Coordinator of the National Program for Child Protection 2022-2026



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Background:  The National Programme for Child Protection 2022-2026 (NPCP) is currently under development and, once approved, will play a key role in shaping the direction of programming and investments in vulnerable children and families in Moldova.  Previous efforts to develop and implement national child protection priorities have demonstrated that strong coordination, communication, and monitoring and evaluation are key to successful implementation.  As a result, the USAID-funded global initiative Changing the Way We CareSM (CTWWC), in partnership with UNICEF and Data for Impact (D4I), plan to staff and support a Coordinator position for the NPCP.  This position will be seconded to government with significant technical support from and engagement with CTWWC, UNICEF, and D4I.

Job Summary:  The Coordinator of the National Programme for Child Protection (Coordinator) will be responsible for engaging diverse stakeholders from government, civil society, faith communities, international organizations, and donors in the achievement of the objectives of the NPCP for 2022-2026.

This is a managerial and coordination role more than technical role, with responsibility for establishing and coordinating formal and informal working groups, task forces, communities of practice, and advisory boards all working together to achieve objectives.  The Coordinator will set an annual work plan and hold groups accountable to achieving that plan, often with influence rather than authority.  The Coordinator will work closely with relevant technical leads to ensure implementation of the NPCP as well as monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning for the NPCP is done according to standards.   

Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

  • Serve as the primary focal point for coordinating the implementation of the NPCP, working intersectorally with different ministries and central and decentralized government structures as well as non-government organizations, faith communities, international organizations, and donors.
  • Represent and report on the work done under the NPCP in various meetings, conferences, consultations, and working groups, as needed.
  • Coordinate information-sharing about activities, progress, technical materials, and other communications in support of the NPCP.
  • Assist in or lead, as appropriate, the preparation of periodic reports, studies, background papers, policy guidelines, correspondence, presentations, governmental documents, etc. related to the implementation of the NPCP.
  • Ensure adequate participation and engagement of a wide range of stakeholders in the implementation and monitoring of the NPCP including affected communities, local authorities, NGO and community-based partners, faith communities, etc.
  • Establish and coordinate technical working groups and task forces, as relevant, aligned to the objectives/sub-objectives of the NPCP consisting of diverse participants from government, civil society, faith communities, and others.
  • Assure that groups participating in the NPCP are contributing to shared measurements in a complete, valid, accurate, consistent, timely and secured way.
  • Assure that groups contributing to the NPCP do so in accordance with minimum international standards for program quality and safeguarding.
  • Liaise to donors to promote investment into key priorities and actions of the NPCP.
  • Promote the participation of People with Lived Experience (PWLE) in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the NPCP.
  • Provide leadership and direction to teams contributing to the implementation of the NPCP.

Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree Social Work, Child protection, or other relevant social sciences
  • At least ten years of programming experience, including significant team management preferably in the field of social protection.
  • At least five years of experience implementing internationally-funded projects, preferably in child protection
  • At least five years of experience working with international and national organizations and central government
  • Strong understanding of the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children and commitment to family-based care
  • Experience developing effective working relations including successful advocacy with a range of stakeholders from government agencies, international organizations, donors, academics and thought-leaders, and community-based and grass roots organizations
  • Excellent, planning and coordination skills with the ability to effectively organize a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities
  • Strong communication and interpersonal competencies, with experience leading a multi-cultural, multi-location values-driven team
  • Excellent analytical, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing skills
  • Experience in, and commitment to, the implementation of robust performance management and team capacity building

 

Required Languages – Fluency in Romanian and English required, Russian a plus.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel to locations across Moldova as well as periodic travel internationally. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

  • Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
  • Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
  • Strong written and oral communication skills
  • Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
  • Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Supervisory Responsibilities: No direct supervisory responsibilities, however, the position will work with a team of technical advisors and support officers to collectively carry-out the duties of the position.

Key Working Relationships:  

Internal: CTWWC Chief of Party, CTWWC MEAL Officer, Operations Manager, and Project Assistant in Moldova.  CTWWC global technical advisors and global directors based in world-wide locations.  D4I Chief of Party in Moldova, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, and other UNICEF and D4I team members.

External: In Moldova: the National Council for Child Rights Protection, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, international donors contributing to child protection, Moldovan NGOs, civil society organizations, faith-based communities, and academic institutions active in child protection. Regionally and globally, other child protection and care reform leaders, associations, platforms, and initiatives.  

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.  

The talent acquisition procedures associated with this position reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 

How to Apply:

Please send both a CV and a Cover Letter to CTWWCMoldova@crs.org by 10 November 2021 at 17.00 (GMT+3).  Only candidates selected for next steps will be contacted. Thank you.