Children Associated with Armed Forces & Armed Group (CAAFAG) Coordinator

Syria

Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
Location: Syria
Grade: Mid level - Mid level
Occupational Groups:
- Mine Action and Weapon Contamination
- Children's rights (health and protection)
- Managerial positions
Closing Date: Closed

Working in coordination with the humanitarian community, IRC currently addresses the needs of war-affected Syrians from several operational bases in the region. Our activities focus primarily on the supply of vital medications and primary health care, food, non-food items and livelihoods, women, child and general protection services and form part of an over-arching humanitarian response in the region that seeks to assist refugees, IDPs and local Syrians survive conflict and displacement.

Within the Protection Sector, as per the Humanitarian Needs Overview 2020, it has been assessed that 13.6 million people are in need of assistance across the country. Despite the efforts among a large number of International and Syrian NGOs and UN Agencies that have been providing assistance inside Syria, needs continue to increase, and coordination structures remain fragile as a result of continuous political sensitivity in Syria. As a result, the humanitarian community has embarked since 2014 on a Whole of Syria Approach in order to improve the overall humanitarian response based on a more integrated and connected coordination structure between the various “hubs” from which relief aid is being provided– either from Syria or cross-border operations from Turkey, and Iraq.

On 29 June 2019 the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) signed an Action Plan with the United Nations (UN) to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children under the age of 18. According to global practice, the UN will, together with the humanitarian community, support the Action Plan implementation. Since its signature, progress has been made in terms of coordination, partnership, fundraising and awareness raising.

The scope of work

The Inter-Agency CAAFAG Coordinator will report to the Field Director (FD) with a technical supervision from Whole Syria (WoS) Protection Sector Co-coordinator. The position holder is expected to provide coordination support and technical leaderships for the matters related to Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Group (CAAFAG) as well as perceived association, in collaboration with UNICEF Amman and CP AOR Coordinator. This position supervises the senior National Prevention & Response to Child Recruitment Officer.

Responsibilities

1. Technical Quality and Implementation

•By co-leading CAFAAG TF, ensure effective coordination among humanitarian agencies engaged in activities related to the prevention and response to child recruitment in North East Syria.

•Review and update an interagency coordination strategy and workplan on the prevention and response to child recruitment in North East Syria. Act as a liaison between humanitarian actors in NES and the UN to ensure successful collaboration.

•Roll out interagency tools and products aligned to global minimum standards aimed at prevention and response to child recruitment (e.g. assessment, SOPs, guidance notes);

•Support designing and implementation by NES humanitarian actors of programme interventions in support of implementation of the action plan, including CP, GBV/gender, education, livelihoods, and adolescents/empowerment, towards community-based reintegration and alternatives for disengaged children.

•Provide child protection technical support to stakeholders in relation to a) development and dissemination of a military order/political directive and training materials, age assessment SOPs and screening mechanisms, b) demobilization and interim care arrangements including community-based reintegration programmes, c) safe and accessible complaints mechanism, and d) prevention activities.

•Support training and capacity building support to staff of NES humanitarian actors on the contents of the action plan and related child protection interventions and skills, as well as awareness raising sessions with stakeholders and other relevant focal points on the action plan contents and child protection approaches.

2. Management and Reporting

•Manage the partnership with UNICEF and assist with providing inputs to internal and donor reports, as well as quarterly reporting to the Syria MRM leadership and the Office of the SRSG-CAAC on progress made, implementation issues and remaining challenges.

•Assist with the preparation of fundraising proposals and donor reporting, as well as support the overall management of child protection and other sector partnerships;

3. Staff Management and Capacity Building

•Develop training and capacity building plans to Sr. National Prevention & Response to Child Recruitment Officer.

•Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.

•As part of a succession plan, identify, train, and develop capability and capacity of a national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by end of assignment.

•Provide constructive feedback and counsel on appropriate career paths and professional development.

•Promote and monitor staff care and well-being; approve and manage all leave requests to ensure adequate coverage.

4. Coordination

•Coordinate and monitor programme interventions in support of the implementation of the action plan and ensure linkages with the Protection sector and other relevant sectors (e.g. Education, Cash, Livelihood, MHPSS) and programmes;

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Field Director, IRC North East Syria

Position directly supervises: Sr. National Prevention & Response to Child Recruitment Officer and a translator

Indirect (technical) Reporting: WoS Protection Cluster Co-coordinator

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

•Internal: Grant Management team, finance team and supply chain management team

•External: CP AOR Coordinator, UNICEF Amman, CAFAAG TF members, stakeholders of Action Plan

Qualifications

•Master’s Degree in Human Rights, IHL or related discipline

•5 years of program management experience in the humanitarian sector, preferably working refugees or internally displaced populations; at least 2 of which must be in the field of child protection/protection preferably in complex emergencies.

•Experience in coordination or cluster coordination

•In-depth understanding of CAFAAG response, related international standards, and guidelines.

•Proven leadership, program and staff management skills and capacity building

•Demonstrated capacity and experience in developing assessment tools (e.g. questionnaires, focus group discussions) and in conducting field-level data collection

•Strong analytical skills and ability to distill data into important, relevant insights and learnings to improve program quality and inform future programming priorities

•Experience managing projects and budget management skills

•Strong writing skills and experience in writing donor reports and proposals

•Fluency in spoken/written English required; Arabic would be an advantage

•Advanced knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and email/internet software.

Personal attributes

•Ability to use good judgment when making decisions and to take accountability for decisions made.

•Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to work effectively with others within a multicultural team context;

•Ability to handle multiple tasks, proven self-initiative and problem-solving skills.

•Commitment to women’s empowerment.

•Ability to work and live in a sometimes stressful and insecure environment while maintaining a positive attitude.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

•A commitment to IRC’s mission and vision

•Leadership experience managing Finance and accounting function for large budget programs in the INGO sector is strongly desired.

•Ability to function independently in a loosely structured but complex work environment, working and prioritizing multiple tasks.

•Able to communicate effectively (written and verbal) to staff at all levels.

•Strong management, interpersonal and negotiation skills and a demonstrated ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.

•Proven ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional grace.

•Analytical ability in creating effective finance solutions while adhering to local laws and donor compliance.

Working Environment: The position will be based in Northeast Syria with travel to field offices within Syria. Accommodation will be in shared housing, which includes basic amenities including internet and electricity.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. 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.

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