Parenting Facilitator | Anbar & Salah Al-Din | Pending on Donor Approval

Important Notice

This position is pending donor approval. Recruitment and appointment will be subject to confirmation of project funding.

1. Position Information

Organization: Aid Gate Organization (AGO)
Project: Strengthening Child Protection and Well-being, Adolescent Participation, and Leadership Skills Development
Position title: Parenting Facilitator
Number of positions: Two (2)
Duty stations: Anbar and Salah Al-Din governorates
Contract duration: 12 months
Contract type: Full-time
Reports to: Child Protection and MHPSS Technical Specialist/Project Manager
Coordinates with: Child Protection Case Workers, MHPSS Facilitators, community-engagement personnel, and relevant service providers

2. Organizational Background

Aid Gate Organization (AGO) is an independent Iraqi non-governmental organization working with vulnerable and conflict-affected communities. AGO implements humanitarian and development programmes in child protection, MHPSS, rehabilitation and reintegration, youth empowerment, social cohesion, livelihoods, and community resilience.

AGO works closely with government institutions, civil society organizations, communities, and specialized service providers to strengthen sustainable, inclusive, and locally led services.

3. Project Background

AGO intends to implement an integrated child-protection and adolescent-development programme in Anbar and Salah Al-Din. The programme will provide specialized case management, MHPSS, legal and civil-documentation assistance, structured positive-parenting programmes, GBV prevention and risk mitigation, capacity development, and adolescent-participation activities.

The parenting component will support women and men caregivers to strengthen their knowledge and skills in child development, non-violent discipline, family communication, psychosocial wellbeing, prevention of early marriage and harmful practices, recognition of protection concerns, safe disclosure, and access to referral services.

4. Position Purpose

The Parenting Facilitator will plan, organize, and deliver structured positive-parenting sessions for women and men caregivers using approved curricula and participatory adult-learning methods.

The Facilitator will create a respectful, inclusive, and confidential learning environment that helps caregivers strengthen positive relationships with children, use non-violent discipline, manage stress, communicate effectively, identify protection concerns, and access appropriate support.

The Parenting Facilitator will not provide specialized case management, clinical counselling, or legal advice. Participants requiring individualized or specialized assistance must be referred through approved programme pathways.

5. Key Duties and Responsibilities

5.1 Participant mobilization and enrolment

• Support transparent community outreach and participant mobilization in targeted locations.
• Explain programme objectives, eligibility criteria, session schedules, participant commitments, and available support.
• Ensure the inclusion of women and men caregivers from returnee, displaced, conflict-affected, female-headed, and other vulnerable households.
• Promote the participation of caregivers of children with disabilities and arrange reasonable accommodations where possible.
• Avoid discrimination based on gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, social status, displacement status, or other characteristics.
• Confirm participants’ willingness and availability before enrolment.
• Maintain accurate and confidential registration records using approved tools.
• Avoid making promises regarding services, financial assistance, or outcomes that AGO cannot guarantee.

5.2 Session planning and preparation

• Prepare weekly and monthly parenting-session plans in coordination with the Technical Specialist.
• Use approved parenting curricula, facilitator guides, session plans, and information, education, and communication materials.
• Adapt session methods to participants’ literacy levels, language, gender, culture, disability, and caregiving circumstances.
• Prepare venues, learning materials, attendance tools, pre- and post-assessments, feedback forms, and other required resources.
• Conduct basic safety, privacy, accessibility, and suitability checks for activity locations.
• Ensure that session timing and locations are appropriate and safe for women and men caregivers.
• Identify and report potential risks, community sensitivities, or barriers that may affect participation.
• Coordinate logistical needs with relevant programme and support personnel.

5.3 Delivery of positive-parenting sessions

• Facilitate structured parenting sessions using participatory and adult-learning methods.
• Deliver approved content on child development and age-appropriate expectations.
• Promote positive, non-violent, and developmentally appropriate discipline.
• Support caregivers to strengthen communication, active listening, emotional connection, and problem-solving within families.
• Address caregiver stress, self-care, psychosocial wellbeing, and healthy coping strategies.
• Discuss the effects of violence, neglect, humiliation, harsh punishment, and harmful practices on children.
• Promote equitable caregiving roles and the positive involvement of fathers and male caregivers.
• Address GBV prevention, early marriage, domestic violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, and other harmful practices using approved and sensitive approaches.
• Explain how caregivers can recognize protection concerns, respond safely to disclosures, and access support.
• Facilitate discussion without pressuring participants to disclose personal experiences.
• Use practical exercises, role plays, demonstrations, group discussions, and home-practice activities where appropriate.
• Maintain respectful and constructive group discussions and address stigmatizing or harmful statements appropriately.

