Programme Officer - Child Protection and Child Rights Governance

Save The Childrens International
Puntland State Of Somalia, Somalia
Programme Affairs

Job Description

Seeking a new challenge? Save The Childrens International has a Programme Officer - Child Protection and Child Rights Governance position open in Puntland State Of Somalia. This Programme Affairs sector position calls for a professional with 3 - 4 years of demonstrated expertise. This position closes on Jul, 26. Apply now to be considered.

JOB TITLE: Programme Officer - Child Protection and Child Rights Governance

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Child Development

(Protection and Education)

LOCATION: Puntland

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3: the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g.

once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because

they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible

for implementing the police checking/vetting process for staff.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Child Protection and Child Rights Governance (CP/CRG) Officer is responsible for supporting

the planning, implementation, monitoring and quality delivery of NORAD Framework Child

Protection and Child Rights Governance interventions within community-based projects in

Puntland, Somalia. The position will ensure that children, caregivers, communities and local

authorities are meaningfully engaged to strengthen child protection systems, promote child

participation, and advocate for children’s rights in line with Save the Children standards, national

policies and international child rights frameworks.

The post holder will support implementation of child protection case management, communitybased protection mechanisms, awareness raising, positive parenting, child participation priorities

and child rights governance actions including accountability to children, strengthening community

structures, and supporting local authorities and partners on child rights and child safeguarding.

The postholder shall provide technical guidance and support to local implementing partner named

Puntland Minority Women Development Organization to strengthen community-based child

protection actions including establishment and expanding effective community-based child

protection mechanisms including safe families.

The CP/CRG Officer will also represent Save the Children at Child Protection Clusters, community

level and work closely with local partners, community leaders, child protection committees, schools,

government counterparts and children’s groups to ensure quality and impactful programme

delivery.

SCOPE OF ROLE

Reports to: Child Protection

Staff reporting to this post: Community Mobilisers/Volunteers (where applicable)

Budget

Responsibilities: Project activity budget management support

Role Dimensions:

SAVE THE CHILDREN

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

ROLE PROFILE

The role requires regular travel to target communities across Puntland and close coordination with

local authorities, community structures, LNGO partners and other stakeholders. The role holder is

expected to apply child-centred, gender-sensitive and rights-based approaches in all aspects of

programme implementation.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Programme Planning and Implementation

  • Support planning, implementation and monitoring of Child Protection and Child Rights

Governance project activities in line with approved proposals, work plans and budgets.

  • Develop weekly and monthly implementation plans in coordination with the CP

Coordinator and relevant stakeholders and also provide support administratively to Child

Rights and Policy Advocacy team in Puntland

  • Ensure quality implementation of community-based child protection interventions

including Child Friendly Spaces, life skills sessions, parenting sessions, psychosocial support

activities and awareness campaigns.

  • Strengthen child protection service delivery by supporting, supervising and mentoring child

protection case workers to provide quality, timely and child-centred services to children

and caregivers with protection concerns, in line with SC Steps to Protect common

approach.

  • Facilitate establishment and strengthening of community-based child protection

mechanisms including child protection committees and children’s clubs.

  • Support children’s participation initiatives and ensure children’s voices and views are

integrated into programme activities and community actions.

  • Promote child rights and accountability to children through community engagement, child

consultations and feedback mechanisms.

  • Identify child protection concerns affecting children and ensure safe and timely referral to

relevant service providers using established referral pathways.

  • Conduct community dialogue meetings and awareness sessions on child protection, child

rights, safeguarding, gender equality, inclusion and prevention of violence against children.

  • Support implementation of advocacy and child rights governance initiatives at community

and district levels.

  • Strengthen collaboration with local authorities, line ministries, schools, community leaders

and other actors to support child protection systems strengthening.

SAVE THE CHILDREN

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

ROLE PROFILE

  • Support project start-up, procurement planning, beneficiary targeting and distribution

activities as needed.

  • Contribute to emergency preparedness and emergency response programming when

required.

Child Rights System , Accountability and Governance and Community Engagement

  • Support meaningful child participation in programme design, implementation and

monitoring.

  • Promote accountability mechanisms to ensure children and communities can safely

provide feedback and raise concerns.

  • Work with local authorities and community structures to increase awareness and

implementation of national and international child rights commitments.

  • Support community action plans aimed at improving child wellbeing, protection and

participation.

  • Promote inclusion of girls, children with disabilities and vulnerable groups in all

interventions.

Partner Support and Capacity Strengthening

  • Provide day-to-day technical support and mentoring to LNGO partners, volunteers and

community structures.

