Project Officer (GBV, Child Protection & MHPSS) at Novel Alliance for Development Aid _NADA

Duration: 6 Months 

Reports to: Program Manager

Supervisors: Case workers, PSS Facilitators & Community Volunteers

Number of Positions: 3

LGAs (Kebbe, Goronyo and Sabon Birni)

Purpose of the Role

The Project Officer will deliver and coordinate community-based child protection and psychosocial support activities. The role focuses on preventing and responding to abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence against children, and on promoting the wellbeing of children, caregivers, and communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement child protection and MHPSS activities in line with project work plans and national and international standards, including the CPMS and the IASC MHPSS Guidelines.
• Identify, assess, and refer at-risk children and survivors to appropriate services, following case management and safe referral protocols.
• Provide or facilitate psychosocial first aid, group psychosocial sessions, and recreational activities in child-friendly spaces and community settings.
• Support case management for vulnerable children, including unaccompanied and separated children, and maintain confidentiality and accurate case records.
• Train and mentor community volunteers, child protection committees, caregivers, teachers, and local leaders on child rights, safeguarding, positive parenting, and psychosocial wellbeing.
• Lead community awareness campaigns on child marriage, child labor, gender-based violence, and other protection risks.
• Map and strengthen referral pathways, and coordinate with government bodies, partner organizations, and the child protection and MHPSS working groups.
• Ensure that safeguarding, do-no-harm, and accountability to affected populations principles are upheld in all activities.
• Collect, analyze, and report programme data accurately, and submit timely weekly, monthly, and final reports.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

GBV

• Implement GBV programme activities in line with the project work plan, the IASC GBV Guidelines, and the GBV Minimum Standards.
• Provide survivor-centred case management, including intake, assessment, safety planning, follow-up, and safe referrals to health, legal, security, and livelihood services.
• Ensure that all survivor information is handled with strict confidentiality and in line with informed-consent and information-sharing protocols.
• Collect, enter, and manage GBV incident data using the Gender-Based Violence Information Management System (GBVIMS), ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and adherence to the GBVIMS Information Sharing Protocol.
• Compile and analyse GBVIMS data to produce regular trend reports, and share anonymised, aggregated findings with the GBV sub-sector working group to inform programming and advocacy.
• Ensure secure storage of GBVIMS records, including password protection, restricted access, and safe handling of both electronic and hard-copy case files.
• Manage and support safe spaces for women and girls, including psychosocial support, life-skills sessions, and group activities.
• Lead community awareness and engagement activities on GBV, child marriage, harmful traditional practices, and women’s rights, working with community leaders, religious leaders, men, and boys.
• Train and mentor community volunteers, GBV focal points, and community-based protection committees, including on GBVIMS data collection and ethical data handling.
• Map and regularly update GBV referral pathways and service directories, and coordinate with government agencies, partner organizations, and the GBV sub-sector working group.
• Support GBV risk mitigation and the integration of GBV considerations across other programme sectors.
• Uphold safeguarding, PSEA, do-no-harm, and accountability to affected populations principles in all activities.
• Collect, analyze, and report programme data accurately, and submit timely weekly, monthly, and final reports.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Psychology, Sociology, Counselling, Public Health, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in child protection, MHPSS, or case management, preferably in a humanitarian or development setting.
• Training or practical knowledge of psychosocial support, psychosocial first aid, and child safeguarding.
• Experience working with children, survivors, and vulnerable groups, using sensitive and child-friendly approaches.
• Strong facilitation, community mobilization, and communication skills.
• Good report writing and data management skills.
• Proficiency in English and Hausa (both spoken and written).

Desirable

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Certification in case management, GBV, mhGAP, or related MHPSS training.
• Prior experience working in Sokoto or elsewhere in northern Nigeria.
• Familiarity with working alongside NGOs, UN agencies, and government ministries.

Core Competencies

Empathy and integrity, cultural sensitivity, discretion, teamwork, initiative, the ability to work under pressure, and a firm commitment to the best interests of the child.