Protection Manager

POSITION TITLE: Protection Manager

DATE: February, 2023

COUNTRY PROGRAM: Sudan, East Sudan

GRADE: C

RESPONSIBLE TO: Senior Protection and Information Management Manager

STATUS (Full time, Part-time, Temporary): Full time

Exempt Non-Exempt

Positions: 3 Positions

SUPERVISORY CAPACITY: Protection Officers, Protection Assistants, PSS officers

Department/ Country Program Description / Mission Department

ALIGHT (formerly the American Refugee Committee (ALIGHT)) Sudan Program began in 2004 in response to the emergency needs of some 500,000-war affected IDPs and host populations in the Tulus and Gereida corridors in southern Darfur. The program has expanded to East Darfur and recently has also expanded to East Sudan (Kassala and Gedaref).

With technical and operational backstopping support from the Country Office in Khartoum, the field offices in Nyala, Ed Daein, Kassala, and Gedaref along with sub-offices in Gereida and Adila, ALIGHT staff support the delivery of primary health care services in 30 health facilities in addition to reaching out with mobile clinic services to 6 remote communities. Water provision and sanitation services, including the construction/rehabilitation of boreholes, water yards, household, and institutional latrines, and hygiene promotion messages, are also delivered in over 70 conflict-affected communities. A gradually growing component of food security and livelihoods and protection targeting South Sudanese, Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees, resettling IDPs and hosting populations with agricultural seeds, tools, extension, and protection services including training and supporting of employable skills to these marginalized communities.

With an annual budget of over $20m, the Sudan Program has 700+ staff, most of them national staff and volunteers and seconded from the line Ministries of the Sudan government spread over various localities in Gedaref, Kassala, East and South Darfur including the national office in Khartoum.

Primary Purpose of Position

ALIGHT Currently runs sixteen projects funded by UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, SHF, UNDP, IOM, BHA and UNFPA with a focus on health and nutrition, WASH, FSL and Protection. These projects are implemented in Kassala, Gedaref, South and East Darfur states with possibility of ALIGHT to expand its implementation areas to other states.

ALIGHT’s Protection Manager will contribute to the refugee protection program in Gedaref State, East Sudan, Sudan. In this capacity, the Protection Manager will be responsible for day-to-day supervision and oversight of the Protection teams and various protection activities, budget management, administration, coordination and implementation of the requirements of the programs at field level. He/ she will spend over 80% of time in the field supporting protection interventions of Community Based Protection, Gender Based Violence, Child Protection and General protection. The Protection Manager will work closely with the Senior Protection and Information Management Manager, Program Manager, Area Manager, UNHCR, Commissioner of Refugees (COR), Line Ministries at State level, and the other Humanitarian Actors in the Refugee Camps/ Settlements as well as Community Based Structures including Refugee Leadership structures and beneficiaries.

This position will be based in Gedaref State, with regular movements in the field to support the protection team and oversee the protection programming. This position will report to the Senior Protection and Information Management Manager.

Major areas of roles and responsibilities:

Project Planning, Management, Implementation & Reporting:

• Create and execute a work plan, spending plan and related systems to ensure that project deadlines are met and targets achieved.
• Supervise, mentor and coach the Protection team to conduct participatory assessments and/or community consultations focused on protection concerns and the identification of Persons with Special Needs (PSNs) among the refugee caseload.
• Supervise, mentor and coach the Protection team to deliver awareness-raising activities for the refugee population on protection related topics, such as refugee rights and responsibilities, child protection, GBV/ SGBV, PSEA, referral pathways, Community Based Complaints Mechanisms, FRRM, Protection Information management, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Engaging Men in Accountable Practices (EMAP) etc.
• Assist the Protection team with establishing an effective referral system with service providers to ensure the affected population access tailored and appropriate services. Protection case follow ups and tracking will be essentially important in the strengthening the referral system.
• Oversee activities at various protection facilities such as protection desks, women and girls’ friendly spaces, Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) and ensure appropriate data management at these facilities. Coordinate with the MEAL team to conduct Client Satisfaction surveys and Mystery client surveys to assess the suitability of protection services at facility and community levels. information centers.
• Compile protection assessment reports on the protection concerns and priorities of the refugee population collected during the protection monitoring activities and submit to your Line Supervisor. Additionally, ensure that monitoring visits respect principles of confidentiality and that all incidents reported to ALIGHT are handled with due regard to protection principles.
• Mentor and build the capacity of protection teams on Gender Based Violence, PSEA, Child Protection, MHPSS and on all aspects or programming including technical knowledge, project cycle management, budgeting and budget management, team management, coordination, and reporting.
• Ensure project reports are written and submitted in a timely manner as finalized per set schedules (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually) and indicators and achievements are followed-up and reported upon, according to the work plan.
• Provide monthly protection trend analysis for protection interventions especially for CBP, CP and GBV in close coordination with your Line Supervisor. These reports to include, protection desk complaints, referrals and case tracking, GBV incident recordings using the GBVIMS, Child Protection tracking of cases using the CPIMS and ProGresV4 system.
• Prepare program work plans that meet the program objectives and prepare appropriate operational guidelines for project staff.
• Ensure project activities are implemented within the assigned budget parameters, in consultation with the Finance Team and the Sub sector leads.
• Participate in strategic meetings for proposal development, and provide input from field- lessons etc. in establishment/update of overall protection strategy.
• Ensure through direct action and advocacy with more senior protection staff that the necessary resources are allocated to enable protection activities to identify and address protection and assistance gaps.
• Maintain protection presence through regular field visits and reports, making direct contact with persons of concern, host communities, local authorities and partners. In operations applying the humanitarian cluster system, contribute to ensuring that the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in an AGD framework which covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.
• Contribute to the Protection team’s information management component which: provide disaggregated data on populations of concern and their concerns, collect and disseminate relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery and provide technical advice if necessary.
• Ensure participatory, community-based protection and AGD approaches are included in, strategies and plans in the country operation.
• Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of programs ensuring that identified protection needs, including an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) are adequately addressed.
• Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocutors; ensure legal assistance is accessible to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documents to persons of concern (civil documentation, in particular birth certificates).
• Monitor, and assist with the intervention in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with Government, UNHCR and other partners.
• Assist in the coordinated implementation and oversight of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
• Support a consultative process with Government counterparts at local levels, partners and persons of concern to develop and implement integrated strategies that address the key protection priorities, including, for example, Child Protection, SEA, SGBV, and solutions approaches.
• Contribute to the development of proposals, budgets and concept notes in coordination with the Senior Protection and Information Management Manager, Program Manager, Area Manager, Grants team and Country Level Technical Team.
• Contribute to the development of the Protection Strategy for the Sudan Protection Program.
• On a monthly basis, update the Program trackers including Indicator Tracking Sheet, Activity and Budget Trackers and share with the Senior Protection and Information Manager.
• Develop and implement a context-appropriate, scalable community-based protection approach to foster self-protection capacities and engagement of conflict affected populations in host and refugee camps/settlements.
• Lead site level monthly protection staff review meetings to track the performance of the programs, follow up on agreed corrective actions.
• Provide skill-based supervision to Protection Case Management team, managing complex protection cases, file creation, interviewing/assessments, note taking, needs assessments, PSS reviews, managing sensitive cases, referring and following up on cases. Mentor and coach the protection team on case management tools and resources.
• Support the Information Management Officers, MEAL department, and protection teams in the management and analysis of information and data management, and in the generation of timely reports.

