Protection Coordinator – DRC

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference
Job Title: Protection Coordinator
Code: SR-38-2428
Duty station: Goma
Starting date: 01/07/2022
Contract duration: 6 months renewable
Reporting to: Head of Mission
Supervision of: Technical supervisor of Protection specialists and protection officers (approx. 10 staffs)
Dependents: Non-family duty station

General context of the project
Present since 2010, INTERSOS RDC is operating in 4 provinces mainly in the protection sector. INTERSOS is in charge of the protection monitoring in Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika under UNHCR funds. Humanitarian Funds also finance some projects in the protection sector. INTERSOS is also partnering with UNICEF and WFP in the nutrition sector and cash based support. With more that 200 staff, INTERSOS has a portfolio of approx. USD 5.5 M. INTERSOS is generally well accepted by the communities and is present in many territories. In 2022, INTERSOS wants to continue to improve the quality of its work and further develop its understanding and analysis of the protection issues affecting the population in order to provide adequate responses. This is the reason why INTERSOS is considering hiring a protection Coordinator.

General purpose of the position

• In collaboration with the HOM, define and coordinate the implementation of the protection strategy of the mission. Provide technical guidance and advices to protection staffs ensuring the different components of the programme are delivered according to internal guidelines and in line with international standards and principles, in order to achieve mission’s goals effectively, according to INTERSOS vision and value**Main responsibilities and tasks**

• Contribute to design the protection strategy and provide technical support and assistance to the implementation of protection related activities

• Contextualize and adapt internal and global guidelines, guaranteeing these are rolled out and known by staff.

• Support the Project Managers in the technical aspects of the implementation of project’s activities;

• Provide clear technical support, guidance and supervision to the protection staff, including training needed to build specialized skills in all protection-related principles and activities, including Community Based Protection, Protection Monitoring, Case Management, Legal Assistance, Psycho-Social Support (PSS), inclusion of disabilities and protection Risk Mitigation;

• Mainstream protection concepts and principles in all programs;

• According to identified needs and resources available, deliver training, workshops and seminars to national and international staff on protection-related issues, Protection Monitoring, GBV and Child Protection, Community Based Protection

• Deliver trainings and workshops to non-protection staffs to build skills and knowledge of protection principles and enable them to mainstream protection in different sectors

• Assess regularly protection needs and gaps of target populations in current and prospective areas of operations, periodically update the protection situation analysis and inform the programme teams accordingly

• Provide strategic protection analysis and development of periodic trend reports (including aspects of conflict analysis, gender and protection risks ) from programme experience to improve development, implementation and policy and advocacy activities

• Ensure that protection data is collected, archived, processed, analysed and disseminated in ethical modalities, in line with internal data protection protocols

• Ensure proper integration of gender, inclusion, disability and age in protection program• Ensure cohesion and harmonization of protection activities and services across the different implementation sites within the mission

• Support the Programme Coordinator and/or Project Managers to finalize p ensuring Protection integration, the respect of international internal and donor’s protection standards and appropriate technical language.

• Work along with the Protection team / Specialists to ensure all interventions are coordinated and technical resources are available for field teams to follow

• Periodically (Quarterly) analyse the Protection trends in our areas of operation from the data of our protection interventions to identify needs, issues, trends

• Provide strategic protection analysis and development of periodic trend reports (including aspects of conflict analysis, gender and risk management) from programme experience to improve development, implementation and policy and advocacy activities

• Track indicators, ensure that protection data are collected, archived, processed, analysed and disseminated in ethical modalities, in line with internal data protection protocols. Manage protection database guarantying all the data are regularly encoded

• Ensure Protection reports are submitted to HQ on a monthly basis

• Support the Programme Coordinator and/or Project Managers to finalize external reports ensuring Protection integration, the respect of international internal and donor’s protection standards and appropriate technical language.

