The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

Role Purpose :

Child Protection and Safeguarding Specialist will lead and provide technical expertise in the design and management of both child protection (70%) and safeguarding (30%) programmes using child-centered community development and influencing approach.

Plan International is fully committed to providing a safe, protective, and supportive environment for all children and young people and intends that their welfare will at all times be the paramount consideration. This is fully reflected in our organizational Values and Behaviors.

We hold ourselves to account, through our Child and Youth Safeguarding Policy (CYSP) Say Yes! to Keeping Children and Young People Safe, in making sure that whatever we do or however we or those associated with us behave, we do no harm to children and young people.

Therefore, the role of the Child Protection and Safeguarding Specialist focuses on Child Protection issues within the nation and globally. The role also provides coordination of Safeguarding that ensures our organization including our interventions and people are of no harm to children and young people.

The role ensures the design/adapt tools, guidance and procedures and provide expert advice and support which ensures children and young people in the community and who engage with the organisation are protected from all abuse and do so in a manner that is safe for them. In addition, the role ensures Plan International Sierra Leone attains and maintains its standards on safeguarding children and young people, ensuring they are meaningfully engaged and that no child or young person comes to harm through their association with the organisation.

Dimentions of the Role

• Provides technical and professional advice and support to Child and Youth Safeguarding Focal Points within Plan International Sierra Leone, empowering them to take full ownership of their role and strengthen the implementation of the policy and procedures within their departments and Programs. Meets with safeguarding focal points monthly to discuss progress, and gaps proffer solutions to problems, and submit reports to the Head of Programme Quality and Development.
• Provides technical support, input, and/or implementation of safeguarding for specific Country/ regional level tasks as delegated by the Regional Child and Youth Safeguarding Technical Advisor (Country/Regional level tasks may be Safeguarding in – Emergency Response, Engagement, Case Management, Programming, and Sponsorship for example).
  • Designs, and develops initiatives for a robust child and youth safeguarding framework across Plan International Sierra Leone. This will include the adaptation and socialization of child protection and safeguarding toolkits and training materials. Leads and promotes a cultural commitment to attain the Plan International Standards on keeping children and young people safe, ensuring it remains alive, and current and reflects emerging risks in the sector.
  • Carries out investigations into concerns or reported incidents or provides distance or onsite support on case management and case review.
  • Actively facilitates and promotes collaboration, engagement, communication, teamwork, learning, and sharing on safeguarding safe and meaningful engagement at the National level. Proactively works with members of National and Local level Child protection and youth Safeguarding networks to ensure the safe and meaningful engagement of children and young people.
  • Supports resource mobilization efforts by providing valid input to proposal development.
  • Execute other tasks at the request of the Supervisor or the CD within the child protection and safeguarding sector.
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Location: Free Town

Type of Role: Fixed term

Reports to: Head of Programme Development and Quality

Grade: Hey Grade 16

Closing Date: 22nd May 2024

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.