Senior Child Protection Officer

Position: Senior Child Protection Officer

Country: Ethiopia

Duty Station: Dollo Ado District, Liben Zone, Somali Region

Number of Positions: 1

Availability: Immediate

Reports to: Project Coordinator/Project Manager, with overall oversight from the Executive Director

Contract Duration: 1 Year, with possibility of extension

Posted Date: September 7, 2026.

Closing Date:September 16, 2026.

ABOUT PASTORALIST IN ACTION DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (PIADO)

Pastoralist In Action Development Organization (PIADO) is a board-led, non-profit national Civil Society Organization established in July 2019 under Ethiopia's Civil Society Organizations Proclamation No. 1113/2019. PIADO operates primarily in the Somali and Oromia Regional States, supporting vulnerable pastoralist, agro-pastoralist, internally displaced and other crisis-affected communities.

PIADO works to improve access to essential services, protect vulnerable populations and strengthen community resilience. Its programmes cover Health and Nutrition, WASH, Food Security and Livelihoods, Cash Assistance, Shelter/NFI, Education, Child Protection, Protection and SGBV Prevention, Gender Equality, Human Rights, Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Response.

PIADO uses a community-driven approach that combines emergency assistance with longer-term recovery and resilience. The organization works closely with government authorities, communities, humanitarian partners and other stakeholders to deliver relevant, accountable and sustainable interventions.

2. ABOUT PIADO'S ETHIOPIA PROGRAMME

PIADO's Ethiopia programme focuses on supporting vulnerable and crisis-affected communities through integrated humanitarian and development interventions. The programme prioritizes refugees, IDPs, pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities, women, children, youth and other vulnerable groups.

PIADO implements programmes addressing protection risks, basic service gaps, displacement, climate-related shocks, food insecurity and other humanitarian needs. The organization emphasizes community participation, accountability, safeguarding, gender equality, disability inclusion and resilience building.

3. ABOUT THE POSITION

The Senior Child Protection Officer will provide overall technical and operational leadership for the Joint Action for Child Protection (JA4CP): Safeguarding Children and Preventing Family Separation in Humanitarian Settings in Ethiopia, Somaliland and South Sudan programme in Helaweyn and Buramino Refugee Camps and surrounding host communities in Dollo Ado District, Liben Zone, Somali Region, Ethiopia.

The position will be responsible for the planning, coordination, implementation, supervision, monitoring and reporting of child protection activities, ensuring that interventions are delivered on time, meet required quality standards and achieve agreed project targets.

The post holder will ensure that child protection programming is aligned with national child protection systems, Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Child Protection, humanitarian principles, donor requirements and PIADO policies and procedures.

The Senior Child Protection Officer will strengthen community-based child protection systems, referral pathways and mechanisms for preventing family separation, while working closely with Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), UNHCR, UNICEF, relevant government offices, refugee and community structures, traditional and religious leaders, and other protection actors.

The position will promote the meaningful participation of children, caregivers, refugee communities and host communities, with particular attention to safeguarding, PSEA, gender, disability inclusion, accountability to affected populations and the best interests of the child.

4. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Programme/Project Implementation

• Lead implementation of child protection activities in line with approved work plans, budgets, donor requirements and PIADO policies.
• Develop implementation plans and monitor progress against agreed targets, indicators and timelines.
• Supervise, mentor and provide technical guidance to Child Protection Officers, Case Workers, Community Facilitators, outreach workers and volunteers.
• Ensure quality child protection case management, including identification, assessment, documentation, referral, follow-up and safe case closure.
• Support Best Interest Assessments (BIA), Best Interest Determination (BID), family tracing and reunification where required.
• Ensure Child-Friendly Spaces are safe, functional, inclusive and accessible.
• Coordinate psychosocial support for children and caregivers and facilitate referrals to specialized services.
• Strengthen prevention and response to violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, child marriage, FGM, family separation and other child protection risks.
• Ensure meaningful inclusion of children with disabilities and children with specific needs.
• Conduct regular field monitoring and implement corrective actions to address identified gaps.
• Maintain confidential, accurate and secure child protection records and documentation.
• Ensure compliance with child safeguarding, PSEA, AAP, national child protection standards and relevant SOPs.

B. Community Engagement and Child Protection Systems Strengthening

• Establish, strengthen and support Community-Based Child Protection Committees and other protection structures.
• Build the capacity of community volunteers, refugee outreach workers, caregivers, women, youth, traditional and religious leaders on child protection and safeguarding.
• Facilitate community dialogues and awareness sessions on child rights, violence against children, FGM, child marriage, exploitation, neglect and positive parenting.
• Strengthen community mechanisms for early identification, reporting, referral and follow-up of children at risk.
• Develop and regularly update child protection referral pathways and service mapping.
• Strengthen linkages with government authorities, schools, health facilities, social workers and humanitarian service providers.
• Facilitate parenting sessions promoting positive discipline, safe caregiving and child wellbeing.
• Promote meaningful and safe participation of children and adolescents.
• Promote inclusion of women, youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
• Strengthen community awareness of PSEA, safeguarding, complaints and feedback mechanisms.
• Promote accountability to affected populations and ensure community feedback informs programme decisions.

C. Coordination and Partnerships

• Coordinate with Dollo Ado District authorities, RRS, refugee and IDP committees, host community representatives, community leaders, schools and humanitarian partners.
• Represent PIADO in relevant child protection, protection and inter-agency coordination meetings.
• Strengthen collaboration among refugee, IDP and host community structures to improve child protection, referrals and peaceful coexistence.

D. MEAL, Learning and Reporting

• Monitor project performance, community protection structures, referral mechanisms and service quality against agreed indicators.
• Ensure timely and accurate data collection, analysis and reporting while maintaining confidentiality and data protection.
• Document lessons learned, good practices, protection trends and success stories.
• Prepare quality weekly, monthly, quarterly and donor reports and provide regular updates to PIADO management.

E. Team Leadership and Capacity Building

• Supervise and support project staff and field teams.
• Provide technical coaching on child protection, safeguarding, community engagement and emergency response.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, learning and effective performance management.
• Strengthen the capacity of staff, volunteers and community structures to deliver quality child protection services.

F. Safeguarding, Gender and Inclusion

• Integrate gender, protection, safeguarding and inclusion throughout all project activities.
• Promote meaningful participation of women, girls, boys, youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
• Ensure activities are child-safe, gender-responsive, disability-inclusive and conflict-sensitive.
• Ensure safeguarding and PSEA requirements are consistently applied.

PIADO COMMITMENT TO PSEA AND SAFEGUARDING

PIADO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, child abuse and other forms of misconduct. Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is the responsibility of every staff member.

All employees are required to comply with PIADO's Code of Conduct, PSEA Policy, Child Safeguarding Policy and other relevant safeguarding procedures, both during and outside working hours where their conduct may affect PIADO or the communities it serves.

All employment offers are conditional upon satisfactory reference checks, background screening and signing of PIADO's Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies. The successful candidate will also be required to complete mandatory safeguarding and PSEA training.

PIADO is committed to diversity, inclusion, dignity and equal opportunity. Women, persons with disabilities, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and qualified candidates from the communities in which PIADO operates are strongly encouraged to apply.