ivoire’s civil conflict between 2003 and 2011 was characterized by periods of intense violence followed by relative calm. Initially brought about by the collapse of prices in the vital cocoa industry, the conflict was fueled by issues of national identity, ethnic allegiance, and land ownership. This resulted in the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of people (IDPs), profound social disintegration, and the decay of basic community infrastructure such as health centers, water points, and schools.

IRC had a brief presence in south-west Côte d'Ivoire in the late 1990s to respond to the needs of Liberian refugees. It then re-opened its office in Abidjan in 2003 to respond to the humanitarian needs of IDPs brought about by the civil conflict, as well as to address a new wave of Liberian refugees. Currently, IRC conducts programming in the field sites of Man, Korhogo and Yamoussoukro, as well as in its Abidjan HQ office in the following Sectors: Gender Based Violence, Health, Child & Youth Protection & Development (CYPD), Economic Recovery and Development, reaching approximately 2 million beneficiaries.

The goal of IRC Côte d’Ivoire is to consolidate its post conflict development program through increased partnerships and advocacy aiming to achieve quality, impact and sustainability.

SCOPE OF WORK

As a senior member of the program country team, the CYPD Coordinator will have overall responsibility of implementing IRC’s CYPD strategy for Côte d’Ivoire. This strategy outlines main areas of current program focus (early childhood development, child and youth protection, child labor, vocational education, access to primary education, social and economic reintegration of children and youth affected by the conflict) as well as areas in which we would like to grow (improving quality of and access to primary education/training).

This position is based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and reports to the Deputy Director, Programs and will require frequent travel to field offices.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The CYPD Coordinator is responsible for the overarching coordination of CYPD programs in Côte d’Ivoire in line with the IRC Country Strategic Action Plan within IRC international priorities, frameworks and policies; S/he is also responsible for the general management of the CYPD team in country.

• In line with the Country Strategic Action Plan: i) actively engage in communication and advocacy with relevant stakeholders to ensure their contribution to the strategic plan; and ii) seek and develop solicited/unsolicited proposals that are either sector specific or multi sectorial.

• Lead and oversee planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of CYPD program activities.

• Participate in the implementation and review of Governmental plans, particularly the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, Ministry of Women, Family and Children, Ministry of Solidarity, Social Cohesion and fight against Poverty, UN agencies and NGOs active in education and child/youth protection and development issues.

• Provide analytical overviews of education/child and youth protection/vocational skills progress, highlighting achievements via indicators, strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, challenges/constraints, lessons learned and ways forward.

• Provide technical support to CYPD staff, including staff daily mentoring in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation strategies.

• Develop and implement a staff capacity building strategy that prioritizes and enables managers through training and delegation.

• Ensure that Human Resources issues are dealt with effectively and efficiently, providing or securing necessary support for program staff, as well as developing and implementing a staff capacity building strategy that prioritizes and enables managers through training and delegation.

• Communicate regularly with the other Technical Coordinators, Field Coordinators, field staff, heads of support departments (Finance, HR, Supply Chain, IT) and the relevant HQ Technical Unit to provide updates on the program, discuss emerging challenges, and collaborate on the design of new programs or changes to existing programs.

• Monitor evolving needs of the target children, youth and communities and adjust the programmatic priorities as necessary.

• Work closely with other sectors to integrate programming, share learning, and maximize impact of activities.

• Lead any new CYPD proposal elaboration and contribute to search for new funding opportunities.

• Collaborate with Grants department to ensure that programs are implemented according to donor guidelines and reporting requirements are met (quality, timely submission).

• Provide reports of different programs and other activities linked to evaluation, learning and research in collaboration with the Research Evaluation and Learning Technical Unit in HQ; this will include lessons learned for internal use by IRC technical and program staff.

Qualifications

• At least a Master’s Degree in Education or a relevant field (extensive experience could be presented in lieu).

• At least 5 years’ experience in the design and implementation of child and youth protection, early childhood development, and formal and professional education projects.

• Experience working with local administrative authorities in the education sector.

• Proven problem solving and results oriented.

• Flexible work attitude: the ability to work productively in a team environment & independently.

• Able to respond rapidly to changing environments, yet remain productive and focused.

• Work experience in Africa and/or experience working in a multi-cultural setting is a plus.

• Managerial experience to lead an experienced team.

• Must speak/write fluent French and professionally proficient in English.

  Reports to: Deputy Director, Programs

  Position: Full-time

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