Child Protection Officer (CPO)

In the wake of crisis, children are often the most vulnerable, yet they hold the key to a community’s future resilience. As a Child Protection Officer with CATAI, you will be at the forefront of our mission in Madagali, ensuring that every child has a right to safety, dignity, and specialized care. This role is a call to dedicated social work and protection professionals who are ready to lead teams, strengthen community structures, and act as a relentless advocate for the marginalized.

Job Summary

The Child Protection Officer (CPO) is a technical leadership role responsible for the end-to-end implementation of child-focused humanitarian interventions. Reporting to the CP Coordinator, you will supervise a team of Caseworkers to deliver high-quality case management, psychosocial support, and risk mitigation. Your objective is to foster a protective environment by building local capacity, ensuring rigorous safeguarding standards, and integrating child protection with our broader education and livelihood initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Implementation

• Technical Execution: Lead the delivery of child protection activities, including specialized case management and community-based protection initiatives, ensuring alignment with the CP Minimum Standards.
• Strategic Input: Support the CP Coordinator in refining organizational strategies and psychosocial interventions to meet the evolving needs of children in Madagali.
• Safeguarding & PSEA: Act as a champion for CATAI’s Child Safeguarding and PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) policies, ensuring 100% compliance across all field operations.

Case Management & Technical Supervision

• Quality Oversight: Supervise CP Caseworkers in identifying and registering at-risk children, ensuring a survivor-centered and timely response to every case.
• Review & Approval: Rigorously review and approve case plans, follow-up actions, and case closures to ensure clinical and ethical standards are met.
• Information Management: Oversee the secure documentation of case files and utilize the CPIMS+/Primero platform for data-driven case tracking.

Capacity Building & Integration

• Staff Development: Provide daily technical guidance and hands-on training to caseworkers and local partners to improve service delivery.
• Community Mobilization: Empower community leaders and local service providers to recognize protection risks and utilize safe referral pathways.
• Sectoral Synergy: Collaborate with the Education and Health sectors to ensure that protection is integrated into every touchpoint of a child’s life.

Coordination, Monitoring & Reporting

• Inter-Agency Liaison: Represent CATAI in coordination meetings with UN agencies, government bodies (SEMA/NEMA), and other NGOs to synchronize humanitarian responses.
• Data Integrity: Monitor program effectiveness through regular field visits and ensure that all M&E data is accurate and analyzed to address implementation gaps.
• Strategic Reporting: Produce high-quality weekly and monthly progress reports that highlight impact, challenges, and actionable recommendations.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, International Development, Education, or a related field. A Master’s Degree is highly preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years in child protection within emergency or post-crisis settings, with specific experience in Northeast Nigeria.
• Technical Expertise: Proven mastery of case management, psychosocial support (PSS), and family tracing/reunification. Proficiency in CPIMS+/Primero is essential.
• Contextual Knowledge: Deep understanding of child labor, early marriage, and GBV issues within conflict-affected environments.
• Leadership: Strong experience in supervising field staff and building productive relationships with government and community stakeholders.
• Communication: Fluency in English (written and spoken). The ability to communicate in local languages used in Adamawa is a significant asset.

Why This Role is Important

Madagali is a unique context where the intersection of conflict and recovery requires a nuanced approach to protection. As a CPO, you are not just managing cases; you are rebuilding the social fabric. Your leadership ensures that children who have experienced trauma receive the MHPSS support they need to return to school and that systems are in place to prevent exploitation before it happens.

Benefits of Joining CATAI

• Mission-Driven Culture: Join an organization that values innovation, integrity, and citizen empowerment.
• Career Growth: Lead a dedicated team and gain high-level experience in the HDP (Humanitarian, Development, and Peacebuilding) Nexus.
• Inclusive Environment: Work for an NGO that actively promotes diversity and social inclusion.

Salary & Compensation

• Expectation: Competitive / NGO standard for Adamawa State.

About the Organization

The Center for Advocacy, Transparency, and Accountability Initiative (CATAI), founded in 2018, is a leading Nigerian NGO dedicated to promoting a just society through institutional reform and citizen empowerment. With a head office in Maiduguri and a strong presence across the BAY states (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe), we implement life-changing projects in Protection, Education, WASH, and Governance. We believe in providing marginalized communities with the tools to amplify their voices and act as catalysts for long-term societal change.

Application Details

• Location: Madagali, Adamawa State
• Duration: 8 Months (Full-time)
• Application Deadline: 19th January, 2026

How to Apply: Interested and qualified candidates should submit their application via our online portal:

Note: CATAI is an equal opportunity employer. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for fraud, GBV, and any form of child abuse.

Tips for Applicants

• Demonstrate Technical Depth: Don’t just list your tasks; mention specific case management frameworks or PSS tools you have successfully used in the field.
• Highlight Supervision: Since this role supervises caseworkers, emphasize your experience in mentoring staff and ensuring quality control in a high-pressure environment.
• Local Context: Mention your experience working in Northeast Nigeria, as familiarity with the local culture and security dynamics is key to success in Madagali.