  • Facilitate training sessions for community groups, local partners and frontline workers on

child protection, child safeguarding, child rights and referral mechanisms.

  • Monitor partner activities and provide supportive supervision to ensure quality standards

are met.

  • Support partners in activity planning, reporting and documentation.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

  • Regularly and continuously update the Indicator Performance Tracking Tool(IPTT) by

maintaining accurate activity records, beneficiary data, and case documentation in line with

SCI procedures and data protection standards.

  • Conduct regular field monitoring and quality checkup activities with the communities and

children to identify any gaps that need to be fulfilled.

  • Participate in assessments, baseline studies, monitoring visits and evaluations.

SAVE THE CHILDREN

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

ROLE PROFILE

  • Collect success stories, lessons learned and best practices from programme

implementation.

  • Prepare timely weekly, monthly and activity reports.
  • Support implementation of accountability and feedback mechanisms for children and

communities.

  • Ensure compliance with donor requirements and SCI quality standards.

Coordination and Representation

  • Represent Save the Children in community meetings and coordination forums at local level

when delegated.

  • Establish and maintain positive working relationships with community leaders, government

ministries, schools, humanitarian actors and partners.

  • Coordinate referrals and follow-up services with relevant service providers.
  • Support mapping of stakeholders and available child protection services in target locations.

Child Safeguarding

  • Ensure all programme activities are designed and implemented in line with Save the

Children Child Safeguarding Policy.

  • Report safeguarding concerns immediately in accordance with SCI procedures.
  • Ensure children are protected from abuse, exploitation, neglect and harm during

programme implementation.

  • Promote safe programming and safe participation of children in all activities.
  • ADDITIONAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: The duties and responsibilities as set out above

are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional

responsibilities

reasonably assigned by the line manager in line with programme needs

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

  • Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and

role modelling Save the Children values.

  • Holds partners and community structures accountable to deliver on agreed

responsibilities.

SAVE THE CHILDREN

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

ROLE PROFILE

  • Ensures children and communities are aware of accountability and feedback mechanisms.
  • Creates an environment that prevents safeguarding violations and promotes safe

programming.

Ambition:

  • Sets ambitious and challenging goals for self and takes responsibility for personal

development.

  • Demonstrates commitment to improving outcomes for children.
  • Motivates others through a shared vision for children’s rights and protection.
  • Continuously seeks learning and innovation opportunities.

Collaboration:

  • Builds and maintains effective relationships with colleagues, children, communities,

partners and government stakeholders.

  • Promotes teamwork and inclusion.
  • Values diversity and respects differences.
  • Approachable, responsive and a good listener.

Creativity:

  • Develops and encourages innovative and practical solutions to child protection challenges.
  • Adapts approaches to changing contexts and community needs.
  • Supports child-centred and participatory methods.

Integrity:

  • Acts with honesty, transparency and professionalism.
  • Maintains confidentiality and respects ethical standards.
  • Always acts in the best interests of children.
  • Demonstrates commitment to Save the Children’s mission and values

About Puntland State Of Somalia

Somalia is located in the Horn of Africa and has a growing job market, particularly in the humanitarian, development, and private sectors. Major employment hubs include Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Garowe, Baidoa, and Kismayo, with opportunities from international NGOs, UN agencies, government institutions, and an expanding private sector.

Ereyada Soomaaliga (Somali Keywords): Shaqo Buuxda • Shaqo Cusub

Qualifications & Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

AND EXPERIENCE

  • Bachelor’s degree in social work, Sociology, Psychology, Law, Development Studies,

Community Development, Human Rights, Education or a related field.

SAVE THE CHILDREN

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

ROLE PROFILE

  • Minimum of 3 years’ experience in child protection, child rights governance or communitybased programming in humanitarian and/or development settings.
  • Experience working with children, communities, local authorities and civil society

organisations.

  • Experience in implementing child protection case management and referral mechanisms is

an added advantage.

  • Good understanding of child rights, child protection principles, safeguarding and

community-based approaches.

  • Experience facilitating training and community engagement sessions.
  • Strong interpersonal, communication and coordination skills.
  • Ability to work independently and under pressure in challenging environments.
  • Good report writing and computer skills including Microsoft Office applications.
  • Fluency in Somali and good working knowledge of English

How to Apply

Closing date will be 26th July 2026.

Apply on employer site

Job Details

Posted: July 15, 2026
Organization: Save The Childrens International
Location: Puntland State Of Somalia, Somalia
Sector: Programme Affairs