Child Protection and Gender Technical Advisor

ROLE PURPOSE: The Child Protection and Gender Technical Adviser will ensure that all child protection interventions are of a high technical quality, that monitoring processes are in place, that high quality timely reporting occurs, and that the programme quality and relevance is continually assessed and solutions quickly put in place for a change of context. The person will also ensure gender mainstreaming across all SCI programmes. Coordination and representation will also be key asks.  Current thematic priorities include: appropriate care, child labour and violence against children. 

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Deputy Country Director - Programmes

Staff reporting to this post: Alternative Care Specialist

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Under the direct supervision of Deputy Country Director of Programs and in close coordination with other thematic Advisors, the Area Managers and Child Protection leads in the field, the Child Protection and Gender Technical Advisor is responsible for:

Programme Quality

• Overall responsible to ensure the programme quality of Save the Children’s child protection (CP) programming
• Ensuring all SCI programme are gender sensitive at minimum and gender transformative when appropriate
• Lead the continuous assessment of CP and gender needs and ensure that these are appropriately reflected in sectoral strategies and programmes
• Develop and update the child protection strategy, ensuring consistency with Save the Children’s theory of change and country specific plans
• Provide information and advice to other sectors on ways to integrate child protection and gender in more holistic/cross functioning programs
• Conduct regular visits (50% of time) to the field offices to coordinate with program teams on implementation and identify lessons learned from programs and develop joint action plans for capacity building
• Improve/strengthen to coordination of SC’s work with the relevant actors including governmental actors on child protection and gender.
• Coordinate the collection of documentation and lessons learned exercises.
• Ensure quality control of any sectorial report (donor reports, annual reports and plans etc)
• Ensure recognized international best practices and Save the Children policies are applied in the work with children
• Ensure program products and learning are maintained within the Save the Children country program

Programme development

• Grow Save the Children’s child protection portfolio sustainably and strategically
• Ensure all SCI programme designs are gender sensitive at minimum
• Ensure updated and accurate needs information for use in program development
• Lead on technical visioning of new programs and proposals
• Coordinate with proposal development team on identifying opportunities and developing proposals for donors
• Work with colleagues from other sectors coordinate on and integrate programing to ensure children’s needs are met

External Relations

• Participate in national coordination meetings for child protection work and programing
• Maintain strategic links with key duty bearers and stakeholders such as governmental bodies, UN agencies, INGOs and other local NGOs and CBOs, identify opportunities and ensure Save the Children’s participation in key activities of the national and local level
• Co-lead inter-sectoral task forces as per priority
• Collaborative advocacy to key stakeholders with child protection partners

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Oversee knowledge sharing across CP teams, and in coordination with other sectors, and ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve programs
• Produce timely reports for internal and external use
• Support development of programme quality assurance tools, such as needs assessment tools,
• Ensure clear plans in place for monitoring and evaluating project activities in relation to the objectives and that lessons learnt are shared and capitalized on
• Follow up with relevant field staff to ensure that projects are monitored regularly, and that data is collected on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis
• Regularly visit project sites to ensure that teams are appropriately supported

Capacity building, team work and staff supervision

• Work with supervisees and field teams to ensure adequate capacity building and technical support to the field
• Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their role in a humanitarian response and development context
• Ensure the recruitment, training and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff
• Facilitate the development and implementation of detailed annual work plans and key monthly deliverables for each staff under supervision.
• Actively support team cohesion and a positive work environment
• Performance management of line managed staff as per SCI policies and procedures

General

Comply with and promote Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Master or Bachelor degree in Social Work, Human Rights or relevant field
• Extensive experience, progressively responsible, working in child protection programming, preferably in the Middle East
• Extensive experience in building strong child protection systems and in delivering services to children in emergencies
• Proven track record of effective fundraising with major donors
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English
• Ability to work under pressure and willingness to work flexible hours in the event of major emergencies
• Experience in both development and humanitarian sector preferred.
• Excellent understanding of the Monitoring and Evaluation processes and methodologies – with specific technical trainings in these areas. 
• Proven representation and advocacy skills.
• Familiarity with key international standards for humanitarian work (e.g. CP Minimum Standards, SPHERE, HAP Principles, etc.).
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels, taking into account cultural and language difficulties.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets.
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
• Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce the Child  safeguarding policy.

Desirable

• Save the Children experience strongly preferred
• Arabic language skills highly desirable
• Experience in Lebanon or the region highly desirable