National Ombuds Zambia at SOS Children’s Villages

Position: National Ombuds Zambia

About us:

The Ombuds Office for SOS Children’s Villages is an independent entity within SOS Children’s Villages dedicated to supporting individuals concerned about the safety or well-being of children and young people involved in SOS programmes and services, past or present. Its approach is child-centred, participatory, and ‘ground-up’, meaning it adapts to each national context and seeks local solutions to local challenges.

An Ombuds is a trustworthy individual who listens, supports, and guides children, young people, and adults to find solutions to their concerns related to children and young people.

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 Zambia is part of a global federation dedicated to the care and support of children without parental care and families at risk. We work to ensure every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect, and security. Join our mission-driven team and contribute to sustainable change.

About the role:

Location of the role: Zambia, Lusaka

Fulltime fixed term employment Contract – 1 year with the possibility of renewing, based

on performance and available funds.

In order to further their mission, SOS Children’s Villages has decided to implement an Ombuds Office.

The National Ombuds in Zambia, 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 Zambia SOS Children’s Villages.

The National Ombuds will operate independently from SOS Children’s Villages Zambia 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;

Local language and basic English skills.

Understand the foundations of the Ombuds’ work;

You have the legal right to live and work in Zambia;

Experience working in an NGO or international organization would be an asset.

We offer:

A fixed term employment contract for 40hours/week

Training and development

Support from the Regional Ombuds

Satisfying and stimulating work

Remote and in-person work arrangements

The opportunity to work for an NGO that is a member of a recognized international network.

We are looking forward to receiving your motivation letter and CV by 12th November 2026.

* 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.

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