Coordinator – Child Protection
& Child Rights Governance

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 2: either the post holder will have access to personal data about children and/or young people as part of their work; or the post holder will be working in a ‘regulated’ position (accountant, barrister, solicitor, legal executive); therefore, a police check will be required (at ‘standard’ level in the UK or equivalent in other countries).

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Child Protection Coordinator for Child Protection (CP) and Child Rights Governance (CRG) will provide expert leadership and strategic direction to ensure the successful implementation of the UNICEF funded project "Enhancing Child Rights and Protection Systems in Pakistan". This role will be pivotal in driving the development and execution of child protection frameworks, strengthening community-based protection structures, and enhancing positive parenting practices through effective policy engagement and capacity-building initiatives. Key responsibilities include facilitating the notification of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for child protection, leading the contextualization of child protection prevention frameworks, organizing and conducting stakeholder consultations, and overseeing the finalization and launch of the prevention framework. Additionally, the role involves drafting and facilitating the approval of Terms of Reference (ToRs) for community-based child protection structures, conducting orientation sessions for stakeholders, and leading the development and endorsement of training packages. The Cp Coordinator will also oversee the capacity building of Civil Society Organization (CSO) staff and provide continuous mentoring and support for the rollout of training packages and the Positive Parenting package. A strong understanding of the socio-cultural context of child protection in Pakistan, excellent communication, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills are essential for this role. This role is critical in advancing the safety and well-being of children in Pakistan through strategic policy engagement, capacity building, and the implementation of robust child protection systems. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to:  Project Manager - UNICEF CP & Nutrition

Staff reporting to this post: None

Budget Responsibilities: None

Role Dimensions: The role is expected to foster relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including Save the Children members, the Country Office Programme Development & Quality team, advocacy colleagues, Regional Advisors, technical counterparts in other organisation, donors, academia etc. The role is also expected to engage with internal technical working groups and communities of practice.

Context: Development

Scope: As defined under CO Pakistan Country Strategic Plan 2024-2027

Primary Technical area: Child Protection and Child Rights Governance

Primary Sub technical area: Prevention and Response to Violence against children, empowering children, monitoring and reporting on child rights.

Secondary Sub technical area: Child Protection Systems and promoting civil society voice

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :

Technical Leadership:

1. Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for the implementation of child protection and child rights governance initiatives.
2. Ensure alignment with global standards and national priorities in child protection and rights governance.
3. Strengthen community-based child protection systems and frameworks.
4. Build the capacity of national staff and local partners including CSOs in key technical approaches related to child protection and child rights governance.
5. Lead the contextualization process and approval for the child protection prevention framework and the Positive Parenting package using global and local tools.
6. Facilitate the establishment and notification of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for child protection at National Level.
7. Draft ToRs for thematic working groups on the establishment of community-based child protection structures and positive parenting package.
8. Lead the development of a training package for both community based child protection structures and positive parenting.
9. Conduct the training sessions and oversee the capacity building of Civil Society Organization (CSO) staff on the Positive Parenting training package.
10. Provide continuous mentoring support to the CSO staff on the roll out of the training package
11. Ensure participation in crucial meetings, foster collaboration with stakeholders, advocate for children's rights, and share knowledge for evidence-based policymaking.

 Ensuring Programme Quality (Design & Implementation):

1. Organize and conduct consultations with stakeholders at national, provincial, and community levels to gather input and feedback for program development.
2. Oversee the finalization of the child protection prevention framework based on consultation feedback of the donor and relevant stakeholders and ensure its alignment with national and global standards.
3. Coordinate the official launch of the finalized prevention framework and oversee its dissemination to relevant stakeholders.
4. Develop and finalize comprehensive implementation plans for the prevention framework, ensuring approval by relevant authorities.
5. Facilitate the approval and notification process for the Terms of Reference (ToRs) and conduct orientation sessions for stakeholders on their roles.
6. Ensure the training package for community-based child protection structures is finalized, endorsed by stakeholders, and effectively implemented through capacity-building initiatives.
7. Provide ongoing mentoring and support to Civil Society Organization (CSO) staff for the effective rollout of training packages and the Positive Parenting package.
8. Collaborate with new business development colleagues to identify and pursue funding opportunities, ensuring the integration of child protection and child rights governance into broader programmes.
9. Promote a systems-strengthening approach that supports collaboration with governments and local partners, aiming for impact, scale, and sustainability.
10. Work with Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) teams to conduct quality monitoring, promote gender equality and social justice, and ensure that programme design and implementation reflect a rights-based approach with a strong focus on child participation.

