Child Protection Assistant

This position is being filled on a rolling basis.

SECOURS ISLAMIQUE FRANCE (SIF) is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance and development aid worldwide. Since 1991, SIF has been working across more than 20 countries.

In Pakistan, we have been actively serving vulnerable communities and marginalized groups since 2010 by providing humanitarian assistance during emergencies and supporting them through the implementation of sustainable development programs in the areas of Child Protection and Child Wellbeing, WASH, Food Security and Livelihoods, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Education during both early recovery and development phases.

SIF is currently providing its services in all provinces of Pakistan, including Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan, and KPK, and has a presence in 33 of the most vulnerable districts. In light of increasing challenges such as inflation, illiteracy, poverty, and climate change, as well as their association with limited and shrinking resources like water, food, and livelihood opportunities, SIF believes that there is a high need for enhanced collaboration between NGOs and government institutions. SIF is fully confident that by sharing experiences, innovations, and lessons learned under such coordination, we can collectively improve the well-being of children and alleviate the miseries of the communities across Pakistan.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING

As part of the implementation of the Child Safeguarding Policy (CSP), the level of risk associated with child safeguarding will be specified depending on whether or not the position involves contact with children, and if so, the type of interaction.

Job Description:

The Child Protection Assistant (CPA) will be based in ICT/Rawalpindi and will work under the direct supervision of the Child Welfare Projects Manager. The incumbent will play a key role in supporting the implementation of child protection interventions, ensuring that vulnerable children, particularly orphaned and at-risk children, and their families receive timely, appropriate, and quality support.

The CPA will assist in both field-based and administrative activities, including the identification and assessment of new cases for orphan sponsorship in line with child protection standards and eligibility criteria. This will involve conducting home visits, needs assessments, and risk analysis to determine the level of vulnerability and required interventions.

In coordination with the Child Protection team, the CPA will support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of child protection activities, ensuring they are responsive to the best interests of the child and aligned with safeguarding principles. The role includes assisting in the distribution of project-supported items and services, ensuring transparency, accountability, and dignity of beneficiaries throughout the process.

The incumbent will contribute to delivering a community-based child protection model, quality case management support, maintaining regular contact with sponsored children and their caregivers to monitor well-being, identify protection concerns, and facilitate timely referrals where necessary. The CPA will also ensure accurate documentation, timely reporting, and strict confidentiality of all child and family-related information in accordance with data protection and safeguarding policies.

Additionally, the CPA will support community-based awareness-raising sessions and capacity-building activities on child protection, safeguarding, and child rights, helping to strengthen community mechanisms for the prevention of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence against children.

Essential Job Functions:

Objective 1: Ensure Smooth Implementation of the Project Activities:

• Identification of high risk and most vulnerable children as per program criteria.
• Identification of guardians/mothers or 18+ orphan children from the selected families for livelihood support when the intervention starts in TPK.
• Assist in arrangements for execution of activities in the field such as CPC Formation, CP Session conduction, campaigns, and activities for children to boost their confidence and provide PSS and child rights and protection messages.
• Assist in different project support and distribution activities.
• Support in capacity building and awareness-raising activities.
• Activities record keeping and file management.

Objective 2: Manage the Record/Data Base:

• Maintain database of Child Protection Committees and other projects.
• Maintain record of field visits to children’s homes and schools.
• Maintain record of clusters visited.
• Maintain database of contact details of children, families/guardians, and stakeholders.
• Maintain database of child protection activities.
• Maintain database of services provided to target children and their families by SIF.
• Ensure beneficiaries’ data protection in hard form and in the database as well as other relevant data such as pictures, and videos of the sponsored children and their families.

Objective 3: Coordination:

• Smooth running of the child protection project by maintaining close coordination with project stakeholders.
• Identify local partners and other organizations working in the same area to avoid duplication.
• Assist the project manager in keeping close coordination with INGOs/NGOs and relevant stakeholders.
• Mobilize and empower community groups.
• Ensure 100% execution of project activities in the field.

Objective 4: Reporting:

• Prepare and submit monthly plan of field activities for effective planning.
• Support timely submission of monthly reports.
• Support timely submission of activity reports.
• Support timely submission of group meeting minutes.
• Submit stakeholders meeting minutes.
• Support the collection and documentation of impact and success stories on a monthly basis.
• Ensure confidentiality of personal data of supported children and their families.

Objective 5: Monitoring & Evaluation of the Project:

• Assist program team visits to the field.
• Assist program team in conducting field assessments as per the need of the project.
• Efficient monitoring and evaluation of orphan projects to achieve desired results.
• Hold monthly/quarterly meetings with clusters/committees to address findings from monitoring.
• Regular monitoring of allocated orphan families in the field by conducting individual domestic visits.
• Report any risks that can harm children in their current environment.

Objective 6: Child Protection:

• Ensure the security of target children's addresses during activities.
• Systematically perform a child protection quality check for all correspondences to ensure that materials and contents do not negatively affect the holistic growth and development of children.
• Sensitize children, including guardians/parents and other stakeholders about children’s rights and responsibilities.
• Facilitate referrals of child protection cases for services.
• Sensitize families on the complaint response mechanism and on safeguarding policy.

This list is not exhaustive; the employee may be required to perform any other tasks necessary and compatible with functions assigned by the supervisor/HOM.

Requirements:

• Minimum Qualification required: BA in Social Sciences or related fields.
• Experience: 2-3 years.
• Preferred: Over 1 year experience in child protection related projects/programs/social mobilization, fieldwork, and knowledge of the local community (Islamabad/Rawalpindi).

Technical Skills & Abilities:

• Must possess strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Good computer skills.
• Management information system skills.
• Skills in report writing.
• Knowledge in child protection and child safeguarding.
• Flexibility and adaptability are required.