Community Child Protection Project Officer (x8) – SOS Children’s Village

Application deadline closed.

Job Description

SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES MALAWI

PROTECTING CHILDREN AT RISK OF LOSING PARENTAL CARE PROJECT

COMMUNITY CHILD PROTECTION PROJECT OFFICER

Introduction

SOS Children’s Villages Malawi is a non-governmental child protection and development organization established in Malawi in 1991. Our vision is that every child belongs to a family and grows up with love, respect, and security. Our mission is to build families for children in need, we help them shape their own futures, and we share in the development of their communities. In pursuit of the vision and mission, we work in collaboration with the Government of Malawi and other partners to implement various projects focusing on child protection and development; entrepreneurship and vocational skills training for young people; livelihood improvement for vulnerable households, child, and youth education, as well as advocacy in the areas of child rights and protection. Our programme coverage is country-wide, operating from Chikwawa, Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzimba and Mzuzu.

Beginning 2025, SOS Children’s Villages Malawi will be implementing a 5 year project focusing on protecting children at risk of losing parental care. The project has the following objectives: preventing parent-child separation in high-risk families; and ensuring that children in these families receive adequate care. The project will address main risks that affect presence, capacity, and stability of care through supporting and influencing caregivers. The project will also strengthen structures beyond family/household unit through supporting Community-Based Child Protection structures (CBCPs), and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). In view of the new project, SOS Children’s Villages Malawi intends to recruit community level Project Officer responsible for project coordination and implementation.

Role purpose

The Project Officer will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination of the Protecting Children at Risk of Losing Parental Care Project in line with organizational policies, procedures, and strategy, and in line with key implementing stakeholders. The position will be on a fixed term contract of 3 years renewable dependent on funding availability and SOS Children’s Village is looking for 8 positions (2 positions per district) to be based in the following districts, Mzimba North (TA Kampingo-Sibande), Lilongwe Rural (TA Chadza), Blantyre Rural (TA Kunthembwe), Chikwawa Rural (TA Ngabu). Applicants should be willing to be based and operate in rural set-up as per mentioned project districts.

Key tasks and responsibilities

a) Responsible for project set up and its overall coordination

Undertake key stakeholder mapping; coordinate the formation and development of community project task teams, ensuring inclusion and diversity
b) Coordinate planning, budgeting, and implementation
Undertake activity planning and budgeting, ensuring budget and plans are executed on time and guided by project proposal and plans.
c) Establish effective networking and partnerships with the community, local authorities, and other service providers
Explore project partnerships at community and district levels in pursuit of project goals and outputs
d) Undertake ongoing monitoring & evaluation of the programmes’ activities
Undertake ongoing project monitoring and on-time reporting regarding project progress, support project evaluation.
e) Manage the appropriate and efficient utilisation of resources
Put in place measures to monitor resource use, to spending aligns to approved activities and budget.

Role qualifications, experience

a) Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Community Development and any other related disciplines

b) At least 5 years’ experience in implementing community development or child development related programmes
c) Sound understanding of child rights-based programming, child development, livelihood and community development.
d) Good technical writing and reporting
e) Good computer skills, especially Microsoft Office 365 packages
f) Having a motorbike driving license and willingness to ride will be an added advantage.
g) Good understanding and ability to apply community development participatory methodologies.

Desired attributes

a) Leadership and organizational skills
b) Self-starter
c) Ability to work in a team.
d) Respect for diversity
e) Should be willing to be based and operate in rural set-up as per mentioned project districts.

f) Ability to work with minimum supervision.

How to apply

Interested persons should submit their applications and detailed Curriculum Vitae with three traceable referees via the following email address: recruitment.sosmw@sos-malawi.org
Please ensure that you include your full contact details including telephone numbers. Closing date for receiving applications is on 10 November 2024. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

“SOS Children’s Villages Malawi has zero-tolerance neither on sexual exploitation, harassment, and abuse nor fraud and corruption, amongst other safeguarding aspects. SOS Children’s Villages Malawi also provide equal employment opportunities to all employees & qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or class. The successful candidate will be required to complete safer recruitment checks including police and reference checks to help verify their suitability to work for SOS Children’s Villages Malawi.

SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES MALAWI IS AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER, ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.