Yemen: Protection Coordinator - Yemen

INTERSOS is an independent non-profit humanitarian organization committed to assist the victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, and respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable and unprotected people.

1. Terms of reference

Job title: Protection Coordinator

Location: Sana’a

Reporting to: Head of Mission

Starting date: 1^st of June 2016

Duration of contract: 6 months

Dependents: No

2. General context of the mission

INTERSOS has been working in Yemen since the beginning of 2008, mainly focusing on protection and livelihood for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants from the horn of Africa and presently also responding to the instability following the internationalized conflict involving a Saoudi Led Coalition in the country providing vital support to IDPs and local communities.

INTERSOS runs 6 offices/bases: Sana’a, Aden/Basateen, Kharaz (Lahj), Mukalla, Al-Turba (Taiz) and Ibb; while working with local partners organization in other governorates.

Since the events of March 2015, which marked the commencement of international armed conflict in Yemen that has resulted in a major humanitarian crisis with mass displacement, 2.5 million IDPs have been reported. Moreover an estimated 250,000 refugees and one million migrants – mostly Somalis and Ethiopians – are currently living in precarious conditions in camps, receptions centers or poverty stricken urban areas across Yemen.

Civilian infrastructure continues to be targeted by parties to the conflict, including hospitals and educational and medical infrastructure. Directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects is a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

The current escalation is unfolding in a situation characterized by long-term vulnerability and food insecurity throughout the country, now aggravating existing vulnerabilities and putting larger parts of the population at risk. National capacity to respond is extremely limited.

Relief efforts on behalf of the international community are ongoing, strained by a lack of access into and within the country due to insecurity and shortages of fuel.

In consideration of the current humanitarian crisis in the country, INTERSOS mains for a continuation of its programme, with high focus on protection programming and mainstreaming, combined with looking into the promotion of community protection mechanisms and community resilience.

3. Tasks and responsibilities

The Protection Coordinator will be responsible to coordinate the implementation of activities related to Social Protection in the areas of activities. S/he is expected to use a participatory approach involving refugees representatives to identify needs, design, implement and facilitate activities which develop a sense of community and strengthen community support systems. Specifically:

· Strengthen the protection capacity of the local and international staff, by guiding, orientating, building up knowledge and skills of the mission team

· Conduct protection performance appraisals of staff, ensuring regular feedback and mentoring on individual performance, develop TORs in collaboration with the HoM

· Monitor and evaluate the implementation and impact of the protection components of INTERSOS projects

· Ensure that different sectorial activities (i.e. Protection and Livelihood) are implemented in a coordinated and integrated manner

· Advice and assist PMs and HoM on strengthening the protection and on assessing assistance needs of IDPs, returnees and refugees in the Country throughout the program implementation

· Maintain ongoing surveillance of the developing humanitarian situation and adjust activities accordingly, with main focus on the Protection Sector, in order to assist the HoM in the identification of new interventions and to secure donor funding for protection projects

· Support the formulation and development of protection strategies and their implementation in accordance with the mandate and priorities of INTERSOS, by gathering data and proceed with analysis of protection trends/concerns

· Establish and maintain constructive working relationships with other NGO’s, UN agencies, host government, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other protection stakeholders

· Participate to Protection technical meetings (i.e. Protection Cluster/SubCluster; GBV SubCluster; MMTF/MMWG), as jointly agreed with HoM and PMs

· Ensure that new assessments (with focus on Protection) are executed and new potential interventions are explored

· Support monitoring and evaluation of protection interventions

· Strengthen and further build up the capacity of local and international staff in specific protection areas

· Maintain regular contact with and contribute to the activities of the Protection Working Group

· Liaise with other regional protection actors (INTERSOS/external), in order to develop a joint understanding of the protection regional dimensions

· Promote the capacity-building of relevant protection actors (among the civil society, government authorities and community leaders) on human rights and rule of law

· Conduct regular visits to project’s targeted areas (security permitting);

· Ensure regular coordination with protection clusters and relevant donors.

4. Required profile/experience

· Education: Master’s Degree in social sciences or related field

· Minimum 3 years relevant working experience in humanitarian project management with INGO, specifically protection projects.

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

· Demonstrated experience in research and research paper/report development.

· Demonstrated experience in staff supervision and remote management.

· 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 displacement and armed conflict.

· Strong experience in working with communities.

· Fully proficient in written and spoken English.

· Arabic language skills will be considered as an asset.

· Excellent ability to establish inter-personal relations and good negotiation skills.

· Good knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and other relevant software.

· Ability to deal with stressful and highly demanding working environment.

Qualified applicants are requested to submit their curriculum vitae, motivation letter and 2 references to:recruitment@intersos.org, specifying in the subject ‘Protection Coord._Yemen’**

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