Senior Technical Officer - Child Protection & Psychosocial Support at Family Health International (FHI 360) - 4 Openings

Family Health International (FHI 360) is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth, research and technology - creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries and all U.S. states and territories.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Technical Officer - Child Protection & Psychosocial Support

Job Requisition ID: 2022202369
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Job type: Full time
Supervisor: Protection Coordinator

Project Description

• Northeast Nigeria is currently facing a growing humanitarian crisis with a vast number of Internally Displaced Persons in need of emergency assistance. These IDPs are living among host communities, lacking access to livelihoods and resources, ultimately leading to unprecedented levels of malnutrition and food insecurity. 
• FHI 360 has been working in Nigeria for over 30 years and responded to the humanitarian crisis in the NE for five years. In anticipation of a new project, and in support of ongoing ones, FHI360 seeks an experienced Senior Technical Officer, Child Protection & Psychosocial Support to support our response to the humanitarian crisis in NE Nigeria.

Basic Function

• The Senior Technical Officer- Child Protection and Psychosocial Support (CP & PSS)  provides technical and programmatic leadership for child protection and PSS subsector within the Protection Sector to ensure timely and high-quality deliverables in terms of outputs, outcomes, and impact to contribute to the attainment of the  SURE-SN  project’s sub-purpose for protection, which is the to improve the overall well-being of vulnerable individuals through increased access to integrated GBV, PSS and child protection services.

Job Purpose

• Under the direct supervision of the Protection Coordinator, the STO- CP& PSS will lead the effective delivery of the child protection and PSS in target locations namely Bama (Bama town and Banki), Mobbar (Damasak) and Ngala LGAs, Borno State. 
• He/she will be responsible for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of Child protection prevention and response activities as well as PSS activities targeting adult persons including caregivers at both Safe Healing and Learning Spaces (SHLS) and community level. 
• Responsibilities also include providing technical oversight for development, designing, planning, implementation, and capacity-building of ATOs- CP and ATOs-PSS Subsectors staff, Community Volunteers, and relevant stakeholders through remote and weekly field support/supervision visits across the target locations. Responsibilities include also developing draft reports, concept notes as well as project proposals.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Protection Coordinator, the Senior Technical Officer- Protection CP & PSS is responsible for the following tasks:

Program implementation:
Child Protection Subsector:

• Support the planning, design and updating of  the child protection  program priorities, strategies, implementation plans.
• Keep abreast of development trends to enhance program management, efficiency, and delivery.
• In accordance with the child protection proposal and the detailed implementation plan, oversee the implementation of all child protection prevention and response activities.
• Provide  technical and management leadership to the delivery of a comprehensive child protection package including case management and PSS services to children affected or at risk of abuse, violence, neglect, child/early marriages and exploitation.
• Facilitate alternative care for unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), as well as child protection prevention services through community awareness and community -based protection initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Protection Coordinator and  technical advisor to adapt Child Protection training modules, IEC materials and other project materials required for the implementation of quality Child Protection activities.
• Lead the development of a selection criteria for children to be enrolled in SEL classes and healing through the arts (HEART) intervention.
• Build the capacity of CP field staff (ATOs-CP) and community volunteers through trainings, workshops, on-the-job training, coaching, knowledge checklist and mentoring.
• Oversee all SHLS activities targeting children and ensure necessary tools and methodologies are updates.
• Support the Protection Coordinator,  and ATOs- CP to recruit CP community volunteers  and train them for improved capacity.  
• Lead the development of SHLS activity schedules and support the field staff to customize the activity schedule considering security, access and other variables that may affect the schedule.
• Support the field staff in the development of games and activities that promote the cognitive and social development of children.
• Collaborate with the Protection Coordinator to adapt key messages in SEL to the local context ensuring that they meet the social and psychological needs of crisis-affected children. Where necessary support translation of specific sessions into Hausa and other relevant local languages.
• Ensure Child Protection minimum standards in humanitarian action, Best Interest Procedures Guidelines and other core technical tools are well understood, properly used and observed.
• Actively engage in conducting needs assessments for program implementation in new areas.
• Actively collaborate with GBV sub-sector and other SURE-SN Project sectors (Health, WASH and Nutrition) to seek program synergies and opportunities for innovative integration and to ensure comprehensive assistance to the crisis-affected populations.
• Ensure CP is mainstreamed in all the sectors and CP cases are properly referred and responded to.
• Contribute to the development of concept notes and new proposals, including preparation of technical narrative and budgets for CP Subsector.
• Ensure timely and quality preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual progress and donor reports for CP Subsector.

