SOS Children’s Villages Nepal, a non-governmental social development organisation, supports children and young people without parental care and families in difficult living conditions through services in care, education, health, and emergency relief. We advocate for the rights of children and young people, in alliance with a great diversity of partners. We offer a secure and friendly work environment and are committed to safeguarding the rights of children by having a zero-tolerance policy in this regard. We are further committed to providing a safe environment for coworkers and children, young people, and adults with whom we work, where human rights are respected and upheld, and healthy relationships are fostered by building organisational systems, capacity, and awareness on our Child and Youth Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.

In line with our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of care and safeguarding, SOS Children’s Villages Nepal is pleased to announce the establishment of an Ombuds’s Office. This independent office will play a vital role in supporting children and young people by addressing concerns that may not have been fully resolved through our existing safeguarding processes.

The Ombuds Office for SOS Children’s Villages is an independent office supporting children and young people in situations that have not been successfully resolved by SOS Children’s Villages safeguarding processes.

An Ombuds is a trustworthy person who can listen, support, and guide children and young people. There are national, regional, and global Ombuds.

Each Ombuds follows the four principles: Confidentiality, Impartiality, Independence and Informality. They work independently of SOS Children’s Villages as a check and balance to safeguarding with the goal of finding a solution to the concern raised.

We are now inviting applications from qualified and motivated individuals to serve as the National Ombudsperson for SOS Children’s Villages Nepal.

Job position:

Position: National Ombudsperson (Open to Nepali nationals only)
Duty station: Sanothimi, Bhaktapur

Number of position required: 1
Duration of initial contract: 1 year with a possibility of extension

Job summary:

An Ombudsperson is a trustworthy individual who can listen, support, and guide children and young people. There are national, regional, and global Ombudspersons, each of whom follows four key principles: Confidentiality, Impartiality, Independence, and Informality. Ombudspersons work independently of SOS Children’s Villages, serving as a check and balance to safeguarding processes, with the goal of finding solutions to concerns raised.

The National Ombudsperson, as a designated neutral professional, will raise awareness, promote prevention, encourage child participation, and ensure the safety of children and young people across all SOS Children’s Villages Nepal programmes and services. She/He is a trusted individual with the skills and commitment to address concerns and find local solutions by:

• Adhering to the principles of confidentiality, independence, informality, and impartiality.
• Guiding a fair process through active listening and support.
• Utilising dispute resolution skills.
• Acting as a check and balance.
• Identifying trends and making recommendations to SOS Children’s Villages Nepal and the General Secretariat (GSC).

The National Ombudsperson will operate independently from SOS Children’s Villages Nepal and will report to the Regional Ombuds.

Profile, skills and qualifications:

• A minimum of five years’ demonstrated experience in one of the following fields: ombudsperson, mediation, child safeguarding, child protection, or child rights.
• A minimum of a Master’s degree in a relevant area such as child rights, child protection, child and youth studies, mediation, social work, child psychology, safeguarding or psychosocial wellbeing, law, or an equivalent field.
• A good level of knowledge of children’s rights or child protection/prevention and related issues, including child safeguarding, child development and health, laws, policies, regulations, and international standards related to children’s care.
• Experience working in communities.
• Excellent listening skills with strong observational abilities.
• Strong communication skills.
• Strong facilitation/training skills, with the ability to develop and implement engaging training sessions and ongoing support workshops for staff and children’s representatives.
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport with children and young people, identify marginalised children and young people, and connect with them to build trust.
• A problem-solver, adviser, and mediator capable of resolving concerns raised by young people and adults effectively and in a timely manner.
• An understanding of the local context, including laws, policies, practices, language, and social norms.
• Gender and diversity sensitivity, with a commitment to representation.
• Proficiency in the local language and professional proficiency in one official federation language: English, French, Spanish, or Arabic.
• An understanding of the foundations of ombuds work.
• Legal right to live and work in Nepal.
• Experience working in an NGO or international organisation would be an asset.

We offer:

• An opportunity to work with a passionate, innovative, and collaborative team in a multicultural environment.
• Excellent learning opportunities.
• Support from the Regional Ombudsperson.
• Remote and in-person work arrangements.
• An opportunity to work for an NGO that is a member of a recognised international network.
• Gain experience working for a globally recognised organisation that is making a difference in the lives of children and young people.

Essential points to be noted:

• To protect the independence of the Ombudsperson’s Office, this position is not open to SOS Children’s Villages employees, those who have been employed by SOS Children’s Villages Nepal within the last two years, or individuals with relatives working for SOS Children’s Villages.
• In accordance with the organisation’s child and youth protection policy, this position will be subject to relevant background checks, including criminal record checks.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Salary and other benefits: As per the organisational policy.