Protection/Inclusion Coordinator

Consultancy with frequent travels (likely 60% to Kharkiv, Donetsk and Vinnitsya regions)

Organization: Solidar Suisse

Background

Since 24 February 2022, Ukraine has been under attack by Russia causing an immense humanitarian crisis and significant global tensions. To respond to the humanitarian needs, Solidar Suisse partnered with the Ukrainian organisations Luhansk Association of People with Disabilities and VIS (Vinnytsia oblast) to provide humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people (IDP) and persons with disabilities, among them the most vulnerable. The project covers Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, shelter reconstruction, winterization top-up as well as Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA).

In November 2023 Solidar Suisse launches a new project “Pathways to Inclusion” with specific emphasis on addressing the needs of IDPs, returnees, non-displaced people and persons with disabilities in Kharkiv, Donetsk and Vinnitsya regions. The project will aid the most vulnerable households in the form of MHPSS, GBV case management, multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA), winterization top-up, cash for shelter renovation and legal aid.

Role overall scope:

The Protection/Inclusion Coordinator will be responsible for the development and implementation of protection monitoring, Individual Protection Assistance, case management, referral, PSS, legal services, community-based protection programming, information dissemination, emergency protection assistance, protection and inclusion mainstreaming in sector specific programming (Cash, Shelter reconstruction, MHPSS, GBV and legal aid).

The postholder will be responsible for supporting partners to identify protection and inclusion needs, developing the implementation plan, developing and delivering capacity building plan, establishing services in the targeted locations. The incumbent will oversee the quality of protection data and analysis and production of the reports. The postholder will also be responsible for coordination with key internal and external protection partners, protection cluster leads, local athorities and other stakeholders.

Under the supervision of the Response Representative, the Protection/Inclusion Coordinator will provide ensure quality service provision, integration of needs by target groups, in particular persons with disabilities, capacity building, proposal development (as required), and reporting to key donor and clusters.

Ideal candidate comes with experience in protection programming in hostile/complex areas, quick to learn, adapt and can show agility in a fast-moving context. We encourage candidates with experience in emergency set-up to apply, and particularly welcome applications from women candidates.

Role Responsibilities:

Implementation of protection programming

• Conduct protection assessments to identify protection needs and maximize available information and opportunities for program development and coordination.
• Support protection partners in implementation of safe and quality protection services by providing technical guidance and support on protection monitoring, PwD inclusion and shelter renovation accommodating the needs of persons with disabilities, case management, referral, PSS, legal assistance, community-based protection program.
• Ensure that all interventions are in compliance with Solidar Suisse’s protection strategy, core humanitarian and protection standards and national policies.
• Ensure that program is driven by women, girls and most vulnerable people and planned with community stakeholders.
• Lead regular program monitoring and apply learning for continuous improvement of interventions.
• Contribute to regular project reports, on time and with accurate data.
• Organize regular coordination meetings with protection partners to identify the challenges, opportunities and needs related to general protection programming.
• Coordinate with partners, Program Coordinator, MEAL coordinator and provide technical support on program implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all capacity building and protection activities.
• Contribute to concept notes and project proposals, and other strategic documents as needed.
• Support the identification of local partners and Women led and Women Rights organizations to reinforce efforts in providing general protection programs.

Deliver Capacity Building initiatives.

• Conduct capacity building assessments of partners’ staff.
• Assist in developing capacity building plans to strengthen knowledge/understanding of protection concepts.
• Develop the capacity of staff on all protection case management, protection monitoring, protection assessment, PSS, referral pathways etc, via tailored engaging and participatory workshops/ trainings and provide on-going mentoring and coaching post trainings, ensuring program quality.
• Develop, update and contextualize tools, guidelines and supporting documents to provide technical support to Solidar Suisse and partners.
• Coordinate and liaise with Solidar Suisse partners to ensure quality implementation and output in relation to agreed objectives and provide trainings where necessary.
• Coordinate and liaise with referral pathway members to provide trainings on safe referrals and how to best support to the persons who have experienced or exposed to heightened risk of rights violation/GBV.
• Develop and update protection program profiles regularly.
• Submit monthly reports to the Response Representative, capturing all implemented activities and challenges, using the agreed tools, keeping organized and providing full documentation of all activities.