• Promote harmonization of programme approaches and methodologies across the different implementation sites, depending on contexts and needs, by developing and monitoring use of common tools;

• Creating opportunities for experience sharing and learning within the Protection Staff of all projects, in order to ensure synergy among Staff and cooperative/supportive attitude and mechanisms;

• Ensure that protection staff and services adhere to protection monitoring and case management best practices, as well as internal and international protection standards and principles;

• Contribute to monitoring programme implementation and quality;

• Undertake regular field visits to provide technical guidance and supervision, as well as continuously monitor the progress of protection activities;

• Identify opportunities for new protection interventions and support assessments and developments of new project proposals

• Design M & E tools for protection activities and interventions and provide guidance on using the tools and ensure they are used

• Measure the impact of the activities and identify the best practices

• In cooperation with the accountability unit, support the development of complaints mechanisms for beneficiaries and make sure complaints are addressed properly

• In cooperation with the accountability unit, when required follow up on the implementation of the Child Protection (CP) and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) policies

Supervision and Staff Management:

• Directly supervise coach and mentor Protection Specialists and Protection Officers and conduct regular performance reviews (IRP)
• Review work plans of Protection Specialists and Protection Officers and define priorities in collaboration with Protection Project Managers
• Organize ad hoc protection meetings with Protection Specialists, Protection Officers, and Project Managers to share challenges and priorities and develop action plans to address them
• Organize regular meetings with Protection Specialists, Protection Officers and the Protection team to discuss implementation and ensure quality
• Organize ad hoc meeting with Programme Coordinator/ Sector Coordinators/ Project Managers to share challenges and priorities and develop action plans to address them
• Plan and supervise, in close coordination with the HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, training, performance evaluation, development and internal communication) of the staffs under her/ his responsibility in order to improve staff’s capabilities and activities and to ensure learning and development

Networking and partnerships:

• Establish and maintain collaborative relations with relevant donors, partners, project stakeholders and other organizations
• Maintain effective relationships with Protection, GBV and CP clusters and related working groups at national level
• Ensure that Protection Specialist and Protection Officers maintain productive relationships with sub clusters at field level
• Ensure that main protection concerns are brought to relevant stakeholders to advocate for the respect of human rights and minimum protection standards
• Coordinate with other internal departments to guarantee good collaboration
• Network with Protection Coordinators from other missions to share best practices and resources and participate actively in monthly HQ Protection meetings and internal thematic Working Groups
• Collaborate and support HQ Protection Adviser in the development of Technical Resources and Guidelines

Required profile and experience
Education

• Advanced university degree in social science related fields such as Political Science, International Relations, International Development, Cooperation, Sociology, Psychology, Law, Human Rights or similar subjects.
• A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Professional Experience

• At least 5 years of professional work experience in Technical Protection roles in humanitarian contexts.
• Practical experience of being trained in and implementation of key Protection Interventions related to Protection Monitoring, Case management, PSS and Community based Protection
• Proven experience in coordination, Protection monitoring, Community Based protection and case management supervision (CP, SGBV and/or PwSN)
• Strong experience in trainings and capacity building and development of local staff and partners in protection related subjects
• Prior experience in working in complex emergency settings, involving internal displacement.
• Strong experience with monitoring tools and systems, including remote monitoring

Professional Requirements

• Demonstrated technical expertise of Protection, including Protection Monitoring, Community based protection, Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence, individual case management and Psychosocial Support.
• Good/In-depth knowledge and understanding of Humanitarian Principles and Protection frameworks, tools, and minimum standards.
• Knowledge of the cluster system
• Experience with main donors compliance and reporting demonstrated technical expertise of Protection, including Protection Monitoring, Community based protection, Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence, individual case management and Psychosocial Support.
• Good/In-depth knowledge and understanding of Humanitarian Principles and Protection frameworks, tools, and minimum standards.
• Knowledge of the cluster system
• Experience with main donors compliance and reporting
• Strong representation and negotiation skills
• Proven experience in management and supervision of teams
• Good communication skills, both oral and written, and Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills
• Mastery of IT tools (MS Office package, internet, e-mail, etc.)
• Experience with participatory approaches and working with vulnerable groups, including gender mainstreaming and with persons with disabilities.
• Readiness to commit and adhere to the values, mission and vision of INTERSOS
• Previous experience in developing and implementing M&E activities

Languages

• Excellent written and spoken French
• English, (mandatory)

Personal Requirements

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with staff, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders
• Excellent analytical skills