International Rescue Committee is one of the major actors in humanitarian aid and post-conflict development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The IRC began working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1996 to meet the humanitarian needs of people affected by armed conflict in the east of the country. Currently, the IRC works in the sectors of health including the Ebola response, community governance and reconstruction, the protection and empowerment of women, responses to emergencies, child protection and education.

In August 2018, the DRC witnessed an EVD outbreak that has continued till date. The IRC is one of the major organizations contributing to stop the spread of the epidemic through health, IPC/WaSH interventions, and integrated protection in the North Kivu and Ituri Provinces. The IRC is currently recruiting a Deputy Child Protection Coordinator.

Under the supervision of the Deputy Field Director, the Deputy Child Protection Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing implementation and monitoring of the child protection component of IRCs EVD response while ensuring quality program delivery of the child protection in emergencies program activities including interventions among host communities. The Deputy Child Protection Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring technical quality of IRC’s interventions related to child protection case management; Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and psychosocial support to children, adolescents, and youth; parenting skills; and strengthening community-based child protection networks (RECOPE). She/he ensures integration as well as smooth teamwork within and across other sectors.

• Provide technical supervision of, and technical support and guidance to IRC DR Congo EVD Response child protection program, in close coordination and with technical support of the Child Protection Coordinator

• Ensure that all child protection activities are consistent with established international and national best practices, in close collaboration with the Child Protection Coordinator and the HQ Child Protection TA

• Provide direct support to the child protection case management team and coach case management officers in supervising case management services

• Supervise CP staff and volunteers directly, working closely with the CP Manager to ensure that activities are implemented on time, within budget, and in compliance with IRC and donor guidelines

• Ensure regular follow-up on monitoring data relevant to the IRC EVD child protection program

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

• Design and lead technical assessments to determine needs for child protection program development

• Regularly assess and implement capacity building initiatives for project staff, including a staff capacity building plan to ensure quality child protection programming

• Build the capacity of the child protection team through mentoring, coaching and facilitating technical trainings

• Ensure Child Protection risk mitigation activities are incorporated into other sectors and humanitarian activities, through trainings, advocacy and other mentoring or support

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders – including community leaders, NGOs, UN agencies, community-based organisations and other IRC sectors to enhance multi-agency and multi-sectoral cooperation and coordination.

• Participate actively in external coordination and cluster forums, including supporting IRC as co-lead of the Child Protection Working Group in Beni; participate in internal coordination and management meetings to promote effective and efficient information sharing, problem-solving and decision making

• Ensure that relevant information from coordination meetings is shared internally and with other sectors.

• Ensure the child protection teams understand and are following IRC HR policies, including the Child Safeguarding policy, policies related to PSEA, and code of conduct, and donor Policies and Procedures

• A Bachelor’s degree in Child Protection, Social work, humanities or other related discipline.

• At least 5 years professional experience in Child Protection programming within increasingly complex levels of management responsibility, preferably in an emergency context. Experience in conflict and / or outbreak contexts preferred.

• In-depth understanding of Child Protection international standards, and prevention and response strategies

• Demonstrated experience in Child Protection program start up, including recruiting and building the capacity of a new team, preferably in emergency contexts

• Demonstrated experience in program design and monitoring; experience developing and monitoring budgets, work plans and other program management tools.

• Demonstrated experience facilitating trainings and workshops on Child Protection in emergencies issues

• Experience in working collaboratively and/or advocating with other sectors and teams to promote gender equality and prioritize needs of women and girls

• Demonstrated team management skills with medium or large-size teams; experience with remote team management a plus

• Demonstrated coordination, networking and relationship building skills with key partners including government, donors, INGOs, national and local organizations, UN agencies

• Good interpersonal and team building skills and experience using participatory approaches

• Willingness to travel in remote and conflict affected areas

• Ability to work under pressure.

• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

• Flexibility, adaptability, culturally sensitivity, sense of humour

• Fluency in French and English required.  Knowledge of Swahili is an asset.

Beni is security phase 4 (Red) so staff are expected to respect the various security protocols in place in the province and in country.  Phase 4 requires clear contingency planning in place with staff prepared should hibernation or evacuation be called.   The Deputy Child Protection Coordinator position is an unaccompanied position and will be provided with shared housing/hotel accommodation.