Representation & Coordination.

• Actively participate in coordination initiatives with UNHCR, COR, Humanitarian partners and represent ALIGHT on the forums, such as Camp Coordination, Camp Management meetings, Protection related working group meetings, Protection, Child Protection, GBV, PSEA, MHPSS, Mixed Migration etc. and other adhoc meetings as may be deemed necessary. Coordinate with partners and beneficiaries and ensure meaningful participation hence promoting Accountability for Affected Population.
• Liaise with UNHCR and other partners, particularly through the protection cluster/working group/coordination mechanism, to share findings and any issues of relevance and/or concern related to the refugee and asylum caseload. Additionally, share updates with the Senior Protection and Information Manager for meetings at the State and Federal/National levels.
• Actively participate in other working group meetings and related activities with other partners to strengthen the element of Protection Mainstreaming.
• Develop and maintain effective coordination and long-term relationships with UNHCR and other external stakeholders, representing ALIGHT’s positions, promoting long-term strategy and resolving problems/conflicts.

Staff Supervision & Capacity Development.

• Provide leadership, guidance, and support to the protection team through regular supervision and feedback on performance.
• Technically supervise all sub sector and provide quality oversight to and mentoring of the protection teams in the field, with a strong focus on building the capacity of staff to take on management responsibilities.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback.
• In-coordination with HR department, ensure Performance Management System documentation for all staffs is in place and followed up regularly.
• Build the capacity of the Protection team to improve their range of capabilities related to the protection program and its activities.
• On request, support the HR Department on the recruitment of national protection staffs and staff orientation.

Logistics/Finance.

• Actively plan and coordinate logistics and movements from and to different operational areas, including in coordination with other protection teams to ensure resource efficiency.
• Take the lead in supporting the coordination of program activities as they relate to logistics, administration, finances, or security, in coordination with the relevant departments.
• Understand and support the protection staff to comply with the relevant internal policies and directives.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.

• Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of the Protection team.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable protection program results.
• As well as any other duties as may be assigned by the Senior Protection and Information Manager, relevant to the achievement of Protection objectives.

Accountability

Guided by the ALIGHT Staff Handbook and FCRM policy, continuously monitor and support accountability initiatives within the protection sector as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of activities.

• Stay updated with the changing security and political situations which may have impact on the programming, adapting project plans and strategy as required and preparing project contingency strategies

ALIGHT competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships.
• Demonstrates self-awareness, Organizational awareness, and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others and manage performance
• Accountability
• Judgement & decision making
• Political awareness.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Law, Human Rights or International Affairs, Psychology, Social Work.
• Minimum of four years of professional experience in protection programming in a refugee camp setting.
• Minimum of three years of overseas professional experience in program implementation.
  Previous working experience with an International Organization is an asset.
• Strong understanding of protection principles and likely protection concerns arising in the Sudan context as well as conflict sensitivity.
• Solid experience in staff management in a cross-cultural environment required.
• Demonstrated training and facilitation experience.
• Experience in complex emergencies and the ability to live and work in a very remote environment.
• Demonstrated capacity to effectively represent a humanitarian organization with communities and stakeholders.
• Understanding and experience working with other protection components, particularly Community-based protection, Child Protection and Gender Based Violence.
• Good knowledge of International Humanitarian best practices, including IASC GBV Guidelines, SPHERE Standards, UNHCR Protection Handbook recommendations, and other relevant foundational documentation.
• Ability to work under pressure and without daily supervision.
• Demonstrated analytical skills and report writing experience required.
• Strong Interpersonal, Intercultural and Communication skills.
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills.
• Fluency in English with basic Arabic Language skill.

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