Child Protection Coordinator

TITLE: Child Protection Coordinator

TEAM: Programme Operations

LOCATION: Kitwe
POST TYPE: National 

Safeguarding:

Save the Children does not tolerate any form of exploitation, abuse, or harassment against any person. It is the responsibility of all employees and representatives to protect all people who come in contact with our organization. Save the Children commits to applying the same standards to all its employees and subject them to the same processes regardless of their position, influence, or reputation within or outside of the organization.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Save the Children International’s Diversity Policy, aims to promote equal opportunity in employment and to ban any kind of discrimination based on sex, age, social class, disability, HIV status, religion, race and ethnicity

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Project Coordinator will coordinate and support the effective implementation of the Child Protection project, with particular responsibility for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland funded “The Protecting Zambian Girls and Boys Offline and Online – Phase II” project. She/he will work with the partner Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) to support planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning of the project, ensuring timely and quality delivery in accordance with approved plans, budgets and donor requirements. The project aims to strengthen child protection systems and improve protection of children from violence, exploitation, neglect and abuse in both physical and digital environments. It works with children, parents/caregivers, communities, service providers, government ministries and institutions and other relevant stakeholder in Ndola, Kitwe and Chingola districts, as well as at the national level by strengthening children’s ability to identify and respond to protection risks; promoting positive parenting; supporting communities to prevent and respond to violence and harmful practices; improving the quality, coordination and accessibility of formal and informal child protection services, including case management and referral pathways; and advancing evidence-based advocacy for stronger child protection laws and policies and their effective implementation and enforcement. The coordinator will work closely with the Program Manager CSSP/CP, and relevant technical and operational teams to ensure effective coordination, technical quality and quality assurance, partner support, financial oversight, monitoring of results, timely reporting, and the integration of child participation, gender equality, disability inclusion, safeguarding, accountability and climate resilience throughout the project implementation.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Projects Manager Child Sensitive Social Protection and Child Protection

Staff reporting to this post: None

Indirect: None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

The Child Protection Coordinator will be responsible for the following;

• Support the implementing partner in planning and delivering project activities, including providing technical support and guidance in coordination with the relevant technical team.
• Lead or support the delivery of selected project activities according to the implementation plan.
• Document of project and partner experiences including results and impacts achieved, challenges, good practices, lessons learnt and any other experiences relevant for sharing.
• Ensure effective and efficient planning, implementation and monitoring of the “Protecting Zambian Girls and Boys Offline and Online – Phase II” project and support necessary adjustments to implementation plans, including in response to climate-related risks and changes in the operating context.
• Ensure that crosscutting themes (gender equality, disability inclusion, child participation, disaster risk reduction and civil society strengthening) are mainstreamed throughout the project implementation.
• Work closely with implementing partners, relevant technical teams, other partner organisations and government ministries and institutions to ensure the technical quality of project approaches and service delivery.
• Meet regularly with local partners and support their project implementation, technical guidance and capacity strengthening.
• Track expenditure to ensure spending is in line with the approved budget and annual forecast.
• Support project planning and budgeting and monitor expenditure.
• Review and analyse implementing partner’s reports and funding requests and provide feedback.
• Ensure timely disbursement of funds to implementing partners and the efficient and accountable use of project funds.
• Undertake periodic field monitoring visits, facilitate project review meetings and support indicator data collection and project evaluations.
• Facilitate and support trainings and other capacity-strengthening activities for implementing partners and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure timely and high-quality project monitoring and reporting (monthly, quarterly, annually and in accordance with donor requirements).
• Liaise with other child protection practitioners and relevant government ministries and institutions on child protection policy, implementation and practice, and share information on the project’s interventions, evidence and learning. The post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

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 duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS
• University degree or diploma in Social Sciences, Development Studies or another relevant field;
• At least 5 years of relevant working experience in children’s rights, child safeguarding and child protection preferably within the civil society sector;
• Strong knowledge and skills in child protection including experience in facilitating trainings by using participatory methodologies;
• Strong experience in project cycle management;
• Good financial management skills and understanding of budgets;
• Experience in child participation and the application of the Nine Basic Requirements for Meaningful and Ethical Children’s Participation;
• Experience in children’s online safety issues will be an added value;
• Knowledge and experience in crosscutting themes such as disability inclusion, gender, and climate change adaptation
• Good analytical and report writing skills;
• Demonstrated ability to set and achieve objectives;
• proficiency in one or more languages commonly spoken in the project locations is an advantage.;
• Strong communication (verbal and writing skills), interpersonal and representational skills;
• Flexible and adaptable to dynamic changes and fast-paced work environment;
• Ability to work with minimal supervision;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point;
• Commitment to Save the Children’s vision, mission and values including accountability, ambition, collaboration, creativity and integrity, and to child rights-based approaches.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

ONLY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS SHOULD APPLY BY ATTACHING A COVER LETTER AND AN UPDATED CV.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 4th November 2026.
Due to the volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by a member of the HR team.

Save the Children reserves the right to re advertise if suitable applicants are not found.

Save the Children is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer that does not engage in any practices which discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, colour, religion, gender, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status and we will never ask that you pay for anything as part of the selection process or thereafter