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Liberia Emergency Education & Child Protection Manager

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The IRC has worked in Liberia since 1996. IRC Liberia currently implements post-conflict development programming in Lofa, Nimba and Montserrado counties to implement Health, Child and Youth Protection and Development (CYPD), Gender Based Violence prevention programming.

The Child and Youth Protection and Development (CYPD) unit comprises three sub-sectors - Education, Child Protection and Youth and Livelihoods. Working in partnership with local communities, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Gender and Development, and the Ministry of Labor, the IRC Liberia CYPD program aims to increase access to education and livelihood opportunities, and to create a protective environment for children and youth.

IRC Liberia is implementing an emergency project titled “Protection of Ivorian Refugees Children in Nimba County, Liberia”. The IRC’s response focuses on improving child protection networks in host communities, and providing recreational and emergency education activities to refugees and host populations. Existing school facilities are used in the afternoon to organize recreational and educational activities for the Ivorian children while morning shifts are dedicated to regular Liberian classes. Existing libraries and playgrounds have been rehabilitated and provided with equipment and material to deal with the added strain caused by the increased numbers of children. These rehabilitated structures will, of course, remain in the host community once the refugee crisis has subsided. This approach will ensure the host communities accept refugees and integrate them with different community children. The IRC child protection team identifies unaccompanied/separated and vulnerable children and document cases including the inter-agency registration form for unaccompanied and separated children, the UNHCR form and the Best Interest Assessment (BIA). A Best Interest Determination (BID) are conducted using an interagency panel when necessary, according to UNHCR’s BID guidelines for unaccompanied and separated children. The IRC works with child protection focal points (male and female) in each community to identify, monitor, follow-up and refer cases as needed.

In order to provide care and support to children without an appropriate caretaker, the IRC identifies a pool of foster families in the communities. Foster families receive training on child protection to avoid abuse and exploitation of the children and to ensure a nurturing environment for children recovering from trauma. The IRC child protection officers will monitor and provide follow-up services and referrals every two weeks for foster families. .

Position Description The Emergency Child Protection Manager in Liberia is an opportunity to develop your skills as an overall manager of a complex project. The position includes several responsibilities, project implementation, development of work plans, monitoring of project spending, monitoring and reporting, staff supervision, representation and internal and external coordination.

The Emergency Child Protection Manager in Liberia will be based in the Karnplay office in Nimba County to supervise project activities with frequent travel to Sanniquellie, Ganta and Saclepea to attend coordination meeting. The Emergency Child Protection Manager in Liberia will report to the CYPD Coordinator in Monrovia.

Responsibilities   

• Develop an overall project work plan as well as monthly work plan for project implementation based on the logframe. • Coordinate the provision of materials (UNICEF boxes, learning materials, etc) with logistic and partners. • Organize and facilitate the trainings of teachers, local authorities and community leaders on child protection • Ensure the project build on existing structures (PTA, CWC, etc) and positive initiatives from the community.

Monitoring, Evaluating and Reporting • Conduct regular monitoring visits to project sites to monitor progress of implementation • Compile and submit monthly narrative and progress reports based on the logframe to the CYPD Coordinator • Develop donor reports for submission to the Grants Unit • Participate in project evaluation with technical support from CYPD Coordinator • Develop project spending plan • Review monthly Budget versus Actual and monitor project spending

Staff Supervision and Capacity Building • Supervise team leader in Nimba • Participate in recruitment of new staff if necessary • Conduct training and other capacity building activities such as ongoing mentoring and coaching for project staff • Delegate implementation activities to staff as appropriate • Receive, review and provide feedback on staff work plans and reports on a weekly and monthly basis • Coordinate closely with other CYPD project staff

External Relations • Represent IRC Liberia at relevant coordination meetings • Collaborate closely with Ministry of Education and Ministry of Gender and Development and other stakeholders • Ensure that the Ministry representatives (MoE and MoG) at county and district level are involved

Qualifications The IRC is looking for a motivated individual with strong leadership and communication skills. The ideal candidate will be someone who is highly organized and flexible, able to work under stress in a multicultural environment. The IRC looks for real humanitarian individuals who care for children and feels sympathetic with others’ suffering and needs while respecting their resilience, dignity and capacity. We are looking for a committed individual who will be able to grow within the agency and help others including member of the team and beneficiaries to grow and develop. • Degree in International Development, Education, Child protection or a related field • At least five years experience in managing emergency education and/or child protection programs, including 3 years international experience. • Demonstrated skills in strategic thinking, management and monitoring skills • Ability to work closely with program staff, government officials and the local community • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French • Strong computer and email skills