War Child is an international alliance working in 15 countries. This is an international charity working for children and youth affected by war. War Child initiated working in Afghanistan from 2002. In Afghanistan War Child Work with children and youth, who as a result of conflict, live with a combination of poverty, exclusion, and insecurity. These children and youth might include street children, child headed households, children conscripted into armed groups, unaccompanied minors, youth returnees and refugees, and children who have been put in Juvenile Rehabilitation Center and, the children and youth impacted by the climate induced disasters.  Our mission is to protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children and youth caught up in conflict, poverty, and exclusion. We also work on building the lives and climate resilient livelihoods of the children and youth.  We look forward to a world in which the lives of children and youth are no longer torn apart by war. This is a vision that can only be realized through the collective actions of children and youth themselves, the communities that they live in, their leaders, local organizations, War Child in Afghanistan, governments, and key decision makers.

Job Purpose

The PSS Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator, to whom he/she will report. The position will contribute to strengthening the child protection system and enhancing the delivery of Psychosocial Support (PSS) services, including Child-Friendly Spaces (CFSs) / Child Care Centers (CCCs). The role will also support the establishment and operationalization of planned CFSs/CCCs in the target villages of Sholgerah and Chemtal districts in Balkh province, and Sheberghan and Khawja Dokoh districts in Jawzjan province. In addition, the PSS Officer will be responsible for the supervision, monitoring, and reporting of these activities to ensure high-quality, timely, and accountable implementation of PSS/CFS interventions.

The Duties and responsibilities may include but not limited to:

• In coordination with project coordinator, identify locations for Child Friendly Spaces and support the establishment process as well.
• Lead CFS team and ensure delivery of quality services in each of the target areas.
• Lead the Psychosocial component of the project in planning and implementing high quality services to beneficiaries.
• Provide training and on-job coaching to the CFSs facilitators to deliver proper and quality recreational activities, PSS and PFA to the children in the CFSs as well as to their caregivers.
• Provide on-time specialized psychosocial support to the required cases referred to the project.
• Develop and improve the PSS and other relevant packages based on the target groups.
• Develop monthly and weekly PSS & PFA plan responding to the needs of targeted beneficiaries.
• Maintain good coordination between the child protection actors in the target provinces. 
• Monitor the database, keep it updated and track the status of the PSS team activities.
• In consultation with M&E officer develop monitoring plans and provide reports on PSS component.
• Conduct regular meetings with the team and report the outcome of the meetings to the Project Coordinator.
• Support CFS Facilitators to conduct positive parenting skills sessions for CFS children's parents/caregivers participating to learn more about positive behaviors and other child protection issues.
• Submit regular reports and updated databases to the project coordinator and strengthen the reporting mechanisms to provide on-time updates to the government and the project donor.
• Other duties assigned by the line manager/officer.

Our Values

• Bold: We use our passion and creativity to deliver high-quality evidence-based work designed to maximize our beneficial impact on children in conflict.
• Accountable to Children: Children can rely on us to respond to their voices and to treat them with respect and dignity.
• Anti-racism: Anti-racism is not merely a belief. It includes actions that we mainstream throughout our work to change and challenge policies and behaviors that perpetuate racism.
• Transparent: We expect to be held to account by our supporters and beneficiaries and we respond with openness and honesty.
• Supportive to each other: We support each other and our partners to achieve ambitious goals and to the best we can be we are honest and open with each other, sharing our success and confronting our challenges.

Person Specification

War Child operates in the northern region provinces of Afghanistan. Preference will be given first to local candidates from Balkh and Jawzjan provinces, and secondly to candidates from other northern region provinces. Please upload a copy of your valid National ID under the [Other] section; applications without it will not be considered for shortlisting.

Person Specification

• Bachelor degree in Psychology is essential
• Three years’ experience in PSS/PFA programs within child protection sector is essential.
• Two years of experience in PSS including CFS establishment and running and conducting positive parenting skills sessions with parents/caregivers
• experience in working with Children and Women in the context of northern region provinces.
• Proficiency in languages in English (both written and verbal); Dari, Pashto and Uzbeki
• These are community-based positions and therefore, priority is given to the local candidates, who are from the respective norther region provinces, especially from (Balkh and Jawzjan).
• Should have the ability to travel independently to the other targeted districts in the same province. (Female staff will go with their mahram).
• Excellent coordination, facilitation, and negotiation skills; High level of self-awareness and good interpersonal relations.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems and facilitate effective decision making.

Child safeguarding and Adults at Risk
Our work with children and at-risk adults to ensure their safety is our top priority. We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in all aspects of our work. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any behavior or practices that put children and/or vulnerable adults at risk of abuse or harm.
Successful applicants will be required to comply with and sign our Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and PSEAH Policy. You can find the Safeguarding and Integrity policies here:
https://warchild.sharepoint.com/sites/Integrity

 
Pre-employment checks
Employment with War Child will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:

• a satisfactory police record check and a clear LexisNexis and Due Diligence check
• receipt of three satisfactory references
• Due to the urgency nature of the role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the vacancy may close before the deadline.

Submission Guideline:

• Please go to this: https://war-child-alliance.jobs.personio.com/job/2502473?language=en&display=en
• Fill in your information, and attach your documents before the closing date.
• Applications submitted without a valid National ID will not be considered for shortlisting.
• Applications after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Please note that there is no telephonic inquiry and only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for written test/interview.