Community Based Approach Coordinator - Child Protection 3 Posts

PROGRAMME/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 programmes 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 in Lebanon, 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 in Lebanon. 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 The community based approach coordinator of CP program is responsible of the CP groups that will be established in the areas. S/he will provide planning, support and supervision of the CP group’s activities and coordination with local partners/stakeholders.   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Coordination with the stakeholders (SDC, municipalities, local NGOs, religious leaders…) to identify members of CP groups. Develop a work plan with the CP groups in each area and to oversee the implementation of the plan. Coordinate with local and regional stakeholders for achieving objective of the Project; Serve as the focal point to support the CP groups to implement activities on child protection. Strengthen community-based and informal service delivery mechanisms that prevent and mitigate risks on a wide range of child protection issues, with well-defined linkages to Social Development Centers and other relevant entities; Ensure rigorous field-based data collection, analysis and utilization to refine programming, policy and advocacy; Ensure that all plans are implemented and monitored with a gender equity, conflict sensitivity, and environmental awareness lens. Coordination with the child protection staff and GBV staff on field level to insure the collaboration to achieve the work. Represent Mercy Corps child protection efforts with local government authorities, community actors, IGOs/NGOs, interagency working groups in the field site;  Ensure proper financial, procurement and control mechanisms of the CP groups are in place and adhered to in line with MC’s finance and procurement policies; To communicate regularly with the members of CP groups.   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: None ACCOUNTABILITY: Reports directly to:  Child protection senior field coordinator. Works directly with:  Operations, Finance, Programme, 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. 3-5 years of progressive experience and proven high level of competence working in child protection-related programmes, ideally in relief and/or post-conflict settings. Solid understanding of child protection and experience with sub-national systems strengthening and community-based protection.    Good understanding of the linkages and intersections between child protection and social welfare/protection, justice/security, education and health, with an ability to advise and implement strategies that promote coordination between sectors. Ability to lead team to successfully implement community-based child protection interventions including mobile psychosocial activities. Specialized background in gender and child protection preferred. Knowledge of Lebanon, in particular its displacement context and protection risks and vulnerabilities relevant to children and youth preferred. Strong knowledge of international humanitarian and human rights laws preferred. Proven track record in leading and managing diverse teams. Strong leadership, coordination and communication skills. Proficiency in English essential Arabic competitive advantage   Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps' policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.