Child Protection Coordinators at International Rescue Committee

From emergency response through post-conflict development work, in a great variety of roles around the world, the International Rescue Committee’s 8,000-plus staff is a force for humanity and hope. If you’re skilled and passionate, we’d like to add your energy to ours.

Careers at the IRC are as wide-ranging and far-reaching as our work. Encouraging staff development through promotion, transfer and rehire, the IRC nurtures long-term career paths and helps employees grow within the organization.

At any given moment, on any given day, all around the world, IRC staff members are restlessly and effectively working for the sake of the most vulnerable among us—to restore and renew hope, dignity and freedom.

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

• The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world's leading crisis response agencies, providing life-saving assistance and supporting recovery and reconstruction for people affected by war and natural disasters.
• Active in public health, education, livelihoods, women's empowerment, youth development, and protection and promotion of rights, IRC assists people from harm to home.
• IRC entered Nigeria in October 2012 in response to a widespread flood disaster.
• IRC intervened with emergency nutrition and food security program in Kogi state from, February 2013 to January 2014.
• In January 2014 IRC established a field office in Adamawa State in North East Nigeria (one of the three states under state of emergency).
• The project is providing humanitarian assistance to the Boko Haram insurgency affected communities.
• A June 2014 report from the UN estimates that 5.9 million people have been affected by the insurgency and more than 600.000 people displaced.
• In recent weeks, there has been a considerable upsurge in violence perpetrated by Boko Haram creating an influx of IDPs in Adamawa.
• In response, the IRC is undertaking child protection activities in three local government areas (LGAs) of central Adamawa state including the state capital of Yola.
• Due to an increase in violence from the insurgency, hundreds of thousands of people have been recently been displaced as far south as Yola where IRC is now focusing its emergency response.
• Child protection will be a central focus and UAM will be identified and registered in the camps and communities hosting IDPs.
• IRC will train and work with local partners to support them in providing Family Reunification and Tracing (FRT) to these children.
• Local partners will also be supported to provide child friendly spaces and essential services for these children.

• The Child Protection Coordinator will be responsible for providing strategic direction and vision to the IRC’s Protection programming in Nigeria.
• The Child Protection Coordinator will be responsible for the overall quality design and implementation of child protection programming and will work extensively with other sectors to ensure that protection principles are mainstreamed into all programs.
• The Child Protection Coordinator will report to the field coordinator.

• Establishment of IRC child protection activities in Nigeria in line with the overall strategy.
• Ensuring quality implementation of all child protection programming elements.
• Effective establishment of IRC as a key player in the protection sector.

• Lead the overall design and implementation of child protection programming, providing technical leadership and management in accordance with best practice and IRC policy;
• Lead or contribute to the development of a child protection sector strategy in consultation with the technical Unit Staff and Senior Management;
• Oversee the collection and analysis of information relating to child protection problems in Adamawa, including monitoring the child protection issues/other human rights violations to inform protection responses and programme interventions;
• Use child protection information to propose new areas of work for the IRC, and support in proposal development;
• Ensure that child protection is mainstreamed into all IRC projects and the projects of any potential local partners by contributing to program design, monitoring and evaluation;
• Monitor child protection aspects of other sectors and advise in establishing cross-cutting strategies and integrated programmes;
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and provide quality oversight and mentoring to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions;
• Support the development and delivery of technical trainings for IRC child protection and partner staff to ensure a high quality standard of implementation;
• Hold overall responsibility for child protection staff management including: development of job descriptions, workplans, performance management plans, vacation schedules, and staff professional development activities.
• Ensure that project activities are implemented within the assigned budget parameters;
• Manage all financial aspects of the child protection programs (budget forecasting, development of spending plans and budget follow-up), approve relevant expenses and review expenditures, in consultation with the Finance Team.

• Develop and maintain effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control and reporting systems and processes;
• Design and adhere to M&E plan and ensure regular field monitoring;
• Utilise M&E data to adjust project activities as needed and inform future programming;
• 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.
• Ensure regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives and provide technical support and guidance in this regard.

• Develops and maintains effective coordination and long-term relationships with external stakeholders, representing IRC positions, promoting long-term strategy and resolving problems/conflicts
• 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
• Coordinate with Women’s Protection and Empowerment Coordinator to strengthen the holistic nature of IRC’s protection programs and liaises with the other sectors to ensure that protection principles are included in the overall IRC response
• Effectively represents IRC at child and more general protection coordination forums

• Relevant Qualification in Social Work, International Human Rights, or other related field
• Minimum of 3 years professional experience in managing protection projects
• Prior experience working in with INGO or emergency settings
• 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.
• Must be capable of applying their skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others.
• Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.