The Ombuds Office for SOS Children’s Villages is looking for a dedicated and passionate National Ombuds to join our team in Côte d’Ivoire.
If you’re passionate about working with children, you have child protection and conflict resolution skills, and you are looking forward to creating lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you.
📍 Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
About Us :
The SOS Children’s Villages Ombudsman 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.
An ombudsman is a trusted person who can listen to, support, and guide children and young people. There are national, regional, and global ombudsmen.
Each mediator follows four principles: Confidentiality, Impartiality, Independence, and Informality. They work independently of SOS Children’s Villages, acting as a safeguarding check and balance, with the aim of finding a solution to the issue raised.
Founded in 1949, SOS Children’s Villages International is an international social development organization working to meet the needs and protect the rights of children without adequate parental care. Represented in over 133 countries worldwide, it has been based in Côte d’Ivoire since 1971.
To date, SOS Children’s Villages Côte d’Ivoire has three villages (Abobo, Aboisso and Yamoussoukro) and homes integrated into the communities.
About the position:
12-month employment contract – with the possibility of renewal depending on the availability of funding
In order to continue its mission, SOS Children’s Villages has decided to set up a mediation office.
The National Ombudsman – Côte d’Ivoire, as a designated neutral professional, will respond to concerns that the Child Safeguarding Team has been unable to resolve to the satisfaction of the child, young person or adult concerned.
This is a trusted person who has the skills and interest to examine their concerns and find a local solution. He must:
· Respect the principles of confidentiality, independence, informality and impartiality;
· Guide a fair process by listening and supporting;
· Use conflict resolution skills;
· Be an element of control and balance;
· Identify trends and make recommendations to SOS Children’s Villages Côte d’Ivoire and the General Secretariat (SGC).
The national mediator will operate independently of SOS Children’s Villages Côte d’Ivoire and report to the regional mediator.
Profile, skills and qualifications:
· Bachelor’s or higher degree in a relevant field such as children’s rights or child protection, child and youth studies, mediation, social work, child psychology, safeguarding or psychosocial well-being, law;
· At least five years of proven experience in one of the following areas: mediator, mediation, child safeguarding, child protection or children’s rights;
· Good knowledge of children’s rights or child protection/prevention and related issues – child safeguarding, child development and health, law, policies, regulations and international standards relating to child care;
· Very good listening skills and good sense of observation;
· Strong communication skills;
· Strong facilitation and training skills – Ability to develop and deliver engaging training and ongoing support workshops for staff and children’s representatives;
· Proven ability to build relationships with children and young people, identify marginalized children and young people, build rapport and trust;
· Problem solver, counselor and mediator able to resolve youth and adult problems effectively and quickly;
· Understanding of the local context, including laws, policies, practices, language and social norms;
· Take into account gender equality and diversity and be representative;
· Fluency in French and fluent English would be an asset
· Understand the foundations of the Mediator’s work;
· Have the right to reside and work in Ivory Coast;
· Work experience within an NGO or international organization would be an asset.
We offer:
· Training and development
· Support from the regional mediator
· Satisfying and challenging work
· Remote and in-person working arrangements
· The opportunity to work for an NGO that is a member of a recognized international network.
How to apply
Application files
Applications must be submitted by July 6 to the following address: hr@ombuds-sos-cv.org and must include a cover letter, the application form and a detailed CV including the telephone and email contact details of three professional references.
Only put the following in the subject line: National Mediator Ivory Coast.
Your application should also include a fee proposal and a schedule of work at each site (weekly or monthly).
*To protect the independence of the Ombudsman’s office, this position is not open to employees of SOS Children’s Villages or those who have been employed by SOS Children’s Villages within the last two years, nor to those who have relatives working for SOS Children’s Villages.
** Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by email: hr@ombuds-sos-cv.org
In accordance with the organization’s Child Protection Policy, this position will be subject to a background check, including criminal record checks.
📌 Deadline: 6th July 2025
👉 Apply here:
National Mediator – Ivory Coast in | Careers at NA Ivory Coast