Location: Dhangadhi, Nepal- with frequent field visits.
Position Status: Full-time, Regular  
Salary Level: O2

General Position Summary  

The 'Senior Project Officer-Safeguarding & Protection will be directly responsible for facilitating, implementing and monitoring project activities targeted to students, teachers and school management in schools. S/he will facilitate capacity building activities for school management, teachers and students on protection and safeguarding principles. S/he will be responsible for rolling out School life clubs, Sakchham chhori and school campaigns at schools and support partner and project team to maintain the quality of training, clubs, and activities. In addition to this s/he will also lead schools and community campaigns to raise awareness in GESI, child safeguarding, learn without fear and quality education. S/he will work under the supervision of the Team Leader and will work closely with the project team, partners, and stakeholders.

As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance and M&E are cross-cutting components of all Mercy Corps program(s), the Senior Project Officer is required to own these components and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices and M&E systems are integrated into his/her work area.

Essential Job Responsibilities: The specific duties and responsibilities of the Senior Project Officer include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategy & Vision

• Under the guidance of the Team Leader, set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve project objectives and document project learnings
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed
• Provide leadership to the project Safeguarding and protection aspect
• Ensure sectors use the necessary Child Safeguarding systems, approaches and tools to inform and improve each Project, as well as feed into the broader country-level safeguarding system and country strategy
• Actively participate in meetings and country-wide strategy sessions as required
• Work alongside the Team Leader in preparing the SoW, designing activities, work plans and other documents as per need
• Act as a technical point (Child safeguarding and protection) for all day-to-day coordination with the partners, following up deadlines, ensuring adherence to donor and Mercy Corps requirements, and supporting the Team Leader’s oversight on the same

Project Implementation

• Design detail implementation guideline for the activities related to schools (teachers training, Student life clubs and extracurricular) in close coordination with the Team Leader and project team
• Regularly monitor and review all the activities (Safeguarding and protection) and maintain the quality of implementation at higher standard
• Prepare referral system for different services to children in difficult circumstances in close coordination with STEM II Child safeguarding staff and MC Safeguarding focal person
• Maintain strong links with school management, teachers and SLC facilitators for the effective implementation of the activities

Safeguarding & Protection 

• Oversee all aspects of project training delivery all project Schools on safeguarding and protection
• Work with head teachers to develop written policy on keeping children safe within their respective schools using the minimum standards from the Keeping Children Safe Coalition
• Design and facilitate training to improve teachers’ skills in inclusive education principles and positive classroom management techniques
• Lead in facilitating the development of safeguarding and child protection and gender policies, training and procedures and guidance for the school
• Lead conduct Student Life Clubs for both boys and girls which will be tailored based on their education, life skill and adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) needs.
  

 Monitoring & Evaluation and Reporting

• Conduct monitoring and support policy and community engagement activities as required
• Monitor schools’ progress against set indicators

Representation & Coordination  

• Support the project partner, working closely with the Sr. PO (Policy and Community Engagement) to implement the campaigning (radio, print, community theatre, door-to-door campaigning, school open days, street rally, community film showings, etc.) in the school areas and provide required monitoring support.
• Work closely with M&E Coordinator to ensure child friendly M&E and support him/her to develop Community Accountability Reporting Mechanisms (CARM) and to create accountability to affected populations and prevent all forms of exploitation and abuse
• Support Team Leader to lead for coordination aspects of the project’s review meetings, donor monitoring and donor visits to the field
• Assist project partner in Municipal Project Advisory Committee and work closely with the Team Leader in producing all preliminary project start up agreements with key stakeholders, as well as close out actions with the same
• Liaise and coordinate with the government agencies/departments, partners, private institutions and other I/NGOs in the districts to build effective relationships and productive partnerships.
• Coordinate with the Mercy Corps' girl's education project team to implement project activities

Security  

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership
• Proactively ensure that team members and community operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning  

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves 

Accountability To Beneficiaries  

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues
  

Safeguarding, Ethics & Integrity  

• All Mercy Corps staff members are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate the highest integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination
• Mercy Corps has zero-tolerance for abuse, sexual misconduct and sexual exploitation (PSEA) of the people we work with and our own staff members. All staff must commit to internal policies

Others  

• Act as a child safeguarding focal point in the field and ensure proper integration of child safeguarding and GESI aspects into sector specific project planning and implementation
• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to response as and when crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission
• Other duties as assigned by his/her supervisor and or Country Director

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

Accountability
Reports Directly to: Team Leader 
Works Directly with: Girls education program team, Senior Project Officer-Safeguarding, M&E Coordinator and Protection, Mercy Corps Team and stakeholders

Knowledge and Experience 

• At least a Bachelor's degree in Education, Social Sciences, public policy or any other relevant field. Master's degree preferred
• At least 5 years of experience in community development, advocacy, education, protection or other relevant development programs
• Proven experience of successfully delivering training, particularly on issues affecting child safeguarding, learning environment, vulnerable groups/ marginalized youth and girls, and of working directly with young people
• Proven experience of effective coordination specifically with the Provincial Government, District Education Office, Palikas, School Managements, and efficient Project implementation, along with sound knowledge of the operational environment of the Far western province
• Experience in preparing reports, presentations, and rapid assessment
• Negotiation, networking, advocacy, coordination and representation skills with key local actors are preferred
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications and Nepali typing ability
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Nepali required. Knowledge of the local language is an advantage
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
  

Success Factors: 

The successful Senior Project Officer-Safeguarding and Protection will be well versed in education, protection & training and facilitation approaches in rural Nepal. S/he will possess the necessary technical insights on capacity building and establishing linkages. S/he will have the ability to correspond well (written and verbal) in both English and Nepali. S/he should have the ability to think creatively and dynamically to support the development of training activities, along with a commitment to capacity building and ensuring high-quality delivery of training and educational support to all stakeholders. Commitment to ensuring Mercy Corps’ Child Safeguarding Policy is followed at the field level, across all activities is a requirement.

The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues