Gender and Protection Assistant at Plan International

Role Purpose

• This position is responsible for mainstreaming protection issues into project activities in close collaboration with livelihood and GFD team in Pulka.
• The post holder will support the implementation of the community mobilization and assets creation and maintenance as well food distribution activities in the community in accordance with Plan International’s Protection activities in Emergencies response in North East Nigeria.

Dimension of Role

• Communicates with the project coordinator, with Plan International and with WFP Cooperating Partner Agencies.
• The post holder will support project team to mainstream inter-agency guidelines and the minimum standards for gender and child protection in humanitarian actions.  
• The post holder will interface and support project team members to coordinate protection issues and concern during field level activities.
• The role requires strong facilitation and organisational skills along with the ability to analyse and communicate complex information to all staff, partners and other stakeholders.

Key Roles/Responsibilities
In collaboration with the Field Team and sector Specialist, the Gender and protection assistant will:

• To ensure that target women and children with protection concern accessing livelihood services are identified and receive support by ensuring standard tools and procedures are in place and adhered to by team members to protect them from being harmed.
• To mainstream, manage, provide training and technical support to, and build the capacity of the full project team.
• To coordinate with other child protection agencies at the facilities to ensure that protection issues are addressed regularly and on time.
• Responsible for mainstreaming protection in all activities
• Regularly check out for gender inclusion status of the project and advise the coordinator on measures to take.
• Perform gender assessment in collaboration with country office gender and inclusion manager.

Qualifications and Experience

• Ordinary National Diploma, higher degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Art, Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Human Rights or related degree desired
• At least 1- year post- graduation experience in implementing Protection programs, preferable social work or legal assistance, in humanitarian or development settings
• Prior experience providing services to children and women at risk and victims of abuse, exploitation and violence, providing gender-sensitive and child-friendly counselling services, and/or developing/implementing referral pathways.
• Previous experience working with a team in a cross-cultural setting.

Technical skills:

• Provide technical leadership to project team in accordance with best practice and Plan policies, including its gender sensitive and child-centered community-based approach.
• Ensure that referral information management systems are in place for appropriate identification, responses and follow-up for PLW and Children at risk of violence, abuse exploitation and neglect at service delivery access points.
• Ensure regular communication with Project Manager and Gender and Protection officer to integrate appropriate child protection in emergencies priorities in project service delivery.
• Collaborate with other project staff to ensure referrals to other services such as psychosocial support, Mental health and education/livelihoods interventions.

Skills & Knowledge:

• Demonstrated understanding of the skills necessary to work with PLW and children.
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems, think and plan strategically, and communicate with key actors in a dynamic and unpredictable operating environment.
• Excellent community mobilization skills.
• Strong skills in monitoring, evaluation, research and conducting participatory, community-led assessments.
• Knowledge of Sphere and established international child protection/GBV standards, methodology and tools.
• Knowledge of community mobilization and facilitation techniques.
• Computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Ability and willingness to work in a participatory manner with a diverse range of client communities.
• Personal qualities: Team player, clear communicator, flexible, network-builder, able to handle pressure well under minimal supervision, and a commitment to child rights and gender equality.
• Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and Hausa languages; and knowledge of other local language strongly desired.