Prevention Focal Point Consultant

Background

The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (The Alliance) is an inter-agency network of operational agencies, academic institutions, policymakers, donors, and practitioners. It supports the efforts of humanitarian actors to achieve high-quality and effective child protection interventions in humanitarian contexts. The Alliance achieves this primarily by facilitating inter-agency technical collaboration, including production of technical standards and tools on child protection in all humanitarian contexts.

The Alliance launched its prevention initiative in 2020 and subsequently formed an advisory group to guide this work. Prevention also features as a strategic priority in the Alliance’s 2021-2025 Strategy, “The Centrality of Children and their Protection within Humanitarian Action: A Clarion Call”. As part of the Prevention Initiative, Plan, on behalf of the Alliance and with funding from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), developed the Prevention Framework, launched on February 2nd, 2022. The Prevention Framework, informed by an extensive desk review and multiple rounds of consultations with CPHA practitioners, details eight principles for effective primary prevention programming and outlines key actions at each step of the program cycle to implement primary prevention approaches that prevent harm and foster child well-being across the levels of the socio-ecological model and through a comprehensive multi-sectoral approach.

To continue advancing this strategic priority, it is essential to test and gather evidence on the effectiveness of the Prevention Framework in humanitarian responses and to make revisions as needed. With funding from BHA, Plan will be leading a project to support field testing, dissemination, and capacity strengthening on the Prevention Framework.

Scope of the Work

Through this consultancy, the Alliance is moving to advance the cause of prevention as part of child protection interventions in humanitarian crises. The consultant, in close collaboration with the Alliance secretariat, is expected to:

• Support the maintenance of an inter-agency and multi-disciplinary advisory group to support the process and ensure inter-agency buy-in;
• Develop and ensure workplan activities are on track, including securing support from member agencies, leading on activities that are assigned to the consultant and following up as necessary etc. The work plan will include the following activities:
  • Organize and facilitate a series of four regional-level virtual trainings on the Prevention Framework using the Prevention Framework learning package developed by the L&D WG;
  • Organize and facilitate global-level Training of Trainers on the Prevention Framework learning package;
  • Identify Alliance members either already using or interested in using the Prevention Framework in their child protection programming and hold virtual clinics, one-on-one mentoring and coaching sessions, to support implementation and capacity strengthening;
  • Collaborate with the L&D WG to develop, monitor, and moderate a Prevention-focused sub-group on the Alliance Community of Practice;
  • Collect and compile testimonials from CPHA actors participating in the clinics, distilling lessons learned, challenges, and recommendations for the revision of the Prevention Framework;
  • Support revision of the Prevention Framework based on learnings from the virtual clinics, trainings, and the CoP, in collaboration with the BHA Project Manager;
  • Support webinars and learning events related to Prevention;
  • Work with the Advocacy WG to develop a Prevention Advocacy roadmap for the Alliance Advocacy Strategy and lead planning and execution of advocacy events on Prevention (in line with the Alliance Advocacy Strategy and Workplan).
• Provide support to Working Groups, Task Forces, and other initiatives within the Alliance to provide input related to the Alliance Strategic Priority on prevention;
• Engage with different Global Interagency Networks and Initiatives (such as CPAoR, the Global Partnership to end violence against children, etc.), as necessary;
• Support knowledge management for sharing of best practices on prevention and dissemination of materials as required;
• Support report writing, financial reporting and reporting on indicators, including compliance standards, etc.;

Position Summary

Plan USA, on behalf of the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic professional with a focus on primary preventative approaches to child protection.

Deliverables

Deliverables: As this is a long-term consultant position, deliverables are contingent on the Work Plan developed by the Prevention Focal Point and Technical Advisory- CPIE and endorsed by the Alliance Secretariat. The consultant should be prepared to be flexible and adapt to the needs of the work throughout the consultancy. Deliverables will be negotiated and agreed upon by all parties prior to invoicing periods. Among other deliverables, the consultant will be primarily responsible for the delivery of trainings on the Prevention Framework, holding virtual clinics, and supporting on advocacy efforts.

Key Working Relationships

Consultant Reports to: Technical Advisor – Child Protection in Emergencies (Plan International USA)

Indirect Reporting: Alliance Coordinators

External Contacts: Multiple (Alliance Working Groups and Task Forces leads, advisory groups, other Inter-agency network/initiatives as necessary, donors).

Requirements

Essential

• Advanced university degree (Masters or above) in relevant fields, including social work, public health, psychology, etc.;
• A minimum of 5-years’ experience in child protection in humanitarian settings;
• Understanding of the concepts of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention;
• Familiarity with the role of the Alliance in the Child Protection sector;
• Knowledge of the humanitarian-development nexus and its implication on child protection programming;
• Experience working in a member-based organization or network and/or in coordination roles;
• Excellent research, analytical and writing skills, with the ability to draft an evidence informed report/document;
• Fluent verbal and written English;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to successfully interact with a diverse group of people;
• Flexible work attitude, with the ability to follow direction and work independently across a virtual work environment;
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to independently track and follow-up on various tasks;
• Collaborative work style, with strong team-player attitude and ability to identify gaps and to take initiative to fill them;
• Previous experience working on projects that require a highly iterative and consultative process, with the capacity to incorporate multiple levels of feedback and perspectives in final products.

Desirable

• Field experience working in child protection in emergencies highly recommended;
• Working knowledge of French, Spanish, Arabic and/or Portuguese, with ability to conduct interviews in these languages highly desirable.