Who we are
SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. We started our humanitarian work in Ethiopia with the opening of our first Village in Mekelle, Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, we have expanded our programs to different regions where there are significant needs for intervention and where we believe we can work in partnership with all relevant actors to bring sustainable positive outcomes for children’s and young people.
Today, we have grown significantly to meet the persistent challenges that confront Ethiopian children who have lost parental care and those that are at risk of losing their parental care. Working in close collaboration with international donors, local government and community-based organizations across eight program locations; we aspire that every child grows up with love, respect and security.
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Our Commitment to Safeguarding
At SOS Children's Villages, safeguarding isn't just a policy, it's a foundational value embedded in everything we do. We are unwavering in our commitment to protecting the children, young people, adults, and communities we serve, as well as our workforce and resources.
We cultivate an environment of trust and accountability where every voice is heard and respected. All successful candidates will be expected to champion our holistic safeguarding principles, actively upholding our Child & Youth Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and regulations against sexual misconduct, fraud, and corruption.
By joining our team, you commit to integrating these vital standards into your work, ensuring the highest levels of safety, ethics, and integrity in every action and partnership.
Together, we create a world where everyone feels safe, respected, and protected
Join Our Mission:
We are looking for a Project Officer – Social Structures Strengthening to work under the Project Coordinator. The role will support social structures for empowerment, collective action, and solidarity; facilitate community participation and networking to solve problems and implement activities; and build close working relationships with communities and organizations in the assigned area.
This position helps improve the lives of children in street situations by strengthening community social structures.
Key Responsibilities
In collaboration with partners and government stakeholders, prepare detailed annual and quarterly plans for strengthening community structures and ensure implementation aligned with project objectives.
Undertake capacity gap assessments for rehabilitation centers.
Develop manuals and training guides for the CISS project.
Conduct capacity‑building training for volunteers, staff, and government social workers.
Equip centers with essential equipment and materials.
Support and strengthen child safeguarding systems in rehabilitation centers.
Contextualize and implement center quality service standards.
Provide need‑based (including trauma‑informed care) capacity‑building for center staff and other social workers.
Facilitate referral networks and service coordination.
Organize awareness creation sessions (including African and World Children’s Day) for schools and communities on issues of children on/off the street.
Provide need‑based capacity‑building for key stakeholders.
Undertake advocacy workshops at national and sub‑national levels to advance the rights of children in street situations (CISS).
Use mass media to raise awareness on the vulnerability of street‑connected children.
Produce and disseminate IEC/BCC materials (leaflets, banners, sign posts, badges, stickers) across communities.
Organize awareness‑raising workshops/campaigns with key stakeholders in areas where most street‑connected children originate.
Facilitate sessions on community‑based anti‑child trafficking mechanisms for key stakeholders.
Organize training on child rights and protection for community elders, religious leaders, faith‑based organizations, etc., in target areas.
Organize capacity development training for government social workers (alternative care standards, child rights, case management, child safeguarding).
Mobilize CBOs at community level to address street children protection.
Establish and support CCSC, COC, and clubs (at community and school levels) for smooth project implementation.
Sensitize kebeles, community leaders, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders on project objectives and results.
Facilitate beneficiary selection in collaboration with city administration, government offices, woredas, and kebeles.
Support and facilitate joint implementation plans with relevant government stakeholders.
Facilitate project planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation at woreda and community levels.
Participate in assessments and surveys in partnership with stakeholders.
Facilitate effective participation of children, families, communities, and stakeholders in project activities.
Facilitate and follow up material distribution at community level.
Monitor and follow up community conversation sessions and peer‑to‑peer dialogues.
Organize trainings, workshops, and meetings at community level.
Follow up and support school clubs.
Provide regular technical support to partners at woreda and community levels.
Collect beneficiary data for case stories and documentation.
Collect and compile monthly reports from change agents, peer groups, and youth COC groups.
Ensure that the programme meets planned targets, annual plans, and budget utilization with full accountability to SOS CVE, project partners, and donors.
Ensure the project addresses the priority needs of community social structures and aligns with SOS CVE principles, values, and strategic plan.
Ensure technical, financial, and operational activities (including reporting) follow agreed milestones, donor policies, and SOS CV procedures.
Build constructive, collaborative working relationships and team spirit with partners.
Map partner contributions and establish strategic partnerships with public, private, and CSO partners.
