Project Coordinator Honduras/Jamaica

Child helplines identify the most important issues in children’s lives and respond immediately through psycho social support, referrals and interventions. The documented information gathered by the child helplines is used to support governments and child protection agencies in the improvement of their national child protection systems, policy and legislation reforms and in the development of better monitoring tools.

The Global COVID-19 pandemic and resulting severe restrictions on mobility have rendered the provision of remote and online assistance an essential part of any effective child protection response looking to provide immediate protective assistance, emergency psychosocial support, and referrals within the child protection system.

With this in mind, Child Helpline International will work alongside UNICEF on two upcoming projects to establish child helplines in Honduras and Jamaica.

HONDURAS

In Honduras specifically, the aim is to strengthen the technical capacities of the national child protection agency (DINAF – Dirección de niñez, adolescencia y familia) and other local actors part of the National Child Protection System (SIGADENAH) to improve specialized protection for children by phone line and online systems. With this in mind, Child Helpline International in particular, will support with setting up a national child helplines “Linea 1-1-1” as a means to improve access to child protective services for girls, boys, adolescents, and also to centralize the reception and better track the response to complaints. The project will also involve ensuring the quality and efficiency of the specialized service 1-1-1 for children, guaranteeing also child sensitive and gender approaches.

Activities

• Provide technical guidance to finalize the operational manual and protocol for psychosocial support prior to launch of the Linea 1-1-1.
• Develop a communications strategy
• Provide virtual training to strengthen National Child Protection Agency staff capacity on quality standards, data analysis and key practices within child protection
• Facilitate exchanges and technical advisory by Child Helpline International’s network to the National Child Protection Agency and local governments
• Support technical developments, coordination and supervision related to software’s, data collection, standardized procedures and references

JAMAICA

The overall goal is to launch a nationwide child helpline in Jamaica. This is led by UNICEF Jamaica, with support from Child Helpline International.

The objectives for Child Helpline International are as follows:
• Provide support and technical guidance to UNICEF Jamaica through the inception phase of starting a child helpline.
• Provide support and technical guidance to UNICEF Jamaica through the development phase of starting a child helpline.
• Provide support and technical guidance to UNICEF Jamaica through the launch phase of starting a child helpline.

Activities

• Feasibility study including Needs Assessment and mapping of existing services.
• Development of a practical and applicable set of policies, safeguarding and confidentiality policies for the staff of the child helpline.
• Development of a call response training module and provision of three day (virtual) training for staff
• Support with process of becoming a Child Helpline International member
• Improve response skills and additional capacity building for the staff of the child helpline
• Follow up discussions and evaluation of the service for 3 months following its inception

Candidate’s Profile & Requirements

• A post-graduate study in international development, project management, social sciences or related fields;
• Experience in child protection and child safeguarding is a strong plus;
• Proven networking skills;
• A broad knowledge of country dynamics in Honduras and Jamaica;
• Child helpline knowledge and experience is essential;
• Fluency in English and Spanish. Others languages ​​will be considered and asset;
• Excellent analytical, planning and organizational skills;
• Excellent written verbal and communication skills, public speaking and presentation skills;
• Advanced ICT skills;
• Ability to work with minimum supervision at times;
• Focused, organized and flexible attitude to work with hands on mentality.