Child Protection Project Officer

Position : Child Protection Project Officer
Responsible to:- Child Protection Project Manager
Location: Kitale
Closing date : - 11th March , 2013

THE ORGANIZATION
Handicap International (HI) is an INGO specialising in the field of disability and development. A strong emphasis is placed on empowering people with disabilities through their integration into mainstream development activities and the provision of appropriate health and rehabilitation services to ensure equal opportunities for all.

THE PROJECT
In 2010, Handicap International and Save the Children implemented a pilot project with the support of the OAK Foundation to address the vulnerability of children with disabilities against sexual violence in four African countries (Burundi, Madagascar, Mozambique and Tanzania). A situation analysis was conducted through the collection of in-depth evidence on the modality and occurrence of sexual violence towards children with disabilities in these countries. The findings revealed that in spite of different contexts, the factors that render children with disabilities particularly vulnerable for this type of violence are similar in all of those countries. Moreover, child survivors with disabilities also face common barriers across the countries when it comes to accessing services for care and support at the medical, psychosocial and legal level. As a result, survivors with disabilities are likely to bear the full consequences of the violence (STDs, including HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, marginalization, psychological trauma, new impairments) and the large majority of perpetrators are able to escape justice.

The "Ubuntu care" project is in line with the recommendations from this research, and aims to address the problem of sexual violence against children with disabilities by improving prevention and care in the three targeted countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda) and by bringing the problem on the international scene. The adopted strategy aims at turning the international commitments of children's rights, in particular the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into practical actions on the ground. This project will consist in establishing a range of mechanisms to improve the response to sexual violence against children, especially those with disabilities, at different levels (local, national, regional and international). This project will support children to become key-actors of their own protection, through a Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) approach.

THE POSITION
Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Child Protection Officer will be in charge of:

I. Capacity building / training:
• He/she identifies the needs and facilitates training of HI staff, children, NGO partners, local authorities and community especially in the field of child protection, child rights, disability, and gender.
• He/she ensures that the training uses a participatory and child-centered methodology, respectful of the culture and local customs.

II. Awareness and Advocacy:
• He/she identifies and develops messages to be delivered to communities, in collaboration with the Ubuntu project manager and Ubuntu regional coordinator.

III. Case management/ children at risk or victims of violence
1. Case management:
• He/she intervenes directly on the field on protection issues towards children, families, communities and Handicap International’s staff.
• He/she serves as contact person on case management for the referred child protection cases in collaboration with competent authorities.
• He/she advises and supervises child protection cross-sectoral meetings on case management.
2. Data base:
• He/she works closely with partners and authorities to create a database in order to collect information and monitor cases of sexual abuse against children, especially those with disabilities.

IV. Psychosocial activities and child participation:
• He/she works with the community, HI staff and project partners to identify, plan and implement
activities for recreation, education and well-being of children, especially those with disabilities.
• He/she ensures that all psychosocial activities are inclusive, accessible and adapted to the specific needs of children with disabilities.

V. Reporting:
• He/she participates in the preparation of donor reports regarding child protection part.

VI. Handicap International risk management policies:
• He/she commits to respect risk management policies of Handicap International including: policy on the protection of beneficiaries against exploitation and sexual abuse, the child protection policy.

EXPECTED PROFILE
Essential Desired
• Bachelors degree in social sciences, psychology or law or Diploma in social sciences or legal studies

Work experience:
• 2-3 years experience in Project development in the area of child protection for Bachelors degree or 3-4 years for Diploma
• Experience in the following fields: psychosocial/protection/disability/ gender
• Experience in capacity building/ training of local institutions

Competences:
• Significant experience and understanding of the issues of child protection in development projects.
• Ability to represent Handicap International and maintain good relations with local authorities and partner NGO
• Skills in monitoring and evaluation using a participatory approach.
• Experience in advocacy.
• Strong skills in capacity building.
• Experience in the development and implementation of training programs.
• Experience working with partners to develop their organizational systems and structures
• Very good knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Excellent skills in report writing.
• Languages: English and Kiswahili

Skills:
• Good communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills, advocacy and negotiation.
• Tact and diplomacy.
• Transparency
• Ability to work in a team and independently.

Interested applicants may send their upto date CV (including 3 referees) and cover letter, through  electronic application with the subject line marked “ Application for Child Protection Project Officer position.”
The salary range for this position is between Kshs. 51,283/= to Kshs 64,833/=.

Kindly note that the shortlisting process shall be ongoing until a suitable candidate is selected.
Only electronic applications will be considered to be sent to : recruit03@handicap-international.or.ke
Only short listed candidates will be contacted Handicap International is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Females and Persons with Disability are encouraged to apply