VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT- ALTERNATIVE CARE COORDINATOR – BAIDOA

SOS Children’s Villages Somalia is part of the global SOS Children’s Villages federation, working in more than 130 countries and territories worldwide. SOS Children’s Villages Somalia has been working in Somalia since 1985, supporting children, young people, and families in situations of vulnerability. We work to ensure that children and young people without parental care or at risk of losing it grow up with the relationships, care, and support they need to become their strongest selves, while strengthening families and communities to prevent family separation.

Our programmes include alternative care, family strengthening, youth empowerment, education, health and child protection services, implemented in close cooperation with communities, authorities, and partners. SOS Children’s Villages promotes family-based and family-like care solutions in line with the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, prioritizing prevention of separation and ensuring the most suitable care option for every child. SOS Children’s Villages is committed to child and youth safeguarding, and all recruitment and selection processes reflect our zero-tolerance approach to abuse, exploitation, and misconduct. SOS Children’s Villages Somalia currently operates in three regions: Banadir Region (Heliwa, Wadajir, Dharkenley, and Daynile districts), Southwest State (Baidoa, Burhakabo, Berdale, Qansaxdhere , Diinsor, Barawe, Ceelbarde and Hudur), and Hirshabelle State (Jowhar , Balcad & Adale).

SOS Children’s Villages invites applications from suitably qualified and interested candidates who fulfill the eligibility criterion for the below position.

Position Title: Alternative Care Coordinator -BAIDOA

Reporting To:  National Alternative Care Manager

Location: Baidoa.

Note:- This position is contingent on expected financing.

JOB SUMMARY

The Alternative Care Coordinator for the Baidoa Programme is responsible for leading and managing SOS Children’s Villages’ Baidoa Standard Project, ensuring that children without parental care, or at risk of losing it, have access to high-quality, family-based care and support. The coordinator provides programme leadership, overseeing the full programme management cycle, including assessment, placement, case management, follow-up, and monitoring while ensuring that children’s safety, emotional well-being, education, and social development needs are met.

This role supervises social work teams, strengthens gatekeeping and case management systems, ensures compliance with child safeguarding standards, and contributes to national alternative care strategies and systems strengthening efforts. The coordinator works closely with internal programme units, including family strengthening, youth empowerment, and Alternative Care (AC) teams, to deliver holistic care solutions that promote children’s well-being, self-reliance, and community integration.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Programme Development and Implementation

• Lead the implementation of all Alternative Care (AC) programmes in accordance with project donor regulations and organizational policies.
• Ensure all AC and youth projects comply with SOS policies, Programme Services Regulations, and RBPM standards across identification, formulation, implementation, and closure.
• Lead and manage the implementation of community-based alternative care services in Baidoa, including kinship care, foster care, and AUSC programs.
• Manage people, including supervision and mentoring of child protection staff and alternative care social workers, providing guidance, performance management, and professional development support.
• Align SOS Children’s Village Baidoa alternative care programming with inter-agency standards for alternative care, UN Guidelines on Alternative Care, and SOS Federation-wide frameworks and guidelines.
• Provide technical guidance for the design and implementation of innovative community-based alternative care interventions.
• Integrate alternative care programming with child protection, family strengthening, education, youth, and livelihood interventions.

 Programme Management

• The coordinator will lead the development of detailed programme implementation plans (DIP) based on the approved programme framework and ensure adherence to the DIP during the implementation phases.
• The coordinator will be responsible for the recruitment, onboarding, supervision, mentoring and appraisal of the alternative care programme staff under his/her leadership while closely working with the relevant departments and is expected to carry out annual performance management reviews for alternative care teams.
• The coordinator is fully responsible for the alternative care programme budget management while closely adhering to the donor and organization requirement.
• Ensure accurate programme documentation, data management, and audit readiness.

Comprehensive AC Case Management and Capacity Building Actions

• The coordinator will lead and ensure identification of children without or at risk of losing parental care are properly documented, verified and due processes are following including the full standard Case management Process for the alternative care and appropriate care options placement is done with the pre-requisite care services needed including education, health, food among others.
• The coordinator strengthens gatekeeping systems by ensuring proper assessments, Best Interest Determination (BID), and documentation of necessity & suitability for all placements and exit planning.
• The coordinator ensures standardized use of the Child Case Management System (CCMS), case action plans, monthly monitoring, and 6-monthly case reviews.
• The coordinator will coordinate with authorities and partners to ensure family tracing, reunification, reintegration follow-up, and monitoring requirements.
• The coordinator will provide technical guidance for kinship care, foster care, Kafalah, supervised independent living (SIL), and emergency care models, ensuring adherence to eligibility criteria, assessment tools, and caregiver support packages.
• The coordinator will oversee development and consistent use of Individual Care/Development Plans, ensuring they reflect child participation and holistic support.
• The coordinator will lead model development and tailored support for Unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), Street-connected children, Children in overstressed kinship arrangements and Youth transitioning out of care (18–24 years)
• The coordinator will coordinate and carry out sector specific capacity needs assessment and ensure to develop a localized capacity building plans are based on the sectorial niche.
• The coordinator will carry out capacity building actions based on the programme participant capacity gaps as well as the capacity needs of the different stakeholders who are associated with the alternative care service provision in the programme location.
• The coordinator will support in the development of new training packages as well as tailoring existing global and regional alternative guidelines for adaptation and use in the country.
• The coordinator will also work with the national programme team including national alternative care manager, national family strengthening manager and national education manager on the overall capacity development needs of staff, partners and governmental institutions that SOS closely works with.