Psychosocial Support (PSS) Subsector:

• Support the planning, design and updating of   PSS intervention program priorities, strategies, and implementation plans.
• Keep abreast of development trends to enhance program management, efficiency, and delivery.
• In accordance with the PSS proposal and the detailed implementation plan, oversee the implementation of all PSS activities across the target locations.
• Oversee individual and group case management / counselling services to Persons of Concern  across the target locations to foster their   psychological and social resilience.
• Support ATO-PSS to do appropriate referrals and follow up of cases that need   specialized mental health and psycho-social support services.   
• Oversee all activities that aim to protect or promote the psychosocial well-being of the individual or community and mitigate the risk of mental illness through fostering stability and supportive social connections at community level.
• Support ATOs-PSS to design or adapt expressive activities (such as drama), sport and other traditional activities or games, social group-based and age-appropriate activities to support healing from distress and anxiety for adult people (women, men, girls, and boys) affected by the crisis.
• Provide PSS services (individual and group-canceling) to the supervised field staff (ATOs- CP and ATOs -PSS) and regularly coach them on self-care principles.
• Under the supervision of the Protection Coordinator, deliver technical training and coaching as well as mentoring to ATOs-PSS.
• Under the supervision of the Protection Coordinator, support ATOs- PSS to recruit PSS community volunteers but also to train and coach them for better performance. 
• Actively engage in conducting needs assessments for program implementation in new areas.
• Actively collaborate with GBV sub-sector and other SURE-SN sectors (Health, WASH and Nutrition) to seek program synergies and opportunities for innovative integration and to ensure comprehensive assistance to the crisis-affected populations.
• Ensure PSS is mainstreamed in all the sectors and PSS cases are properly referred and responded to.
• Contribute to the development of concept notes and new proposals, including preparation of narrative and budgets for PSS Subsector.
• Ensure timely and quality preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual progress and donor reports for PSS Subsector.

Supportive supervision:

• Support the  Protection Coordinator to develop supervision plans for the project staff (ATOs-CP & ATOs-PSS) based in the target locations.
• Conduct weekly field visits to carry out technical supportive supervision and provide with all necessary technical coaching and guidance for field staff.
• Submit field visit reports with clear action plans to improve effectiveness of program implementation to Protection Coordinator.
• In coordination with the M & E team, conduct quarterly data quality audits.

Human Resource and Administration:

• Ensure technical supervision to ATOs- CP and ATOs-PSS and build positive and collaborative working relationships in line with FHI 360’s policies. 
• Oversee capacity building activities for field teams and community volunteers (for both CP and PSS Subsectors).
• Participate in the recruitment process as occasion demands.
• Work closely with Field Coordinators to conduct annual performance appraisal for ATOs- CP and ATOs-PSS.
• Collaborate with the Protection Coordinator and HR to ensure CP and PSS field staff are well versed on the FHI 360 Code of Conduct, accountability, respectful dialogue with communities and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA).
• Always adhere to the child protection guiding principles and FHI 360 Child Safeguarding policy.

Reporting: 

• Share with the Protection Coordinator key updates on CP and PSS sub-sectors for SURE-SN bi-weekly meetings.
• Compile sub-sector monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports and submit to the Protection Coordinator for review.
• Work closely with the M&E team to verify and validate CP and PSS data for quality reporting.
• Input data into the CPIMS each monthly and submit to the Protection Coordinator for verification.

External Coordination:

• In the absence of the Protection Coordinator, represent FHI 360 in the CP sub sector working group, CP Case management working group as well as MHPSS working group.  
• Compile CP and PSS sub sector reporting – 5Ws, CPIMS and other related reporting as required by the Protection Coordinator for review and submission.
• Liaise with relevant partners, local authorities, and communities whenever it serves the objectives of the project.

Financial management and operational support:

• Develop draft financial pipelines monthly and submit to the Protection Coordinator for review.
• Ensure CP and PSS subsectors planned activities are in line with the budget and are implemented in a timely manner.
• Actively participate in the Protection Sector budget revision.
• In collaboration with the Protection Coordinator, develop procurement plans for new projects / areas of project implementation.
• Develop sector purchase requests as per the approved procurement plans and submit to logistics for processing.
• Develop project material distribution plans and follow-up with logistics to ensure timely delivery of materials to the field sites.
• Maintain flexibility to perform other tasks as assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, or similar fields with at least 7 years relevant experience in Child Protection and PSS programming in emergencies or humanitarian settings.
• BA/BS in social work, sociology, psychology, or related fields with 10 years relevant experience in Child protection and PSS programming in emergencies or humanitarian settings.
• Familiarity with Nigerian law enforcement systems and NGOs and CBOs is highly desirable.

Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes:

• Vast knowledge and experience working on child protection in in emergencies (CPiE).
• Strong skills in child protection program mining (emergency recovery, and development, specifically prevention and response to family separation, case management approaches), understanding of Best Interest Procedures and community-based protection approaches.
• Proven understanding and experience applying Child protection guiding principles and approaches as well as implementing the CP minimum standards within projects.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in PSS programming for children, adolescents, and adult people in humanitarian settings.
• Proven advocacy skills and experience with engagement on protection issues within the humanitarian infrastructure; has knowledge of and experience in engaging the cluster system in IDP camps or coordination mechanisms in refugee camps.
• Experience conducting CP/PSS trainings, including individual case management.
• Experience implementing SHL program for adults and children or other participatory learning approaches.
• Experience using the CP Information Management System (CPIMS).
• Knowledge and experience in community-based protection mechanisms, especially those related to Child protection.  
• Experience in project cycle management, including proposal writing, budget management, and donor reporting.
• Solid planning, organizational and reporting skills.
• Excellent computer and IT skills, and strong protection data management skills.
• Strong oral and writing communication skills.
• Flexible, respectful, willing to cooperate with and support project staff at different levels. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent team building and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability for rapid analysis of complex issues, strong decision-making skills, and translation of programmatic learning and priorities into operational strategies.
• Multitask with ability to meet tight deadlines.
• High degree of proficiency in written and spoken English & Hausa communication.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online