Iraq: Project Manager Child Protection

INTERSOS is an independent non-profit humanitarian organization committed to assist the victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, and respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable and unprotected people.

1. Terms of reference

Job title: Project Manager Child Protection

Location: Erbil (approximately 30% of the time) and Kirkuk (approximately 70% of the time) with regular visits to the project locations in Kirkuk Governorate depending on the security situation, as well as ad hoc missions to other Iraqi Governorates, if necessary

Reporting to: Head of Mission

Starting date: 1^st of September 2016

Duration of contract: 12 months

Dependents: No

2. General context of the project

The 2016 Iraq Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) both recognize the humanitarian crisis in Iraq as a ‘protection crisis’ because of widespread violence, torture, mass execution, systematic rape and other forms of gender-based violence against civilians, in particular in IS-controlled areas. Children are the most heavily impacted by the crisis: grave violations of children’s rights have increased a staggering 99% in the period from June 2014 to May 2015, compared to the same period in the previous year. Moreover, on-going conflict and displacement have dismantled traditional family structures and community support systems, while critically compromising access to protection and education for children and youths.

According to recent IOM/DTM data, Kirkuk Governorate hosts approximately 376,680 IDPs: women represent the 30%, men the 25%, girls the 25% and boys the 20% of the whole IDP population. Nearly half (45.5%) of school-age children are not in school.

Lack of access to education directly impacts children's safety and well-being. During and after conflict, all children are exposed to violence. However, girls and boys who are out of school are at much higher risk of violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect, including sexual violence and exploitation; recruitment or use by armed forces or groups; hazardous child labor and involvement in criminal activities.

Targeted education, psychosocial and protection activities are therefore crucial in mitigating the impact of conflict and displacement on children and youths in the target area of intervention. The project designed by INTERSOS in partnership with INSAN Iraqi Society for Relief and Development – a Local NGO - intends to contribute towards enhancing the overall protective environment by ensuring that children and youths have increased access to learning opportunities and psychosocial activities, as well as timely access to appropriate protection services, while contextually promoting identification and prevention of girls and boys who are out of school or at risk of dropping out.

3. Tasks and responsibilities

The Project Manager is in charge of the coordination and supervision of the project activities, ensuring timely and quality implementation and monitoring in compliance with relevant Standard Operating Procedures, International Principles and Guidelines, International Standards, INTERSOS Fundamental Charter and Code of Ethics. Moreover, the Project Manager is in charge of supporting the Head of Mission, Protection Coordinator and Education Coordinator in the development, implementation and evaluation of the mission strategy and programme, with special focus on the emergency response in Kirkuk Governorate.

Main responsibilities:

1. Planning, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the project activities (capacity building of child protection community based structures, community dialogue and mobilization, community awareness raising on education and child protection; alternative learning opportunities, including remedial classes, life-skills sessions and vocational training; house to house visits and comprehensive assistance to child protection cases identified as at high risk or extremely vulnerable, including referral to most appropriate specialized services available; dissemination of key information and messages through outreach activities) which will be implemented in partnership with the Local Partner and through existing community based structures, ensuring timely and quality delivery of the targets set as per approved project proposal.

2. Coordinating and supervising the project national staffs and volunteers, ensuring training and continuous on-the-job coaching.

3. Maintaining relations pertaining to the project activities with the donor, local authorities, relevant institutions and key stakeholders at the governorate and field level.

More specifically:

Project activities planning, coordination, monitoring and evaluation

1. Define the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed with the Local Partner, the Kirkuk Department of Youth and Sport, and other relevant local counterparts in the project framework.

2. In cooperation with the Local Partner, prepare, manage and regularly update the project activities work plan and related financial plan, procurement plan, ensuring timely and quality implementation in compliance with the defined project strategy, as well as INTERSOS and donor guidelines.

3. Coordinate with INTERSOS and the Local Partner’s logistic, administration and finance staffs to procure all equipment, supplies and materials, as well as works and services, required to implement the project activities, ensuring cost efficiency and accountability in compliance with INTERSOS and donor regulations and procedures.

4. Supervise the use and keep updated records of the project resources.

5. In cooperation with the Local Partner, continuously analyze the geographical distribution of the target populations, the needs and the gaps in the project area to define the exact locations of intervention.

6. Define, manage and supervise the informed movements in the field of the mobile teams.

7. Work closely with the Protection Coordinator and Education Coordinator to ensure the quality implementation of the project activities from the technical point of view.

8. If the security situations allow, undertake field visits to the project locations as needed to continuously monitor the progress and the quality implementation of the project activities.

9. Coordinate and supervise the project national staffs and volunteers, promote their capacity building and evaluate their performance.

10. In cooperation with the Local Partner, prepare the project narrative and financial reports, according to INTERSOS and donor requirements.

11. Establish and maintain collaborative relations with relevant donor officers, local authorities, local institutions, project stakeholders and other actors working in the project area.

12. Participate in meetings with relevant donor officers, programme and financial, according to the guidelines of the Head of Mission.

13. Facilitate field visits by donor missions.

4. Required profile/experience

· Advanced university degree in social science or education related fields such as Political Science, International Relations, International Development Cooperation, Sociology, Pedagogy or similar subjects. A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

· At least 3 years of professional work experience in management of projects in humanitarian and/or development contexts, including at least 1 year in emergency settings.

· Knowledge of Child Protection and Education in Emergency, as well as Psychosocial Support, fundamental concepts and principles

· Previous experience in managing child protection and/or education in emergency projects with large staff teams

· Proficient knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

Technical competencies:

· Ability to set high standards for quality of work

· Ability to analyze and integrate information from a wide range of sources

· Ability to administrate funds, logistics and human resources

· Excellent communication skills, both oral and written

· Mastery of IT tools (MS Office package, internet, e-mail, etc.)

Behavioral competencies:

· Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with analytic approach

· Ability to take initiative and work autonomously

· Ability to achieve results effectively, considering the need for speed, scale and quality

· Ability to integrate and work well within multiethnic and multicultural teams

· Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships

Qualified applicants are requested to submit their curriculum vitae, motivation letter and 2 referencesto:recruitment@intersos.org, specifying in the subject ‘PM CP Kirkuk_Iraq”**

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview