Child Protection Officer

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Overview

The purpose of this job is to ensure the timely and quality implementation of Child Protection (CP) interventions within the respective settlements. Engagement will be at household, community, zones, parish, sub-county, and district levels. This role requires the staff to have good communication abilities, networking and collaboration abilities, training abilities for communities especially children. Core to the role are skills to raise awareness for prevention and response to child rights violations and the ability to link affected children to services in time, and documentation of on-the-ground experiences and emerging issues in child protection.

Duties & responsibilities:

Program planning & implementation:

Implementation of the Child Protection (CP) program in the specific settlements shall be the primary responsibility of the Child Protection Officer. Specifically, the officer shall:

• Actively participate in planning and budgeting processes for CP interventions in the settlements, including development of detailed Implementation plans (DIPs), Work Breakdown structures, Cash-flows, spending, and procurement plans etc.

• Mobilize and facilitate the engagements of stakeholders during planning and development meetings, workshops and other forums

• Facilitate timely and quality implementation of CP interventions in accordance with the CP guidance, approved models and approaches.

• Gather, analyze and document community perspectives and needs on different CP issues to inform CP programming.

• Routinely identify local CP partners (formal and informal), such as the parasocial workers, support and facilitate them in the implementation of planned activities

• Support the collection and documentation of impact and success CP stories.

Capacity building:

The Officer shall ensure that children, parents and members of the community CP structures are aware and have the capacity to engage on CP matters with the aim of facilitating effective service delivery. S/he will therefore:

• Build the capacity of children, families and community to collectively engage local leaders on identified CP issues.

• Routinely coach and mentor the community CP structures and other actors, including but not limited to parents, parasocial workers, teachers, etc on CP matters.

• Liaise with community-based and other CP actors

• Build the capacity of children, families and community to collectively engage local leaders on identified issues.

• Facilitate growth of strong grassroots movements on specific advocacy issues to end violence against children including child sacrifice

Community engagement and Coordination:

The Officer shall engage communities, including children, parents, political, cultural and religious leaders, parasocial workers, among others. Specifically, he/she will:

• Mobilize communities to participate in project planning, development, implementation and monitoring.

• Mobilize government institutions and technical staff in the planning and implementation of CP interventions and plans.

• Mobilize and sensitize the community (Foster parents, guardians, community leaders and other community members) on CP programs issues and facilitate participation in the management of various community CP initiatives.

• Follow-up on commitments by local leaders on promotion of protection of all children as well as their general well-being.

• Mobilize communities to participate in the relevant child days and celebrations such as the Day of the African Child, Day of the Girl Child, 16 days of activism against Gender based violence, among others.

• Represent the IRC at stakeholder engagements in the settlement, district and be a regular advocate on issues of Child Protection

• Support multi-sectoral, Inter-agency networking and coordination in establishing/strengthening Child protection prevention, response, and service provision mechanisms/ referral pathways.

Child protection, wellbeing, advocacy, and Safeguarding:

The Officer is responsible for ensuring children are protected, and their welfare is great. S/he shall:

• Monitor the well-being and child abuse cases and report any incidents in line with child protection policy and guidelines.

• Work with community structures and local leaders and CP structures to protect children from child abuse and abuses

• Sensitize children, including foster parents, guardians/parents, and other stakeholders about children’s rights and responsibilities.

• Facilitate CP advocacy, policy dialogue and campaign interventions by ensuring linkages and coherence between engagements with the CP interventions and settlement, district and National levels.

• Be the Focal Point person for CP in the settlement and support teams to report and comply with CP standards, including effective rollout of CP models and approaches

• Facilitate effective and meaningful participation of children as agents of change in all project interventions/processes in line with existing Child Participation guidelines

• Engage with partners to assess and address existing child protection-related issues in the community.

Monitoring & evaluation:

In fulfilling their monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning roles, the PO shall:

• Ensure application of standard monitoring and evaluation tools in project implementation.

• Facilitate and monitor the implementation of planned activities and community-level engagements

• Facilitate stakeholders and partners in supervision and monitoring of programmatic activities

• Document and share impact stories, lessons and best practices.

• Compile quality and timely reports to keep track of progress of implementing planned activities on a monthly, quarterly, or s may be deemed necessary by the IRC and donor.

• Provide technical support in the development of Information, Education, and Communication (I.E.C) and other learning materials on CP.

Experience, Education and technical competencies:

• University degree, preferably in social work, sociology, law, Human Rights, or related field.

• 3-5 years of experience in protection programming, including GBV, Child Protection, or Protection Monitoring.

• Experience working with vulnerable populations, such as Children, refugees, IDPs, returnees and migrants, in displacement settings.

• Proven ability to manage teams, budgets, and multi-stakeholder coordination.

• Demonstrated experience in Program Cycle Management (PCM) and understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and accountability practices.

• Strong knowledge of protection principles, safeguarding practices, and durable solutions.

• Proficiency in designing and delivering training programs for staff and stakeholders.

• Excellent report and proposal writing, organizational, and leadership skills.

• Financial acumen, including budget development and expenditure monitoring.

• Ability to represent the organization effectively in meetings with local authorities and stakeholders.

• Strong communication, representation, and people-centered management skills.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and make sound decisions.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed on rolling basis

Deadline for receiving applications is 6th July 2026.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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