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 the national and provincial levels. 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 the national level, and coordinate the project execution at the provincial level, donor, and stakeholders while ensuring compliance to the donor’s guidelines.

• Mapping out of existing National/Provincial level interfaith structures relevant to the prevention of child marriages.
• Identification of faith leaders on the 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 the Media & Communications team and Advocacy team, the position holder will be responsible for carrying out the communications and advocacy strategy of the project at the provincial level while contributing to the overall success of the project at the national level.
• Build/ strengthen active partnerships with relevant government agencies, protect specialized NGOs/ CSOs partners, and strengthen referral systems in areas of Child Protection.
• He/she will also be responsible for overall managing project activities under the supervision of a Child Protection & Youth Development Specialist while tracking the 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 teams 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 the 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, and child marriage prevention with respect to the 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 the national level.
• Establish a 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 like-minded CSOs/forums.
• Draft relevant reports required for management and donors.
• Collaborate with Monitoring and Evaluation personnel for timely evaluation of the project.
• Participate in external platforms on child protection.
• Good command over mapping strategies at existing national and provincial level interfaith structures that are working on child marriage.
• Good knowledge of child marriage issues and challenges in the local context.
• The incumbent will work closely with the communities to engage them on the prevention of child marriages.
• The incumbent will work closely with stakeholders to demonstrate their capacities to better protect children and prevent child marriages.
• Lead awareness-raising campaigns for sensitization of parents, faith leaders, parents, and community elders on child marriage issues and concerns.
• Work closely with national departments and NCSW on advocacy for the prevention of child marriages.
• Preparation of weekly/monthly work plans by ensuring timely completion of assigned tasks in the stipulated time period.
• Maintenance of hard records that includes field visits reports, data, records & other documentation.
• Close coordination with the 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 risk of child marriage and linking them with available education, vocational services and social protection schemes.
• 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, bullying, violence, bribery & corruption through sensitization/empowerment of communities on coping mechanisms 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 the identification & documentation of organizational successes for showcasing 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 the ground.
• Strengthen mechanism to Influence the decision makers through communities to pay attention to DRR planning, give voice to suffering and the excluded, highlight the protection needs of people.
• Participation and facilitation in the 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 doesn’t support any action that promotes or encourages PSEAH.

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.

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.