Child and youth Safeguarding & Quality Assurance

• Ensure full compliance with the SOS Child and Youth Safeguarding Policy
• Conduct safeguarding risk assessments and implement mitigation measures.
• Promote safeguarding awareness among staff, caregivers, partners, and communities.
• Maintain accurate safeguarding records and ensure timely follow-up on all incidents.
• Collaborate with HR on safe recruitment and onboarding processes

 Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

• Collaborate with the M&E team to monitor programme quality, outcomes, and impact.
• Conduct programme audits, track progress, and provide evidence-based recommendations for improvement.
• Document and share lessons learned, good practices, and outcomes at regional and national levels.

Advocacy, Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination

• Represent SOS Children’s Villages Baidoa in forums, networks, and policy discussions on child protection and alternative care.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with government authorities, civil society, and other partners to support programme objectives.
• Coordinate Family Strengthening and Livelihood (FS&L) programmes with staff and stakeholders, ensuring synergies, effective collaboration, and participation in relevant clusters and government-led coordination forums.
• Support advocacy initiatives through evidence-based inputs and community engagement activities.

 Strategic Contribution & Programme Leadership

• Contribute to regional and national strategic planning, ensuring programme alignment with SOS Children’s Villages’ policies and priorities.
• Foster cross-programme collaboration to enable integrated service delivery for children and youth.
• Support the National Alternative Care Manager and Area Manager in programme development, resource planning, and policy alignment.

QUALIFICATION AND JOB COMPETENCIES

• The candidate must have progressive academic qualifications and must have at Master’s degree in social work, Sociology, Psychology, Child Protection, or a related social science discipline from accredited university. Master’s degree is an advantage.
• The candidate must have a minimum of 10 years of working experience in child protection with proven evidence in experience with alternative care provision services from a reliable and traceable partner (Verification action to prove working experience will be carried out to the shortlisted candidates).
• Proven expertise and experience in the child protection and alternative care sector is requirement and possession of high capacity in the development of new Alternative care programme proposals and concept notes.
• Proven experience in program design, implementation, and monitoring, preferably within an NGO or international development organization with focus on child protection sector and more importantly in alternative care thematic areas.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, policy advocacy, and multi-sectoral collaboration for different child protection focused stakeholders and institutions.
• Result and action-oriented child Protection professional with proven expertise in different Child protections approaches and knowledge of the child protection minimum standard.
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.
• Strong communication skills especially creative writing skills as well as fluency in English, both written and verbal.
• We are particularly looking for a positive individual with strong communication skills, who can build trust and confidently navigate both internally and externally at different levels.
• In this position, you will join highly motivated and expert staff who are making a difference to the most vulnerable people.
• Excellent interpersonal, networking and communication skills with the ability to represent SOS CV in donor forums, develop partnerships with other NGOs

Core Competencies and Skills

• Leadership and program management skills to oversee teams, budgets, and project implementation.
• Strong communication and advocacy abilities to engage with communities, policymakers, and donors.
• Financial management skills for effective resource allocation and sustainability planning.
• Data analysis and impact assessment expertise to evaluate program effectiveness and inform decision-making.
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability to work in diverse socio-economic settings.
• Strong leadership and program management skills to oversee projects and coordinate teams.
• Excellent communication and advocacy skills to engage with stakeholders, including governments and community groups.
• Financial management abilities to ensure efficient use of resources in economic empowerment programs.
• Data management and analytical skills to track progress and measure impact

Child Safeguarding Policy:

SOS Children’s Villages organization is committed to safeguarding the rights of the children and therefore, is expected that every individual who joins with SOS Children’s Villages Somalia understand his/her responsibility in protecting and keeping children always safe.

 Application Procedure:

Interested applicants should send their applications with a CV and scanned copies of your academic and professional certificates indicating telephone numbers and three referees to:  Link Indicating with the subject line of the position

The closing date is. 31^st January 2026.

Competent Female candidates are Highly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted