Child Protection Coordinator at Save the Children Nigeria

Job Title: Child Protection Coordinator

Child Safeguarding

• Level 3 – the responsibilities of the CP coordinator will have regular contact with or access to children or young people.
• As part of these responsibilities the post holder will support the establishment of child safeguarding systems, promote a culture of keeping children safe, and ensure that potential harm to children (by our own staff and/or because of how we do our work) is identified and addressed on an ongoing basis.  
• The post holder should report and respond to interventions as determined by position related responsibilities identified in the Child Safeguarding Policy.

Role Purpose

• The CP coordinator with the support of the Technical Advisor and the BHA Program Manager plays a key role in developing strategy, partnerships and providing oversight on day-to-day project implementation.
• The coordinator will provide technical support to the BHA- Integrated multi-sectoral lifesaving assistance project in Yobe state within the Save the Children country program.
• S/he will oversee the child protection project activities, ensuring effective planning, implementation and monitoring at the field level.

Key Areas of Accountability

• Support the implementation of child protection activities in line with international standards, national policies, and Save the Children’s CP minimum standards.
• Ensure case management services to vulnerable children, including unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), survivors of violence, and children at risk.
• Monitor and document protection trends and incidents; contribute to protection needs assessments and situation analyses.
• Support the identification and strengthening of appropriate community-based child protection mechanisms.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor program activities, provide technical support, and ensure quality and accountability
• Coordinate with other sectors (Health, Nutrition, WASH, CVA,) to ensure child protection is integrated into the broader program.
• Participate in child protection sub-sector coordination meetings and contribute to inter-agency referrals and joint assessments.
• Liaise with local authorities, community leaders, civil society organizations, and partner NGOs to strengthen community engagement and referral pathways.
• Support training and mentoring of caseworkers, community volunteers, child protection committees, and partners on child safeguarding, case management, psychosocial support, and referral processes.
• Contribute to the development of child protection training materials and tools adapted to the local context
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of child protection cases and interventions using appropriate case management systems.
• Contribute to the development of timely progress reports, success stories, and lessons learned.
• Support accountability mechanisms by engaging children and caregivers in feedback and complaint processes.

General:

• The CP coordinator will be responsible for supporting designing and following up with the technical aspects of the project implementation, strengthening the referral system as well as providing capacity building, and technical expertise.
• The CP coordinator is the key member of the child protection team, expected to possess proven project delivery capacity, effective team management, partner management and integration of CP programming in other sectors.
• S/he must have a strong background and knowledge on child rights, child protection integration, and CP system strengthening.  
• S/he will assure quality of programming, adequate coordination and communication on CP activities as well as ensure that SCI support meet the inter-agency guidelines for referrals and the minimum standards for child protection, MHPSS and Gender Based Violence in humanitarian actions.
• In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the coordinator will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
• S/he will ensure quality delivery of programme activities, for example, monitoring against log frames, budget forecast and reporting and monitoring on the Budget. 
• Prepare timely programme and donor reports for child protection project activities in compliance with internal and external requirements.
• Work closely with Save the Children’s CP team, contribute lessons learnt and best practice experiences from the project inform SC’s strategic planning and the design of future programming strategy and direction, including funding proposals
• Participate in regular meetings with government, local authorities, partners and other stakeholders to draw lessons, share experiences and monitor progress of the project. 
• Ensure effective coordination and collaboration with key stakeholders and partners at field level – NGOs, civil society organizations, community groups, and others
• Coordinate and liaise with field and national support teams to ensure quality project support in HR, logs, procurement, finance etc
• Manage project field activities, ensuring project objectives are being achieved and ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of our field work. 
• Ensure all documentation, reports, and records are maintained per agreed procedure, and information is provided on community activities as required.
• Lead and participate in the CP assessment and analysis process
• Must adhere to the child safeguarding and protection policies and reporting standards.
• Other ad hoc tasks as requested by Line Manager.

General: 

• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

Skills and Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, 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 personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, 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.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Social Work or relevant field experience. 
• At least three (4) years post NYSC relevant experience in child protection programming
• Demonstrable commitment to a holistic vision of children’s welfare
• Substantial management experience, preferably in emergencies 
• Excellent written and spoken English; local language skills a major advantage
• Demonstrable competence in report writing 
• Experience of financial planning and expenditure monitoring as applied to grants management 
• Experience of working with communities, and supporting their participation, ownership and empowerment
• Strong representational and communication skills sensitive to the cultural and military/political environment
• The ability to plan and ensure the implementation of projects, and to oversee the management and report on resources effectively.
• Able to work calmly under pressure in a rapidly changing context
• Proven team management skills 
• Adaptability and flexibility; ability and willingness to live in the field
• Competent in Outlook, Word and Excel
• Commitment to upholding Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy, and other Global Policies.

Working Contacts:

• External: The CP officer will be required to have regular contact with other similar organizations, children, community, and government departments.
• Internal: The CP officer will have direct relationship with all staff and management at all levels in ensuring the organizational policies and procedures are adhered to and complied with.    

Application Instructions:

The application deadline is on 17th June, 2025; 12:59 AM. Therefore, qualified and interested candidates can “CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION” It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply successfully for this vacancy.