Technical Specialist – Child Protection

Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organization for children. Our Vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. In Zambia, Save the Children works in the following Thematic areas: Education, Health& Nutrition, Child Protection, Child Rights Governance and Child Poverty; including Humanitarian response. Save the Children wishes to invite qualified individuals to apply for the following new position:

Position : Technical Specialist – Child Protection

Duty Station : Lusaka Office

Role Purpose : The position is responsible for developing and supporting the implementation of Save the Children’s Child Protection Program in Zambia. S/he is responsible for the achievement of the Child Protection program objectives as set by the Country Strategy Plan 2019-2021. The Technical Specialist – Child Protection acts as focal point for Zambia in the area of Child Protection, providing guidance to related initiatives focusing on Save the Children’s guidelines, vision and mission. The position reports to Director, Programme Development and Quality dotted reporting line to Director of Operations.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

1. Strategic Program Leadership

• Support the Child Protection projects and related staff, translating strategy into concrete projects and annual plans and ensuring coordination of technical input into donor reports.
• Participate and contribute to interagency Child Protection coordination meetings and relevant networks/working groups within Save the Children and externally.
• Analyse the outcomes of the program and changes in the external operating environment and incorporate findings in to the ongoing development of the program.

2. Programme Development/New Business Development

• Take a lead role in growing the Child Protection program in Zambia, both in terms of new and innovative ideas and funding.
• Provide technical leadership in the identification of new business development opportunities, positioning for new opportunities, participating in the design of new projects and contribute to writing concept notes, proposals including logical frameworks and budgets. The post holder will ensure that new projects are consistent with the country strategic plan.

3. Technical Assistance

• Provide technical support to the CO and local partner staff as required. This includes assistance in humanitarian programs (CPiE), defining and /or setting up Minimum Operating Standards or Quality Benchmarks for key Child Protection interventions.
• Take the lead in training new and existing Save the Children staff in Child Protection. Coordinate with other TS positions in the organisation and with external Technical Advisors from RO or member offices.
• Provide technical support to the relevant government offices including MoH, MoCDSS through participation in meetings, work groups, and task forces, as well as consultation and targeted field visits.

4. Advocacy

• Articulate top priority advocacy objectives in line with the Country Strategic Plan and work with the TS Advocacy to identify key opportunities for Save the Children Zambia to position itself as the leading organisation for Child Protection in Zambia.
• Strengthen the capacity of the CO to work in advocacy work at all levels related to Child Protection and strengthen children’s meaningful and safe participation in such initiatives.

5. Knowledge Management, Learning and Innovation

• Work closely with the implementing teams to establish a good, integrated documentation and reporting system for program supervision and improvement.
• Strengthen the professional quality of the Child Protection programme through, among other means, engaging in relevant sector networks (involving partners in Zambia, relevant Government Ministries, other SC members, donors, SCI in the region and centrally, UN and other global partners in child rights work) at both national and global levels.

6. Representation, Engagement and Partnership Building

• Maintain a good flow of information and knowledge on Child Protection among relevant stakeholders, this could include, but is not limited to monitoring and evaluation, programme reporting, advocacy issues, contextual information from Zambia.
• Engage new and existing strategic and implementing partners and build partnerships to implement the Child Protection country program, to develop new ideas for innovation and to build capacity.
• Manage key partnerships under the Child Protection theme, including those within the government, with collaborating partners (donors) and with other NGOs.

7. Human Resources

• Review the structure of the Child Protection teams periodically and map out the staffing needs in alignment with program size and any expansion plans. This will include participation in the recruitment of Child Protection staff to fill in gaps identified in order to advance the Child Protection Strategic Goal and objectives.
• Ensure that the Child Protection program staff under his/her management have clearly defined objectives and understand their responsibilities.

The post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• University degree in Social Science or relevant area;
• At least 7 years of relevant working experience with right-based issues, preferably children’s rights within civil society sector.
• Deep knowledge of human rights, children’s rights and child protection systems.
• Demonstrated experience in working on national Child Protection issues such as children and migration, appropriate care, systems strengthening, Violence against Children, Child protection in Emergencies, gender equality.
• Skills in developing and providing training.
• Demonstrated experience in mentoring and capacity building of civil society organizations.
• Demonstrable experience in programme design and proposal development, preparation of reports for various technical and non-technical audiences and in monitoring and evaluation
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills and commitment to capacity building of staff with proven skills as a trainer/facilitator and mentor.
• Ability and willingness to travel to projects and stay in basic conditions.
• Computer skills e.g. Word, Power Point and Excel.

Child Safeguarding:

Level 3 – the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people.

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