Child Protection -Technical Adviser – Programme Support Team (PST) 391 views

The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare in collaboration with a Development Partner UNICEF invites suitably qualified professionals for the following position within the Ministry:

The Programme Finance Assistant will support the Ministry’s Finance and Administration, Human Resources Departments and Programme teams in day to day financial and grants management activities, programme budget planning and execution, reviewing project budgets, monitoring cash flow, verifying the accuracy of financial records, assisting in generation of programme financial reports, capacity building of provincial and district accounting staff, programme asset management, and financial management and accounting advisory including recommending policies and actions that improve efficiency of financial procedures.

The post is detail-oriented and requires efficiency, accuracy and effective time-management.

Background

The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare (MOPSLSW) is central to Government of Zimbabwe’s achievement of national social development priorities. The National Development Strategy (NDS1 2021-2025) launched by the President in November 2020, commits the Government of Zimbabwe to improving the care and protection of vulnerable groups including children, persons with disabilities and the elderly. The MOPSLSW is the lead policy for a range of strategies and programmes aimed at improving the care and protection of vulnerable groups. Key strategies and programmes for achieving the care and protection objectives set out in the NDS1 include scaling up and strengthening of Zimbabwe’s flagship, National Case Management System for the Protection and Welfare of children, expansion of child protection services, family tracing and reunification of children living outside family environments, policy and legislative reform, access to child-friendly justice services and provision of timely and efficient probation services. In addition, Government and Development Partners will support strengthening of linkages between child protection and social assistance programmes by integrating protection, prevention and response services in the latter.

The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare in collaboration with Development Partners is establishing a Programme Support Team (PST) at national level to provide technical assistance and strategic support for the delivery and scaling up of the Ministry’s key priority programmes under the social development, disability and humanitarian assistance portfolios

Child Protection -Technical Adviser – Programme Support Team (PST)

The Child Protection Technical Adviser’s primary function is to strengthen the Ministry role and technical capacity for child protection policy and programme coordination, strengthening the National Case Management System, strategy implementation, strengthen budget advocacy and monitoring, social welfare workforce strengthening, and efficient delivery of inclusive child protection and welfare services. The role also includes strengthening the Ministry’s preparedness and response to Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE) arising from natural and/or public health crises situations.The role is key to ensuring that all child protection and welfare services are of high technical quality, inclusive and achieve positive and sustainable outcomes for the most vulnerable children in Zimbabwe.

The mechanism for this position will be a deliverable-based contract with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.

Major areas of responsibilities

Working closely with the Deputy Director, Child Protection Services, and the Director Social Development, the Child Protection Technical Adviser will be responsible for the following:

Policy, strategy and coordination

• Provide high-level technical expertise to the Ministry in areas related to child protection drawing on latest regional and global programming evidence and practices, to help support policy, strategy, and service delivery in Zimbabwe
• Provide technical support to the Ministry on child protection policy and legislative reform work as and when needed
• Support the Ministry to achieve strategic and strong coherence and coordination of its child protection programmes (NCMS, alternative care/unaccompanied and separated children, migration, children with disability etc.)
• Support the Ministry in leadership and coordination of various inter- ministerial, development partner and CSO collaboration platforms including, Working Party of Officials (WPO), Child Protection Fund (CPF) Steering Committee, and the Child Protection Working Group.
• Provide technical support to the Ministry to effectively link birth registration to child protection and welfare services e.g. supporting the Ministry’s participation in Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Forums as and when required
• Under the guidance of Ministry’s management, organise the dissemination of information on the Ministry’s social welfare mandate, policies, and programmes to sub national levels
• Support the Ministry in the preparation of the Annual National Budgets by conducting Child Protection budget analysis and advocacy briefs in tim e for the pre-budget debates “Support the Ministry to improve budget execution rates for social welfare programmes with a focus on promoting efficiency in delivery of relevant programmes
• Support the Ministry to carry out periodic programme budget performance analysis of child protection and share with relevant stakeholders
• Support the Ministry to implement actions outlined in the Pathfinder process within the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children (VAC), and in the National Action Plan on Ending VAC

Capacity development

• Build the capacity of relevant staff in the Ministry to effectively use child protection data and evidence for informed decision making, budget development and programme design
• Support periodic analysis of data and evidence on child protection outcomes from the National Case Management System MIS
• Support quality assurance of Case Management Officers’ and MIS Graduate Interns’deliverables
• In consultation with child protection and MIS colleagues in the Ministry, support the development, review and updating of child protection modules in the NCMS MIS
• Support the Ministry to strengthen the social welfare workforce including workforce supervision, standard setting and oversight of registration and accreditation of the social workforce in line with relevant policy and legislation
• Mentor and coach Child Protection staff in the Ministry at national and sub national levels in consultation with the Deputy Director Child Protection Services
• Support the Ministry to develop risk-informed child protection programmes, and to strengthen the Ministry’s capacity and systems to prepare and respond to emergencies that affect children and vulnerable groups

Programme delivery and monitoring

• Provide technical support in improving the NCMS ensuring that services provided are integrated, comprehensive, efficient, and effective
• Support the Ministry to develop and implement an effective plan for strengthening the National Case Management System for the Protection and Welfare of Children ensuring consistency across districts

• Support the Ministry in monitoring, evaluations and reviews of child protection programmes including tracking child protection targets and commitments in the National Development Strategy (NDS1 2021-2025)
• Work collaboratively with the Ministry’s M&E team to develop a clear process for capturing, disseminating, and learning from child protection programmes progress and outcomes to improve delivery

Reporting

The post is embedded in the Ministry’s Social Development Department, and reports to the Director, Social Development. The Child Protection Technical Adviser works collaboratively with the Deputy Director Child Protection Services, and National, Provincial and District Social Development Officers and Case Management Officers.

Duration

• This role is for the period February 2021 to December 2022 with the incumbent signing annual renewable contracts subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

Qualifications and experience

To effectively deliver in this post, the applicant should meet the following requirements:

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work
• a Master’s Degree in Social Work, Child Rights or Child Studies will be an added advantage
• Registration with the Council of Social Workers is a must.
• At least 10 years’ experience in Child Protection Systems Strengthening approach
• Experience of working on Child Protection issues in development and humanitarian contexts
• Excellent networking and relationship management skills with key actors in the Child Protection sector (Government, UN agencies, Donor representatives, NGOs, and civil society)
• Masters’ degree in Social Sciences, Social Work or in any relevant field is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of key national Child Protection and child welfare legislation, policies, and standards
• Demonstrated capacity in social sector budget analysis and advocacy

• Excellent analytical, and communication skills
• Flexibility to respond quickly to urgent issues and to liaise with the Ministry colleagues and Management on key decisions
• Capacity to engage in policy dialogue
• Capacity to draft technical and policy briefs
• Experience in advocacy, preferably on a national level
• Good computer skills
• Excellent English speaking/writing skills
• The position requires flexibility and willingness to travel locally and regionally

NB: Candidates, [especially women] are encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates meeting the above requirements will be contacted for interviews. Terms and conditions of services will be disclosed to the shortlisted candidates.