Maintain transparent partner relationships, including identifying concerns and managing expectations regarding livelihood interventions.
With project staff, partners, and government stakeholders, identify gaps and facilitate capacity‑building for community facilitators, government stakeholders, and the community.
Establish a monitoring plan and system to measure progress toward project objectives and outcomes, and manage intervention area performance.
Maintain the project’s M&E database, facilitate monitoring activities, manage the PDB, and prepare progress reports and knowledge management outputs.
In close collaboration with the project team, partners, and government stakeholders, conduct regular team‑based supervision and share reports.
Ensure ethical, disaggregated data collection (age/gender/disability) on protection concerns and MHPSS needs, upholding confidentiality and do‑no‑harm principles.
Monitor the quality, coverage, and effectiveness of child protection case management, psychosocial support services, safe spaces, and community‑based protection mechanisms.
Contribute to baseline, midline, endline, and post‑intervention evaluations, ensuring safe child and survivor participation where appropriate.
Support the design and use of accessible feedback and complaint mechanisms for children, caregivers, and communities, integrating feedback into programme improvement.
Document and share lessons learned, promising practices, and case studies for evidence‑based programming and advocacy.
Provide detailed action plans and regular project updates as required.
Produce and submit timely, quality monthly, quarterly, and annual progress reports per donor and government requirements.
Document and share key lessons, case stories, and programme achievements for shared learning.
Ensure reports include disaggregated data and highlight trends in protection risks and MHPSS needs.
Share case studies, success stories, and lessons learned to inform programme adaptation, learning, and advocacy.
Contribute technical content to donor reports specific to child protection and MHPSS components.
Maintain secure documentation of case files, incident reports, session logs, referral records, and records of psychosocial activities, outreach, training, and awareness events, in line with data protection and confidentiality protocols.
Contribute inputs for internal learning reviews, evaluations, and knowledge‑sharing materials.
Perform other similar duties assigned by the immediate supervisor.
Support humanitarian colleagues in emergency and recovery programming.
Organize discussions on child protection risks and concerns with stakeholders, children, young people, and community members.
Strengthen child safeguarding through awareness creation with woreda and community leaders.
Our Ideal Candidate?
Let's find out if we're a match. The next step in our process depends on how your background closely align with the below criteria’s.
Essential Requirements (Must-Have):
Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, Social Work, Psychology, Economics, or related field + at least 3 years of relevant experience (minimum 2 years with an NGO).
Technical Match: Professional experience directly matching the duties and responsibilities listed.
Community & Coordination: Experience working in community, voluntary, or related sectors; coordinating multiple projects simultaneously.
Relationship Building: Ability to build strong working relationships with internal colleagues, external partners, and stakeholders.
Community Mobilization: Knowledge of community mobilization and participation in development projects.
Organizational & Time Management: Good organisational and time management skills.
Target Achievement: Demonstrable track record of meeting or exceeding programme targets while maintaining quality.
Desired Assets (Nice-to-Have):
Education: MA degree in Social Science, Social Work, Psychology, Economics, or related field.
Experience: 4 years working on similar projects in an NGO.
Communication: Clear and effective communication skills.
Resilience: Adaptable, calm, and effective under pressure in fast‑moving, high‑stakes projects.
MS Office Proficiency: Experience using Microsoft Office applications.
Analytical & Strategic Skills: Robust analytical and strategic planning abilities.
Interpersonal & Coaching: Highly developed interpersonal skills, including influencing, negotiation, and coaching/mentoring.
Relevant Training: Completed trainings in MHPSS, counseling, child protection, reintegration, reunification, family strengthening/IGA, youth employment, or life skills/Reach‑Up.
Local Knowledge: Strong understanding of and familiarity with the local context and surrounding areas.
Community & Family Empowerment: Experience working with communities and in family capacity enhancement/empowerment.
Child‑Friendly Environments: Experience creating child‑friendly environments in humanitarian contexts.
SOS Lead and Core Competencies
Lead Competency
Core Competency
Does This Sound Like You?
To apply, please submit your updated resume via SOS Children's Villages Application portal (ICIMS)
We actively champion diversity and inclusion and strongly encourage women to step forward and apply. As part of our unwavering commitment to holistic safeguarding protecting children, youth, adults, and assets our selection process emphasizes value alignment and includes thorough background checks for all potential hires.
SOS Children's Villages in Ethiopia is an equal opportunity employer, providing fair consideration to all applicant regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or class.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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