Child Protection Technical Officer P4G

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

ROLE PROFILE

Title: Child Protection Technical Officer

Functional Area: Child Protection

Reports to: Plan for Girls – Program Manager

Location: Garoua Program Influencing and Implementation Area.

Travel required: Yes

Effective Date April 2023

 Grade: B1

Role PURPOSE

Under the supervision of the Project Manager of P4G, the Child Protection Technical Officer facilitates child protection and gender sensitive activities of the P4G project. In this capacity, he (she) builds the capacities of actors including children and youth for the protection of children and their effective participation in community development activities. He / she is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the child protection and gender and standards in the project.

Dimensions of the Role

Provide technical support to the project and the team for the implementation;
Is the focal point of the Project on Child Protection;
Capacity building of partners and community-based structures to make the project on child protection gender transformative;
Focal point lead on Child Protection and Safeguarding of Children and Young People policy in the Garoua Program Implementation Area
Co-coordinate case management activities in the North Region
Prepare various activity’s reports on Gender Sensitive protection component;
Promote attitudes, behaviors and positives practices in accordance with the framework values of Plan International;
Strengthening child protection community based networks in order to improve protection of more vulnerable children, especially girls and establish significant partnership with various services providers.
Accountabilities

Actively participate in the development and review of child protection and participation policies, programs and projects;
Promote and enforce child protection and participation strategies at the PU level;
Support the improvement of partners’ knowledge on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (CADBEE), etc;
Support the implementation of child protection initiatives with partners;
Monitoring the implementation of Community Based activities on child protection;
 Strengthening of community mechanisms for the protection of children, including children with disabilities,
Capacity building of community structures (Associations, Children and Youth Clubs, Ci);
 Identify and plan the training needs of Plan staff and partners and communities for protection, inclusion, promotion of rights and child participation in the PU;
 Ensure the implementation  and review of training modules on Child Protection and Participation;
 Ensure the existence of appropriate mechanisms and processes for the reporting of child abuse in the  project;
 Contribute to the development of concept notes and projects for the mobilization of additional resources for the promotion of protection and participation of the child;
Produce Periodic Reports for project Donors, on Protection, Child Participation Activities
 Facilitate the annual evaluation of standards and standards for the implementation of the child protection policy at the PU level and monitor the implementation of the action plan resulting from this evaluation
 Represent the project in some thematic networks related to the protection and participation of children at regional, divisional, and other local levels
List all the risks related to child protection identified in the project , monitor the implementation of the mitigation actions and report;  
Perform any other duties related to the position.
 

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
 

Key relationships

Internal

Project Manager,
Others Responsible of the project components.
Externs

Implementing partners of the project
Other local  structures involved in child protection  
Local administrative authorities
Responsible of  Decentralized state services,
Mayors, Counsellors, Traditional and religious authorities.
Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

Qualification and experiences

Holder of Degree in Social Sciences, in Law or any other equivalent degree.
Proven working experience with an organization  or structure specializing in the promotion of human rights in general and in particular the rights of the child
 Proven knowledge of fundamental texts such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)… and national laws and policies in this area;
Commitment to safeguarding, gender equality and participation;
Good understanding of legal and institutional framework of child protection and youth women of Cameroon ; 
Good understanding of Cameroon’s child protection system;
Good understanding of Gender and inclusion issues linked with child protection and youth women in Cameroon; 
At least five (03) years’ experience at the similar position, preferably for INGOs and bilingual.; 
Personnel management experience, including capacity development and team building
Experience in similar  position with the mandatory Ministries of Children and youth protection,
Experience in planning, monitoring and evaluation of programming
Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties  
Proven strong report and proposal writing skills
Experience on advocacy and influencing;
Ability to identify problems, formulate opinions, draw conclusions and recommend solutions;
High sense of social justice, gender equity and a strong commitment to the Rights of the Child.
Behavior and Attitude

Highly committed to defending the rights of the most vulnerable children, especially girls;
Being able to work in a multicultural and diverse environment;
Be flexible, affordable and full of initiatives;
Have team spirit and experience sharing;
Have a sense of responsibility and respect of deadlines;
Ability to establish very good interpersonal and partnership relationships;
Give the example of integrity, honesty, transparency and humility;Ensure that all tasks are performed according to Plan International’s objectives, values, behaviors and principles;
Demonstrate through his conduct his commitment to social justice, the protection of the rights of the child, and a high level of performance, consistency and credibility;
Have a sense of responsibility and deadlines.
Competences

Participative  methods and Community development;  
Strategic  programmation, coordination, management of the projects   ;
Designing and using of training Tools;  
Academic experience in research and policy’s elaboration;
Good spirit working within a team;
 Goods skills on negotiation;
High capacity on writing and analysis  ;
Capacity on working with marginalized or excluded  groups (children, women , more poor people  and socially excluded …) ;
Excellent computer skills in programs such as: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint , Outlook;
Ability to speak, read and write English and French;
Conflicts management.
Desirable

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people
We strive for lasting impact

Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.
We work well together

Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.
 

We are inclusive and empowering

Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.
 

Physical Environment

The position being based at the Regional Office of North Cameroon in Garoua / the Child Protection Technical Officer will:

make regular field visits;
submit the visit report no later than 3 (three) working days after the return of the field;
make out-of-country visits, as needed be, for technical network meetings or other representation of the Organization;
 Participate in face-to-face training at the national level and outside of Cameroon when needed;
Participate in online courses offered by the Academy Plan in its area of expertise or any other area deemed necessary for the achievement of its objectives.

Level of contact with children
High level: Frequent interaction with children

Location: Garoua

Closing Date: 12th March 2023

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from 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 their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.