Background/IRC Summary:  The IRC has just re-registered in Sudan after leaving in 2009. The program is in startup phase, in time for a global call for agencies to rapidly scale up in Sudan against a deteriorating humanitarian and economic situation; there are 9.3m people in need, and the new government that came to power after the ouster of Bashir is struggling to enact reforms while still under sanctions and recovering from 30 years of the previous regime. Needs are massive across all sectors, and there is a large gap in actors with specific expertise in protection across all pillars, including child protection. The IRC is considering responses in Khartoum, and conflict and displacement-affected areas of Blue Nile, South Kordofan, and potentially the East of the country, which is also on the brink of catastrophe. The situation is largely calm, with peace negotiations underway for conflict-areas, but deteriorating conditions make the situation precarious.

Job Overview/Summary: The Child Protection Manager will set up new or strengthen existing responses for children who have experienced or are vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, neglect and violence (including unaccompanied children); oversee and support the work of child protection staff within integrated health and protection teams to identify and refer children in need of protection to appropriate services; and ensure technical support and supervison to guide implementation of child protection and emergency response activities within the IRC Sudan portfolio. The Child Protection Manager will ensure that child protection interventions are delivered in close coordination with, and both strengthens and is strengthened by, other streams of the IRC’s protection program and overall humanitarian response in Sudan. Position objectives:

• To support the design and delivery of IRC Sudan child protection programming, in line with needs, priorities, and best practices for protecting crisis-affected populations
• To ensure children harmed or at risk of being harmed are identified and receive appropriate support by ensuring standard tools and procedures are in place and adhered to
• To provide training, supervision, and ongoing support to the IRC and partner staff responsible for child protection
• To coordinate with other child protection agencies on case management, psychosocial support, and emergency preparedness and response activities

Major Responsibilities:

Technical Quality

·      Provide technical and management leadership to the child protection program in Sudan in accordance with best practice, interagency child protection systems, and IRC policy and program models

·      Responsible for ensuring that solid case management, referral and information management systems are in place for appropriate identification, responses and follow-up for children harmed or at risk of being harmed

·      Responsible for ensuring that psychosocial activities for children, adolescents, and caregivers are delivered in accordance with IRC program models and curricula, appropriately adapted for the context

·      Proactively identify new or emerging needs, gaps, and opportunities for IRC programming to enhance the safety of children and families in their homes and communities

·      Regularly monitor program implementation, and work closely with the Child Protection MEAL Officer to ensure quality data collection and reporting of child protection program activities

·      Ensure regular communication with the Child Protection Coordinator and other program teams (including Health and WASH) to strengthen safety outcomes for children and families across IRC’s program areas

Staff Supervision & Development

·         Directly supervise at least 2 Child Protection Officers and 1 Child Protection MEAL Officer, as well as indirectly supervise / support a team of child protection case workers and community volunteers

·         Assist with the recruitment of child protection staff, in coordination with the CP Coordinator, HR, and senior management

·         Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit, and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions

·         Ensure training, technical support and ongoing capacity building for staff on technical and management skills

·         Ensure timely completion and submission of monthly timesheets, probations reviews and annual performance reviews

Grant Planning & Implementation

·         Responsible for the implementation of child protection programming, with a priority focus on Khartoum

·         Ensure adherence to grant work plans, spending plans, procurement plans, and monitoring and evaluation plans

·         Work closely and coordinates with IRC supply chain, finance, and grants staff to ensure timely and compliant program activities and expenditures, including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings

·         Develop and maintain effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control, and internal and external reporting systems and processes, including regular field monitoring and modifications to programming as required

·         Ensure high-quality IRC and donor reports on activities, indicators and achievements

Partner Management

·         Develop and maintain effective working relationships with implementing partners

·         Ensure regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives

·         Ensure regular technical support and guidance to partners in accordance with partnership agreements

·         Advocate with peer agencies, government, and other stakeholders to promote timely and quality protection responses for children and their families

Coordination & Representation

·         Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors

·         Attend relevant protection coordination meetings at appropriate levels to contribute to coordination and advocacy for child protection responses across agencies

Program Development

·      Contributes to the development of the child protection program strategic direction and program design for responding to children harmed and at risk of being harmed

·      Coordinate with other IRC sectors (e.g. Health, WASH, etc.) to receive and provide input and support regarding responses for children harmed and at risk of being harmed

Monitoring Responsibilities

·         Develop and maintain effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control and reporting systems and processes

·         Manage staff that report into monitoring and evaluation systems in order to ensure data quality and timeliness in reporting

·         Monitor and consolidate information collected from weekly and staff activity reports

·         Ensure high-quality programming according to international minimum standards and best practices

·         Support data analysis and information dissemination to the appropriate coordinating mechanisms, field teams, beneficiaries and IRC implementing team accordingly

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:  Child Protection Coordinator
Position directly supervises: Child Protection Officers, Child Protection MEAL Officer

Indirect Reporting: Child Protection Caseworkers, Community Volunteers, Relevant staff of implementing partners
 

Job Requirements:

• BA or equivalent in social work, human rights, or related degree desired. MA preferred.
• At least 3 years of experience in implementing child protection programs, preferably social work or case management, in humanitarian or development settings
• Previous experience supervising and managing a team in a cross-cultural setting, and demonstrated experience in capacity building and mentoring of staff
• Demonstrated experience in grant management, reporting, and proposal writing
• Good computer skills such as: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Capable of applying skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, coordination function, training and the transfer of technical knowledge
• Personal qualities: Team player, flexible, network-builder, able to handle pressure well
• Fluency in Arabic and English required. Fluency in local languages desirable.

Working Environment:  The Child Protection Manager will be based in the IRC’s office in Khartoum, and will be expected to travel to program locations around Khartoum and elsewhere in Sudan as required (at least 50%). The IRC is currently setting up its operations in Sudan, so the ability to work flexibly, independently, and self-sufficiently is expected.