Overview
The Protection Officer – Child Protection will lead the planning, implementation, supervision, and monitoring of Child Protection (CP) activities within the Mobile Response Team (MRT). The role focuses on emergency child protection case management and strengthening community-based child protection mechanisms.
Tasks Summary
- Lead the implementation of emergency Child Protection activities within the Mobile Response Team across hard-to-reach and shock-affected locations.
- Provide direct Child Protection Case Management for complex and high-risk cases.
- Serve as the technical focal point and provide ongoing supervision, mentoring, and quality assurance to CP Case Workers/Assistants.
- Ensure safe identification, assessment, documentation, and follow-up of children at risk.
- Support and oversee alternative care arrangements, family tracing, and reunification processes.
- Strengthen and support community-based child protection mechanisms.
- Conduct rapid protection assessments, safety audits, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and community mapping.
- Update referral pathways and coordinate with CP AoR partners, local authorities, RRC, social workers, and humanitarian actors.
- Develop and adapt child protection tools, IEC materials, and training modules for emergency response and provide capacity building to case workers and community structures.
Experience Requirements
- Minimum 2 years of experience in Child Protection programming in humanitarian or emergency contexts.
- Experience in emergency case management and working in hard-to-reach areas in South Sudan is strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of inter-agency Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS) and Best Interest Procedures (BIA/BID).
- Familiarity with family tracing and reunification processes is an asset.
- Demonstrated understanding of child safeguarding principles.
- Demonstrates strong knowledge of IASC guidance on mental health and psychosocial support services in humanitarian settings.
- Strong reporting and documentation skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Commitment to child rights and humanitarian principles.
- Prior experience working under UNICEF-funded projects is desirable.
- Experience in Mobile Response or Rapid Response programming is desirable.
- Strong interpersonal and mentoring skills are desirable.
- Ability to work in remote locations for extended periods with limited amenities is desirable.
- Works collaboratively with team members to achieve results is desirable.
- Remains productive when under pressure with the ability to prioritize effectively, and respects and adheres to deadlines is desirable.
- Strong relationship-building / interpersonal skills are desirable.
- Positive attitude is desirable.
- Energetic and interested is desirable.
Qualification Requirements
- University degree in Social Work, Social Sciences, Psychology, Law, Development Studies, Child Protection, or other relevant field.
- Additional certification or formal training in Child Protection Case Management or Best Interest Procedures (BIA/BID) is an asset.
