Technical Advisor–Child Protection

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Libya. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has been running community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they emerged. Recently, Mercy Corps’ portfolio has expanded in response to the refugee influx from Syria, including grants from UNICEF, UNHCR, European Commission, Canadian and American governments, and private foundations. Humanitarian response and resilience programming will be an increasing focus of the Protection Sector portfolio in Lebanon. CONTEXT As the Syrian conflict persists, instability and insecurity continue to impact the daily lives of boys, girls, adolescents and their caregivers inLebanon, exposing them increasingly to protection violations. Tensions between refugees and host communities are worsening, with children emulating the discriminatory attitudes they witness. This is exacerbated by a lack of services and resources, as well as perceptions of unequal support for increasingly vulnerable host communities. Child protection actors are working to provide protective environments for all children inLebanon. However, as needs are increasing, funding is decreasing and is mostly short term. The deteriorating socio-economic situation of many refugees and vulnerable Lebanese, coupled with limited livelihoods opportunities and limited access to education, has contributed to families using negative coping mechanisms, such as child labour and child marriage. Breakdown of protection community mechanisms also place children and caregivers at greater risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse. Greater focus is required on prevention and mitigating the impact of the crisis on women, boys and girls by continuing to strengthen and improve quality of psychosocial services (PSS), case management and access to specialized services. Services need to be made available for all children regardless of their nationalities. Working with children caregivers, families and communities at large is crucial to complement the support to institutions. Both system building and community based approaches are key to create a protective environment for children and to build resilience. GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY Under the guidance and supervision of the Child & Youth Program (CYP) Manager, the Technical Advisor will ensure the high technical quality of child and youth protection interventions; ensure quality implementation of PSS and Life Skills activities in accordance with minimum standards; provide weekly on-site coaching for local partners; deliver technical expert guidance to MC field staff; review and refine PSS for Children & Caregivers, Life Skills for Adolescents, and Child Protection materials; support rigorous analysis of data to inform evidence based programming and advocacy; and conduct Child Safeguarding and CARM trainings for local partners.  ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Develop and implement a comprehensive and flexible Work Plan ensuring the high technical quality of MC's Child Protection programme; Set frameworks and criteria for technical monitoring of all child protection interventions;  Conduct regular field visits (minimum 50%) to support MC CYP field staff and to coach local partners to carry out effective activities in Al Marej and Jeb Janine;  Strong technical knowledge and experience with designing, managing, monitoring and evaluating refugee protection, GBV and/or child protection programming in emergency, transitional and development contexts. Excellent knowledge of child protection issues, including child abuse, gender based violence, support for separated, unaccompanied and vulnerable children, and psychosocial support for children and caregivers, working with host and displaced communities, etc. Support CP field teams to systematically strengthen capacities of SDCs/MoSA, Scouts and local CBO partners to carry out effective strategies to protect children from violence;  Support CP teams to design and facilitate external workshops, capacity building sessions, VAC campaigns, community dialogues, etc  Develop and refine user-friendly PSS/CP curricula, tools, modules, etc Support integrated and evidence-based advocacy efforts; Harmonize, standardize and oversee knowledge management, training and capacity development initiatives across the CP portfolio; Promote in-house convergence and synergies across MC Child Protection, Youth Sector and other sectorial programmes; Ensure that all programming incorporates a gender equity, conflict sensitivity, and environmental awareness lens with a ‘do no harm’ approach; Strong experience of coordination with other humanitarian actors and local authorities on child protection and protection issues. Support representation of MC child and youth protection efforts with local government authorities, community actors, IGOs/NGOs, interagency working groups particularly the PSS Task Force and CPiE Working Group meetings;  Adhere to organizational security standards, financial, procurement, program management minimum standards, code of conduct and child protection protocols; Other necessary duties as required.    Organizational Learning  As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. Accountability to Beneficiaries Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Capacity Building Officer & Community Based Approach Coordinator ACCOUNTABILITY: Reports directly to:  Child & Youth Protection Manager   Works directly with:  Operations, Finance, Program, and M&E Teams KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE BA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development, or other relevant field; MA/S in law, international relations, human rights or other relevant field preferred but not necessary. Minimum 5 years of professional work experience in protection programming, including child protection, with proven ability to apply a rights based approach incorporating the principles of the CRC and other relevant UN conventions   Experience establishing and supporting community-based protection mechanisms and strengthening local systems preferred. Solid knowledge and application of established inter-agency standards and guidelines relevant to protection. Experience in capacity building and strengthening various duty bearers understanding of and response to child protection. Proven technical support provision, capacity building and capacity development skills. Good understanding of the linkages and intersections between child protection and social welfare, justice, education and health, with ability to advise and implement strategies that promote coordination between sectors. Excellent analytical skills with ability to identify problems and propose solutions. Strong communication, networking, advocacy, negotiation and diplomacy skills. Specialized background in Gender, Child Protection, And Minority Rights and Other Vulnerable Groups Preferred. Knowledge of Lebanon, in particular its displacement context and protection threats relevant to internal conflict preferred. Proficiency in English essential Arabic competitive advantage SUCCESS FACTORS A successful candidate will have the ability to work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. S/he will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results based on programmatic needs. Knowledge of security standards, equipment, precautionary measures, communication protocols, various unstable conditions and familiarity with Child Protection Systems strengthening approaches, Sphere Project’s Humanitarian Charter and Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Pyramid are essential, as is an ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.