Child Protection Policy & Advocacy Technical Advisor

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Position description

Job Title: Child Protection Policy & Advocacy Technical Advisor

Location: Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (KRI), with occasional travel to other areas of KRI.

Type of position: Employment Contract/ Expat or National Contract

Length of Contract: 12 Months

Compensation and Benefits: Competitive salary and benefits commensurate with skills and experience. Local/Expatriate Compensation Package: includes relocation expenses and housing and local transportation allowances

About SEED: SEED is a women-led, local NGO in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, working to create a future where everyone can thrive by protecting rights, empowering communities, and strengthening systems. We promote gender equality and work to end gender-based violence; protect children and promote the healthy development of children, adolescents, and youth; combat human trafficking and uphold survivor rights; and improve mental health and well-being. Through transformational services, community development, capacity building, and policy and advocacy, we support individuals, communities, and institutions to create sustainable impact.

Role of the Child Protection Policy & Advocacy Technical Advisor: The Advisor will provide technical expertise and leadership for SEED’s policy and advocacy work on strengthening child protection systems and promoting children’s rights. The Advisor will identify institutional and “on the ground” gaps and needs in the KRI, and support legislative and regulatory reforms as well as improved policies, processes, procedures, and practices to strengthen child protection. Drawing on their technical expertise in child protection, human rights, and child-centered approaches and best practices, the Advisor will lead diverse initiatives—including advocacy, technical assistance, and capacity-building—to strengthen systems and the capacity of governmental and non-governmental actors to protect children. This will include supporting practical reforms in government institutions, residential care, justice, and frontline responses. The Advisor will lead or participate in relevant coordination mechanisms and working groups, support the design and delivery of complementary training for service providers, contribute to public awareness initiatives, and participate in program design and development. The Advisor will identify opportunities to strengthen SEED’s impact on behalf of children and promote the consistent Application of rights-based, child-centered approaches across policies, institutions, and services.

Specific Tasks:

Policy and Advocacy (60%)

• Conduct research as necessary on child protection issues and systems in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), identifying gaps in policy, prevention, protection, and response.
• Analyze relevant laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and institutional practices, and track developments affecting child protection.
• Examine international frameworks, standards, and best practices to inform SEED’s approaches, adapting tools, resources, and guidance as necessary for the local context.
• Consult with government counterparts, child protection actors, and other relevant stakeholders to understand current policies, processes, and practices, and conduct capacity and/or needs assessments.
• Conduct technical discussions with thematic experts and child protection actors to enhance cross-organizational learning, harmonize tools and approaches, and strengthen the application of child protection standards.
• Identify opportunities to partner with government and other child protection actors to strengthen child protection systems, build capacity, and support effective coordination, and develop strategic plans to support engagement.
• Design and implement, or contribute to, advocacy, technical assistance, and capacity-building initiatives to support policy and practice reform and strengthen systems, approaches, and services for the protection of children’s rights.
• Draft and disseminate materials such as policy briefs, issue analyses, assessments, reports, strategies, protocols and procedures, guidance, and tools.
• Prepare presentations, speeches, and talking points as needed to support high-level engagements on child protection initiatives.
• Plan and organize workshops, roundtables, and other events as needed to convene child protection actors and decision-makers, secure agreements, and support the uptake of key information, skills, or resources.
• Cultivate positive, responsive relationships with government counterparts, service providers, and other stakeholders, maintaining strong communication and ensuring effective management of expectations.

Coordination and Organizational Representation (15%)

• Lead or participate in relevant child protection coordination mechanisms and working groups, including those focused on child protection systems strengthening and reform.
• Represent SEED in coordination fora, with KRG institutions and other stakeholders, and with donors.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration, develop strategic partnerships, and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including government institutions and, where relevant, networks and coalitions.
• Provide resources, information, and technical support to external audiences, as requested.

Technical Leadership (25%)

• Participate in program design and development to ensure that SEED’s child protection policy and advocacy work is responsive to identified needs and calibrated for impact.
• Support program monitoring and evaluation, including the development of tools, to build strong feedback loops on child protection policy and advocacy interventions and facilitate course correction as needed.
• Ensure proper documentation of child protection policy and advocacy activities and contribute to quality reporting.
• Support the design, development, review, and delivery of SEED’s child protection training and capacity-building initiatives for government and non-governmental service providers and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development of strategies and messaging for awareness-raising initiatives on child protection and children’s rights.
• Develop content and provide input on communications related to SEED’s child protection work, including website articles and social media.
• Provide technical input into existing and proposed programs to ensure that child protection approaches align with international standards and are adapted to the local context.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work, child protection, law, human rights, public policy, social sciences, international development, or another related field.
• At least five years of international development and/or humanitarian experience in child protection, including technical support to child protection programming and advocacy for improved policies, practices, and protections for children’s rights.
• At least three years of experience working in a senior technical or programmatic role.
• Experience implementing donor-funded international development and/or humanitarian assistance programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in child protection, children’s rights, and rights-based, child-centered approaches, including applying relevant standards and best practices in different institutional and operational contexts.
• Direct and demonstrable experience working with government actors to strengthen child protection systems, improve institutional practice, or support policy and practice reform.
• Experience providing technical assistance and capacity-building support to government and/or non-governmental institutions and service providers.
• Experience in policy and advocacy work, including contributing to evidence-based recommendations and engaging stakeholders to influence policy or practice.
• Familiarity with relevant coordination mechanisms and working groups in the child protection sector.
• Strong belief in human rights and a commitment to protecting children’s rights.
• Strong leadership, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Good time management and organizational skills, with the ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
• High standard of spoken and written English, with Arabic and/or Kurdish a plus.
• Experience in Iraq and/or the Kurdistan Region is a plus.
• Ability to work in a demanding setting and adapt quickly to changing environments, including travel within KRI as required.

Relevant experience in Iraq or comparable humanitarian and development contexts is preferred. Experience working with child protection networks, coalitions, or other collaborative advocacy initiatives is an asset.

Application instructions

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