Child Protection Officer

Key Responsibilities

      1.1 Programme planning and integrated implementation

• Translate approved project documents, workplans, budgets and indicators into detailed child protection activity plans, implementation schedules, referral arrangements and field-monitoring tools.
• Plan, coordinate and supervise community-based psychosocial support, social and emotional learning, structured recreational and wellbeing activities, caregiver sessions and awareness activities on critical child protection topics.
• Use the approved Ministry of Social Affairs/inter-agency PSS package, harmonized recreational materials and agreed indicators where applicable; document and obtain technical approval for any adaptation.
• Integrate child protection, MHPSS and safe-referral measures across NFE, ECE, retention support, catch-up activities, kit distributions, temporary learning spaces and school rehabilitation activities.
• Coordinate with Education staff to promote safe attendance, learning pathways, school retention and access to available education, MHPSS and protection services.
• Monitor quality, reach, timeliness and expenditure against approved plans; promptly propose corrective actions without independently changing the approved scope or budget.

      1.2 Case management, emergency assistance and referrals

• Ensure safe identification of children at risk of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, child labour, early marriage, family separation or significant psychological distress, using approved screening and referral procedures.
• Provide or supervise child protection case management only where this is included in the approved project, the post-holder is demonstrably qualified, and services follow applicable Lebanon inter-agency case management SOPs, best-interest principles and HAND procedures.
• Coordinate timely referrals and follow-up with qualified protection, GBV, health, disability, legal, education and specialized MHPSS providers; never promise a service that has not been confirmed.
• Maintain updated service mappings and referral pathways, obtain informed consent/assent as appropriate, share information strictly on a need-to-know basis and escalate urgent risk through approved channels.

     1.3 MHPSS and child wellbeing

• Supervise structured community-based PSS for children and caregivers and ensure child-friendly, trauma-informed, inclusive and non-stigmatizing facilitation.
• Monitor participation and wellbeing, identify signs requiring referral, and ensure facilitators understand psychological first aid principles, safe disclosure handling and the limits of their role.
• Promote positive parenting, resilience, peer support and safe recreational opportunities without using activities as a substitute for required specialized care.

1.4 Community engagement, accountability and outreach

• Plan and supervise safe outreach, community meetings and awareness campaigns with children, caregivers, schools, municipalities, community leaders and relevant organizations.
• Share accurate information on safe attendance, available learning pathways, eligibility, referral options and feedback/complaint mechanisms in accessible formats and languages.
• Ensure beneficiary identification and registration are transparent, non-discriminatory and based on approved vulnerability criteria; avoid unnecessary home visits and use field or community-based verification whenever safer and appropriate.
• Maintain confidential, child-accessible and caregiver-accessible feedback and reporting channels, and ensure responses are timely, documented and free from retaliation.
• Engage women-led, refugee-led and organizations of persons with disabilities where relevant to improve access, inclusion and accountability.

1.5 Protection, Gender, Inclusion and Safety

• Mainstream protection, gender, age and disability inclusion throughout project planning, implementation and monitoring.
• Conduct safety assessments and support measures to reduce child protection and GBV risks.
• Ensure that activities and spaces are safe, accessible, age-appropriate and gender-sensitive.
• Identify barriers affecting vulnerable children and coordinate referrals for assistive devices or specialized services when needed.

1.6 Safeguarding, PSEA and incident reporting

• Ensure compliance with HAND’s Child Safeguarding, PSEA, Code of Conduct, AAP, data-protection and ‘Do No Harm’ requirements, and reinforce these standards with all supervised personnel and partners.
• Receive disclosures calmly and safely, explain confidentiality limits, document only necessary information and report concerns immediately through established safeguarding procedures. Do not investigate allegations or confront alleged perpetrators.
• Support safe observation and reporting of grave violations affecting education—including attacks or threats against schools and the military use of education facilities—through approved Child Protection/Education coordination and reporting channels. Do not independently verify or investigate incidents.
• Identify and report conflicts of interest, fraud, diversion, discrimination or retaliation connected with beneficiary selection, referrals, cash/material assistance or distributions.

1.7 Team supervision and capacity development

• Supervise assigned Child Protection facilitators, outreach workers and volunteers through clear workplans, induction, regular observation, coaching, performance feedback and documented follow-up.
• Identify competency gaps and deliver or arrange training on child safeguarding, PSEA, PSS/SEL, psychological first aid principles, safe referrals, inclusion, confidentiality and data protection.
• Ensure staff wellbeing is considered through manageable workloads, debriefing, supportive supervision and referral to staff-care resources where available.

1.8 Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning

• Coordinate with MEAL to monitor CP/MHPSS activities, indicators and beneficiary feedback.
• Maintain accurate activity and referral records while ensuring confidentiality and secure data storage.
• Contribute to project reports by documenting progress, challenges, protection risks and corrective actions.

1.9 Coordination and representation

• Coordinate with project teams, schools, authorities, communities and specialized service providers.
• Maintain updated referral pathways and service mappings.
• Participate in relevant coordination meetings, assessments and donor visits when requested.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Psychology, Education, Social Sciences, Humanitarian Studies or another relevant field.
• A master’s degree is considered an asset.

Experience

• Minimum 4 years of progressively responsible experience in Child Protection programming within humanitarian or development organizations.
• Demonstrated experience implementing community-based Child Protection and Psychosocial Support programmes.
• Experience working in Education in Emergencies (EiE) or integrated education projects is highly desirable.
• Experience supervising Child Protection facilitators and outreach teams.
• Experience coordinating with schools, municipalities, Child Protection actors and community-based organizations.
• Previous experience working on ECW, UNICEF, UNHCR, UN agencies or international NGO-funded projects is considered an asset.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA).
• Knowledge of Inter-Agency Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS).
• Good understanding of Education in Emergencies (EiE) and integrated programming.
• Strong knowledge of PSS, SEL and child-friendly methodologies.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, PSEA, referral pathways and case management principles.
• Excellent leadership, facilitation and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and report-writing abilities.
• Excellent planning, coordination and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience with Kobo Toolbox, ODK or other digital data collection tools is an asset.

Languages

• Fluency in Arabic and English is required.
• Knowledge of French is an asset.

Working Conditions

• This position is primarily field-based and requires regular travel across project locations.
• Approximately 75% of working time will be spent in the field.

You are kindly requested to submit your resume and mention the position title (CP Officer) in the email subject line. Applications without the required subject details will not be considered.