Child Safeguarding Focal Person

TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR)

Position: Child Safeguarding Focal Person

Project: Exploitation Free Zone (EFZ) Project

Organization: Maiti Nepal

Duty Station: Nepalgunj, Banke Position Type: Full-time

Duration: 14 months

Reporting To: Program Officer, Head Office

1. Background

Maiti Nepal is a non-governmental organization established in 1993 with a mission to prevent human trafficking and all forms of exploitation and violence against women and children. The organization works through prevention, protection, rescue, rehabilitation, legal support, advocacy and community mobilization.

Maiti Nepal is implementing the Exploitation Free Zone (EFZ) Project in partnership with relevant local government authorities and stakeholders in Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City. The project aims to strengthen local child protection systems and create an environment where children are protected from commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), human trafficking and other forms of abuse and exploitation.

The project focuses on key intervention areas: border interception and community-based early warning mechanisms, child safeguarding in the entertainment sector, and strengthening child protection mechanisms in schools. It also emphasizes strengthening coordination among local government, law enforcement agencies, communities, schools, businesses and other relevant stakeholders.

In this regard, Maiti Nepal seeks to recruit a qualified and committed Child Safeguarding Focal Person to lead the day-to-day implementation and coordination of project activities while ensuring that child safeguarding principles and standards are integrated throughout the project.

2. Purpose of the Position

The Child Safeguarding Focal Person will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation, coordination and monitoring of the Exploitation Free Zone (EFZ) Project in Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City, while ensuring that child safeguarding principles, policies and standards are integrated across all project interventions.

The position will lead the implementation of planned project activities across the designated intervention wards, working closely with local government authorities, schools, entertainment sector representatives, transport workers, community groups and other relevant stakeholders. The focal person will facilitate community mobilization, capacity-building sessions, stakeholder coordination, monitoring and documentation, and support the strengthening of local child protection and referral mechanisms.

In addition, the focal person will serve as the designated Child Safeguarding Focal Person for the project, ensuring the prevention, identification, reporting and appropriate referral of safeguarding concerns in accordance with Maiti Nepal's policies and procedures. The position will ensure that all project interventions are implemented in a child-friendly, safe, inclusive and accountable manner.

3. Major Roles and Responsibilities

The Child Safeguarding Focal Person will be responsible for the following:

• Lead and implement planned EFZ project activities in accordance with the approved project proposal and work plan.
• Coordinate with local government authorities, schools, law enforcement agencies, entertainment sector representatives, community groups and other relevant stakeholders.
• Organize and facilitate stakeholder meetings, orientations, awareness sessions, workshops and community-level activities.
• Mobilize Child Clubs, Kishori Sanjal, youth groups and community networks to strengthen community-based child protection and early warning mechanisms.
• Facilitate project interventions related to border interception, entertainment sector monitoring, school-based child protection, online safety and CSEC prevention.
• Coordinate with transport workers, entertainment sector owners and other frontline actors to promote child safeguarding practices and strengthen their responsibilities in preventing human trafficking and child exploitation.
• Ensure that Maiti Nepal's Policies including Child Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and relevant safeguarding procedures are followed throughout project implementation.
• Identify potential safeguarding risks and facilitate the safe reporting and referral of children at risk or survivors to appropriate protection, health, psychosocial and legal services.
• Maintain confidentiality and ensure that children's safety, dignity, privacy and best interests are prioritized in all project activities.
• Coordinate with media professionals and relevant stakeholders for research, documentation and advocacy initiatives on CSEC.
• Monitor project activities against the approved work plan, document progress and identify implementation challenges.
• Prepare activity plans, progress updates, meeting reports and other required project documentation, and support donor reporting and project monitoring and evaluation.
• Document good practices, challenges and lessons learned to contribute to the sustainability of the EFZ approach.
• Ensure that photographs, videos, case stories and other communication materials involving children comply with organizational safeguarding and informed consent requirements.

4. Expected Deliverables

• Timely implementation of planned EFZ project activities across the designated intervention wards.
• Strengthened coordination and engagement of local government and relevant stakeholders.
• Improved community-based early warning and child protection mechanisms.
• Strengthened child safeguarding practices among entertainment sector representatives, transport workers and other frontline actors.
• Strengthened school-level child protection and referral mechanisms.
• Improved awareness of child protection, online safety and CSEC prevention among children, parents and teachers.
• Appropriate reporting and referral of safeguarding concerns in accordance with organizational procedures.

5. Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Social Sciences, Psychology, Gender Studies, Child Development, Law or a related discipline.
• At least 2–3 years of relevant experience in child protection, safeguarding, human trafficking prevention, CSEC prevention or related development programmes.
• Experience in project implementation, community mobilization, stakeholder coordination and capacity building.
• Knowledge of child safeguarding principles, child protection systems, referral mechanisms and relevant national laws and policies.
• Experience working with children, vulnerable communities and relevant government and non-government stakeholders.
• Good communication, facilitation, documentation and report-writing skills.
• Knowledge of the local context and ability to communicate in Nepali and local languages will be an advantage.

6. Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong commitment to child rights, protection and safeguarding.
• Understanding of child-friendly, trauma-informed and survivor-centered approaches.
• Good interpersonal, coordination and communication skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and professionalism.
• Strong planning, facilitation, documentation and reporting skills.
• High ethical standards, integrity and accountability.

7. Reporting and Coordination

The Child Safeguarding Focal Person will be based in Nepalgunj and report directly to the Maiti Nepal, Head Office. The position will also maintain close coordination with Maiti Nepal’s other relevant program teams.

The focal person will coordinate with local government authorities, law enforcement agencies, schools, community groups, entertainment sector representatives and relevant service providers for effective project implementation.

8. Safeguarding and Ethical Commitment

The selected candidate must adhere to Maiti Nepal's policies including Child Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct and confidentiality requirements. The candidate will be required to undergo the organization's safeguarding screening and sign the relevant safeguarding commitments before assuming the position.

9. Application Process

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their updated CV and cover letter to Maiti Nepal through hr@maitinepal.org by 17th November, 2026.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further selection procedures. Maiti Nepal is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage women from marginalized communities to apply.