Child Protection Facilitator/Incentive Worker-Homs

Background/IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been operating in Syria since 2012, delivering programs in protection, health, economic recovery, and early childhood development across Idlib, Aleppo, Raqqa, Al-Hasakeh, and Deir ez-Zor, with recent program expansion into Hama, Rural Damascus, and Homs. With a workforce of more than 700 staff members, the IRC has built strong trust and solid relationships with local communities, ensuring effective access and service delivery. The organization also plays a key role among NGOs and donors within Syria’s coordination mechanisms, holding influential positions and continuously adapting to the evolving context.

In response to recent developments and the transition to the new government, the IRC has, since December 2024, deployed a team to Damascus to establish operations and actively engage in coordination mechanisms for newly accessible areas across Syria, including parts of Northeast Syria, Northwest Syria, and other regions in the south and center of the country that were previously inaccessible. The organization is currently adapting its operations to expand the coverage of its services and improve efficiency.

Job Overview/Summary:

Responsible for implementing Safe Healing and Learning Spaces (SHLS) and SAFE activities, providing psychosocial, educational, and protection support to children, adolescents, and caregivers affected by displacement. Facilitated structured and age-appropriate activities, including Early Childhood Development (ECD), recreational, life skills, and parenting sessions through group and individual interventions aimed at enhancing wellbeing, resilience, protection, and learning outcomes.

Responsibilities:

• Attend training organized by the IRC and actively participate in all required learning activities, including pre/post-tests and debriefing sessions.
• Adhere to the IRC Code of Conduct at all times, both in the SHLS and within the community.
• Facilitate recreational, educational, and psychosocial activities for children and adolescents in accordance with IRC curricula and program guidelines.
• Create and maintain a safe, inclusive, and stimulating learning environment by effectively utilizing teaching and learning materials.
• Prepare weekly activity plans, lesson plans, and daily/weekly schedules to ensure effective program implementation.
• Engage positively with children and adolescents, providing support and mentorship while promoting their wellbeing and participation.
• Observe children with special needs, ensure their inclusion in activities, and refer them to relevant services when necessary.
• Ensure all children and youth are protected from harm and that safeguarding principles are consistently applied.
• Collect program data, maintain accurate attendance records, and complete required observations, weekly reports, and documentation.
• Communicate with parents, caregivers, community members, local authorities, and community leaders to raise awareness of program activities and promote community acceptance.
• Organize outreach and communication events, support beneficiary identification, and conduct needs assessments when required.
• Implement Parenting Program sessions according to established manuals and guidelines.
• Facilitate feedback discussions with children, adolescents, caregivers, and community stakeholders, and share lessons learned and recommendations with supervisors.
• Report supply and material needs to the SHLS Leader and coordinate with relevant staff to support effective program delivery.
• Remain open to feedback and work collaboratively with SHLS Leaders, supervisors, and IRC staff to strengthen program quality.

Required Experience/qualification/Skills:

• Preferably, a degree in education, social work, human rights, or any other related degree.
• Completion of secondary education is required.
• ’Minimum one years of similar work experience.
• Qualified teacher with teaching experience in primary and elementary school
• Well respected and nominated by the community (though final selection will be done by the IRC)
• Previous experience in an emergency or conflict-afflicted setting is required.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Demonstrated understanding of working with children and particularly vulnerable children
• Personal qualities: Team player, flexible, strong communication skills with children and caregivers, analytical skills, network-builder, able to handle pressure well and work in cross-cultural setting.

Language/Travel:

• Fluency in Arabic is required.
• Travel: 100% to field sites in Homs Cityas well as attending regional and global workshops, trainings, and meetings.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Child Protection Officer
Position directly supervises: None

Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Child Protection Manager
Key Internal Contacts: WPE, Child Protection, PROL, ERD, and Health team members

Key External Contacts: Communities, service providers

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing, and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate, and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.