Technical Advisor - Child Protection Part-Time

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 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 Under the supervision of the Child Protection Program Manager, the Child Protection Technical Advisor will provide technical support to the planning and implementation of Awareness information in several areas. The Child Protection Technical Advisor will work with SPSS and Life Skills Technical Advisors to ensure that Child Protection trainings match and complement the other project activities and campaigns related to the Awareness Information on Child Protection. The Child Protection Technical Advisor will ensure that all Child Protection interventions are of a high technical quality and that high quality timely reporting occurs.   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Prepare reports of new ideas and themes for Awareness Information Activities and how to implement them. Support the field coordinators to establish the child protection committees. Deliver training for the members and the leaders in the child protection committees on (child protection, writing proposals, preparing action plan). Support the committees to implement community based projects.  Share updated and monthly report with the Program Manager. Prepare in coordination with CYP members & Peer-to-Peer Awareness Information Activities in selected areas. Provide constant support and assistance in the design, the development, the implementation, the monitoring and the evaluation of project activities. Get Reports from Field Coordinators about the concerned parties’ preparations for the decided Awareness Information Activities. Support the provision through UNICEF of kits and supplies that are needed for the implementation of Child Protection Awareness Information Activities. Maintain regular contact with Field Coordinators to ensure up-to date knowledge about previous achievements and to ensure that there is an overall agreement on the selected targets that need to be achieved. Provide technical advice to field and office employees on appropriate trainings, interventions, and strategies to address Child Protection issues. Work with SPSS & Life Skills Technical Advisors to ensure harmony between Awareness Information Activities’ themes and the needed trainings to be delivered to all involved parties. Coordinate with Field Coordinators to ensure that they are helping and supervising the formation of the two Child Protection Committees. Conduct field visits to supervise and check the work of Committees and their coordination with field teams and Coordinators. Conduct field visits when necessary to meet with SDC Directors and inform them about new activities and then to monitor and ensure that they are collaborating with Committees and Field Coordinators in the implementation of the selected program activities. Contribute to the development of new projects, project extensions and amendments. Contribute to Donors’ Reports and Protection Specific Reports. When delegated by Project Manager, represent CYP and MC in the coordination with relevant authorities, Donors, NGOs, and other stakeholders, at the local and national levels. Engage along with the Program Manager with Donors in technical discussions. Able to travel to South, Bekaa and Mount Lebanon areas.   KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE Excellent knowledge of child protection issues, including child abuse, Gender-Based Violence, Psychosocial support for separated, unaccompanied and vulnerable children, working with host and displaced communities, etc. Solid knowledge and application of established inter-agency standards and guidelines relevant to protection. Ability to turn concepts and strategies into measurable actions. Strong experience of coordination with other humanitarian actors and local authorities on child protection and protection issues. 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. Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels, taking into account cultural and language difficulties. 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 required. Fluency in Spoken and Excellent Written English essential. Arabic competitive advantage.