Child Protection Assistant at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to people affected by war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Child Protection Assistant

Requisition ID: req4534
Location: Gwoza, Borno
Sector: Child Protection
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: No

Scope of Work

• Adolescent girls and boys are gravely underserved in humanitarian emergencies, particularly during the acute phase of response.
• They are often inserted into programming designed for younger children or into adult programming, where their age-specific needs are not understood or met.
• The Adolescent Protection Assistants will act as focal points for adolescent girls within Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE and adolescent girls and boys within Child Protection programming in Borno State.

Summary Statement of Duties and Responsibilities

• The Adolescent Protection Assistant will work within Child Protection response team based in safe spaces providing case management and psychosocial support services.
• Under the supervision of experienced Child Protection Officers, the Adolescent Protection Assistants will deliver the IRC’s Supporting Adolescents and their Families in Emergencies (SAFE) resource pack content to adolescent boys and younger girls.
• The Assistants will also facilitate skills building sessions with female and male caregivers of adolescent girls and boys. The Assistants will be active participants in identifying, documenting and sharing learning from this approach which be systematically gathered to inform a global resource toolkit for SAFE.

Key Responsibilities
The Adolescent Protection Assistant will work within a Child Protection response team based in safe spaces providing case management and psychosocial support services. Within this broader response team the Adolescent Protection Assistant will be required to:

• Work as part of a Child Protection or team in a safe space to provide support to younger adolescent girls or boys as part of broader response services
• Participate in an initial SAFE approach training and engage in ongoing skills building using SAFE learning materials with supervisor
• With support from supervisors, mentor and coach the community volunteer responsible for co-facilitating sessions with adolescent girls or boys
• Lead community engagement activities to introduce SAFE activities to female and male community leaders and caregivers
• Conduct initial assessments to identify the risks and needs of adolescent girls and boys
• Work closely with other project staff to identify adolescent girls, adolescent boys, and female and male caregivers to participate in SAFE learning activities
• Act as lead facilitator to deliver sessions twice a week for adolescent girls or boys together with a community volunteer facilitator
• Facilitate sessions once a week for female or male caregivers
• Provide psychological first aid and support to adolescent girls or boys who disclose experiences of violence and support referral to access either child protection or WPE response services
• Facilitate feedback meetings with adolescent girls and boys, female and male community stakeholders and caregivers and share feedback with supervisor
• Complete weekly reports on project activities, including documenting feedback from participants of SAFE sessions and proactively sharing back lessons learned whilst facilitating the curricula
• Participate in debriefing sessions with supervisors and share reflections, lessons learned and recommendations to strengthen SAFE program approach

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Education, Economics, another human development related field or equivalent of experience preferred.
• At least two years’ experience working to support children, adolescent girl and boys, women  or parents and caregivers
• Experience with facilitation of group work with relevant populations
• A high level of motivation to assist adolescent girls and boys affected by humanitarian crisis
• A commitment to child protection and gender equality
• A learning attitude and willingness to increase skills and knowledge in the protection of adolescent girls and boys
• Experience as an active participate of social groups, with an understanding of group dynamics and processes.
• Capacity building, facilitation or training experience
• The ability to adapt and work under pressure and strong interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in English and local languages.
• Basic competency in computer skills.
  

Work Environment:

• Security level is red. The situation in Gwoza is currently calm.
• Travel and other requirements: Frequent travel and relocation can be a requirement for this position.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.