Technical Coordinator for Child Protection and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services

Girls Empowerment Network (GENET)

Job Title: Technical Coordinator for Child Protection and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services

Project: Acting Together for Responsive and Integrated Systems for children’s access to Education in Emergencies 
Location: Stationed at Balaka, Implementing in Balaka and Zomba
Reports to: Project Manager
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Duration: 21 months
Start Date: As soon as possible

  1. Project Overview

The Acting Together for Responsive and Integrated Systems for Children’s Access to Education in Emergencies (ARISE) is an ECHO HIP funded 2-year regional program that aims to enhance girls’ and boys’ access to safe, protective, inclusive and uninterrupted learning and supportive services for their well-being during crises in Malawi and Zimbabwe. The project specifically aims to strengthen the education and protection systems (at regional, national, district and community level) to proactively anticipate, prepare, adapt and respond to multi hazard shocks while utilizing an integrated approachthat brings together Education in Emergencies (EiE), Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA) and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to ensure there is comprehensive continuity of learning for girls and boys in safe, protective, supportive and inclusive environments during crisis, as part of addressing the SADCs 2024 Drought Appeal’s concern regarding education disruption and child wellbeing.

ARISE prioritizes inclusion through targeted support for vulnerable groups, especially girls, out of school children and children with disabilities, responding to ECHO HIP 2025 Pillar II on EiE as well as strengthening the priorities of Pillar 1 and 3.  ARISE has also prioritized comprehensive locally-led preparedness, anticipatory action and rapid response of multi-hazard shocks.

ARISE project is led by Save the Children, and in Malawi will be implemented in Zomba and Balaka districts by Girls Empowerment Network (GENET) in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.

2. Purpose of the Role

Reporting to the Program Manager for the ARISE project, the Technical Coordinator for Child Protection and MHPSS will be responsible for providing technical leadership in the implementation and monitoring of high-quality Child Protection and MHPSS interventions integrated within the ARISE project as well as  providing overall coordination of implementing project interventions in each of the impact districts of Zomba and Balaka.

With technical support from Save the Children, the post holder will coordinate the quality implementation of key integrated approaches of CPHA, MHPSS and EiE as stipulated in this project within the two districts of Zomba and Balaka, while working closely with SHN department of Ministry of Basic Education to engage learners in child led clubs and SHN clubs in schools as well as the District Social Welfare offices to engage children in children corners and safe spaces.

The post holder will also work closely with the Technical Coordinator for Anticipatory Action in ARISE project to ensure early warning systems are effectively used to develop timely and proactive risk mitigation actions within the integrated frameworks of EiE, CPHA and MHPSS.

3. Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

  • Provide technical guidance in the implementation of CPHA and MHPSS interventions within the ARISE project, and ensure integration of CPHA, MHPSS, EiE and DRM  e is coming out strongly.
  • Provide technical leadership in the implementation of the key integrated approaches in this project within the two districts of Zomba and Balaka. The approaches include (i) We thrive; which brings together a combination of activities for children and adolescents,’ with perspectives from CPHA, MHPSS and EiE; (ii) Safe Schools common approach, (iii) Rapid Integrated Response for Children, (iv) Child protection case management, (iv) Psychological First Aid for children and adolescents a among others.
  • Provide technical guidance in the implementation of the integrated case management system while utilizing the national CP case management and referral system for Malawi
  • Actively participate in the adaptation of training resource materials, tools and guidelines for key approaches to be used in the  ARISE project
  • Provide technical support to field officers to adhere to  the  ethical  standards of implementing Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS) and MHPSS Guidelines.

Program Implementation and Quality Assurance

  • Coordinate the project district team to effectively implement the system strengthening interventions in the project in each of the districts; Zomba and Balaka
  • Support the Government Social welfare office to revamp and strengthen community child protection structures that are key in the implementation of the integrated CPHA, MHPSS and EiE in the impact areas
  • Support the Government Social welfare office to conduct mapping of key CP and MHPSS service providers as well as referral pathways in each of the districts inorder to strengthen/establish a comprehensive referral system
  • Support the strengthening of coordination through interface and engagement sessions of key district stakeholders in CPHA, MHPSS and EIE with national level stakeholders as well as with community structures
  • Support the capacity strengthening of District CP team to enable them provide the required coaching, mentoring and supportive supervision to community CP structures
  • Coordinate the formation and capacity strengthening of the Rapid Integrated Response for Children (RIRC) and Children’s Integrated Response (CIR) teams at district and Area level, who will deliver the integrated programme in both rapid onset and protracted crises
  • Coordinate the technical capacity assessments that will be done at district level
  • Coordinate the rollout of school and community-based integrated CPHA, MHPSS, EiE and Disaster Risk Management interventions
  • Ensure age-appropriate, gender-responsive, and inclusive interventions that meet the needs of vulnerable and marginalized children.
  • Provide technical supervision and coaching to project field staff involved in delivering the ARISE project in Zomba and Balaka districts .

