Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
References
Training
Timeline
Generic

Behailu Mekonnen Defar

Semera

Summary

Worked in humanitarian support since 2004 with over 15 years of emergency and host program management in various NGOs, and the UN agency (UNICEF) in Ethiopia with a strong field-oriented Social Work (MSW) and Psychology background. High achiever with strong planning and organizing abilities, fluent in English; and highly competent in areas of program management particularly with child protection programs. Ten years experienced with a high track record performance in establishing and coordinating Child protection interventions for refugee programs with IRC and NRC in Ethiopia. Family Tracing and Reunification and Alternative expert in the deinstitutionalization of orphanages in the Amhara region with UNICEF Ethiopia. Experienced in designing and managing complex emergency (L3) Child Protection, GBV, CP AoR, and MHPSS support for IDPs in Tigray and Afar regions in Ethiopia as Child Protection Specialist with UNICEF Ethiopia (till now).

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience

Work History

Child Protection Specialist

UNICEF
Tigray and Afar Regions
07.2019 - Current
  • Led development and planning of the Child Protection Program (emergency and development) in the Tigray and Afar regions of Ethiopia through designing, and conducting situation analysis, formulating project proposals, and establishing specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans for the program
  • Monitored and delivered program results by establishing benchmarks, and performance indicators; organizing review meetings, assessing strengthening and gaps; conducting field visits and confirming compliance, accountability, and integrity in the organization
  • Provided technical and operational support to program implementation to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners, and field office partners on interpretation, application, and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices and approaches to child protection programs
  • Built networking and partnership with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders, and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking, advocacy, and effective communication to build capacity, and exchange knowledge/expertise
  • Key achievement: Established and coordinated case management and CPIMS+ system in 50 districts and IDP sites in Tigray and Afar region; reactivation and coordination of CP-GBV AoR; reviewed more than 20 humanitarian program documents; and developed partner capacity building through carrying out a needs assessment areas of CPiE and GBViE for better emergency responses in Afar region.

Zonal Manager

Center for Victims of Trauma (CVT)
Tigray Region
09.2018 - 08.2019
  • Led the CVT Mental Health and Psychosocial (MHPSS) program and operations in Shire Refugee operation were implemented by donor agreements and CVT’s policies and guiding principles
  • Managed six senior staff and had the overall responsibility for 40 national staff working in Adiharush and Mayaini refugee camps in the Tigray region, Ethiopia
  • Promoted quality Mental Health programming and actively contributed to the strategic direction of the Country program; and actively engaged with teams on performance management, opportunities for capacity building, promotion of compliance and adherence to CVT's Code of Conduct, and receiving refugee feedback
  • Ensured the optimal use of human, financial, and other resources and was responsible for the overall safety and security of staff in the area
  • Advocated for the rights and needs of refugees
  • Key achievement: Prepared logistic and warehouse management manual and trained all staff; and completed annual staff appraisals for six senior staff.

Child Protection Coordinator

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
Tigray Region
07.2015 - 09.2018
  • Coordinated, designed, and implemented a community-based child protection program for Eritrean unaccompanied and separated children in Mai Ayani, Adiharush, and Hitsats refugee camps
  • Led the development of child protection Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) and child protection rapid assessment to identify risks and vulnerabilities in the three camps
  • Developed a two-year child protection strategic plan and child protection log frame in collaboration with UNHCR
  • Enhanced child-Friendly, family-based care arrangements (kinship and foster care arrangements) and case management services
  • Key achievement: Assisted more than 5200 Eritrean unaccompanied and separated children with case management services including BIA/BID services in the three refugee camps; and implemented family-based care arrangements that helped to place 70% of children out of family care to kinship and foster care arrangements which were 30% in 2015.

Family Tracing, Reunification, and Integration (FTR+R) Expert

UNICEF/UNOPS
Amhara Region, Ethiopia
07.2015 - 09.2018
  • Provided technical assistance for the Bureaus of Women, Youth, and Children’s Affairs (BoWCYA) in the Amhara region child rights promotion and protection unit to set up sustainable Family Tracing and Reunification programs and community-based alternative childcare programs in 31 districts
  • Led the development of social workforce standards and curriculum and training of 300 social workers to enhance family tracing and alternative care arrangement interventions in the region
  • Key achievement: Instrumental in the closure of 18 sub-standard orphanages in the region and deinstitutionalization, reunification, placement, and integration of more than 900 children without parents into family-based care arrangements in the community.

Child and Youth Protection and Development Program (CYPD) Manager

International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Tigray Region, Ethiopia
09.2010 - 07.2011
  • Led implementation, coordination, and monitoring of the Child Protection, Education, and Youth & Livelihood program in two Eritrean refugee camps
  • Developed mainstreaming and integration strategy and tools for linking CYPD Programme with other IRC sectors including Health, Wash activities, and education; and developed concept notes, wrote donor proposals, and report writing for donors
  • Key achievement: Led negotiation of Child Protection program handover process from OASIS to IRC with UNHCR Shire sub-field office and developed Child Protection Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) in collaboration with UNHCR.

