Education and Child Protection Coordinator

International Rescue Committee (IRC) started operations in Cameroon in 2016 to respond to the increasing concerns for people affected by violence linked to Boko Haram, in the Far North of the country. Assistance to displaced populations extends across the Far North, nota-bly Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga and Logone & Chari, delivering lifesaving programming to increase access to water and improving hygiene practices in vulnerable displaced and host communities, cash programming to enable poor families to meet basic needs and improve food security, and protection programming, including meeting specific needs of women and girls.

The IRC has field bases in Maroua and Kousseri.

Following the increasing crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, the IRC expanded its operations into the South-West region in August 2018 and into the North-West in 2019. The IRC is delivering lifesaving humanitarian assistance to internally displaced populations, with field bases in Buea and Bamenda.

With its coordination office in Yaoundé, the IRC Cameroon country program will develop its new ‘Strategy 100’ strategic plan in 2021, through which we aim to provide the best possible impact for some of the most vulnerable boys, girls, women, and men affected by the hu-manitarian crises. In all that we do, we strive to deliver through IRC’s core values of Integrity, Accountability, Service and Equality.

Job Overview

Under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Programs, the Education & Child Protection Coordinator will be responsible for the vision, strategy, design, monitoring, and quality deliv-ery of the Child Protection and Education program in Cameroon. The Child Protection & Ed-ucation Coordinator will be based in Maroua with frequent visits to all field sites (in the Far North and the South West regions) and the capital Yaoundé.

The Education & Child Protection Coordinator will support IRC Cameroon’s education and child protection program (through ECHO, Sida and PRM), lead the design, development of new projects focused on education and child protection, and will ensure capacity building of national staff and partners engaged in the implementation of the IRC Cameroon’s Education and Protection activities.

In accordance with IRC Cameroon’s focus on integrated programming, the Education & Child Protection Coordinator will work closely with in-country Coordinators covering other sectors such as Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), Environmental Health (EH/WASH), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), and Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL). The Education & Child Protection Coordinator will be supported by Technical Advisors (TAs) based at IRC HQ to ensure effective, high-quality delivery of both education and child protection components.

Main responsibilities

Technical Monitoring and Program Quality

• Provide technical supervision of, and technical support to IRC Cameroon Education and Child Protection programming activities.

• Conduct and lead project workplan review meetings on a monthly basis for the all Edu-cation and CP projects coordinate closely with technical advisor to implement technical support plans.

• Conduct observation visits and spot checks to Safe healing and learning spaces, accel-erated learning classes, as well as capacity strengthening sessions with key EDU and CP stakeholders conducted by the IRC team.

• Support the CP Managers to conduct regular child protection case audits and case re-view meetings monthly, ensure the CP Managers and team have sufficient time to con-duct CP CM meetings on a weekly basis.

• Monitor learning outcomes for children in non-formal education through pre planned pre and posttests preset in project workplan.

• Participate in weekly technical meetings with the CP and education TAs to review tech-nical priorities of program including regular meetings.

• Follow up closely on the project budgetary implementation plans with program manag-ers, finance and grants, on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

• Oversee and manage and maintain overall accountability for budgets related to projects on a monthly basis with weekly follow up on budget implementation plans, conduct budget versus actuals review meetings with managers and ensure best use of resources throughout oversight of budgets.

• Discuss budget review progress with DDP, grants coordinator and technical advisors when decisions need to be made.

• Ensure that education and child protection programs utilize standardized protocols such as Healing Classrooms, SHLS guidelines, Child Protection case management minimum standards, Child Safeguarding amongst other policies and guidelines, as recommended by the Ministries of Education, Safety, Civil/social protection, etc.

• Ensure that all education and child protection activities are consistent with established international and national best practices such as Child Protection Minimum standards, in close collaboration with the HQ Education and Child Protection TAs.

• Ensure ongoing follow up on pre-determined actions with the EDU/CP Managers, M & E manager and officer related to research and learning activities in relation to Education and Child Protection. Coordinator with the TAs on progress and relevant support.

• Monitoring participation and learning outcome data of various activities in projects and take programmatic decisions based on data relevant to IRC Education and Child Protec-tion programs.

• Ensure requests that come in from key stakeholders are addressed in a timely manner in close coordination with the DDP, Grants coordinator and EDU/CP TAs.

• Ensure relevant M&E processes and systems are being upheld to a high standard through conducting audits, ongoing structured observation of classes and sessions, as well as monitoring data to assess program outcomes.

• Coordinator closely with grants to have a schedule set for the team on all internal and external reporting requirement and deadlines.

• Assume full responsibility for drafting donors reports and communications in a timely manner, as well as guiding managers and officers on required inputs and reviewing in-puts shared by the teams to maintain a high standard of quality.

• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Strategic Planning

• Provide strategic direction, leadership and overall technical and management support to the Education & Child Protection programming, ensuring it is needs-based, context-appropriate, responsive, coherent, collaborative, and operationally feasible.

• Monitor evolving needs of the target communities and adjust the programmatic priorities as necessary.

• In collaboration with HQ-based Technical Advisors and in-country Senior Management Team, lead the overall development of IRC Education and Child Protection Program strategies, in line with IRC Cameroon Strategic Action Plan and IRC’s Outcomes and Evidence Framework.

• Provide technical input into IRC Cameroon’s emergency preparedness plans and proto-cols in relation to the protection of children.

Program Development, Communications and Advocacy

• Identify opportunities for program development and discuss with DDP, program manag-ers, grants and TAs as appropriate.

• Design and lead technical assessments as a basis for education and child protection pro-gram development.

• Coordinate and initiate project proposals and develop program proposals (development of logical frameworks, program design and implementation plans and appropriate, realis-tic and measurable indicators, budget) for the IRC Cameroon Education and Child Pro-tection Program under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Programs and in consul-tation and collaboration with field based technical, field management staff and HQ based Education and Child Protection TAs.

• Together with regional and HQ teams, identify communication opportunities for internal and external audiences highlighting humanitarian needs related to education and child protection and publicizing on-going projects and research.

• Together with CD, DDP and relevant coordination mechanisms, identify opportunities for advocacy on issues related to education and child protection.

Coordination and Representation

• In coordination with the supervisor, represent IRC to UN, CP/EDU sector working groups, international and national NGOs, Ministries of Education, MINAS, and donors for child protection and education.

• As Education and child Protection focal point at country level, participate actively in ex-ternal respective coordination and Cluster forums.

• Participate in internal coordination and management meetings to promote effective and efficient information sharing, problem-solving and decision making across teams and sectors.

• Meet with M & E on a monthly basis to obtain and review client feedback of program ac-tivities and conduct field visits to ensure accountability to beneficiaries.

• Reflect and take corrective action to ensure activities are gender sensitive and inclusive for IRC’s Education and Child Protection programs.

• With support from the programs team, ensure accountability to beneficiaries, gender sensitivity and inclusion are adequately addressed in IRC’s Education and Child Protec-tion programs.

Staff Management & Development

• Review individual team performance objectives set by the coordinator and support, coach and mentor team members to achieve their goals through weekly meetings where they are able to share challenges, successes and obtain support from the Acting Coordi-nator.

• Coach, train, and mentor staff with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, ex-changing knowledge within the team and providing professional development guidance.

• Supervise and mentor staff, including communicating clear expectations, and in partner-ship with the direct line supervisor, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and contribute to the annual and mid-year performance reviews.

• Provide constructive feedback and counsel on appropriate career paths and professional development.

• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being; approve and manage all leave requests to ensure adequate coverage.

• Offer leadership support for successful adherence by staff to IRC’s Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures.

• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all appli-cable policies and regulations.

Job Requirements:

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 3-5 years professional experience in leading/managing Education and child Protection projects in humanitarian contexts.

• Proven experience in managing and/or technically supporting education programs, case management, and psychosocial support activities for children.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent professional approach, strong building skills and proven ability to build staff ca-pacity.

• Prior experience and excellent understanding of working in emergency settings or inse-cure environments.

• Strong leadership, management, project planning, monitoring and evaluation, analytical interpersonal and communication skills.

• Strong budget management and reporting, skills; and an ability to oversee multiple awards from a variety of donors.

Education:

• Masters level qualification in Social Sciences, Education, or related subject

Language Skills:

• Fluency in French and basic English skills required

Preferred experience & skills:

• An initiator of initiatives, able to plan, prioritize and manage multiple tasks under pressure and deliver tangible benefits to a team

• Proven problem solving and results oriented

• Strong written and oral communication skills, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment and effective in representation and liaison

• Flexible work attitude – the ability to work productively in a team environment and inde-pendently

• Able to respond rapidly to changing environments and work under pressure

• Experience of working in West Africa or Cameroon a plus

• Excellent Computer skills: MS Word, Excel

• Strong commitment to Child Safeguarding

Working Environment:

The Education & Child Protection Coordinator will be based in Maroua with frequent field trips and occasional travel to Yaoundé. Accommodation is shared with other international staff in a guesthouse with a private bedroom with electricity, internet and cable TV.

Security: Maroua is security level red and the IRC has a curfew in place. The situation is calm though there remains a risk of terrorist attack and kidnap.

This is an unaccompanied position. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service Equality, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.