Child Safeguarding and meaningful child participation

  • With technical support from Save the Children, ensure an effective child safeguarding system is developed, implemented and monitored in each district, utilizing standard tools and processes for conducting child safeguarding risk assessment, risk mitigation, and documentation for all interventions in the ARISE project
  • Ensure the key principles of meaningful child participation are adhered to during the implementation of activities that require children to participate
  • Ensure Save the Children’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy is well integrated in ARISE project work and that project staff,  stakeholders as well as partners and service providers are oriented and trained to use it
  • Ensure the project team and key stakeholders at district, school and community level who will be facilitating the integrated approach of CPHA, MHPSS, EIE and DRM with children are well trained and mentored in child participatory approaches

Early Warning, Preparedness and Response

  • Support the integration of child-focused protection and MHPSS considerations into Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) systems and contingency plans.
  • Participate in multi-hazard risk assessments and preparedness planning exercises.
  • Lead or support rapid assessments of child protection and MHPSS needs in emergencies.

Coordination, Advocacy and Representation

  • Represent the project in district-level child protection and MHPSS coordination meetings and technical working groups.
  • Contribute to advocacy and communication efforts to promote child protection and psychosocial well-being in emergencies.

Project Reporting

  • Coordinate the timely production of activity/events reports from each of district, once an activity has been conducted.
  • Compile, analyze, and synthesize field-level reports from Field Officers and implementing partners into clear, comprehensive technical summaries highlighting outputs, results, challenges, and lessons learned in child protection and MHPSS.
  • Prepare and submit high-quality monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual project reports focused on CP/MHPSS to the Program Manager, ensuring alignment with the project’s log frame, workplan, and donor reporting templates.
  • Ensure inclusion of disaggregated data (age, sex, vulnerability, disability) in all reports to reflect reach and impact on targeted children and adolescents.
  • Contribute technical content to donor reports, success stories, and case studies that highlight key CP/MHPSS achievements and innovations, particularly those related to psychosocial support, child safeguarding, referrals, and safe learning environments.
  • Verify and triangulate reported data with MEAL teams to ensure consistency between narrative, quantitative data, and field monitoring tools.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

  • Actively coordinate the implementation and monitoring of the integrated case management system to ensure cases of children under CPHA, MHPSS and EiE are well captured/documented and that case plans are effectively followed and actioned
  • Work closely with the MEAL Coordinator for ARISE project in  the adaption of monitoring tools and  and tracking of child protection and MHPSS indicators.
  • Lead documentation of lessons learned, success stories, and technical reports in ARISE project.
  • Ensure timely and accurate reporting of CPHA, MHPSS and EiE  outputs for the project to feed into the  MEAL system.

4. Required Qualifications and Experience

Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Child Development or any related field. Master’s degree in these fields will be an added advantage .
  • Those with certificate in mental health will have added advantage

Experience:

  • Strong child protection background with a minimum of five years practical experience and demonstrable skills in coordinating and implementing integrated interventions of Child protection in humanitarian actions as well as Mental Health and Psychosocial Support.
  • Wide experience with demonstrable skills in implementing and utilising the national child protection case management system and referral system
  • in coordinating child protection in humanitarian actions programming as well as Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services during emergency settings.
  • Practical skills in setting up and facilitating MHPSS space spaces for child survivors of abuse during multi hazard shocks.
  • Proven experience of working in collaboration with government departments of social welfare, education and other key service workforce for child protection
  • Demonstrated capacity in training and mentoring project staff and key stakeholders in child protection, child participatory approaches and Psychological first aid among others
  • Capacity, flexibility and willingness to work in difficult and hard-working circumstance due to multi-hazard shocks and humanitarian emergencies

Technical Skills:

  • In-depth knowledge of CPMS, MHPSS Guidelines, and safeguarding principles.
  • Ability to develop tools, resources, and SOPs for field implementation.
  • Strong analytical, coordination, and communication skills.
  • Ability to write clear project reports (both narrative and financial) as well as updates.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken, with good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate at all levels.
  • Experience in designing and implementing early warning and emergency preparedness activities for education and protection.
  • Familiarity with the context of Balaka and Zomba
  1. Personal Attributes
  • Strong commitment to child rights, protection, and mental health.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
  • Respectful and inclusive attitude towards diverse communities and stakeholders.
  • Willingness to travel frequently to field locations and during emergencies.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3: the responsibility of this post requires the post holder to have regular contact with children especially adolescent girls and boys, children with disabilities and other vulnerable groups of children. This is expected to be done frequently and intensively during the implementation of this project in the impact areas in Malawi. As such, the post holder is expected to have a clean child safeguarding record as well as the required practical skills for level 3 of child safeguarding.

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing your suitability for the role to recruitment@genetmalawi.org  by 11thJuly, 2025 5pm CAT. Please include Technical Coordinator for Child Protection, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services – ECHO ARISE in the subject line.