Afghanistan: Protection Officer – Afghanistan

1.Terms ofReference

Job Title: Protection Officer

Code: SR-28-526

Duty station: Kandahar with regular visits to Kabul

Starting date: 05/11/2018

Contract duration: 9 months

Reporting to: Head of Mission (HoM)

Supervision of: n/a

Dependents: no

2.General context of the project

The program’s general objective is to contribute to a reduced morbidity and mortality associated with malnutrition, diseases and hazards resulting from deficient (or non-existing) health and nutrition services, environmental health conditions and protection environment in conflict-affected communities in Kandahar province – Afghanistan. The program will target 72.241 individuals > 12% men, 48% women, 20% boy and 20% girls > 23% IDP, 4% documented returnees (DR), 12% undocumented returnees (UR) and 61% is most vulnerable local (host) community (HC).

The proposed program aims on the health and nutrition side to address the inadequate coverage and quality of life-saving services (especially for reproductive health and nutrition services) for the most vulnerable communities in Maywand, Spin Boldak and Zheray. The project will also address some of the key determinants of malnutrition and child and maternal mortality through promotion of improved Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices, safe delivery and healthy behaviors. Hygiene/WASH promotion is closely linked to health and nutrition and can further help to decrease mortality rates. Lastly the project will seek to enhance the psycho-social wellbeing and protective environment of the most vulnerable population groups. WASH and protection components will also be implemented in the informal settlements of Kandahar where IDP and (mostly) undocumented vulnerable returnees are concentrated.

Activities include:

· Structural rehabilitation/upgrade of HFs; hire and train (female) dedicated health staff for RH (and/or nutrition services) at HF level (static), run mobile teams to support the outreach capacity of the HFs for provision of RH and nutrition services; identify and train new additional community health workers and supervisors; conduct community awareness sessions on health and nutrition related topics; and secure the OPD nutrition services at HF level by dedicated trained nutrition staff;

· Conduct training in CP, GBV and PSS for different stakeholders, actors and volunteers; conduct awareness sessions for community members on protection related issues; provide individual case management services for individual protection cases (CP, GBV and PwSN ) , and run collective PSS for most vulnerable population groups at community level (CP, GBV and PwSN);

· Run WASH – HP sessions for different target groups;

· Promoting harmonization of programme approaches and methodologies across the different implementation sites by developing and monitoring use of common tools, as well as creating opportunities for experience sharing and learning;

· Providing clear technical support, supervision, training and mentoring to the protection teams, including training needed to build specialized skills in GBV and CP case management, legal assistance, psycho-social support (PSS), protection monitoring and risk mitigation;

· Ensuring that protection staff and services adhere to GBV and CP best practices, professional standards and principles;

· Providing support tools to monitor programme implementation and quality, as well as to collect feedback from beneficiaries;

· Contributing to produce high quality donor reports and other materials as required;

· Participating in proposals design including protection components;

· In coordination with Project Managers and Protection Officers, identifying individual training needs and ensuring access to training and professional development opportunities appropriate to the skill gaps and needs;

· Developing training material for different trainings to share within the protection teams.

3.General purpose of the position

The Protection Officer ensures technical support to the protection programming in the mission with the aim to achieve a maximum quality and delivery of the different components of the INTERSOS protection programme. Furthermore, the protection officer provides technical inputs to the protection strategy and programme development at Mission level.

4.Main responsibilities and tasks

The Protection Officer is expected to carry out the following specific responsibilities:

· Support the Project Managers and Protection Activity Coordinators in the technical aspects of the implementation of project’s activities;

· Provide clear technical support and guidance to the protection staff, including training needed to build specialized skills in protection-related principles and activities, including Protection Monitoring, vulnerability criteria, 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;

· Promote harmonization of protection 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 international protection standards and principles;

· Contribute to monitoring programme quality;

· Undertake regular field visits (if / where possible) to provide technical guidance and supervision, as well as continuously monitor the progress of activities;

· 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:

Program Support

· Revise and develop the protection tools in use in the mission;

· Developing SOPs and guidelines for the implementation of Protection Programming for INTERSOS Mission of Afghanistan;

· Ensure that the work of protection staff is harmonized according to internal SOPs and interagency guidelines;

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

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

· Participate in monitoring missions in the field ;

· Provide technical support to the Protection AC in elaborating monthly reports when needed;

· Ensure the proper storage of sensitive data through a correct use of internal databases and case monitoring tools.

