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Job Title:    Child Protection & Psychosocial Support Specialist

Organisation: Right To Play (RTP)

Duty Station: Adjumani, Uganda

Salary: Starting from UGX. 8,650,723 per month (before taxes)

About the Company:

Right To Play (RTP) is a global organisation that protects, educates and empowers children to rise above adversity using play. By harnessing play, one of the most powerful and fundamental forces in a child’s life, we help 2.3 million children to stay in school and out of work, to prevent life-threatening diseases like HIV and malaria and to stay safe from exploitation and abuse.

Job Summary:   The Child Protection and Psychosocial Support (CP and PSS) Specialist will report to the Country Director and be expected to work closely with Right To Play’s (RTP) partner organizations and other RTP team members. The role will also have a dotted line reporting to the Global Child Protection and Psychosocial Support Lead to ensure there is coordination and oversight with RTP’s global child protection and psychosocial support priorities.

The CP and PSS Specialist is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of CP and PSS programs, strategies, and resources, and providing technical guidance to country office staff for quality implementation. The CP and PSS Specialist will provide training to staff across the Uganda Country Office and regional offices to ensure that child protection and PSS programs are developed, implemented and measured in line with the Global and Country Strategic Plans of Right To Play. The incumbent also supports the organization to integrate new methodologies to strengthen integration of Child Protection and PSS strategies, including CP principles like children’s participation in its different programmatic responses, especially Education, Gender and SRHR. The CP and PSS Specialist also provides technical guidance for the integration of CP and PSS standards and principles into Right To Play’s quality program development, advocacy and policy work, organizational systems and procedures, communications, and partnerships.

The Child Protection Specialist will be based in Uganda, with regular travel to project field locations.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

CP and PSS Program Innovation, Design and Development (35% of Time):

• Provide technical support to the Country office team in the design and proposal development process for new projects, as assigned. This may include technical child protection and PSS inputs on; field assessments, proposal writing, proposal review, and coordination with local and international NGOs and partners during program design process.
• Provides technical support, advice, and guidance to staff and partners on psychosocial support and child protection.
• Collaborates with the country team to ensure PSS and child protection implementation plans are appropriately designed, budgeted, and meet program outcomes, and are aligned with donor proposals and Right To Play global and country’s strategic plans.
• Supports the country team to effectively implement PSS and child protection systems and processes.
• Stays abreast of national and international PSS and child protection trends, policies, research and best practices helping to ensure that innovative, sustainable and effective approaches and methodologies are pursued in Right To Play’s programs
• Conduct Child Protection and PSS Needs Assessment, Focus Group Discussion and CP Risk Assessment in coordination with MEAL team to ensure quality implementation.

CP and PSS Technical Support, Training and Capacity Building (35% of Time):

• Supports the development of PSS and child protection training tools and resources.
• Works with the Global Program Development and country office teams to integrate PSS, child protection and participation principles into all resource development and training plans.
• Collaborate with MEL team to effectively integrate child protection and PSS considerations within MEL approaches, standards, and guidelines.
• Coordinate and facilitate regular PSS and Child Protection training with all staff that focus on: (1) PSS and child protection quality implementation; (2) CP and PSS risks; (3) Child Protection and PSS strategies, including knowledge, attitudes, and behavior towards child rights; (4) child protection and PSS integration with other sectors.
• Provides in-country support to country offices for PSS and child protection program development and implementation on a regular and as required basis
• Supports field staff to work with and establish partnerships with other NGOs and local actors to strengthen PSS and child protection mechanisms in the program countries.
• Contributes to and/or creates policy papers, guidelines, standards, and tools related to specific child rights, PSS, and child protection issues for Right To Play
• Host a series of webinars for RTP staff and partners on PSS, child protection and related topics.

