Protection Coordinator – NES

Position Title: Protection Coordinator

Location: North East Syria (NES) / Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI)

Period: 7 months with possibility of extension

Closing date: 12 March 2022 (applications on a rolling basis)

Starting Date: 1 April 2022

Context presentation: Un Ponte Per (UPP) is an international humanitarian organization, based in Italy. Originally named Un Ponte Per Baghdad (A Bridge to Baghdad), the association became simply Un Ponte Per after the extension of its work to the Balkans, as well as other Middle East and Mediterranean countries.

UPP is currently active in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Serbia and Kosovo alongside civil society organizations. In Italy and in Europe, UPP works to promote peace and disarmament, human rights, and refugees and migrants’ inclusion. UPP strongly rejects war as a solution to international and national conflicts, it exerts restless efforts with the ultimate objective of developing more equal and peaceful coexistence up to social cohesion.

For further information please refer to our website: www.unponteper.it/en/

BACKGROUND: Entering year 11 of the Syria crisis, conflict continues to expose civilians to acute humanitarian needs in protection and health, while protracted conflict worsens socio-economic resources and coping mechanisms. In North East Syria (NES) widespread displacement, destruction of basic services and increased exposure to protection risks is on-going, with women and children continuing to be some of the most affected by violence, abuse and exploitation. In response, UPP implements health and protection programmes through funding of several donors, including BHA, ECHO, AICS and other EU member states.

UPP and local partners aim is to improve the physical and psychosocial wellbeing of the conflict-affected population with a view of building the capacity of local actors and the resilience of communities in NES.

SCOPE OF WORK : In coordination with the Protection Prgrammes Desk Officer at HQ and the Head of Mission (HoM), the Protection Coordinator will support the Protection Unit, streamlining protection principles and SoPs and building protection capacities in the North East Syria (NES) Programmes. The selected candidate will lead the development of UPP Protection Strategy in NES with a focus on Child Protection, Gender Based Vioelce (GBV), Psycho-Social Support and Protection Mainstreaming.

The selected candidate will work closely with UPP and partner organizations on developing coordinated, integrated services to adequately respond to the protection needs of the most vulnerable. The Protection Coordinator will provide technical support, guidance and capacity building to UPP Protection team and UPP implementing partners as well as lead on Protection coordination with Consortium partners.

Key Tasks and responsibilities:

1- Technical backstopping & Capacity building

• In coordination with the Protection Desk Officer and the Head of Mission, coordinate the identification, implementation and evaluation of protection programs in the NES mission
• Lead the development of UPP Protection Strategy in NES and provide technical support and guidance to its implementation
• Participate in the development of proposals, budgets and concept notes in coordination with Protection Desk Officer and HoM
• Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based protection programming through a consultative process with sector and/or cluster partners.
• Oversee and contribute to UPP integrated protection programme and gender mainstreaming in health and other sectors
• Provide technical advice in coordination with Protection Desk Officer and Technical Specialists on all issues relating to humanitarian protection, protection mainstreaming, GBV and CP in line with project workplan and UPP country strategy
• Build the protection capacity of UPP staff, partners and stakeholders to assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis all persons of concern through protection training, mainstreaming and related activities.
• Develop and lead the roll out of internal guidelines and SOPs in coordination with Specialists team and Desk Officer
• Promote joint work across the CP, GBV, PSS and Protection in Emergencies’ teams to enhance the quality of programming and a holistic approach to addressing the needs of persons of concern.

2- Staff mentoring

• Support Project Managers and Technical Specialists in the recruitment, management and supervision of UPP and partners local protection staff.
• Provide mentoring and guidance on protection issues to field staff in direct contact to persons of concern.
• Supervise UPP Protection team, including four technical specialists (CP, GBV, PSS and Protection in Emergencies) and Protection field staff.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being; approve and manage all leave requests to ensure adequate coverage.

3- Monitoring & Reporting

• Contribute to UPP data collection, FCRM and ensure Do No Harm and beneficiary accountability throughout the program in coordination with MEAL team.
• Conduct field missions to assess progress and identify technical quality issues and/or other implementation issues, provide solutions and implement modifications as required.
• Ensure that all internal and external reporting requirements are met, that reports are of a high quality and are submitted on time.

4- Coordination & Representation

• Represent UPP at relevant Working Groups and other meetings with donors, (I)NGOs and external stakeholders.
• Maintain close coordination with Project Management and technical teams.
• Liaise and maintain good relations with local partners, other (I)NGO and with all relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure inter-sectorial coordination within the mission (Health, WASH, Early Recovery, Livelihood).
• Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments in the area and in the Region that have an impact on the Protection environment.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Education & experience

• University degree in Law, International Law, Political Sciences, Social Work or related field.
• 4+ years relevant professional experience with Masters degree;
• Proven experience in humanitarian settings;
• Experience in case management, referral and/or general protection;
• Experience in designing and delivering training programmes in protection in emergencies;
• Experience in reporting on protection activities/issues;
• Experience in reviewing and aligning sector tools and strategic documents in line with protection standards;

Skills

• Proven communication and behavioral skills to work directly with affected communities;
• Proven record of positive collaborative experience with local counterparts (CSOs, local NGOs, and others);
• Experience of planning, organizing and prioritizing work, working under pressure and matching deadlines;
• Solid Team working and management skills;
• Proactive attitude;
• Excellent computer literacy skills;
• Excellent oral and written English
• Ability to travel in the Middle East and in the EU.

UPP requires criminal background check certificate (released max 3 months before the date of job offer) to confirm a job offer. We are aware that in some countries the release of criminal background certificate by the competent authorities might require several weeks. However, UPP runs selections to deploy staff in emergency programs and time-lapse between job offer and field deployment is often very short. Thus, we kindly ask all candidates to get prepared on time and be able to submit their certificate promptly in case of success in the selection.

DESIDERABLE REQUIREMENTS

• Previous experience in Protection Mainstreaming;
• Previous experience in CP and GBV case management;
• Previous experience in Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS) and Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) interventions;
• Knowledge of the Middle East context and relevant local actors;
• Knowledge of Arabic and/or Kurmanji is a strong asset.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Un Ponte Per is an International NGO committed to diversity and inclusion within its teams, in line with the principle of non-discrimination. UPP encourages all candidates irrespective of gender, religion and ethnicity including persons with disabilities to apply and become part of the organization.

Ethical Conduct

UPP upholds all the minimum standards in terms of Ethical Conduct and strives to increase its standards over the minimum. Zero Tolerance is reserved to Sexual Abuse and Exploitation and to Child Abuse, Violence, Harm, Injury and Negligence. By applying, any candidate assures that s/he has never breached any standard in terms of SEA and Child Safeguarding and that s/he will not in the future. For the protection of beneficiaries, communities and partners, UPP will conduct extensive reference check and vetting on shortlisted candidates, also over the contacts indicated by the candidate. Candidates are alerted that the required background check might compromise their privacy. Shortlisted candidates shall promptly provide an up-to-date criminal background check.