Child Helpline – EC Coordinator

EC Coordinator part-time (20 hours per week)  Work station: Brussels Child Helpline International (CHI) is the global network of 173 child helplines in 142 countries, which together receive over 14 million contacts a year from children and young people in need of care and protection. CHI supports the creation and strengthening of national toll-free child helplines worldwide, and uses child helpline data and knowledge to highlight gaps in child protection systems and advocate for the rights of children. Child Helpline International collects data on reasons for contacts made by children and young people with its member child helplines on an annual basis. This data is compiled, analysed published to influence policies and practices in the best interest of children and young people. The role of the EC Coordinator  

• Advocacy with European Commission and European Parliament in areas of interest to all CHI members, and especially to promote the role of child helplines in child protection systems, in prevention and other pertinent areas of interest, which will include women’s rights and programs, pro-family initiatives, trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation, youth programs, among others.  This is the most important and the longest-term aspect of the work, as we are aware of the time and effort required to build relationships and of the steps required to succeed in placing child helplines at the center of child protection.  This last is an important and overarching goal.
• Coordination and networking with other child rights organisations with a presence or representation in Brussels to avoid duplication and ideally avoid competition.
• Identification of current funding opportunities, both in Europe and for members outside the EU, for child helplines.

Deliverables and outcomes 

• Successful advocacy should result initially in at least five prominent positive mentions of child helplines in speeches, declarations, articles, websites, publications, etc. issued by the Commission and by EP’s.
• CHI is invited as a speaker and/or presenter at least five events sponsored by the Commission, the Parliament and other organizations in Brussels to increase awareness and prominence of CHI and its members and by extension of child helplines in the European environment and with the actors involved in children’s, women’s and family issues and initiatives.
• Identify at least ten opportunities for data on contacts at child helplines, for campaigns developed by CHI, for input by CHI to papers, publications, research, etc. that is used by decision-makers at the EC and the EP.
• Identify at least ten funding opportunities for all CHI members, both European and globally, from EU sources.

Candidate Profile

• University graduate
• Current experience working with European Commission and European Parliament, ideally on children’s rights and issues.
• Knowledge of current programs, initiatives, proposals, etc., both European and global, that could be of interest to members of CHI; e.g., children’s rights, women’s rights, directives and initiatives around trafficking, abuse, etc.,
• Cognizant of current research and state of art of research and knowledge around children’s issues globally; e.g., UN programs, UNICEF, as well as European state of play.
• Established credibility with both European Commission and European Parliament as well as with other child rights organisations in Brussels.
• Bi-lingual in English and French.
• Excellent communicator.
• Ability and willingness to travel, particularly to Amsterdam 1-2 times per month for orientation and follow up with CHI staff as well as initial briefing and training.

General Information Child Helpline International is based in the center of Amsterdam. We are currently a team of seventeen. The initial contract period will be for six months with an extension depending on performance. Salary Indication:  €250-270 per day dependent on relevant experience. If you are interested in the position, please submit a Letter of Motivation, CV detailing demonstrable experience of working with the EU, EC and other Pan European Organisations to Helen Mason, Head of Operations by email: helen@childhelplineinternational.org on or before 10 June 2014.