5.4 Safe identification and referrals

• Observe participants for signs of distress, protection concerns, or the need for additional assistance.
• Provide general information about available protection, MHPSS, legal, health, education, disability, and other specialized services.
• Refer participants requiring individualized support to authorized programme personnel or service providers.
• Obtain informed consent before making referrals or sharing personal information.
• Share only the minimum information required for the receiving service to provide assistance.
• Immediately report urgent child-safeguarding or safety concerns through designated confidential channels.
• Receive sensitive disclosures calmly and respectfully without probing, questioning, or investigating.
• Never attempt to manage complex protection, GBV, mental-health, or legal cases beyond the Facilitator’s responsibilities and competence.
• Follow up general referral status with authorized personnel without requesting unnecessary sensitive information.

5.5 Group management and participant wellbeing

• Establish clear group agreements regarding respect, confidentiality, participation, punctuality, and non-discrimination.
• Create an environment where women and men caregivers can participate safely and respectfully.
• Ensure that no participant dominates, intimidates, humiliates, or discriminates against others.
• Manage disagreement and sensitive discussions calmly and constructively.
• Ensure participants are not forced to discuss personal or family experiences.
• Monitor participant engagement, comfort, comprehension, and wellbeing during sessions.
• Offer breaks or appropriate support when participants become distressed.
• Adapt facilitation techniques according to participant feedback and observed learning needs.
• Protect participant privacy and avoid discussing individual cases in group settings.

5.6 Accountability to affected populations

• Provide participants with clear information about the programme, selection criteria, services, schedules, staff conduct, and participant rights.
• Explain that all programme services are free of charge and not conditional upon payment, gifts, favours, political affiliation, or personal relationships.
• Inform participants about AGO’s confidential feedback and complaints mechanisms.
• Provide accessible options for participants with disabilities, limited literacy, or restricted digital access.
• Encourage participants to provide feedback on session relevance, safety, accessibility, facilitation, and logistics.
• Treat all feedback and complaints respectfully and protect complainants from retaliation.
• Communicate relevant changes made in response to participant feedback.
• Use feedback findings to improve session content, timing, accessibility, and facilitation approaches.

5.7 Documentation, monitoring, and reporting

• Maintain accurate participant-registration and attendance records.
• Complete facilitator reports after each session.
• Document topics covered, participation, general observations, challenges, adaptations, referrals, and agreed follow-up actions.
• Administer approved pre- and post-assessments and participant-feedback tools.
• Track participant attendance and completion of the parenting programme.
• Follow up appropriately with participants who miss sessions, without pressuring them or exposing sensitive information.
• Submit weekly and monthly progress reports within agreed deadlines.
• Ensure data are disaggregated by sex, age, disability, and location where required.
• Protect personal information and apply confidentiality, data-minimization, and need-to-know principles.
• Never store participant information on personal devices, personal accounts, or unauthorized applications.
• Participate in monitoring visits, quality reviews, data checks, supervision sessions, and corrective-action processes.
• Obtain authorization and informed consent before collecting photographs or media involving participants.

5.8 Materials and logistics

• Prepare and organize parenting curricula, participant materials, stationery, and other session resources.
• Maintain accurate records of materials received, distributed, used, damaged, or remaining.
• Ensure that materials are accurate, culturally appropriate, accessible, gender-sensitive, and free from harmful or discriminatory messages.
• Protect programme materials from loss, damage, misuse, or unauthorized distribution.
• Coordinate venue, refreshments, participant support, and accessibility arrangements with responsible colleagues.
• Immediately report logistical challenges, safety concerns, or suspected misuse of programme resources.
• Ensure that all programme-supported distributions are transparent and properly documented.

5.9 Coordination and teamwork

• Coordinate closely with Child Protection Case Workers, MHPSS Facilitators, the Technical Specialist, MEAL personnel, and community-engagement staff.
• Participate in technical meetings, training, coaching, supervision, and programme reviews.
• Coordinate with authorized community representatives, government personnel, health facilities, schools, and specialized providers where required.
• Contribute to updating service mappings and referral information.
• Share emerging parenting concerns, participation barriers, harmful practices, service gaps, and anonymized learning with the supervisor.
• Maintain professional boundaries and respectful working relationships with participants, colleagues, and community members.
• Perform other relevant duties reasonably assigned within the position’s scope.

5.10 Safeguarding and PSEA

• Comply with AGO’s Child Safeguarding Policy, PSEA Policy, Code of Conduct, confidentiality requirements, and data-protection procedures.
• Immediately report safeguarding concerns, suspected sexual exploitation and abuse, staff misconduct, or imminent safety risks through designated channels.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with caregivers, children, and community members.
• Never request or accept money, gifts, services, or favours in exchange for participation or assistance.
• Never use humiliating, discriminatory, threatening, violent, or harmful language or behaviour.
• Never share participant information, photographs, or personal stories without proper authorization and informed consent.
• Protect children, caregivers, complainants, and witnesses from retaliation, discrimination, stigma, and further harm.
• Complete all mandatory safeguarding, PSEA, confidentiality, and code-of-conduct training.

