GENDER, EDUCATION AND PROTECTION OFFICER

Job Summary

CARE Nigeria is seeking a Gender, Education and Protection Officer who will support the implementation of the Future Free from Child Marriage (FFCM) Project in Katsina State, reducing girls’ vulnerability to child marriage through evidence-based and scalable interventions and contributing to improved educational outcomes for adolescent girls. The position will provide technical and operational support for project implementation, stakeholder engagement, community mobilisation, safeguarding, girls' empowerment programming, monitoring, learning, and coordination with government institutions, schools, communities, implementing partners, and research partners. The Project Officer will play a central role in ensuring quality delivery of project activities, strengthening government ownership, amplifying girls' voices, and contributing to the generation of evidence that informs sustainable and scalable solutions for ending child marriage through education.

Job Details

SCOPE:

Employment Type: Contract - Full-Time 

Job Status: Nationals only.

Slots: 1

Location: Katsina, Katsina State.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

Job Responsibility #1: Project Implementation, Coordination and Quality Assurance 

Support the effective planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of project activities across schools, communities, and local government areas to ensure delivery of project outputs and outcomes.

• Coordinate the implementation of girls' education, life skills, mentoring, safeguarding, social norms, and community engagement activities.
• Support the implementation of approved workplans and activity schedules.
• Monitor activity progress and ensure quality standards are maintained.
• Coordinate field visits and implementation support activities.
• Ensure timely delivery of project outputs and milestones.

Job Responsibility #2: Government, Partner and Community Engagement

Support engagement and coordination with government institutions, schools, implementing partners, traditional and religious leaders, community structures, and adolescent girls to strengthen project ownership and sustainability.

• Support implementation of stakeholder engagement and state-entry strategies.
• Support the strengthening of existing government education, child protection, and community systems to improve sustainability and scale of project interventions.
• Facilitate engagement with education authorities, women affairs structures, and local government institutions.
• Support coordination with implementing partners, CGE, and other stakeholders.
• Engage traditional and religious leaders in support of girls' education and delayed marriage.
• Strengthen collaboration with schools, communities, and youth structures.

Job Responsibility #3: Gender, Education, Child Protection and Safeguarding Programming 

Support the implementation of gender-transformative, education-focused, and child protection interventions that contribute to improved outcomes for girls.

• Support implementation of life skills, mentoring, and girls' empowerment activities.
• Support implementation of girls' education interventions that promote enrolment, attendance, retention, transition, re-enrolment, and completion for adolescent girls.
• Collaborate with schools, education authorities, and community structures to identify and address barriers affecting girls' participation, progression, and learning outcomes.
• Promote meaningful participation and leadership of adolescent girls.
• Support safeguarding and child protection systems and referral pathways.
• Monitor protection risks and support appropriate referrals where required.
• Ensure project activities are implemented in accordance with CARE safeguarding standards

Job Responsibility #4: Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting

Support project monitoring, documentation, learning, and reporting processes to ensure evidence generation and accountability.

• Collect and verify project monitoring data and supporting documentation.
• Support baseline, midline, endline, and assessment activities.
• Maintain project records and project participants (beneficiary) databases.
• Contribute to monthly, quarterly, and donor reports.
• Document lessons learned, success stories, and best practices.

Job Responsibility #5: Representation, Communication and Knowledge Management  

Support visibility, learning, knowledge-sharing, and representation of the project with relevant stakeholders.

• Participate in relevant meetings, workshops, and coordination forums.
• Support communication and dissemination of project achievements and learning.
• Contribute to development of learning products and knowledge resources.
• Represent the project at local-level stakeholder engagements where required.

Other Responsibilities:

• Contribute to resource mobilization efforts by identifying partnership opportunities, supporting concept note and proposal development, providing technical inputs, documenting project achievements, and supporting donor engagement processes.
• Perform any other project-related duties assigned by the supervisor.
• Support organisational initiatives related to gender equality, child protection, safeguarding, and programme quality.
• Participate in CARE meetings, trainings, and professional development activities.
• Support emergency response and organisational priorities as required.
• Promote CARE's values, safeguarding commitments, and Code of Conduct

Requirements

QUALIFICATION/EXPERIENCE/TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Required

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Gender Studies, Education, Social Work, Sociology, Development Studies, International Development, Psychology, Child Protection, Public Administration, Community Development, or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification will be an added advantage.

Experience

• Experience implementing education, gender, adolescent empowerment, child protection, safeguarding, or child marriage prevention programmes.
• Experience working with government institutions, schools, community structures, and civil society organisations.
• Experience supporting project implementation, stakeholder engagement, monitoring, and reporting.
• Experience working in Northern Nigeria, particularly within education and adolescent programmes, is highly desirable.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of gender and gender transformative approaches, faith-based child protection programming, adolescent development, girls' education, child protection, safeguarding, and social norms programming.
• Strong understanding of girls' education programming, including retention, transition, and re-enrolment.
• Knowledge of education systems strengthening and government education structures in Nigeria.
• Experience working with schools, education authorities, teachers, and community education structures.
• Understanding of project cycle management and results-based programming.
• Experience with monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting processes.
• Ability to analyse data and prepare quality reports.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and data collection tools.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Language

• Fluency in English (written and spoken).
• Fluency in Hausa is highly desirable.

Competencies:

1. Drive for Results
2. Approachability                                 
3. Building Effective Teams
4. Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
5. Commitment to gender equality and girls' empowerment.
6. Safeguarding and accountability mindset.
7. Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
8. Learning orientation and adaptability.
9. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
10. Integrity and Trust
11. Comfort around Higher management
12. Excellent planning and organizational Agility

NOTE:

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
• CARE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CARE considers all applicants on the basis of merit without prejudice to race, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, colour, national origin, marital status, or veteran status.
• CARE Nigeria is committed to preventing sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH), child abuse, and human trafficking. We hold zero tolerance for abuse, exploitation, or discrimination. The selected candidate will be required to adhere to CARE’s Safeguarding Policies, Code of Conduct, and undergo strict background checks, including reference and screening checks.
• There are individuals who may use CARE’s name and trademark in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job seekers. Please note that CARE will not request for any monetary payments from applicants at any stage of the recruitment process.

Qualified Women and Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

About Company

CARE

https://www.carenigeria.org/

CARE is a global humanitarian and development leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. We are known everywhere for our unshakable commitment to the dignity of people. CARE vision is to seek a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live with dignity and security. Our Mission is to work around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. We put women and girls in the center of our work because we know that we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities. We are strongly inspired and guided by our Core Values of Transformation, Integrity, Excellence, Diversity and Equality. CARE Nigeria was established in Nigeria in April 2017 and has been predominantly operating in the conflict affected Northeast, and in the Northwest. CARE aims to support vulnerable people who are affected by conflict, natural disasters and poverty across four key programming areas: Food and Nutrition Security and Livelihoods, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, a Life Free from Violence (Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response) and Women’s Economic Empowerment through its Flagship ‘Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) approach. Our Commitment to Nigeria people goes beyond our current humanitarian work to exploring and initiating longer-term development programs that address underlying causes of poverty and vulnerability in Nigeria. In collaboration with other stakeholders, we will initiate and support equitable and sustainable development interventions by enabling the underprivileged to realize their potential, exercise their right and strengthen linkages with broader society.