Protection Technical Advisor

About SEED Foundation: SEED Foundation is a locally-registered NGO in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. SEED’s mission is to protect, empower, and support the recovery of survivors of violence and others at risk. SEED is committed to delivering quality and holistic approaches, combining international expertise and local know-how to achieve results for the people of Iraq and Kurdistan. SEED’s programming focuses on four key objectives: 1) the delivery of transformational, comprehensive MHPSS services including case management, mental health, and legal services, as well as psychosocial support activities; 2) strengthening the capacity of service providers through education, training, and capacity-building programs; 3) ​promoting policy and social change to strengthen the rights of, and protections for, vulnerable groups and individuals; and, 4) supporting the protection and recovery of survivors of trafficking in persons (TIP) including through SEED’s shelter for victims of trafficking and those at risk, after care services, and prevention work to reduce the risk of trafficking through public awareness, technical assistance, and advocacy for legal, regulatory, policy, process, and institutional changes.

Role of the Protection Technical Advisor:

The Protection Technical Advisor will provide leadership, guidance and overall technical expertise for SEED’s Protection, Gender, Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Child Protection (CP) programming and ensure the implementation of effective, evidence based protection and case management services. The Protection Advisor will strengthen SEED’s current MHPSS, GBV and CP case-management by providing training, guidance and supervision to the service delivery team on prevention and response initiatives. The Protection Technical Advisor will provide daily hands-on support to service delivery staff and managers in implementing protection and case management services. The Protection Technical Advisor will ensure the adherence of SEED’s Protection and GBV services to international, national and regional humanitarian standards and ensure protection and gender are mainstreamed across SEED’s programs. The Protection TA will provide structured and ongoing technical support and supervision to the service delivery locations, Protection and Service Delivery Managers, and Service Delivery Coordinators, identifying opportunities for capacity building and training.

The Protection Technical Advisor will report to the President and Executive Director and will work closely with case management and service delivery staff across all programs. The Protection Technical Advisor is required to travel within the KRI on a frequent basis.

Tasks: Strengthen Protection Response, Technical Leadership, and Program Development: (45%)

• Ensure high-quality protection services and case-management service delivery in accordance with SEED’s Standard of Care for survivors of violence with diverse experiences and needs, including TIP clients and LGBTQI+ individuals.
• Ensuring the quality of prevention and empowerment activities at service delivery centers, and survivor-centered GBV specialized response services.
• Ensure services SEED programs adhere to international standards and tools, including upholding IHL, Do No Harm, and MHPSS, Protection, Child Protection, and GBV standards.
• Advise and support the integration of age, gender and diversity approaches into activities, ensuring AGD is mainstreamed across SEED’s programming and develop, supervise and facilitate Protection, Gender, GBV and CP assessments.
• Establish and manage systems of case-management review and technical supervision, working with the PSDMs and SDCs, ensuring that service providers are being supervised on all steps including client intake, needs assessment, care planning, safety planning, ongoing case follow up, and timely closure of cases, and applying all applicable policies and procedures, including documentation.
• Develop and deliver and/or organize Protection, GBV and CP training through SEED Academy and on location, as needed.
• Advise and assist in the development of gender-sensitive training materials, adapt existing training resources to KRI context and support their integration into internal and external training initiatives in the relevant language(s).
• Develop the capacity of staff on strategies/guidelines/protocols/tools to mainstream gender equality and protection (through direct capacity building, referring to learning opportunities, resources sharing, etc.).
• Identify issues of concern and provide recommendations for course correction and build staff capacity on risk and needs’ assessments and ensure that facilities where activities are taking place are gender-sensitive and inclusive/accessible.
• Ensure referral pathways are established and implemented by SDCs and other service providers.
• Ensure rapid gender analyses take place, with particular attention to the situation of women and girls, and use this information to develop gender action plans on various programs, as well as develop other GBV prevention and response strategies.
• Support SEED in promoting gender equality and non-discrimination throughout SEED’s operation through gender-sensitive programming, services and implementation.
• Participate in program design and development and ensure participatory, community-based protection and AGD approaches are included in strategies and plans in the SEED programs and operations.
• Contribute to service delivery staff recruitment, development plans, and performance appraisals.

Technical Supervision, and Capacity Building of Staff (35%)

• Provide hands-on, daily technical support to management and SDCs in providing guidance to case managers in the delivery of MHPSS and protection services.
• Provide supervision on cases, including case conferences, field-based, individual and group, where needed.
• Evaluate service providers competencies and identify capacity building needs and gaps related to Protection, GBV and CP understanding, attitudes, skills and knowledge.
• Ensure that SDCs and service providers are familiar with and applying all SEED policies, standards, and guidances, including Case Management SOPs and CP and GBV specific guidances.
• Based on gaps and needs, develop additional tools, protocols, processes, and policies and implement accordingly to help staff implement high quality case management.

MEAL (10%)

• Ensure protection activities are properly monitored, documented, evaluated, and reported on.
• Audit GBV case management, documentation, and records.
• Support program M&E, including development of tools, to ensure that M&E systems provide adequate feedback on CM and other protection interventions.
• Work with the MEAL team to ensure feedback mechanisms and accountability structures are accessible by the most vulnerable and are appropriate to safeguard sensitive personal data.
• Provide technical support to the MEAL team on monitoring and evaluation of protection activities.
• Contribute to quality reporting.

Coordination and Organizational Representation (10%)

• Represent SEED in cluster and working group meetings, with KRG and with donors.
• Develop strategic partnerships, work closely with partners, and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders.
• Provide training for external audiences, as requested.
• Provide content and input on communications materials including website, promotional materials, and social media, and ensure it complies with SEED’s storytelling policy.

Essential criteria:

• Master’s degree in social work, gender studies or psychology.
• Three years+ experience as a social worker or case manager.
• Two years overseeing Protection Programming in international settings; Iraq experience preferred.
• Strong experience in supervising case management, child protection and oversight to service providers.
• Experience in harmonizing gender and diversity, PSEA and child safeguarding.
• Strong belief in human rights and gender equality.
• Good interpersonal skills including the ability to gain trust and build relationships.
• Good diplomatic and persuasion skills.
• Strong ability to work independently
• Fluent in Arabic and/or Kurdishm, high standard of spoken and written English.
• Good computer skills, experience with Google Drive
• Ability to work in a stressful setting and adapt quickly to changing environments.
• Salary, benefits, and allowances dependent on skills and qualifications.