Networking & External Engagement:

1. Represent Save the Children International Pakistan at national and international forums, participating in Technical Working Groups (TWGs) with Ministry of Human Rights, National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC), National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and their provincial bodies and providing technical inputs on ToRs and key policy documents, including strategies and costed implementation plans.
2. Engage in strategic positioning with donors, partners, and government entities in-country, ensuring Save the Children is recognized as a partner of choice in Child Protection and Child Rights Governance, in alignment with Country Office strategy and leadership.
3. Actively participate in national technical coordination and networking bodies, such as child protection clusters and working groups, to influence and learn from others.
4. Strengthen civil society engagement in national dialogues and policy processes to end violence against children by collaborating closely with advocacy and child rights governance colleagues.
5. Ensure that the diverse voices of children, both girls and boys, are equitably heard and represented in child protection initiatives.
6. Represent the program to national and local government representatives, donors, and partner agencies as required.
7. Ensure the quality, clarity, and consistency of technical components in internal and external reports, such as programme reports, situation reports, and internal updates, by working closely with awards, programme implementation, and communications colleagues.
8. Leverage and liaise with technical colleagues from across Save the Children, including technical working groups and centres of excellence, to share learning from the Country Office and integrate global lessons.
9. Foster collaboration with stakeholders, advocate for children's rights, and share knowledge for evidence-based policymaking.
10. Participate in crucial meetings and forums to ensure Save the Children’s perspectives and findings are well-represented and considered in decision-making processes.
11. Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to enhance the impact and sustainability of child protection and child rights governance programs.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds their team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in accordance with the context, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own professional development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares Save the Children’s vision, and engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a national and global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, technical advisors and working groups, Members and external partners and supporters.
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

The post holder must commit to work in an international agency that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion and fights racism, gender inequality and discrimination in all forms; and to model positive behaviour that demonstrate a commitment to equality and respect to all colleagues, partners, and communities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in, Mental Health, Human Rights, Child Development, International Development, social work, or any related field.
• Specializations in child welfare, family services, or community practice are particularly relevant.
  • Professional certifications recognized by international bodies in Child Protection and Child Rights Governance, such as Child Protection in Emergencies (CPIE), Certificate in Child Rights and Child Protection, Certified Child Protection Professional (CCPP), Certificate in Child Rights and Child Protection, Certified Child Welfare Specialist (CCWS) and Trauma-Informed Care Certification is added advantage.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• 5-8 years of experience in leading the design and implementation of development programmes in Child Protection and Child Rights Governance.
• Proven experience in leading the design and implementation of humanitarian and development programmes in Child Protection and Child Rights Governance.
• In-depth understanding of the Child Protection sector in Pakistan.
• Familiarity with child protection systems, social work with children and families, case management, positive parenting, community-level child protection, and integration with education and other sectors.
• Proficiency with tools such as political economy analyses, gender analyses, child rights situation analyses, participatory research methodologies, and human rights-led approaches to programming.
• Successful track record in business development and fundraising with donors like OAK Foundation, Optimus, SIDA, DANIDA, NORAD, USAID, UN, USAID/DoS, UK-FCDO, Irish Aid, Global Affairs Canada, EU, Ford Foundation, and Open Society Institute.
• Demonstrated skills in program design, monitoring, and evaluation, including pathways to sustainable impact at scale.
• Proven experience in child protection and prevention frameworks development and strategy planning.
• Expertise in context, capacity, and policy analysis, and advocacy at regional and international levels to hold duty bearers accountable for children's rights.
• Proficient in networking, representation, and partnership development to promote learning, strengthen civil society, and mobilize resources.
• Ability to generate and use data and evidence for innovation, delivery, learning, and sharing of effective and ineffective practices for children.
• Experience in promoting quality and impact through cross-cutting areas such as gender equality and inclusion, adaptive and safer programming, child rights, disability, migration, and displacement.
• Experience in supporting humanitarian preparedness, response, and recovery.
• Significant experience in training, capacity building, and mentoring.
• Fluent in English with strong writing skills.