Prevention Focal Point

Job Description

Title: Prevention Focal Point

Agency: Plan International

Location: Home-based

Duration: 100 days, maximum

Time period: February 2024 – August 2024

Background

The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (The Alliance) is an inter-agency network of operational agencies, academic institutions, policymakers, donors, and practitioners. It supports the efforts of humanitarian actors to achieve high-quality and effective child protection interventions in humanitarian contexts. The Alliance achieves this primarily by facilitating inter-agency technical collaboration, including production of technical standards and tools on child protection in all humanitarian contexts.

The Alliance launched its prevention initiative in 2020 and subsequently formed an advisory group to guide this work. Prevention also features as a strategic priority in the Alliance’s 2021-2025 Strategy, “The Centrality of Children and their Protection within Humanitarian Action: A Clarion Call”. As part of the Prevention Initiative, Plan, on behalf of the Alliance and with funding from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), developed the Prevention Framework, launched on February 2nd, 2022. The Prevention Framework, informed by an extensive desk review and multiple rounds of consultations with CPHA practitioners, details eight principles for effective primary prevention programming and outlines key actions at each step of the program cycle to implement primary prevention approaches that prevent harm and foster child well-being across the levels of the socio-ecological model and through a comprehensive multi-sectoral approach.

To continue advancing this strategic priority, it is essential to test and gather evidence on the effectiveness of the Prevention Framework in humanitarian responses and to make revisions as needed. With funding from BHA, Plan is leading a project to support field testing, dissemination, and capacity strengthening on the Prevention Framework.

There is the potential for this scope of work to be expanded and additional days added, dependent on additional funding.

Position Summary

Plan USA, on behalf of the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic professional with a focus on primary preventative approaches to child protection.

Scope of the Work

Through this consultancy, the Alliance is advancing prevention as part of child protection interventions in humanitarian crises. The consultant, in close collaboration with the Alliance secretariat, is expected to:

• Support the maintenance of an inter-agency and multi-disciplinary prevention advisory group to support the process and ensure inter-agency buy-in and commitment;
• Develop and ensure workplan activities are on track, including securing support from member agencies, leading on activities that are assigned to the consultant and following up as necessary etc. The work plan will include the following activities:
  • Conduct a survey of Alliance members to determine current engagement with the Prevention Framework and identify potential virtual clinic participants
  • Hold virtual clinics, which may consist of one-on-one or group mentoring and coaching sessions, to support implementation and capacity strengthening on the Primary Prevention Framework;
  • Collaborate with the L&D WG to develop, monitor, and moderate prevention-focused threads on the Alliance Community of Practice;
  • Collect and compile testimonials from CPHA actors participating in the clinics, developing a case study reflecting lessons learned, challenges, and recommendations for the revision of the Prevention Framework;
  • Support revision of the Prevention Framework based on learnings from the virtual clinics, trainings, and the CoP, in collaboration with the BHA Primary Prevention Framework Project Manager;
  • Support webinars and learning events related to Prevention;
  • Lead implementation of the Prevention Advocacy Roadmap, including planning and execution of advocacy events on Prevention in line with the Alliance Advocacy Strategy and Workplan). This may also include developing and submitting concept notes to present on the Prevention Initiative at inter-agency coordination meetings, such as the GPC Annual Meeting, and other fora.
• Support knowledge management for sharing of best practices on prevention and dissemination of materials as required;
• Support the generation of evidence on the impact of prevention programming in collaboration with the BHA Primary Prevention Framework Project Manager;
• Support the development of learning products and initiatives related to prevention;
• Support coordination and representation (e.g. support the Alliance Annual Meeting, represent the Alliance Prevention Initiative during WG/TF/I meetings of the Alliance and other relevant meetings organized by WG/TF/I)
• Support report writing, financial reporting and reporting on indicators, including compliance standards, etc.;

Deliverables

Deliverables: As this is a long-term consultant position, deliverables are contingent on the Work Plan developed by the Prevention Focal Point and BHA Project Manager and endorsed by the Alliance Secretariat. The consultant should be prepared to be flexible and adapt to the needs of the work throughout the consultancy. Deliverables will be negotiated and agreed upon by all parties prior to invoicing periods. Among other deliverables, the consultant will be primarily responsible for the delivery of trainings on the Prevention Framework, holding virtual clinics, and supporting on advocacy efforts.

Key Working Relationships

Consultant Reports to: Primary Prevention Project Manager (Plan International USA)

Indirect Reporting: Alliance Coordinators

External Contacts: Multiple (Alliance Working Groups and Task Forces leads, advisory groups, other Inter-agency network/initiatives as necessary, donors).

Requirements

Essential

• Advanced university degree (Masters or above) in relevant fields, including social work, public health, psychology, etc.;
• A minimum of 5-years’ experience in child protection in humanitarian settings;
• Understanding of the concepts of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention;
• Familiarity with the role of the Alliance in the Child Protection sector;
• Knowledge of the humanitarian-development nexus and its implication on child protection programming;
• Experience working in a member-based organization or network and/or in coordination roles;
• Excellent research, analytical and writing skills, with the ability to draft an evidence informed report/document;
• Fluent verbal and written English;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to successfully interact with a diverse group of people;
• Flexible work attitude, with the ability to follow direction and work independently across a virtual work environment;
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to independently track and follow-up on various tasks;
• Collaborative work style, with strong team-player attitude and ability to identify gaps and to take initiative to fill them;
• Previous experience working on projects that require a highly iterative and consultative process, with the capacity to incorporate multiple levels of feedback and perspectives in final products.

Desirable

• Field experience working in child protection in emergencies, particularly in prevention, highly recommended;
• Working knowledge of French, Spanish, Arabic and/or Portuguese, with ability to conduct trainings and clinics in these languages highly desirable.