Child Protection and Gender Technical Advisor – Freetown, Sierra Leone

Job Overview

Save the Children is hiring a Child Protection and Gender Technical Advisor for its Programme Development and Quality Team in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This full-time NGO job in Sierra Leone is ideal for experienced professionals with expertise in child protection, gender equality, humanitarian programming, safeguarding, donor engagement, programme quality, and technical leadership.

The position plays a strategic role in strengthening child protection programmes, supporting gender equality initiatives, and improving outcomes for vulnerable children in hard-to-reach communities. Professionals seeking international NGO jobs, humanitarian jobs in Africa, child rights careers, gender advisor jobs, development sector opportunities, and senior programme management jobs may find this role highly rewarding.

To stay updated on employment opportunities and nonprofit vacancies, candidates may explore NGO jobs in Sierra Leone for regional career opportunities and recruitment updates.

Position Details

Job Title: Child Protection and Gender Technical Advisor
Company: Save the Children
Location: Freetown
Job Type: Full-Time
Contract Length: 1 Year (Renewable)
Department: Programme Development and Quality
Grade Level: Grade 2
Reporting To: Director of Programme Development and Quality
Direct Reports: No direct reports; mentoring and coaching responsibilities apply
Industry: NGO / International Development / Humanitarian Services
Safeguarding Level: Level 3 (Enhanced legal and safeguarding background verification required)

Job Description (JD)

The Child Protection and Gender Technical Advisor will provide strategic leadership and technical oversight to ensure quality child protection programming and gender equality interventions across Sierra Leone. The role supports the growth, implementation, and sustainability of child-focused programmes aligned with the organization’s mission, vision, and global safeguarding standards.

This position requires extensive experience in programme design, technical advisory support, capacity building, policy engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and resource mobilization.

Candidates searching for NGO jobs in Freetown, international development careers, child safeguarding roles, humanitarian leadership jobs, and social impact careers in Africa should strongly consider this opportunity.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategy Leadership and Technical Quality

• Lead the operationalization of child protection goals within the country strategic plan.
• Ensure high-quality implementation of child protection programming across multiple locations.
• Provide technical guidance to programme teams to maintain alignment with national and global standards.
• Monitor policy changes related to child protection, gender equality, and emergency response.
• Support programme adjustments to ensure safeguarding compliance and technical quality.
• Deliver coaching, mentoring, and technical support to staff, local partners, and government stakeholders.

Resource Mobilisation and Fundraising

• Analyse donor priorities and support strategic fundraising initiatives.
• Lead technical programme design, proposal writing, and development of high-impact child protection interventions.
• Strengthen partnerships with donors, development agencies, and humanitarian actors.
• Contribute to funding opportunities supporting gender equality programmes, child rights advocacy, and social justice initiatives.

Professionals interested in grant management jobs, proposal writing careers, international donor-funded projects, and NGO programme development jobs will benefit from this role.

Additional NGO and humanitarian career resources can also be explored through NGO jobs in Eritrea for broader regional employment insights.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL)

• Support the design of monitoring and evaluation tools for programme effectiveness.
• Collaborate with MEAL teams to conduct gender analysis, power analysis, and programme quality reviews.
• Ensure technical reports submitted to donors meet high-quality standards.
• Lead consultant recruitment and technical evaluations where needed.
• Monitor programme benchmarks and performance indicators for continuous improvement.

Accountability and Learning

• Promote child participation mechanisms and accountability systems.
• Strengthen partner organizations’ child participation frameworks.
• Introduce innovative approaches to child protection programming.
• Lead learning initiatives, research dissemination, and evidence-based programme improvements.

Coordination and External Representation

• Represent the organization in national technical working groups and stakeholder forums.
• Maintain strong relationships with ministries, NGOs, donors, and development agencies.
• Support national dialogue and policy discussions on child protection and gender equality.
• Strengthen partnerships to improve child welfare and social inclusion programmes.

Education Requirements

Applicants should possess:

• A Master’s degree in a relevant Humanities field, including but not limited to:
  • Social Work
  • Child Rights
  • Gender Studies
  • Development Studies
  • International Relations
  • Sociology
  • Psychology
  • Public Policy

Additional certifications in child safeguarding, gender mainstreaming, humanitarian response, or programme management are advantageous.

Experience Requirements

To qualify for this opportunity, candidates should have:

• At least 8 years of professional experience at a senior advisory or management level in Child Protection (CP), Gender Equality, or Child Rights programming within international NGOs.
• Strong expertise in integrated programming involving education, health, livelihoods, nutrition, and child welfare.
• Proven experience in donor engagement, fundraising, proposal writing, and budget development.
• Strong technical reporting and programme quality assurance experience.
• Demonstrated field experience in complex or insecure environments.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly to field locations.

Essential Skills and Competencies

The ideal candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong technical advisory and leadership skills
• Excellent proposal writing and donor communication skills
• Advanced monitoring and evaluation expertise
• Strong safeguarding and child protection knowledge
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and partnership building abilities
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• High computer literacy and data management skills
• Strategic thinking and programme planning capability
• Excellent organizational and time management skills

Professionals seeking senior NGO jobs, humanitarian advisor careers, programme quality management roles, and development consulting opportunities may find this position highly suitable.

For additional development-sector vacancies across Africa, job seekers may visit NGO jobs in Lesotho for broader employment opportunities.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: Competitive salary package (official salary not disclosed). Compensation will likely be aligned with the organization’s international NGO salary framework, professional qualifications, technical expertise, and experience level.

Potential employment benefits may include:

• Professional development and leadership training
• International NGO career growth opportunities
• Health and wellness support (subject to policy)
• Safeguarding and technical capacity-building programmes
• Exposure to global humanitarian and child protection frameworks
• Networking with international donors and development partners

Training and Professional Development

The successful candidate may receive:

• Advanced safeguarding and child protection training
• Technical coaching and leadership mentoring
• Programme quality and donor compliance training
• Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting capacity development
• Humanitarian response and resilience programming exposure

This role provides an excellent career pathway for professionals pursuing child protection specialist jobs, gender equality advisory careers, international NGO leadership roles, and humanitarian programme management opportunities.

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities

The organization maintains a strict safeguarding policy to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, employees, partners, and communities. The recruitment process includes rigorous background checks and adherence to safeguarding protocols.

The employer is committed to equal opportunities, workplace diversity, inclusion, and ethical employment practices.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should prepare:

• Updated CV/Resume
• Academic certificates and supporting qualifications
• Professional references
• Relevant programme and technical experience documents

This opportunity is ideal for professionals seeking full-time NGO jobs in Sierra Leone, international humanitarian careers, child rights employment, gender equality jobs, and high-impact leadership roles in Africa.