Iraq: Protection Coordinator – Iraq

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.

1.Terms of reference

Job title: Protection Coordinator

Duty Station: Erbil, with frequent visits to projects sites in KRI and Iraq

Starting date: ASAP

Duration of contract: 6 months

Reporting to: Head of Mission

Supervision of: 5 International Project Managers

Dependents: no

2.General context of the project

INTERSOS had been working in Iraq from 2003 till 2010 with programs aimed at responding to urgent material safety needs and enhancing access to basic social services for vulnerable individuals and communities in Central and Southern Iraq, Baghdad and Kurdistan. Over the years, INTERSOS operations developed encompassing activities in health care, legal protection and assistance, warehousing and distribution of essential goods, mine/UXO clearance, shelter, water and sanitation, psychosocial support and education targeting internally displaced people and voluntary returnees, as well as host communities, with special focus on most vulnerable groups (children, women, elderly and persons with special needs).

Following the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation which is negatively affecting also the neighbouring countries, in November 2013 INTERSOS has resumed the operations in the area to contribute towards ensuring emergency relief and social protection assistance for the Syrian refugees fleeing their home in search of safety. Furthermore, since the surge in violence between armed groups and government forces with fighting spreading into Central and Northern Iraq, in July 2014 INTERSOS has extended its operations in the Kurdistan Region and is currently providing services and activities aimed at assisting both Syrian refugees and Iraqi IDPs in camp and non-camp settings, with interventions mainly concentrated on the Community Services, Protection, Food Security and Education Sectors. INTERSOS is now planning to further contribute towards assisting vulnerable conflict-affected civil population in the whole of Iraq by expanding the on-going activities in terms of geographical target areas and sectors of expertise to properly respond to unmet needs and detected gaps. Moreover, INTERSOS is directly engaged in the ongoing Mosul Humanitarian operation, specifically in Ninewa and Salah al-Din Governorates, concentrating its interventions in protection, health and EiE activities.

3.Tasks and responsibilities

· Support the Protection Project Managers in the technical aspects of the implementation of project’s activities

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

· Provide technical support and guidance in the implementation of Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) activities, including specific training on principles and concepts related to Child Protection and GBV

· Mainstream protection concepts and principles in all programs, contribute to project planning and reporting documents

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

· 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

· Ensure that protection staff and services adhere to case management best practices, as well as international protection standards and principles

· Undertake regular field visits to provide technical guidance and supervision, and contribute to monitoring programme implementation and quality

· Contribute to the production of high quality donor reports and other materials as required

· Support the development of new project/programme proposals through technical inputs to and feedback about the project/programme methodology.

Specifically:

· Revise and develop the protection tools in use in the mission, and consolidate internal and external functional and effective referral and coordination mechanisms

· Develop SOPs and guidelines for the implementation of Protection Programming for INTERSOS Mission of Iraq and ensure that the work of protection staff is harmonized according to them

· Revise tools and topics for FGDs (Focus Group Discussions) and material for awareness, information and/or sensitization sessions in coordination with Protection Officers and Project Manager

· Organize meetings with the protection Staff (PMs and Protection Officers) on a regular basis, in order to discuss priorities for the next period, challenges, protection trends, sharing information, experiences and suggestions between programs

· Contribute to the INTERSOS Protection Strategy for 2018.

Management and supervision

· Review work plans of POs and define priorities (together with Project Manager), review PAT of Protection Project Managers, focusing on target planned VS actual achievements

· Upon completion by the Project Managers, review and provide feedback on IRP for Protection and Senior Protection Officers

Capacity Building

· In coordination with the Project Managers and Protection Officers, identify individual training needs and ensure access to professional development opportunities and resources appropriate to their skill gaps/needs

· Train all relevant protection staff (Case Managers, Case Workers, , Community Mobilizers, Protection Monitors, Community Service Associates and Protection Officers) in protection topics including: protection and humanitarian principles, GBV and CP basic principles, case management for PWSNs and PSS

· Develop capacity-building programmes for local actors (including partner NGOs and relevant local service providers) on GBV and CP basic principles, case management and data protection

Case Management Monitoring

· Develop internal SOPs on case management and ensure they are applied in the field, updating/ revising them based on the needs

· Ensure that case management minimum standards are respected in all steps of case management and that appropriate Information Management Systems are in place;

· Realize case audits (in collaboration with the Protection Officers) to evaluate the quality of services provision

· Coordinate with other relevant actors within the case management support to ensure comprehensive assistance

· Encourage local coping mechanisms and community self-reliant processes

· Develop periodic General Protection, GBV and CP trend analysis

· Monitor and evaluate the implementation of psychosocial support activities

· Support the development and ensure the roll out of internal PSS toolkits

· Attend PSS TF meetings to ensure common approaches

Protection Mainstreaming

· Ensure GBV and CP mainstreaming in each new project or programme proposal;

· Establish and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders including donors, partners, government actors and other relevant actors, international or national, humanitarian or institutional

· Represent INTERSOS in main Protection, GBV and CPiE coordination fora (including related strategic advisory groups and task forces) at national and governorate level together with the Protection Project Managers ensuring INTERSOS is represented in all coordination meetings

· Ensure key protection field concerns are brought to relevant stakeholders

· Brief relevant staff on the discussions held during the Working Group and Cluster meetings

4.Required profile/experience

· University degree in Social Science or related fields such as Sociology, Psychology, International Development Cooperation, Humanitarian Studies

· At least 3 years' of professional experience in the protection sector within humanitarian programs

· At least 1 year experience in conflict contexts

· Previous experience in the Middle East, in particular in Iraq, is an asset

· Good knowledge of Protection international standards, GBV/Child Protection prevention and response strategies, Psychosocial and psychotherapy techniques

· Experience working with IDPs and refugees in camp and non-camp settings

· Experience working with GBVs and vulnerable children in conflict contexts

· Good experience in Capacity Building and in conducting trainings for different humanitarian actors

· Computer literacy

· Proficient knowledge of English. Ability to effectively communicate in Arabic is an asset

· Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with analytic approach

· Strong communication, observation and listening skills

· Ability to deal with authorities and donors and to work well within multi-ethnic and multicultural teams

· Ability to work in austere and hostile environments and to share accommodation when required

· Holder of a driving license (desirable)

Qualified applicants are requested to submit their CV, motivation letter and 2 references to recruitment@intersos.org with subject line: "Protection Coordinator - Iraq”.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.