CP and PSS Representation and Partnership (15% of Time):

• In coordination with Global CP and PSS specialist, the jobholder can identify and liaises with child protection and PSS networks (e.g., Global Protection Cluster, International Child protection networks, National Child rights network) and Country-based donor, UN Agencies, Embassies and governmental authorities such as the Ministry of Gender, Children and social protection, on policy implementation strategies, challenges and best practices.
• Develops and supports organizational strategic partnerships on child protection and PSS.
• Facilitates PSS and child protection awareness raising sessions at child protection conferences, networks, coalitions, and courses.
• Contribute to development of Case Studies, Researches and Report to highlight the achievements of RTP

Contribution to global CP and PSS Program Policies and Processes (10% of Time):

• Support Global CP and PSS Lead in strengthening CP and PSS Programming and implementation of preventive measures in RTP.
• Provide inputs to the global organizational review of the Child Protection and PSS Workplan and Key Investment Areas in coordination with Global CP and PSS Lead
• Act, where needed, as a RTP representative / Focal Point in specific global inter-agency initiatives.
• Ensures the global standards, tools and resources and implementation guidelines are effectively integrated and rolled out at the programmatic level.
• Supports the Communications and Stakeholder Engagement team to ensure that Right To Play’s written material reflect the organization’s principles on child protection and PSS.
• Support, where needed, Safeguarding focal points to integrate safeguarding measures and standards into appropriate organizational procedures (e.g. Ethics Review, Recruitment) and to build internal staff capacity. Represents RTP in the project location and relevant forums and have regular consultations with local partners, stakeholders and key beneficiaries in the assigned community.

Other tasks as assigned (5% of Time)

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Education/training/certification:

• Master’s degree in Related Field (Education, International Development, Social Work, Sociology, Child Protection, Child Rights)
• Child rights and protection courses and/or certificates

Experience:

• 5 years of experience in a humanitarian or development child-centred organization focused on child protection, and child rights including at least 2 year of field experience.
• Excellent knowledge of the Uganda country context and national Child Protection System
• Excellent knowledge of the Minimum Standards for Child Protection and PSS in Humanitarian Action and International Development.
• Familiarity with national and international child protection and rights networks
• Experience of developing safe programmes; conducting risk assessments, developing risk mitigation plans etc.
• Experience in working in partnership with key child protection actors and donors.

Competencies/personal attributes:

• Consistently communicates a compelling vision that generates excitement, enthusiasm and commitment to the group’s mission, purpose, and goals.
• Ability to communicate technical child protection and PSS knowledge clearly to a variety of audiences across the Uganda country office and local offices and to Right to Play’s strategic partners.
• Ability to critically and reflectively explore new knowledge, theory, perspective, and practice to support evolving leadership in child protection and PSS role.
• Demonstrates ability to adapt, learn and change through self-awareness and management of emotions and ability to develop supportive and productive work relationships.
• Ensures approved change initiatives are implemented and sustained.
• Champions a culture where child protection, PSS and safe programming are embodied in organization’s culture with openness and transparency which institutionalizes learning, innovation, achievement, and support.
• Identifies and pursues opportunities to build and strengthen partnerships and alliances that are mutually advantageous and support the strategic interests of Right To Play.
• Applies culturally appropriate approaches to communicate and interact with the Right To Play team and diverse audiences.
• Values and recognizes individual and team contributions. Expresses positive expectations of staff and provides specific coaching and feedback.
• Demonstrates a commitment to and understanding of children’s rights and protection.

Technical skills:

• International development knowledge base in key thematic areas including, education and child development, child protection, child safeguarding, play, psychosocial support, child participation, peace building and conflict resolution, health and well-being and gender equality.
• Ability to develop high-quality child protection and psychosocial support training materials (including case studies) and implementation tools.
• Project management skills

Knowledge/skills:

• MS Office

Languages:

• Fluency in oral and written English

How to Apply:

All candidates should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 31st January 2025

NB: While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for interviews will be contacted. Shortlisting of applications will begin immediately, and interviews may be held before the closing date.

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