Closing Date:  December 26^th 2017
Organization:  Right To Play International
Department/Division: Country Office/Programmes
Work location: Mali – Bamako

BACKGROUND:

Right To Play is a global organization committed to improving the lives of children and youth affected by conflict, disease and poverty. Established in 2000, Right To Play has pioneered a unique play-based approach to learning and development which focuses on quality education, life skills, health, gender equality, child protection and building peaceful communities. With programming in 18 countries, Right To Play transforms the lives of more than one million children each week, both inside and outside of the classroom. In addition to our work with children, Right To Play advocates with parents, local communities, and governments to advance the fundamental rights of all children.​

Right To Play is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has operations in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Our programs are facilitated by more than 550 international staff and 15,800 local volunteer Coaches.

The Africa Regional Office located in Kampala, Uganda, supports 8 country offices including; Mali, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana,  Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.

The Mali Country Office is currently seaching for a qualified and self-driven candidate to join a team of professionals in Mali as Gender and Child Protection Specialist.

JOB SUMMARY

The Gender and Child Protection Specialist reports to the Program Manager. The incumbent is responsible and accountable for the improved integration of gender equality and child safeguarding into all programs and projects, development of gender-specific and child protection systems strengthening programming and initiatives, ensuring the organization and development of programs that address the gender and child protection capacity building needs of Right To Play and its partners, and provision of advice on integrating gender equality and Child Safeguarding into organizational practices such as recruitment, orientation, and retention of female staff.

He/she provides technical support to effective gender and child protection program knowledge management initiatives, ensuring adequate collection, management and sharing of information/knowledge generated to orient/affect decision making in programme management.

The Gender and Child Protection Specialist liaises closely with gender specialists and child protection focal points in other countries to share best practices and lessons learned for improved gender and child protection programming and child safeguarding practices across Mali.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

In accordance with Right To Play (RTP) approved policies and procedures, the incumbent:

 Job Responsibility #1: Strategic planning and programme design & implementation (30% of Time)

•  Leads detailed context analysis including needs assessments, gender and child protection analyses at program and project levels
• Advises the Country Director on strategic policy issues in relation to gender and child protection and integration of gender equality, child safeguarding, child protection, and child participation in the Country Strategic Plan.
• Provides inputs at the country program level to ensure appropriate inclusion of gender perspective and child safeguarding in all planned activities, decisions and policies inclusive of child protection systems mapping.
• Designs and develops gender and child protection program strategies, activities and plans, ensuring they are in line with all program objectives and results.
• Participates in the development of new proposals and concept notes, providing advice to ensure appropriate integration of gender equality, child safeguarding, child protection, and participation into future programming.
• Advises and supports the implementation of gender and child protection focused programme activities within the country, guides the approach to gender mainstreaming and ensures it is responsive to programme needs.
• Develops relationship with gender and Child Protection specialists in other NGOs to share lessons learned and best practices.
• Ensures that specific donor requirements related to gender equality and child safeguarding are well understood and implemented by program and other relevant teams

Job Responsibility #2: Monitoring and Evaluation impact measurement, learning and reporting (15% of Time)

• Provides technical advice and input on the design and implementation of transparent and accountable mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating progress of the country office on the integration of gender equality and child protection at programming and organization levels.
• Advises on the gender sensitive and child protection indicators that should be incorporated into program and project-level performance measurement frameworks; Advises on gender-sensitive data-collection methodologies.
• Helps monitor the overall integration gender and child protection in the country program, gathers lessons learned, and builds upon strengths and improves on weaknesses.
• In collaboration with the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning team, participates in regular monitoring and evaluation as required to ensure quality integration of gender equality and child
• Protection into programming and adherence to donor’s deliverables and RTP program management policies.
• Monitors the external contexts and emerging needs regarding gender equality and child protection to introduce programmatic changes as necessary.
• Leads the development of gender specific progress reports.
• Assists as required in the review of RTP documentation, policies, procedures and manuals.

