Terre des hommes Foundation
Job Title: Help Desk Officer
Job ID : 20230501
Categories: Collaboration
Reports to (Hierarchically): Empowerment Senior Officer
Number of subordinates:
- 1 Social Empowerment Assistants,
- 51 child protection volunteers
Location: Dadaab
Working time in %: 100%
Context: Terre des hommes Foundation is an independent,
neutral, and impartial Swiss organization founded in 1960, dedicated to
bringing about significant and lasting change in the lives of children and
young people, especially those most at risk.
Tdh ensures their well-being
and the effective implementation of their rights as defined in the Convention
on the Child's Rights and other human rights instruments.
To make a difference, Tdh focus
our efforts on maternal and child health, children and young people in
migration situations, and access to justice. Tdh promotes the active
participation of children and young people to empower them.
We advocate for their rights
and support them in expressing their needs and interests. Tdh works in fragile
contexts and conflict zones, as well as in more stable environments.
Tdh is present in Kenya since
2011. Currently Tdh is providing protection services for children and families
affected by migration, natural crises and poverty in Dadaab refugee camps, in
Garissa County, and in Korogocho informal settlement in Nairobi.
The intervention in Dadaab
refugee camps is focused on prevention and response to child protection needs
while strengthening protection community-based mechanisms in the refugee
operation and its host communities.
In Korogocho informal
settlements, Tdh implements early child development activities and child
protection activities with a strong community-based approach aiming at
decreasing violence against children and strengthening child protection
mechanisms.
Tdh will complement the
Ministry of Health efforts to contribute to reduction in morbidity and
mortality by early detection, referral and provision of appropriate
treatment/management to severe malnourished children (6-59 months), pregnant
and lactating women (PLW). In complement, a WASH component will be
integrated in the activities.
The project will be implemented
in three sub-counties in Garissa County: Dadaab, Garissa Township and Lagadera.
Tdh will work with Community Health Volunteers at community level, in health
facilities staff and with Sub-County Health Teams to improve early detection,
management, and referral of SAM (Severe Acute Malnutrition) children.
General description of the position: The main purpose of the position is to carry out an
array of age and gender appropriate Advocacy and empowerment interventions
targeting children, parents, caregivers, community leaders, religious leaders,
adolescent boys and girls in both Dadaab Refugee Camps and the neighbouring
eight host community villages while respecting their culture and contextual
sensitivities.
The activities are integrated
in the Dadaab protection system and humanitarian coordination practices and
guidelines. The Helpdesk Officer will work closely with the child protection
volunteers(community workers) who will report directly to him/her.
The main mandate of the Help
Desk Officer will be to ensure that community receive information through
awareness and advocacy campaigns conducted at the help desks and the block
level.
The purpose of his/her
interventions are to strengthen the beneficiary’s ability to develop the
necessary skills and knowledge in prevention of violence, abuse, neglect and
exploitation of children while in the camps also after repatriating to their
country of origin.
Key responsibilities
- Provide capacity to the children, parents, their caregivers
and community members to enhance their knowledge and ability to protect
children from harm.
- To be responsible to conduct proper recording, documentation
for all the children and their caregiver seeking child protection services
and information at the sectional level.
- Provision and Dissémination of appropriate child protection
information to support decision making on voluntary repatriation and
sustained protection for the children remaining in the camps.
- Provide trainings and monitoring to the Community’s-Own
Resource Persons and help desk social workers on behavior change and
General Child protection concerns.
- Supervisers the Social Empowerment Assistants .
- Review and develop child friendly and child focused
protection messages on emerging concerns and threats (with an emphasis on
concerns of undocumented children, children in the Voluntary repatriation
process and special protection cases, specifically prevention of and
support to survivors of harmful traditional practices and SGBV and
inclusion of children with specific needs).
- On a monthly basis, conduct organize information forums
(information clinics) involving other protection partners and service
providers to strengthen the support to individual children.
- Conduct monthly radio shows to provide further information,
and an opportunity to take questions and feedback regarding the
information forums sessions for both Refugee and host communities.
- Organize and facilitate separate adolescent boys and girls
symposiums and peer to peer activities at the child friendly help desks.
- Enhancing Empowerment, Partnership and Advocacy for Child
Safe Repatriation, to access services including CP in camps and host
communities.
- Coordination with UNHCR, Department of refugee services (DRS)
and other humanitarian actors to strengthen referral pathway.
