SOS Children’s Villages International is the umbrella organization for the global federation of SOS Children’s Villages. As a non-governmental social development organization, we support children without parental care and families in difficult living conditions through services in care, education, health and emergency relief, and we advocate for the rights of children and young people, in alliance with a great diversity of partners. We work in 136 countries and territories, reaching over one million children, young people, families and caregivers each year.

To support us with this important responsibility we are now looking for a committed:

REGIONAL CHILDREN'S OMBUDSPERSON (Advocate)

(F/M)

Location: Dakar or Lomé

Type of contract: Consultancy  

Mission:

The Regional Ombuds and the rest of the SOS Ombuds Office (i.e., National Ombuds, other Regional Ombuds) work independently regarding management and accountability, but they align to SOS policies and processes. The Regional Ombuds position is contracted by SOS Children's Villages, but it is accountable to the Ombuds Board in a consulting and independent role to ensure the Ombuds is a stable resource with sufficient oversight and focus.

The Ombuds Office is an innovative approach to strengthening child safeguarding and accountability within SOS Children's Villages globally. The Office is carried out with a rights-based approach in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). Developed with input from children and young people, the Ombuds Office functions on the fundamental principles of independence, impartiality, confidentiality, and informality. Honouring these principles are critical to the success of the Ombuds Office.

The Regional Ombuds is to provide checks and balances to SOS Safeguarding systems at the national and regional levels. The Regional Ombud's main role is to support the National Ombuds in determining solutions at the local level, ensure relevant training for Ombuds personnel, and define and communicate trends to SOS Children's Villages, National Directors,