Child Protection Officer

Job Purpose:

The Child Protection Officer leads on Child Protection agenda of Islamic Relief with a particular focus on the prevention of early marriages in line with Islamic Relief Worldwide’s Child Protection & Gender Justice Policy. 

The position-holder will also integrate IR’s “Do no harm” agenda into IRP’s Prevention of Child Marriage project and will ensure commitments towards Core Humanitarian Standards, Inclusion Charter, Child Protection & Gender Justice Policies & Standards at national and provincial level. The candidate should have adequate knowledge of Islamic Shariah & IR’s Islamic Declaration on Child Protection & Gender Justice. Under the supervision of the Child Protection & Youth Development Specialist, the Child Protection Officer will have a responsibility to execute project activities at national level, coordinate the project execution at provincial level, donor and stakeholders while ensuring compliance to donor’s guidelines. 

Technical Level

- Mapping out of existing National/Provincial level interfaith structures relevant to prevention of child marriages.

- Identification of faith leaders on National/Provincial level to develop forums and conduct consultations 

- Contribute to and facilitate project based and results-based gender & child protection consultations through a consultative process with sector and/or cluster partners. 

- Ensure that IR’s child protection and child safeguarding approaches are consistently applied throughout the project.

- In close collaboration with Media & Communications team and Advocacy team, the position holder will be responsible to carry out communications and advocacy strategy of the project at provincial level while contributing to overall success of project at national level. 

- Build/ strengthen active partnerships with relevant government agencies, protection specialised NGOs/ CSOs partners, and strengthen referral systems in areas of Child Protection.

- He/she will also be responsible for overall managing project activities under supervision of Child Protection & Youth Development Specialist while tracking project’s progress by regular follow ups to ensure that project activities’ progress is on track.

- Line managing intern as well as working closely with provincial level project staff and Advocacy teams and support area level project team to ensure quality implementation of child protection activities in the field.

- Work with the communities, IR staff and other key stakeholders (government, faith leaders and at field level to build their capacity on child protection. 

- Support field team including Social Mobilizer in conducting community meetings. 

- Document case studies/success stories.

- Applied experience in child protection, child marriages prevention with respect to Islamic Faith and other faiths as well.  

- Under the supervision of the Child Protection & Youth Development Specialist, the Child Protection Officer will have a responsibility to supervise, coordinate and manage the child protection activities around child marriage issues as well as leading on overall CP agenda at national level. 

- Establish network with key external stakeholders (faith leaders and government) to find areas of collaboration, best practice, innovation and knowledge sharing.

- Proactively exchange learning and synergy with faith leaders, government relevant departments and likeminded CSOs/forums. 

- Draft relevant reports required for management and donors.

- Collaborate with Monitoring and Evaluation personnel for timely evaluation of project.

- Participate in external platforms on child protection.

- Good command over mapping strategies at existing national and provincial level interfaith structures which are working on child marriage.

- Good knowledge of child marriage issues and challenges in local context.

- The incumbent will work closely with the communities to engage them on prevention of child marriages. 

- The incumbent will work closely with stakeholders to demonstrate their capacities to better protect children and preventing child marriages.

- Lead awareness raising campaigns for sensitization of parents, faith leaders, parents, community elders on child marriage issues and concerns.

- Work closely with national departments and NCSW on advocacy for prevention of child marriages.

Operational

- Preparation of weekly / monthly work plans by ensuring timely completion of assigned tasks in stipulated time period.

- Maintenance of hard record that includes field visits reports, data, record & other documentation.

- Close coordination with line manager for effective implantation of child protection initiatives. 

- Ensure effective and timely delivery of child protection activities.

- Perform other tasks relative to child protection activities that may be assigned by line manager.

- Identification of girls at the risk of child marriage and linking them with available education, vocational services and social protection schemes.

Organizational 

- Ensure compliance with IR’s policies & procedures in true spirit for effective delivery of services to communities.

- In depth understanding of IR values and their demonstration in the field while working with communities.

- Abide by the IR zero tolerance policy towards harassment, bulling, violence, bribery & corruption through sensitization / empowerment of communities on coping mechanism so that they can raise voice as & when feel inappropriate.

- Thorough knowledge of IR strategic priorities to ensure effective implementation with future sustainability.

- Assist in identification & documentation of organizational successes for show casing IR work

- Focused efforts to ensure rights holders, (including people with disability, older people, minorities, women, and children) communities, vendors, interns, volunteers and   etc. in consultation & implementation of project activities at ground.

- Strengthen mechanism to Influence the decision makers through communities to pay attention towards DRR planning, give voice to suffering and the excluded, highlighting the protection needs of people.

- Participation and facilitation in implementation of IR seasonal programmes.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

It is essential that the post holder shows a good understanding and sympathy with the organizational values & principles, vision and mission as well as commitment to its PSEAH (preventing sexual exploitation abuse and harassment) protocols. IR has a zero-tolerance policy towards PSEAH and don’t support any action that promotes or encourages PSEAH.

IR is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IR engages. IR expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

Pre-employment Checks:

Any employment with Islamic Relief will be subject to the following checks:

• Screening clearance
• Receipt of satisfactory references

Please note, we are only able to accept applications from candidates who are eligible to live and work in Pakistan. We are unable to progress applications that would require sponsorship.

Our Values and Commitment to Safeguarding:

IR is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IR engages. IR expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organization.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. IRW also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Islamic Relief is an equal opportunities employer

To cater to the higher living cost, IR Pakistan is transferring the exchange gain (PKR-GBP) on salary to staff at a prevailing conversion rate till further notice. Salaries are paid in local currency.