Child and Youth Protection and Development Coordinator

Closing date: 10 Feb 2018

Job Title: Child and Youth Protection and Development Coordinator

Sector: Youth Services

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Location: DRC-Goma

Job Description BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee, one of the world's largest humanitarian agencies, provides relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of natural disaster, oppression and violent conflict in 42 countries. The IRC is committed to bold leadership, innovation and creative partnerships. Active in public health, education, livelihoods, women's empowerment, youth development, and protection and promotion of rights, IRC assists people from harm to home.

With National Office in Kinshasa and field offices in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut Katanga and Tanganyika, the IRC is one of the largest humanitarian actors in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The IRC aims to save lives, to strengthen Congolese institutions and to reinforce social cohesion through carefully designed and professionally-implemented programs. The IRC has been working in the DRC since 1996 and currently operates in five core programming areas - primary health care, community-driven reconstruction and local governance, women's empowerment and the prevention and mitigation of gender-based violence, education, and emergency preparedness and response. These programs reflect IRC's guiding principles of capacity-building; participation; partnership; protection and promotion of human rights; and holistic programming.

SCOPE OF WORK: With direct management support from the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP based in Goma), the Child and Youth Protection and Development (CYPD) Coordinator is the senior most technical and program expert on Education and Child Protection programming within the country program. She/he supervises Education Coordinator/s and the Child Protection Team and provides leadership, guidance, coordination and technical support to IRC's Education and Child Protection programs in the DRC. She/he will be responsible for the overall quality design and implementation of Education and Child Protection programming and will work extensively with other sectors to ensure that protection principles are mainstreamed into all programs. S/he will be required to work in collaboration with other technical coordinators, the Grants unit, field-based teams to ensure that program activities are implemented according to approved work plans, aligned with the DRC country program strategic action plan, and in accordance with donor requirements. S/he will lead proposal development, strategic direction and vision to IRC's Education and Protection programming in DRC; ensure that the objectives of the programs are met in a timely manner and are being monitored and evaluated effectively; ensure that staff receive appropriate mentorship and professional development and that a positive team spirit is fostered encouraging innovative and quality programming.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Reporting to the Deputy Director for Programs (DDP), the CYPD Coordinator oversees current Education and Child Protection programs and any other Education/Child Protection Programs that may come. In addition to that, the role of CYPD Coordinator is to ensure that all Education and Child Protection programs are of high technical quality, attract donor funding and make a significant contribution to the strategic goals of the child. She/he provides strategic and technical leadership in Education and Child Protection, contributes to the IRC's Education and Child Protection programs in DRC and the monitoring and evaluation of educational & child protection activities contributing to the theory of change. He / she also contributes to the mobilization of resources, donor reports and relations with donors, local partners or competent bodies (Ministry of Education) on all matters related to education and child protection in collaboration with Deputy Director for Programs (DDP).

SPECIFIC RESPONSABILITIES:

  • Lead the implementation of the IRC DRC Strategic Action Plan for the outcomes areas under his/her responsibility.
  • Contribute to the improvement of program quality and delivery through the establishment of strategic partnerships with other agencies.
  • Oversee and coordinate the Education & Child Protection programs/projects, providing guidance, leadership, and direct supervision in all aspects of service provision.
  • Supervise Education Coordinator/s and the Child Protection team (as a Child Protection Coordinator) by applying the IRC's performance management tools and by providing technical and non-technical management support / advice on the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects, as well as on the management of their teams.
  • Provide oversight, guidance and management to the Education and Child Protection team and other grants that could come through funding.
  • Monitor Education and Child Protection programs/projects to ensure compliance with all program standards and grant requirements; Develop and maintain effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control and reporting systems and processes.
  • Utilize M&E data to adjust project activities as needed and inform future programming.
  • Coordinate preparation of all Education and Child Protection program reports (quantitative and narrative) required by donors; Ensure IRC project and donor reports are completed to a high standard as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly and annually) on grant activities, indicators and achievements.
  • Develops and maintains effective coordination and long-term relationships with external stakeholders, representing IRC positions, promoting long-term strategy and resolving problems/conflicts.
  • Ensure regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project's objectives and provide technical support and guidance in this regard.
  • Work closely and coordinate with IRC supply chain, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and compliant program activities and expenditures; including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings.
  • Identify new grant and funding opportunities and take lead responsibility for grant-writing and resource development opportunities for the education and child protection programs.
  • Ensure that new grant and funding opportunities are in line with the IRC DRC Strategy Action Plan (SAP).
  • Oversee the recruitment, training and supervision of staff.
  • Collaborate actively with other actors involved in Education and Child Protection interventions.
  • Work closely with the DDP and Program Coordinators to ensure successful start-up, implementation, monitoring and closeout of programs as found necessary.
  • Participate actively in the country program Leadership Team meetings.
  • All other duties as assigned.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: Position Reports to: Deputy Director of Programs. Other Internal and/or external contacts: Internal: Program Coordinators and Managers throughout the country program, Regional Measurement and Action Coordinator, relevant Regional/HQ-based colleagues. External: Partners.

Professional Standards IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Master degree strongly preferred in Education, Protection, Social Work.
  • Minimum of five (5) years' program management experience in humanitarian settings in Education and/or Child Protection.
  • Experience working in partnership with local government institutions, strengthening local education child protection systems.
  • Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.
  • Strong report writing skills with experience in developing proposals to various donors.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: the ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically on all levels.
  • Outstanding organizational, leadership and team-building skills as well as the ability to promote staff productivity and efficiency.
  • Strong people management skills: the ability to effectively lead and supervise staff.
  • Fluency in English and in French.
  • Solid organizational skills: the ability to be flexible and work well under pressure in a fast-paced and detail-oriented team environment;
  • Experience working in difficult locations; ability to be resourceful and flexible in a limited resource environment.
  • Good computer skills: excellent knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and email/internet software.
  • Demonstrated ability to work successfully in a multi-cultural environment

Housing The CYPD Coordinator is an unaccompanied position and will be based in Goma, North Kivu, DRC. Accommodation is in shared-housing.

Deployment Security Protocols The town of Goma is in security phase 3 (Orange) so the Child and Youth Protection and Development Coordinator will be expected to respect the various security protocols in place in the country. Phase 3 requires clear contingency planning in place with staff prepared should hibernation or evacuation be called. This position is unaccompanied.

How to apply:

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