Jobs bei Terre des Hommes

TERMS OF REFERENCE

 

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Project Description

The global campaign “Dialogue Works – Anchoring working children´s participation sustainably in societal and political processes” (2020-2024) has been initiated by the two child-rights organizations Kindernothilfe and Terre des Hommes Germany (representing Terre des Hommes International Federation, TDHIF) in October 2020. It is co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The campaign aims to open spaces for working children to participate in local to global political debates to express their individual experiences, challenges and recommendations to political stakeholders. Working children from 15 countries have been invited to join the project and to contribute through active involvement in about 30 Children’s Advisory Committees (CACs) that are supported by more than 20 local partner organizations. In addition to regular meetings in these CACs, working children are encouraged to host an annual advocacy dialogue with key stakeholders in their environment - the topic, character and audience of these actions are chosen by the children themselves. The project is based on the enormously positive outcomes of the previous campaign and research project called “It´s Time to Talk! - Children’s Views on Children’s Work” (2016-2020). In order to realize working children’s right to be heard in local to global policy dialogues, more than 1.800 working children have been consulted in 36 countries across the globe using a participatory and rights-based approach. Both Time to Talk! and Dialogue Works have received funding from the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). This funding ends in December 2024. The external evaluation of Time to Talk! as well as the midterm evaluation of Dialogue Works have shown that the project has immense positive outcomes particularly for the children and partner organizations involved. 

The successful project shall be continued. The full project proposal for the establishment of the “Global Network on Child Participation” (2025-2029) has received positive feedback from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development but is still awaiting the ministry’s final approval. The planned project “Global Network on Child Participation” (working title) intends to realize the right to be heard and participation of children in vulnerable situations by engaging them in permanent local participatory structures in Zambia, Peru and India; these will in a second step be scaled up to national, regional, and global levels. The follow up project shall start in November 2025.

 

Steering Committee  

The two child rights organizations Kindernothilfe and Terre des Hommes Deutschland e. V. constitute the Steering Committee of Dialogue Works, which is in charge of the implementation of the project in accordance with the rules and regulations of the donor.

Kindernothilfe e. V. was founded in Germany in 1959 to support vulnerable and marginalized children and youth to develop their full potential. Our areas of work range from community-based development projects and self-help groups to social work and street work programs, from networking and advocacy to capacity building and development education programs. 

Terre des Hommes Deutschland e. V. was founded in 1967 and has since been committed to protect children from discrimination, violence and exploitation; to provide a healthy, sustainable and empowering environment; and to support children affected or threatened by war, humanitarian crisis and natural disasters. 

The work of both organizations and the work of our partners is at all times informed and guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as by the views of children themselves and those close to them. 

 

ROLE OF THE GLOBAL COORDINATOR

TASKS 

The main tasks of the global coordinator are:

Establishing the new global program “Global Network on Child Participation”, including:
 

1. Partner engagement and coordination

• Mapping and reaching out to potential partner organizations in South America, Southeast Africa, and South Asia in close collaboration with the three lead partner organizations,
• Preparing contracts and agreements with partner organizations.
• Onboarding new partner organizations.
• Maintaining strong relationships with lead partners and all other partner organizations.
• Coordinating and ensuring regular exchanges with partner organizations in South America, Southeast Africa, and South Asia that support the Children’s Advisory Committees.

2. Network facilitation and support

• Facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange within the network.
• Supporting partner organizations in continuing existing and establishing new Children’s Advisory Committees in their countries.
• Supporting lead partners in managing financial flows to project partners to guarantee regular meetings of the Children’s Advisory Committees supported by the projects Finance Officer.
• Organizing and coordinating online and in-person meetings, consultations, and exchanges.

3. Advocacy 

• Engaging with regional and international institutions globally.
• Building alliances with child rights networks, civil society organizations, and youth-led movements to influence policy and practice.
• Supporting in representing the network in relevant forums, conferences, and multilateral spaces to ensure child participation is recognized and safeguarded.

 

REQUIREMENTS

We are looking for a consultant with the following qualification and experience:  

• Proven experience with network building including building sustainable dialogue structures and effective collaboration across cultures and including the participation of children and youth,

• Proven experience with participatory approaches and tools for children,

• Extensive knowledge on children`s rights and on related topics such as one of the following: child labour, mental health, education and the right to a healthy environment,

• Intercultural sensitivity and experiences,  

• Fluent verbal and written skills in English and Spanish is required, knowledge of German is an asset, 

• Commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 

• Recent police check and readiness to adhere to organisational child safeguarding policies.

 

ETHICS & SAFEGUARDING

All applicants must apply and respect the established Child Safeguarding Policy, also assuring the anonymity of each child involved in the process.  

 

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS 

Location

The position can be carried out remotely, in close collaboration with the two steering organisations, Kindernothilfe and Terre des Hommes Germany, both based in Germany. Ideally, it will be linked to existing regional or national offices of these two child rights organisations. As fluency in Spanish is essential for effective communication with our partners in South America, we are seeking a candidate based in the region. Preferably, the position will be located in Peru, as our lead partner is based there. Alternatively, the position could be based in Bogotá, Colombia, where Terre des Hommes Germany’s regional office is located. This would allow to make use of our local facilities.

Payment & Duration

Payment will be done based on a Service Agreement specifying the detailed roles and responsibilities. For the project phase, a contract will be signed from 1st November 2025 - 31st October 2029. 

Applications  

The deadline for the submission of applications is 19^th October 2025. We prefer applications in English language including supporting documents such as CVs and work samples. Please keep your agenda open for possible interviews on October 23^rd and October 24^thin between 2 PM and 5 PM CEST (morning in South America).

Please send all documents to:

Gizem Bilgic, Terre des Hommes: jobs@tdh.de
Hanna Storkmeier, Kindernothilfe: hanna.storkmeier@knh.de