Coordination, Representation and Advocacy

• Support coordination efforts with other service providers to establish and strengthen referral pathways.
• Actively participate in protection cluster and specialized working group meetings.
• Support Solidar Suisse visibility within the relevant coordination forums and working groups.
• Inform, mentor and build the capacity of cross-sector and specific sector program management on protection program integration strategies.
• Support program goals and protection principles, standards, advocating as necessary with relevant leaders, authorities and humanitarian actors.
• Act as focal point and support on all research requests/visits (internal/external).

Lead or mainstream protection/GBV/Inclusion programming

• Ensure the integration of protection issues (GBV, general protection, PwD’s needs) in sectoral needs and assessment, analysis, planning, monitoring and response.
• Support the development and dissemination of beneficiary selection and vulnerability criteria and guidance.
• Develop tools and guidance to support Solidar Suisse and partners to better mainstream protection in sector programming.
• Conduct training, workshops, orientation and provide technical guidance and support in protection mainstreaming in sector programming.
• Coordinate with partners and Solidar staff advocacy/campaigns based on evidence to mainstream protection throughout project cycle.

Reporting Lines/Line Management

The coordinator reports to the Response Representative.

Essential Criteria required:

Qualifications, experience and technical skills

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in social science, Psychology, Human Rights, International Humanitarian law, Social work and other related disciplines
• 3-5 years’ experience with a minimum of 3 years work experience of protection programming in emergency set-up (work experience in East and South part of Ukraine is an advantage)
• Excellent understanding of protection issues in emergency situations and strong knowledge of humanitarian principles, guidelines and laws
• Demonstrated experience in working in protection, clear understanding of gender, GBV, human rights, cash for protection, PSS programming and protection mainstreaming
• Training/facilitation experience required
• Proven experience in case management, PSS, protection monitoring, documentation and analysis of protection data
• Excellent skills in designing, delivering/facilitating, tailored trainings to different stakeholders on protection, GBV and knowledge of training participatory tools and methods
• Excellent representational and interpersonal skills, must be confident to attend and facilitate internal/external meetings, representing protection issues
• Positive and professional attitude, including ability to lead and work well in team setting
• Strong ability to organise work, meet deadlines, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and competing priorities and maintain attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, creativity and flexibility
• Excellent report writing skills
• Strong computer skills on MS word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Fluent communication skills in both verbal and written English and Ukrainian mandatory.
• Experience working with local partners and women rights and women led organizations is an advantage

Core Competencies:

• Commitment to and understanding of Solidar Suisse core values and principles.
• Must adhere to and encourage Solidar Suisse Code of Conduct.
• Strong belief in and commitment to human rights and gender equality.
• Demonstrated competency to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Resilient, flexible and gender sensitive.
• Ability and willingness to travel and stay in the field.
• Ability to manage conflict and reach and build consensus.
• Willingness to live and work in difficult and rapidly changing conditions.
• Constructive and pro-active communication with a wide variety of actors and stakeholders

Gender equality:

Solidar Suisse is committed to gender equality. Solidar Suisse seeks to promote the equal realization of dignity and human rights for girls, women, boys and men. In all Solidar’s projects a conscious effort is made to improve the explicit integration of gender in programmatic and organizational practices.

Languages

• English
• Knowledge of Ukrainian is mandatory.

Personal Requirements

• Confidentiality
• Autonomous
• Organization skills, delegation, and empowerment approach to the partners
• Leadership and interpersonal skills
• Flexibility and agility
• High resilience to stress
• Willingness to travel (60% of the time)