Job Responsibility #3: Capacity building/technical support, resource development, and organizational development (20% of Time)

•  Conducts capacity assessments and facilitates capacity building for country office staff and RTP partners to enhance their motivation and effective implementation of gender strategies and child protection, child safeguarding, and child participation practices.
• Ensures identification and satisfaction of training needs of RTP country office and RTP partner staff on relevant standards and instruments for gender equality and child protection.
• Designs and implements demand-driven programme approaches and methodologies aiming towards capacity building, working in partnerships, policy analysis and advocacy.
• Designs and documents training modules and capacity building processes on gender mainstreaming, gender transformative programming and gender advocacy
• Designs and documents training modules and capacity building processes on child safeguarding, child protection, and child participation in collaboration with the global training and capacity building team and local partners.
• In collaboration with the human resources coordinator, develops and supports appropriate training and support to ensure that the anti-harassment provisions in RTP policies are respected by RTP staff and that the Child Safeguarding Policy is adhered too.

Job Responsibility #4 Networking, partnerships and advocacy  (20% of Time)

• Networks with gender and child protection focused professionals and institutions
• Supports RTP’s policy advocacy and engagement with key government stakeholders on gender equality and child protection.
• Represents RTP in established gender focused foras, networks and conferences.
• Represents RTP in established children’s rights and protection focused foras, networks and conferences.
• Facilitates coordination with other stakeholders on strategic policy and programming issues.
• Establishes and strengthens gender and child protection focused technical partnerships.
• Advises on the development of communication and information programmes to raise awareness concerning RTP’s engagement on gender equality and child protection.

Job Responsibility #5: Policy and procedures (10% of Time)

• Support the project to overseeing Gender and Child Safeguarding policy implementation and monitoring
• Support the government and the networkers to update the Gender and Child Safeguarding policy implementation and monitoring
• Advocate the partners for Gender and Child Safeguarding activity basis interventions.

Performs other duties as assigned 5%

PLANNING AND ORGANIZING

The Gender and Child Protection Specialist has the authority to prepare country-specific strategies/implementation plans in line with RTP program objectives in gender equality, child safeguarding, child protection, and child participation. Any plans which require significant deviation from the agreed programme strategy and objectives must be approved by the Country Director.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Must have)

(A) EDUCATION/TRAINING/CERTIFICATION

Master’s degree in gender and development studies, children’s rights, child protection or related discipline or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.

(B) EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a humanitarian or development child centered organization focused on programme management, including a minimum of three years practical gender/child protection programme management experience
• Significant track record in capacity building, gender programming and monitoring and evaluation
• Demonstrated working knowledge on the principles and challenges related to the integration of gender equality into development programming
• Demonstrated working knowledge in child protection.
• Experience working with an international donor would be considered a strong asset.

 (C) COMPETENCIES / PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Strategic and conceptual thinking ability
• Excellent relationship building and communication skills
• Ability to build commitment of others
• Good knowledge of analytical tools and skills particularly those that pertain to advice on gender issues and perspectives.
• Able to work well under pressure
• Able to exercise discretion and utmost confidentiality
• Good judgment, analytical, and decision-making skills

(D)  TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Facilitation, negotiation and networking skills including facilitating change, innovation, initiating action and capacity building.
• Excellent knowledge and skills of gender analysis and gender mainstreaming in program development and planning

(E) LANGUAGES:

Fluency written and spoken English is considered to be a strong asset.

HOW TO APPLY:

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your resume and cover letter to: MaliHR@righttoplay.com and kindly include “Gender and Child Protection Specialist” and your name in the subject line or you can bring copies to our office: Hamdallaye ACI 2000, 6^ème rue à gauche, ouest après monument « bougieba »Tél : 20 21 10 24  before Tuesday, December 26^th 2017 at 5pm. While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for interviews will be contacted. Right To Play is a child-centered organization.

Women applications are strongly encouraged.

Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safety and protection of children in our programs.

For more information, follow @RightToPlayIntl and visit www.righttoplay.com