- Supports the recruitment of CP volunteers.
- Reports incidents and difficulties encountered with any CP
staff or community worker to Empowerment Senior Officer or CP project
manager.
- Ensure that assigned activities are appropriately implemented
and, when necessary, ideas on amendments deemed will be shared with the
Empowernment Senior Officer.
- Sharing and provision of appropriate child protection
information to support decision making on voluntary repatriation and
sustained protection for the children remaining in the camp.
- Organize and facilitate separate adolescent boys and girls
symposiums and peer to peer activities at the child friendly help desks.
- Supports in child led advocacy campaigns, mass awareness and
special events throughout the project in close consultation with
empowerment officer and Case work officer.
- Conduct refresher training and mentorship for children (Child
Council members, peer to peer support network members and Children
Ombudsman) to reinforce knowledge on Child Protection topics and provide
information on any emerging issues and camp consolidation to strengthen
child participation on issues affecting them.
- Life skills training for girl mother’s, adolescent boys and
girls, foster parents and provision of start-up kits and nurturing kits
for the girl mother’s babies (0-5). The aim of the training is to enhance
the groups to start their own income generated activities as a source of livelihood
support leading to their self relience.
- Reinforce the capacity of vulnerable foster parents, UASC and
other vulnerable families through cash transfer program, and life-skills
education.
- Participates in a base line, mid term and end term survey and
evaluation of the CP project.
- Facilitate and conduct Project Progress Review Quarterly
meetings and feedback sessions with the various targeted beneficiaries.
- Participates in the identification, mobilisation and training
of community members and other actors to encourage their participation in
different aspects of the project implementation (women, elders, leaders,
youth, children, etc.) at sectional level.
- Contributes and Participates in the preparation and
implementation of special events at community level as well as adolescent
boys and girls tournerment.
Education, technical Knowledge and Experience
- • Two years work experience , including in community
development , advocacy and networking.
• University degree in Community development, Social Work, Social sciences, International studies and other relevant training qualification.
• Trainings in Behaviour change communication, life skills, advocacy and empowerment is an added advantage.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Kiswahili. Ability to communicate in Somali is a plus.
• Proven ability in implementation community development or advocacy initiative.
• Experience in designing and delivering trainings.
• Good understanding of the rights –based approach , conflict sensitivity and DO NO HARM, and gender justice.
• Strong analytical skills, with ability to think innovatively and operate strategically.
• Flexibility ,stamina and ability to work under pressure and beyond regular working hours if necessary.
• Personal qualities that ensure effective work with communities as well as self-management, including flexibility, respect for others , and sense of humour.
Skills
- Required qualities: proactive, autonomous, rigorous,
organized, good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Competency in computer applications and packages with Good IT
knowledge (Microsoft Office, Internet).
Abuse Prevention Policy - Operational Risk
Management
- Commit to respect Tdh Risk Management Policies including:
Child Safeguarding Policy, Safety and Security Policy and
Anti-Fraud/Corruption Policy, Whistle Blowing Policy
- Commit to ensure the best implementation possible of the Tdh
Risk Management Policies.
- Commit to inform supervisors and to deal with any cases,
allegations, or possibility of transgression, even potential, of the Tdh
Risk Management Policies.
Staff employed to work in Tdh will be expected to
have:
- Professional conduct that reflects proper behavior in
accordance with local culture and tradition.
- Ensure the moral protection of the name of Terre des hommes
and defend in all circumstance
- Commits to observe discretion on any information related to
the organization functioning and beneficiary related issues.
- He/she will conduct his or her duties in respect of the
Charter of Terre des hommes and the Tdh Child Protection Policy.
Other:
- Knowledge of the Dadaab Refugee context.
- Work with the Empowerment Senior Officer to provide accurate
and timely activity reports.
- Maintain and ensure a culture of strict confidentiality
between Tdh staff and non Tdh employees
Application modalities:
Interested candidates who meet
the criteria above are encouraged to send their applications letter and
detailed CVs to KEN.recruitment@tdh.ch Candidates are required to indicate the
position title and location on the subject line of the email when applying.
Kindly note only applications
sent to this email address will be considered.
Only shortlisted candidates
will be contacted.
Female candidates are
encouraged to apply.
Closing date for the
application of this position is 18th May 2023.
Tdh’s recruitment and selection
procedures reflect our commitment to protect children’s rights, which includes
the prevention of all forms of child abuse.
Tdh is an equal opportunity
employer