Management and supervision

· Review PAT of Protection components, focusing on target planned VS actual achievements. Identify challenges and sit with the PMs in order to find solution

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

· In coordination and consultation with PM, to complete the recruitment and selection of the protection project national staff.

Capacity Building

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

· Train all relevant protection staff (Social Workers, Lawyers, Psychologists, etc.) in protection topics including: protection and humanitarian principles, GBV and CP basic principles;

· Develop training material for different trainings to share within the protection staff and other partners;

· Develop capacity-building programmes for local actors – if any (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 case management minimum standards are respected in all steps of case management;

· Review complex cases whenever needed and support technical responses;

· Ensure appropriate Information Management Systems are in place;

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

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

· Promote the development of psychosocial Support Activities

· Monitor and evaluate the implementation of psychosocial support activities.

Protection Mainstreaming

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

· Ensure collection of disaggregated data for reporting and analysis purposes.

External Coordination and Representation

· 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 provincial level together with the Protection ACs 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.

5.Required profile and experience

Education

Advanced university degree in social science related fields such as Political Science, International Relations, International Development Cooperation, Sociology, Psychology, Law, Human Rights or similar subjects. A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Professional Experience

· At least 3 years of professional work experience in management/coordination of protection-related activities in humanitarian contexts

· Proven experience in coordination, case management supervision (CP, SGBV and/or PwSN)

· Strong experience in trainings and capacity building and development of local staff and partners in protection related subjects

· Prior experience in working in complex emergency setting, involving internal displacement

· Strong experience with monitoring tools and systems, including remote monitoring

Professional Requirements

· Demonstrated technical expertise of Protection, including Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence, individual case management and Psychosocial Support

· Good/In-depth knowledge and understanding of Humanitarian Principles and Protection frameworks, tools, and minimum standards

· Knowledge of the cluster system

· Experience with main donors compliance and reporting

· Strong representation and negotiation skills

· Proven experience in management and supervision of teams

· Good communication skills, both oral and written, and Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills

· Mastery of IT tools (MS Office package, internet, e-mail, etc.)

· Experience with participatory approaches and working with vulnerable groups, including gender mainstreaming and with persons with disabilities

· Readiness to commit and adhere to the values, mission and vision of INTERSOS

· Previous experience in developing and implementing M&E activities

· Previous experience in working in Afghanistan (desirable)

Languages

· Excellent written and spoken English – Pashto would be asset

Personal Requirements

· Strong organizational and problem-solving skills

· Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with staff, beneficiaries and other stakeholders

· Excellent analytical skills

· Ability to take initiative and work autonomously

· Ability to achieve results effectively, considering the need for speed, scale and quality

· Ability to plan ahead and output oriented (pro-active)

· Able to ensure quick quality delivery in stressful environment (stress-resilient)

· Ability to integrate and work well within multiethnic and multicultural teams

· Attention to detail and structured way of approaching tasks (very organized)

· Ability to adhere to deadlines and respect line management

HOW TO APPLY:

For further information and to apply, follow the link below:

https://www.intersos.org/en/work-with-us/#intersosorg-vacancies/vacancy-details/5ae1f9fa222bae74b4eb3f67/

In case you encounter difficulties applying through INTERSOS' platform, you can also apply by sending your CV, motivation letter and 2 references via email to recruitment@intersos.org , with subject line: "SR-28-526 – Protection Officer – Afghanistan".

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