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About us:
The Ombuds Office for SOS Children’s Villages is an independent office supporting children and young people in situations that have not been successfully resolved by SOS Children’s Villages safeguarding processes.
An Ombuds is a trustworthy person who can listen, support, and guide children and young people. There are national, regional, and global Ombuds.
Each Ombuds follows the four principles: Confidentiality, Impartiality, Independence and Informality. They work independently of SOS Children’s Villages as a check and balance to safeguarding with the goal of finding a solution to the concern raised.
SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania is a local non-governmental organization affiliated with SOS Children’s Villages International—a global child care and protection organization that works to protect and care for children who have lost parental care or are at risk of losing it. We have been operating in the United Republic of Tanzania since 1991, with programs in Zanzibar, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and Iringa. To achieve our mission and strategy, we focus on delivering the best care for children, driving innovation, and building effective partnerships. Our core values—Courage to take action, Commitment to keep our promises, Trust to believe in each other, and Accountability to be reliable partners—guide who we are and what we do.
About the role:
Location of the role: Tanzania, Dar es Salaam
Fulltime
Employment Contract – 2 years (with possibility of renewing depending on the existing founds)
In order to further their mission, SOS Children’s Villages has decided to implement an Ombuds Office.
The National Ombuds Tanzania and Zanzibar, as designated neutral professionals, will build awareness, promote prevention, nurture child participation, and enable children and young people to be safe in all SOS CV programs and services.
She/He is a person of trust who has the skills and interest to work through their concerns and find a local solution by:
- Adhering to the principles of confidentiality, independence, informality and impartiality;
- Guiding a fair process through listening and supporting;
- Utilizing dispute resolution skills;
- Being a check and balance;
- Identifying trends and making recommendations to Tanzania and Zanzibar SOS Children’s Villages and General Secretariat (GSC).
The National Ombuds will operate independently from SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania and Zanzibar and will report to the Regional Ombuds.
Profile, skills and qualifications:
- Minimum 5 years demonstrated experience in one of the following fields: ombudsperson, mediation, child safeguarding, child protection, or child rights;
- Bachelor’s or higher degree in a relevant area such as child rights or child protection, child and youth studies, mediation, social work, child psychology, safeguarding or psychosocial wellbeing, law, or equivalent;
- Good level of knowledge of children’s rights or child protection/prevention and related issues – child safeguarding, child development and health, law, policies, regulations and International Standards related to children’s care;
- Minimum 3 years demonstrated experience in working with children and youths;
- Experience in working in communities;
- Very good listener with good observational skills;
- Strong communication skills;
- Strong facilitation/training skills – Ability to develop and implement engaging trainings and ongoing support workshops for staff and children’ representatives;
- Demonstrated ability to build rapport with children and young people, to identify marginalized children and young people and connect with them and build trust;
- A problem solver, adviser and mediator capable of resolving young people’s and adults’ concerns effectively and in a timely manner;
- Understanding of the local context, including laws, policies, practices, language and social norms;
- Be gender and diverse sensitive and representative;
- Swahili and basic English skills.
- Understand the foundations of the Ombuds’ work;
- You have the legal right to live and work in Tanzania and Zanzibar;
- Experience working in an NGO or international organization would be an asset.
We offer:
- Training and development
- Support from the Regional Ombuds
- Satisfying and stimulating work
- In-person work arrangements
- The opportunity to work for an NGO that is a member of a recognized international network.
How to apply
We are looking forward to receiving your motivation letter, answers to our screening questions and CV by 31st July 2025 directly on our system:National Ombuds Tanzania and Zanzibar in Dar es Salaam | Careers at MA Tanzania
* To protect the independence of the Ombuds Office, this position is not open to SOS Children’s Villages employees or those who have been employed by SOS Children’s Villages within the last 2 years, or for those who have relatives working for SOS Children’s Villages.
** Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted.
In case you have question, please reach out to us by email: [email protected]
You can find more detail about us here:
Ombuds Office – SOS Children’s Villages (ombuds-sos-childrensvillages.org)
In accordance with the organisation’s child protection policy, this position will be subject to applicable background checks, including criminal record checks.