Protection Officer

INTRODUCTION

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1956 that works in more than 30 countries throughout the world, including Ethiopia. DRC fulfills its mandate by providing direct assistance to conflict-affected populations, including refugees, internally displaced people and host communities. Under its mandate, the organization focuses on emergency humanitarian response, rehabilitation and post-conflict recovery.

DRC commenced work in Ethiopia in 2009 and currently provides expertise in shelter, WASH, livelihoods and protection in the Gambella and Somali regions of the country. Activities implemented by DRC are funded by money raised from the Danish public and by project grants from the Danish government and other bilateral and multi-lateral donors.

DRC is in the process of starting a new program in Tigray regional state, where the organization anticipates implementing a variety of youth protection activities in Hitsats, Shimelba, Mai-Aini and Adharush refugee camps, which are currently hosting a combined population of over 30,000 Eritrean refugees.

POSITION’S OVERALL OBJECTIVES

Working under the direct management of the Protection Team Leader, the Protection Officer will be responsible for supporting the implementation of the organization’s current and future protection activities in Tigray regional state. The Protection Officer will be the direct supervisor of Protection Assistants and refugee incentive outreach workers. The Officer will regularly collaborate with other program staff, such as the Youth Engagement and Education Officer and Infrastructure Officer, to ensure DRC’s protection activities are holistic and that protection concerns and considerations are effectively mainstreamed throughout the program. Furthermore, the Protection Officer may be required to provide support and guidance in project cycle management, proposal development and program strategy, with specific contributions in the area of technical protection knowledge.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

To achieve the objectives of the position, the Protection Officer, in coordination with the Protection Team Leader will perform the following tasks and undertake the following responsibilities:

1. Technical Support:

• Support the Protection Team Leader in the setup of the Shire protection department and the development of a local protection strategy in Tigray regional state. Initial responsibilities will also include assisting with designing and leading baseline needs assessments and community outreach in the selected refugee communities.


• Collaborate closely with the Protection Team Leader to design and implement relevant and responsive, rights-based protection activities that build upon the existing assets of the targeted refugee communities. Activities will emphasize the protection of youth and secondary migration, but may expand into child protection in the future. Activities are expected to be highly participatory through engaging beneficiaries in learning and information sharing, capacity building and incentive work opportunities. This will require collaboration with other DRC program staff and a keen interest in integrating migration, psychosocial and educational components and considerations into all protection activities.


• Support the Protection Team Leader in ensuring high quality day-to-day technical management of all protection activities in strict adherence with international best practice protections standards, including the identification of protection risks and vulnerabilities with acute awareness of issues related to gender, age and diversity.


• Work with the Protection Team Leader to contribute to new project development, including both narratives and budgets.


• Collaborate with the Protection Team Leader, Education Team Leader and Addis Ababa based Protection Coordinator to ensure field-based protection records and documentation are properly managed and compliant with DRC requirements and international best practices.


• Support staff to integrate protection concerns and awareness in other sectors as relevant.

 2. General Management and Support:

• Assist in the management of Protection Assistants and Outreach Workers, and support respectful and positive working relationships which allow for the effective implementation of all DRC protection activities. This is to be achieved through leadership, team building, day-to-day support and capacity-building.


• Assist the Protection Team Leader in overseeing all daily protection activities in sub-offices and project locations, including the management of staff and regular activity monitoring.


• Identify training and capacity building opportunities for protection staff and ensure they are well versed in key protection concepts relevant to the context, DRC’s code of conduct, accountability, respectful dialogue with the refugee population, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.

3. Reporting:

• Under the direction of the Protection Team Leader, support protection related reporting for both internal and donor purposes. This will include providing weekly reports to the Monitoring, Evaluation and Documentation Officer.


• Provide ongoing general monitoring of the operating context to ensure relevance and accountability to DRC’s beneficiary populations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors degree in law, social work, social sciences, international development, or other relevant field from a recognized institution.


• Minimum 4 years of experience in an entry to mid level position, preferably with experience in the field of humanitarian response and refugee protection working for an international NGO, UN agency or relevant ministry or local authority.


• Commitment to learning and implementing organizational policies and procedures.


• Full proficiency in Microsoft Office.


• Excellent verbal and written proficiency in Tigrinya, Amharic and English.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Strong planning, organization and problem solving skills with ability to work both independently and within a team in a demanding work environment.


• Excellent personnel management skills, including diplomacy, tact and negotiating skills.


• Integrity, strong work ethic, and ability to consistently meet deadlines under pressure.


• Experience collaborating in protection, gender and human rights related activities.


• Experience working with youth, migrants and in community mobilizations and participatory approaches.


• Experience living and working in cross-cultural and remote environments.

Closing date: Feb 28, 2016

Interested candidates should send a CV and cover letter in English addressed to the DRC Hiring Committee at only through vacancies@drcethiopia.org, with the subject “Protection Officer”.

The applicant’s cover letter should state the reasons for applying for this particular position and not be generic. The cover letter should also include the applicant’s salary requirements. Please do not send additional materials other than a CV and cover letter, they will not be reviewed.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis before the deadline, and interviews will be held as suitable candidates present themselves. Deadline for applications is 28 February 2015.

DRC highly encourage qualified female candidates to apply.