Country: Bulgaria
Closing date: 10 Dec 2016
Job title:Child Protection Specialist
Location:Bulgaria - Sofia
Supervisor: Regional Child Protection Project Manager
Duration: 3 months starting from 10th December 2016, to be potentially renewed
Contract: Consultancy (indicative monthly fees: between 2’500 and 3’000 Euros), with professional travel and other logistic costs covered by Terre des hommes
Note: This position is conditioned to availability of funding
Context: In the context of the refugee crisis in Europe after the EU-Turkish deal and the closure of the borders in March 2016, about 60’000 people are stranded in Greece, and 7’000 in Bulgaria. As of the beginning of November 2016, Bulgarian official statistical data indicate a drastic increase in the number of asylum seekers, accommodated in the Bulgarian State Agency for Refugees (SAR) facilities. The total capacity of all premises has been exceeded with an occupancy rate of 106% on 1st November 2016 and this situation of overpopulated migrant centres, while living conditions continue to deteriorate, is likely to worsen in the coming months.
Additional concern is raised by the fact that one third of all asylum seekers are children (2’043). Among these children, at least 625 are unaccompanied minors (UAMs), of which 108 are UAMs under 14 years old. There are still important gaps and growing concerns concerning UAMs care and protection in Bulgaria (lack of identification procedures, of SOP’s, of BIC, of legal guardian appointment, of alternative care solution, risk of human trafficking, risk of being sexually abused, risk of being in detention, etc). There is an urgent need of reporting and advocacy activities regarding the situation of UAMs stranded in Bulgaria.
Furthermore, there is a flagrant lack of capacities of Bulgarian NGOs, notably in the field of protection of refugee children, as well as in project cycle management, financial management, reporting, M&E, etc. The few actors working efficiently in the field of Child Protection are mainly residential care personnel for abandoned children and are not trained to work with asylum seekers and refugees. There are huge needs of training and capacity building in the field of Child Protection in general and specifically in CPIE, case-management, PFA, identification of sexually abused children, trafficked children or children at risk to be harmed, etc.
The post is based in Sofia, Bulgaria, with potential movements in various locations in Bulgaria and in other Balkan countries, specifically in Greece.
General Description
The main purpose of the position, full time based in Sofia, is to supervise the implementation of the regional IRC/DFID project “Making a Difference for Refugee Children in Europe” for the part implemented in Bulgaria.
While supervising the project, another important task will be to insure local capacity building through training sessions, where not only the local implementing partner, the Bulgarian Red Cross would attend, but also other actors involved in child protection would be invited: SAR personnel and local NGOs staff.
In addition, the CP Specialist will also work on fostering coordination initiatives among protection actors in Bulgaria (IOs, INGOs and local NGOs) and proposing coordinated actions.
He/she works in complete line with the CP project strategy defined for the intervention.
He/she works in close coordination with the governmental and non-governmental agencies, with the cluster system, to develop, monitor and orientate the CP project.
He/she works with all relevant authorities at district and community level (civil, religious, police and all other services) for a better implementation, acceptance and ownership in improving the conditions to protect children.
He/she will conduct his or her duties in respect of the Charter of Terre des hommes and the Tdh Child Protection Policy.
Terre des hommes expects that its contractors’ professional conduct reflect proper behaviour in accordance with local culture and traditions. The incumbent assures the moral protection of the name of Terre des hommes and defends in all circumstances the interests of the movement.
Tdh intervenes without any affiliation for politics, religion or financial profit. He/she will direct his or her activities and engagements without preoccupation of political, racial or religious affiliation.
He/she commits to observe discretion on any information related to the organisation functioning and beneficiary related issues.
Profile:
- Knowledge :
Professional diploma or University degree in politics, human rights, psychology, social work or other relevant field
At least 2 years’ experience working with children in need of Protection
At least 2 years’ experience in Project cycle Management
Previous experience with a child protection organisation is compulsory, preferably in an international organisation
Previous experience in emergency response and in working with Asylum seekers and refugees is appreciated
Very good knowledge of key child protection issues and best practices
Good knowledge of European migration policies and laws is an asset
Good knowledge of logistics and administrative management
Knowledge of the Balkan region
- Skills :
Good IT knowledge (Microsoft Office, Internet)
Valid driving license and confortable to drive
This position requires the control of basic personnel, social and leadership skills, as well as technical, organizational and methodological competences.
Required qualities: proactive, autonomous, rigorous, organized, good communication and networking, interpersonal skills.
- Languages:
Fluent in English and in Bulgarian
Knowledge of Arabic, Farsi or Kurdish is an asset.
Key responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Regional Project Manager based in Thessaloniki (Greece), the CP Specialist based in Sofia would be in charge of:
1) Oversee the implementation by the BRC of the intervention in RRC, including logistics and administrative aspects
Activities in the CFS include:
Access to psychosocial support and to critical emotional support, in the form of psychological first aid sessions, active listening, parenting support – to be provided by social workers and psychologists;
Referrals and access (through coordination with partners and local authorities) to appropriate services, especially for UAMs, including protection, health, education, legal, etc. – to be provided by social workers
Recreational activities in a child/teen-friendly environment (for instance: teen corners with specific activities for adolescent including books, magazines, games and sports, creativity activities, etc.);
Opportunities to access and share relevant information (on asylum, access to services, child protection, UASC, etc.) either through direct engagement with refugees or via a large variety of medias including computers with internet connexion.
2) Monitor the migration situation, the political and legislative developments as well as the child protection issues in Bulgaria together with the BRC Surveillance Officer
The CP specialist will also oversee the reporting activities of the BRC (weekly, monthly and interim reports) as well as ad hoc reporting whenever relevant.
She/he will also put in place her/his own situation monitoring and reporting system to reinforce this aspect of the project in order to feed in the Regional monitoring and surveillance strategy of the project. The CP Specialist will also be involved in the drafting of the monthly monitoring and surveillance report prepared jointly by the regional CP PM and Terre des hommes Budapest.
3) Provide advice, guidance and training to the BRC staff and capacity building to other CP actors in the field of Child Protection
Trainings may include CPIE, PFA, PSS, case management, etc. and will involve first and foremost Tdh partner (the Bulgarian Red Cross), but also other local NGOs and the Bulgarian State Agency for refugees (SAR) personnel whenever relevant.
4) Liaise with Bulgarian authorities, IOS, NGOs and other relevant stakeholder to foster coordination among actors involved in refugee/migrant children protection
The CP Specialist will represent Tdh project in foras and meetings held in Bulgaria. She/he will develop a network to facilitate the project acceptance and stakeholder’s contribution and ownership.
The CP Specialist will also work on fostering coordination initiatives among protection actors in Bulgaria (IOs, INGOs and local NGOs), for instance in participating actively to Protection coordination meetings, and will propose coordinated actions, such as mapping humanitarian aid or updating SOPs.
5) Perform advocacy tasks, such as for example encouraging reflection around the needs for UAMs protection and care (i.e. needs to improve case-management and SOPs, needs for specific UAM facilities or alternative care options, etc).
The CP Specialist will meet regularly with Bulgarian authorities, and in particular with SAR to follow up closely on the last political and legal developments, to present Tdh project results and to promote child protection.
6) Other
The CP specialist will
Agree to comply with Tdh Code of Conduct and ensures Child Safeguarding standards are upheld;
Adhere to and support the implementing partner to follow Tdh administrative and logistical regulations and procedures.
How to apply:
Please, send your application (in English: CV + cover letter) by email, indicating in subject: “Application for CP Specialist Bulgaria” to the following address:jciana@tdh.ch
