Poland: Child Protection Monitoring Officer

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving are and life changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home. The IRC has been working in Poland since March 2022 responding to the basic needs of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine with cash assistance and protection support.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Child Protection Monitor will be responsible for providing direct support for the implementation of child protection monitoring and identification and referral of vulnerable children in need of specialized assistance. She/he will travel regularly to program locations within and outside Warsaw to collect data from child refugees from Ukraine (and other refugees in Poland) using pre-designed tools, including individual surveys, focus group discussion, key informant interviews, and observation. These tools will contain questions related to child safety and power, including on their legal stay and access to documentation and information, perceived safety related concerns, coping strategies, barriers preventing access to basic services, among other. These data will be analyzed at central level and inform program strategies and advocacy. In addition to this, the Child Protection Monitor will refer highly vulnerable children in need of immediate assistance to specialized services using inter-agency referral pathways. Periodically, the Child Protection Monitor will organize child-friendly, gender sensitive and age-appropriate information sessions with the refugee and host community children to raise awareness on child protection risks and provide guidance on access to information and services.

**Major Responsibilities:**

Major responsibilities of the Protection Monitor (not exhaustive) are listed below:

• To regularly carry out child protection monitoring activities using pre-designed child protection monitoring tools including surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interview and observation with the child refugees and Persons of Concern (PoC).
• To conduct child-friendly, gender sensitive and age-appropriate protection information and awareness sessions on predetermined topics related to safety, power, administrative processes, and access to services
• To collaborate with the Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV), Protection and Rule of Law (PROL), Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) and Livelihoods teams of the IRC, and other agencies to identify child refugees and PoC for monitoring purposes and providing protection-related information and referral to refugees and PoC.
• To conduct needs assessments using predetermined data collection tools in a child-friendly and appropriate manner.
• To prepare interview reports, focus group discussion and key informant interview notes.
• To prepare weekly/monthly reports and timely submit to the supervisor for review and further actions.
• To contribute to
• Any other tasks as may be requested by the supervisor or the Protection Management team.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position administratively reports to: Senior Protection Analysis Officer
• Position technically reports to: Child Protection Manager
• Position indirectly reports to: PROL Manager, Senior Responsive Information Officer
• Position directly supervises: N/A

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

• Internal: PROL, GBV teams in Protection, and ERD (cash and livelihoods) team
• External: UNHCR, UNICEF, Protection Working Group and other Protection Actors

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Degree of Bachelor of Development Studies, Bachelor of Laws Degree, Degree of Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration, and other related academic qualifications.

Work Experience:

• At least one year of prior professional experience in a similar post, preferably with an international organization or local NGO.
• Experience in working directly with children, especially children from vulnerable and marginalized groups.
• Good protection (safety) and/or human rights background and knowledge of refugee context in Europe a distinct advantage.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Strong management and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of child protection and safeguarding concerns as well as child rights.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team, as well as independently.
• Flexible and able to work in a dynamic and diverse environment.
• Must be computer literate (Microsoft Word and Excel).
• Dynamic, initiative taker and solution-focused able to adapt to a mobile work environment.

Language Skills:

• Knowledge of Ukrainian required.
• Good drafting and oral communication skills in English.
• Knowledge of Russian or other language from East Europe a distinct advantage.

Standards for Professional Conduct:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way-Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

How to Apply: 

Application link: https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/44776?c=rescue