ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children is committed to achieving breakthroughs for children in Tanzania, including violence no longer being tolerated against children. Save the Children Tanzania implements child protection programming in five regions of Tanzania, focusing on prevention of violence against children, child protection system strengthening and assisting children who are on the move in a humanitarian setting (Refugee Response).  The Child Protection Specialist will advance this work to ensure it is technically sound and in line with the global guidance and relevant Common Approaches.  The Child Protection Specialist will provide technical support and leadership to staff and partners, including the Government of Tanzania, drawing on current global evidence, good practices and Save the Children’s standardised approaches.  She/he will work with the Director of Program Development and Quality and other technical specialists (Education, Child Rights Governance, Health & Nutrition) to position and grow the child protection portfolio in line with Save the Children Tanzania’s strategic plan for 2019-21. 

She/he must bring strong technical leadership, interpersonal and communication skills and a proven track record of working with child protection issues in development and humanitarian settings. The post holder should also have a solid understanding of the child protection sector and government structures (national and local level) in Tanzania and some of the current challenges to enforce, protect and fulfill child rights in the country, linked to national action plans, strategies, tools and stakeholders.

 

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Save the Children has been operational in Tanzania since 1986 with an initial presence in Zanzibar and now extending to the Mainland with multi-sector programming.  Save the Children Tanzania currently implements child protection programming in Shinyanga, Mbozi, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and in Kigoma as part of the Burundian Refugee Response. The Child Protection Specialist will play a lead role in: new business development, including the design of new proposals; ensuring staff and partners have the tools required to implement high-quality child protection programming; monitoring program implementation and provision of technical support to implementation teams and partners; and input to evaluation processes. The Child Protection Specialist will also represent Save the Children in national Technical Working Groups and other similar forums. The Specialist will also be the primary focal point between the Country Office and Save the Children’s Child Protection Global Theme.

Reports to: Director of Programme Development and Quality

Staff directly reporting to this post:  None.

Dimensions: The job has five core functions: strategy, quality programming, resource mobilisation, monitoring and evaluation, and advocacy and representation.  The job also requires actions to incorporate gender equality, child rights and child participation throughout the spectrum of humanitarian to development.

 

 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Strategy:

• Provide overall oversight and strategic guidance, strong leadership and technically sound decision-making processes in line with the Tanzania Strategic Plan 2019-21.
• Work with Education, Child Rights Governance and Health & Nutrition Specialists to integrate child protection into these other strategic areas of work as part of holistic programming.
• Lead on development of CP sub-thematic strategy for CP in line with Save the Children’s Country Strategic Plan for Tanzania, with support and guidance from the Director of Programme Development and Quality (D/PDQ).
• Lead in implementing and realising practical plans of actions as part of country annual planning process.
• Contribute to strategic discussions regarding child protection and participation in the Country Office.

Technical Programme Quality:

Based on guidance and in coordination with the D/PDQ

• Use Save the Children’s Common Approaches as a first point of reference in the design of child protection programming, ensuring they are in line with relevant national policies and guidelines
• Provide development and humanitarian implementation teams, including partners, with training and tools to deliver child protection projects with quality (e.g. Quality Benchmarks). Provide continuous support throughout the project cycle.
• Provide oversight and technical inputs and lead on the emerging CP interventions in the country including psychosocial support and case management, protection for children on the move, and  putting an end to harmful traditional practices, exploitative forms of child labour and child trafficking
• Participate in Routine Award Review meetings of child protection projects, or those with critical child protection elements.
• Work with the MEAL and Awards teams to build the capacity of the implementation teams and partners to produce quality donor reports demonstrating clear achievements and our learnings when delivering child protection programming.
• Review all donor reports on child protection programming for technical soundness
• Collaborate with and liaise with Child Protection Technical Assistants in Save the Children members, coordinating inputs as appropriate for proposal development and projects.

Monitoring and Evaluation  

• Work closely with operations teams and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team to ensure that logical framework and M&E Plans reference Common Approaches and industry standards.
• Provide technical assistance to implementation teams and Partnership Manager when undertaking in technical assessments of implementing partners.
• Carry out routine field visits with TORs and documented trip reports that support the delivery of quality child protection programming.
• Work with MEAL staff, implementation teams and external consultants as required to undertake external evaluations, studies/research and case studies of child protection programming.
• Coordinate innovation and testing of new approaches through operational research and careful documentation of project decisions and outcomes.

Advocacy and Representation:

• Represent Save the Children Tanzania in technical working groups and other national-level technical forums as they pertain to child protection. Ensure D/PDQ and CD are included in updates on critical discussions in these forums.
• Represent Save the Children Tanzania in the Child Protection Global Theme and disseminate information to the PDQ  and implementation teams to ensure the Country Office is aligned with the global movement and accepted good practices (e.g. Common Approaches). 
• Identify child protection advocacy issues that are relevant to our strategy and to the children we work with for example; protection of children who are on the move and those affected by conflicts
• Participate in, or organise representation, at key opportunities and events for Save the Children to position itself as the leading organisation for child protection in Tanzania. 
• Work with Advocacy and Campaigns Manager and operations teams in developing national and local advocacy plans, including but not limited to the Global Campaign.
• Support implementation teams as requested and build their capacity to lead representation and advocacy in technical, government and civil society fora within Tanzania for child protection.

Resource Mobilisation:

• Work together with Awards, PDQ and implementation teams to design high quality, cost-effective, innovative and sustainable project proposals and concept notes related to child protection.
• Proactively seek information on potential donor sources and share project opportunities in child protection with PDQ, Awards and operations teams linking to Country Strategic Plan for 2019-21.
• Support in the development of budgets with Finance, Awards and operations teams to ensure technical resources are available (human and project activities) for proposed activities.

 

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

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.
• Demonstrates honesty and transparency in all financial matters.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Degree in social sciences related to child protection or related field
• At least 5 years of professional experience in Child Protection.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in child rights and child participation
• Knowledge of current national debates on Child Protection policies and practices
• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing relationships and funding from donors or other development partners.
• Prior experience in a leading role in the development of competitive and complex projects.
• Demonstrated experience working with international, national and/or regional level government structures to strengthen the capacity of the government to deliver services.
• Proven experience in programme development, project cycle management and monitoring and evaluation related to the sector including writing up high-quality project/donor reports.
• Proven experience and skills in advocacy and building work relationships with local/national governments and influencing institutional, private and/or corporate donors.
• Solid experience and excellent skills in leading and building the capacity of systems, staff, partners and other actors related to CP.
• Ability to extensively travel for project monitoring and provide on-site technical support to field teams.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching.
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
• Experience of building personal networks, resulting in securing new opportunities for the organisation.
• Experience solving complex issues through analysis, the definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in of others.
• Commitment to the Save the Children values and willingness to abide by Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy.
• Ability to read, write and speak in English.

DESIRABLE:

• Exposure to NGO project design and delivery.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets
• Experience in solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in.
• Swahili language skills and experience working in East Africa.

 

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.