Child and Youth Program Officer

International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Tigray Region, Ethiopia
11.2004 - 10.2008
  • Led and implemented entire child protection interventions including Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS), case management, family-based care arrangements, FTR, BIA/BID, and outreach activities in Shimelba refugee camp (Eritrean Refugees)
  • Established Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) in line with IRC/UNICEF standards
  • Set up case management service including
  • Managed and coordinated youth program activities including Life Skills, Livelihood, youth projects, establishing youth clubs and recreational activities, Roots & Shoots project, Peacebuilding, and co-exitance activities
  • Key achievement: Established and implemented a child protection program for the first time in the Eritrean refugee camp- in Tigray (Ethiopia) and led and organized youth empowerment intervention and youth-led clubs in the Shimelba refugee camp.

Education

Master of Social Work (MSW) -

Indira Gandhi Open University
01.2009

Bachelor of Psychology -

Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
01.2004

Skills

  • Program management
  • Child protection programs
  • Emergency response
  • Case management
  • CPIMS system
  • CP-GBV AoR coordination
  • Humanitarian program review
  • Partner capacity building
  • Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR)
  • Alternative care arrangements
  • Deinstitutionalization
  • Social work standards and curriculum development
  • Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS)
  • Youth program coordination
  • Life skills training
  • Child protection in emergencies coordination
  • Minimum standards for child protection in humanitarian action
  • Inter-agency guidelines for case management and child protection
  • Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA)
  • Protection mainstreaming and integrating
  • Rapid child protection assessment tools
  • Alternative Child Care Information Management System (ACIMS)
  • Facilitation skills in youth micro-business and entrepreneurship development
  • Best Interest Determination (BID) for children
  • Gender-based violence and sexual abuse
  • Peace education, conflict resolution, negotiation, mediation, and reconciliation
  • Project planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation

Websites

References

  • Mr. Ashenafi Alemu, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF-Ethiopia, +251927710646, aalemu@unicef.org
  • Ms. Sheila Donaghy, Area Manager, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), sheiladonaghy@yahoo.co.uk
  • Mr. Admassu Kebele, Program Assistant, UNHCR Shire Office, +251911183558, kebeded@unhcr.org
  • Mr. Ayalew Legesse-CYPD, Assistant Coordinator, International Rescue Committee (IRC), +251911925855, ayalewl@ethiopia.theirc.org

Training

  • A Life Skill (LS) and Community Conversation (CC) ToT training, Ethiopia, 10/27/2022
  • Social analysis and action (SAA), CARE, Ethiopia, 10/30/2021
  • Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, UNICEF, 05/20/2021
  • Child Protection in Emergencies Coordination, UNICEF, Ethiopia, 11/25/2020
  • IASC Minimum Standards for GBV in Emergencies, UNICEF, Ethiopia, 04/10/2021
  • Inter-Agency Guidelines for Case Management and Child Protection, UNICEF, 08/15/2021
  • Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), UNICEF, 10/05/2019
  • BSAFE Security online training, Ethiopia, 08/30/2019
  • Basic counseling by Center for Victims of Trauma (CVT), Ethiopia, 09/24/2018
  • Protection Mainstreaming and Integrating, NRC, Nairobi, Kenya, 10/06/2017
  • Rapid Child Protection Assessment tools-CPRA, UNICEF, Ethiopia, 03/13/2015
  • Alternative Child Care Information Management System (ACIMS) training, UNICEF, 09/19/2011
  • Basic Business Toolkit Training of Trainers on Facilitation Skills in Youth Micro-business and entrepreneurship development, IRC, Ethiopia, 11/08/2010
  • Most-At-Risk-Population workshop, UNHCR, Kenya, 02/13/2009
  • Child Protection and Youth and Livelihood workshop, IRC, Tanzania, 09/09/2008
  • Training Best Interest Determination (BID) for Children, UNHCR, Ethiopia, 03/11/2008
  • Child Protection and Child Rights, IRC, Ethiopia, 02/08/2008
  • Youth and Livelihood workshop, IRC, Ghana, 04/21/2007
  • Basic Concepts of Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Abuse, IRC, Ethiopia, 03/30/2006
  • Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE)/ Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies (MSEE), IRC Ethiopia, 07/13/2006
  • Peace Education, Conflict Resolution, Negotiation, Mediation, and Reconciliation, IRC, Ethiopia, 06/26/2006
  • Project Planning, Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Ethiopia, 11/07/2005

Timeline

Child Protection Specialist

UNICEF
07.2019 - Current

Zonal Manager

Center for Victims of Trauma (CVT)
09.2018 - 08.2019

Child Protection Coordinator

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
07.2015 - 09.2018

Family Tracing, Reunification, and Integration (FTR+R) Expert

UNICEF/UNOPS
07.2015 - 09.2018

Child and Youth Protection and Development Program (CYPD) Manager

International Rescue Committee (IRC)
09.2010 - 07.2011

Child and Youth Program Officer

International Rescue Committee (IRC)
11.2004 - 10.2008

Master of Social Work (MSW) -

Indira Gandhi Open University

Bachelor of Psychology -

Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

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Behailu Mekonnen Defar