About us:
The SOS Children’s Villages National Ombudsman’s Office is an independent office that supports children and young people in situations that have not been successfully resolved by SOS Children’s Villages Safeguarding processes.
A National Ombudsman is a trusted person who can listen, support, and guide children and young people. Institutional Ombudsmen are available at national, regional, and global levels.
Each National Ombudsman follows the four principles: Confidentiality, Impartiality, Independence, and Informality. They work independently of SOS Children’s Villages as a check and balance on the issue of protection, with the aim of finding a solution to the concern raised.
SOS Children’s Villages has been operating in Equatorial Guinea since 1992 and is administratively dependent on the International Office for the West, Central and North Africa Region based in Dakar, Senegal.
About the position:
Position location: Equatorial Guinea/ Bata
1-year consulting contract with the possibility of renewal based on available funds.
To carry out its mission, SOS Children’s Villages has decided to establish a National Ombudsman’s Office.
The National Ombudsman – Equatorial Guinea , as the designated neutral professional, will respond to concerns that the SOS Safeguarding Team has not been able to resolve to the satisfaction of the child, young person or adult involved.
He is a trusted person who has the skills and interest to work through your concerns and find a local solution by:
- Respect the principles of confidentiality, independence, informality and impartiality;
- Guide a fair process through listening and support;
- Use conflict resolution skills;
- Be a check and balance;
- Identify trends and make recommendations to SOS Children’s Villages Equatorial Guinea and the General Secretariat (SGC).
The National Ombudsman will operate independently of SOS Children’s Villages Equatorial Guinea and will report to the Regional National Ombudsman .
Profile, skills and qualifications:
- A minimum of five years of demonstrated experience in one of the following fields: child advocate, mediation, child safeguarding, child protection, or children’s rights;
- A bachelor’s degree is required in a relevant field such as law, mediation, social work, childhood, psychology, child rights, child protection, child and youth studies, safeguarding, or psychosocial well-being.
- Minimum 3 years experience in working with children and young people;
- Experience working in communities;
- Good level of knowledge of children’s rights or child protection/prevention and related issues: child protection, child development and health, legislation, policies, regulations and international standards related to child care;
- Very good listener with good observation skills;
- Great communication skills;
- Strong facilitation/training skills – Ability to develop and deliver engaging training and ongoing support workshops for staff and children’s representatives;
- Demonstrated ability to engage with children and young people, identify marginalized children and young people, connect with them, and build trust;
- A problem solver, advisor and mediator capable of resolving the concerns of young people and adults in an effective and timely manner;
- Understanding the local context, including laws, policies, practices, language and social norms;
- Be sensitive and representative of gender and diversity issues;
- Knowledge of Spanish is required. English is required. Knowledge of French is also an advantage.
- Understand the fundamentals of the National Ombudsman’s work;
- You must have authorization to reside and work in Equatorial Guinea as a consultant;
- Experience working in an NGO or international organization will be valued.
We offer:
• Training and development
• Support from the National Regional Ombudsman
• Satisfying and stimulating work
• Remote and in-person work
• The opportunity to work for an NGO that is a member of a recognized international network.
How to apply
We look forward to receiving your cover letter, CV, and answers to our selection questions, all in English, by July 27, 2025, directly in our system: National Advocate – Equatorial Guinea in Bata | Careers at NA Equatorial Guinea – National Office – Bata
* To protect the independence of the Office of the National Ombudsman, this position is not open to SOS Children’s Villages employees, those who have been employed by SOS Children’s Villages in the last 2 years, or those who have family members working for SOS Children’s Villages.
** Please note that only selected candidates will be contacted.
If you have any questions, please contact us by email: hr@ombuds-sos-cv.org
You can find more information about us here:
Office of the National Ombudsman – SOS Children’s Villages (ombuds-sos-childrensvillages.org)
In accordance with the organization’s child protection policy, this position will be subject to applicable background checks, including a criminal record check.