Child Protection Sub Cluster Coordinator

ROLE PURPOSE:
The cluster approach ensures clear leadership, predictability and accountability in international responses to humanitarian emergencies by clarifying the division of labour among organisations and better defining their roles and responsibilities within the different sectors of the response. It aims to make the international humanitarian community better organised, and more accountable and professional, so that it can better respond to the needs of affected populations, host governments, local authorities, civil society and resourcing partners.
Save the Children and UNICEF have been designated as leads for the Child Protection Area of responsibility CPAoR (CP Sub Cluster) and work impartially to serve the needs of all members. Based on the IASC Reference module for Cluster coordination at the country level, these functions are related to the strengthening of the coordination mechanism for service deliver; information for strategic decision; planning and strategy development; advocacy; monitoring and reporting; contingency planning/preparedness and accountability to affected populations.

On behalf of Save the Children, and in support of the government and all humanitarian actors, the purpose of this post is to provide leadership and facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective response by participants in the CPAoR. The CPAoR Coordinator is responsible for providing leadership and guidance to the CPAoR (Child Protection Sub-Cluster members) and the Child Protection Working Groups to enable child protection partners to respond more timely and effectively to the protection needs of the Iraqi and refugee children (Including Syrians) affected by the protracted crisis and conflict in Syria.

SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Director of Programme Development and Quality
Staff reporting to this post: None
Budget Responsibilities: None
Role Dimensions: (e.g. complexity, relationships, communication with stakeholders)

Dimensions:
Part of the Protection Cluster, the UN activated the Child Protection Sub-Cluster (CP AoR) in Iraq in September 2014, not long after the L3 declaration. With that activation, UNICEF assumed its role as Child Protection AoR Lead for Iraq. Save the Children assumed its role as Child Protection AoR co-Lead. More than 1.5 million children are in need of protection in Iraq. Access to basic services remains a key challenge for many children. In addition to barriers imposed by missing civil documentation for more than 460,000 children and scarce income generation opportunities in areas of return, COVID-19 containment measures have impacted families’ livelihoods. This has exposed children to increased risks of labour and child marriage ,different forms of violence against children ,child marriage, sexual assault and exploitation, children with disabilities ,use of children by armed groups remains a concern in areas where such groups operate. Stigmatization and discrimination also affect children, especially those formerly associated with armed groups or whose families have a perceived affiliation with extremists. Children released from detention face challenges to cope and integrate into their communities, for legal, social and material reasons As a result, psychosocial trauma, stress and anxiety are second among reported protection issues for children.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

The Child Protection Sub Cluster Coordinator will:

 Demonstrate behaviours consistent with Save the Children’s Mission, Vision and Values and ensure their broader application by staff across the programme, mindful of her/his position as a senior member of the South Sudan Country Programme.
 Work within the framework of the Protection Cluster, and in partnership with relevant UN, government and non-government organisations to coordinate the mapping and prioritisation of emergency child protection concerns, including facilitating needs assessments and contingency planning.
 Support capacity strengthening of CPAoR (CP) Sub-cluster members and state/sub-national sub cluster focal points, ensuring clear and effective lines of communication among partners and sub clusters.
 Disseminate, advocate and explicate relevant policy guidelines, international standards and national frameworks to members of the Sub Cluster and other Clusters as relevant in order to support quality programming and adherence to minimum standards.
 Collaborate with the Protection Cluster leads and OCHA to ensure that key child protection concerns are reflected in all documents and humanitarian initiatives, including response plans and related budgets.
 Advocate for donors to fund humanitarian actors to carry out priority child protection activities, and support CPSC members to mobilise resources to support the same.
 Undertake and/or facilitate technical reviews of projects submitted to the Sub Cluster for funding and contribute to reporting on the implementation of these projects.
 Coordinate and collaborate with other Clusters such as the Gender-based Violence (GBV) Sub-cluster to ensure that CP and GBV actors work together to meet the comprehensive GBV-related needs of children and the Education Cluster to ensure that CP and emergency education actors work together to meet the psychosocial needs of children affected by emergencies
 Establish and sustain systems for information management and sharing, in accordance with need and appropriate information sharing protocols.
 Coordinate the Child Protection Working Groups for the Mixed IDPs/ Refugee Response to ensure needs are met, gaps are filled and duplication avoided
 Lead inter-agency child protection assessments and maintain a child protection secondary desk review to ensure child protection response are evidence-based
 In collaboration with child protection actors and the Protection Cluster support the development of realistic, evidence based child protection strategies, including those related to the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and the Refugees Response & Resilience Plans (3RP)
 Work closely with the Child Protection Information Management Officers to ensure information systems and products effectively support coordination.
 Together with CP partners identify gaps in child protection capacities and, based on findings, develop and roll out inter-agency CPiE capacity building activities to address them;
 With Child Protection actors, identify benchmarks for the inter-agency child protection response plans, including those related to the HRP and the 3RP and facilitate the development of a monitoring system for the child protection;
 Represent the Child Protection partners within the Protection Cluster, OCHA led inter-cluster coordination mechanisms, UNHCR Inter-Sectors working group and, when possible, within the IASC/UN Country team.
 Establish results-oriented, two-way communication channels between the national and governorate levels in Federal Iraq and KRI and conducte regular field visits to strengthen governorate-level child protection coordination and promote a standardised child protection response;
 Collaborate with Government Authorities and other key stakeholders to strengthen national child protection systems and Transit to nexus maintaining the 4 pillars Transparency , Accountability Monitoring and Evaluation
 Support the establishment and roll-out of child protection standards (i.e. case management, referrals, SOPs, etc.) and work with the Protection Cluster and other sectors to integrate the child protection;
 Carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects Save the Children’s commitment to safeguarding children, in accordance with our Code of Conduct and Child Safeguarding Policy.
 Comply with and promote Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

The Child Protection Sub Cluster Coordinator will work in close coordination with the UNICEF coordinator, the Global Protection Working Group and the Child Protection Strategic Advisory Group to facilitate exchange of information and effective assessment of need.

The Coordinator will work impartially, under the supervision of Save the Children’s Director of Program Development and Advocacy.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:
* Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
* Holds the team and partners accountable for delivering on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:
* Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.
* Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
* Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:
* Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters.
* Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.
* Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:
* Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
* Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:
Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates the highest levels of integrity.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
 A child protection professional with a Master’s degree in child protection, law, social work or other relevant field
 Extensive professional experience of at least 5 years, including experience working at a senior management or technical level in child protection in humanitarian contexts for international NGOs
 Excellent understanding of the child protection sector, particularly issues related to child protection in emergencies, family separation, and mental health and psychosocial support
 Clear understanding of the intersection of child protection with other thematic areas
 Proven facilitation and representation skills
 Strong commitment to the engagement and capacity building of South Sudanese protection partners
 Previous experience in emergency response coordination is essential (e.g. clusters and/or sectors).
 Previous experience in Advocacy and in the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanisms (MRM) an asset.
 Participatory and consultative approach to leadership
 Experience with child protection programming in humanitarian settings absolutely required.
 Experience writing/reviewing funding proposals for large institutional grants
 Strong analytical skills and ability to identify key points within large bodies of information
 Excellent writing skills , including the ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner
 Highly developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels, taking into account cultural and language difficulties
 Highly developed oral and written communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
 Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
 Strong results orientation
 Experience solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in
 Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours
 Fluency in English and Arabic, both verbal and written, required; Kurdish is a strong asset.
 Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce the Child Safeguarding policy.

The Organisation
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
* No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
* All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
* Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.