6. Expected Deliverables

• Parenting sessions are delivered according to approved curricula, plans, schedules, and quality standards.
• Women and men caregivers participate in safe, respectful, and inclusive learning activities.
• Participants strengthen their knowledge of child development, non-violent discipline, communication, psychosocial wellbeing, and child protection.
• Participants requiring specialized support are safely identified and referred through approved pathways.
• Attendance, completion, assessment, referral, and feedback records are accurate and submitted on time.
• Parenting materials and programme resources are properly managed.
• Participant feedback and technical recommendations are used to improve programme delivery.
• Safeguarding, PSEA, confidentiality, accountability, and data-protection requirements are consistently followed.

7. Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, education, public health, community development, or another relevant field.
• A relevant diploma combined with substantial experience in parenting, family-support, child-protection, or community programmes may be considered.
• Training in positive parenting, child development, adult learning, MHPSS, child protection, safeguarding, or PSEA is highly desirable.

8. Required Experience

• At least two years of relevant experience in parenting programmes, family support, child protection, MHPSS, community education, or comparable activities.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating structured group sessions for adults.
• Experience working with vulnerable, displaced, returnee, or conflict-affected families is strongly preferred.
• Good knowledge of child development, non-violent discipline, positive communication, and psychosocial wellbeing.
• Familiarity with GBV prevention, early-marriage prevention, safe disclosure, safeguarding, and referral principles is desirable.
• Experience adapting activities for different literacy levels and disability-related needs is an advantage.
• Experience maintaining participant records, administering assessments, and preparing activity reports is required.

9. Language and Computer Skills

• Fluency in Arabic is required.
• Working knowledge of English is an advantage.
• Knowledge of relevant local languages is desirable.
• Basic computer skills, including email, word processing, spreadsheets, and digital data entry.
• Ability to use tablets or mobile data-collection tools is an advantage.

10. Core Competencies

• Strong adult-learning and group-facilitation skills
• Empathy and active listening
• Respectful and non-judgmental communication
• Integrity, discretion, and confidentiality
• Conflict management and problem-solving
• Gender and disability inclusion
• Cultural and conflict sensitivity
• Planning, organization, and time management
• Accurate documentation and reporting
• Effective teamwork and coordination
• Commitment to safeguarding, PSEA, accountability, and do-no-harm principles

11. Working Conditions

• The position is based in Anbar or Salah Al-Din, according to programme needs.
• Regular travel to targeted communities and activity locations will be required.
• Sessions may be delivered in community centres, schools, youth spaces, or other approved locations.
• The Facilitator may be required to work flexible hours depending on caregiver availability and approved schedules.
• The postholder must comply with AGO’s safety and security procedures during all movements and activities.

12. Performance Evaluation

Performance will be assessed based on:

• Quality and timeliness of parenting sessions
• Participant attendance, completion, engagement, and satisfaction
• Safe and inclusive management of group activities
• Appropriate identification and referral of participants requiring additional support
• Accuracy and timeliness of assessments, records, and reports
• Appropriate management of materials and resources
• Compliance with safeguarding, confidentiality, and accountability requirements
• Responsiveness to supervision, participant feedback, and monitoring findings
• Effective teamwork and professional conduct
• Adherence to AGO policies and programme procedures

13. Recruitment Conditions

This position involves contact with children, caregivers, and vulnerable families. Appointment will be subject to satisfactory identity, qualification, employment-history, and reference checks, as well as other safeguarding checks permitted by applicable law.

The selected candidate must sign and comply with AGO’s Code of Conduct, Child Safeguarding Policy, PSEA Policy, confidentiality and data-protection commitments, anti-fraud requirements, and conflict-of-interest declaration.

Any employment offer will remain conditional upon donor approval, confirmation of project funding, and successful completion of AGO’s recruitment and safeguarding procedures.

14. Equal Opportunity

AGO is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a respectful and inclusive workplace. Qualified women, persons with disabilities, and candidates from programme locations are strongly encouraged to apply.

Recruitment decisions will be based on merit, suitability, safeguarding considerations, and programme requirements without discrimination. Reasonable accommodation will be considered throughout the recruitment process and employment.

Interested applicants must apply via the link below

Parenting Facilitator 

Note:

• Applications not meeting the specified minimum requirements may not be considered.
• The CVs received after the closing date may not be considered.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview that may include a written test of communication and writing skills.
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Candidates are encouraged to apply early, as applications may be screened prior to the vacancy deadline.