Protection Officer at International Medical Corps

Location: Maiduguri, Borno

Job Summary

• The selected candidate will work as part of the core team to ensure that gender and protection issues of beneficiaries are identified and addressed at all stages while implementing the General Food Distribution to IDPs and host communities, Blanket Supplementary Feeding Program (BSFP) for vulnerable children and Pregnant and Lactating women and Cash Based Transfers to vulnerable beneficiaries within the areas covered by IMC in Borno State.

Responsibilities
Implementation of Programs Activities:

• Ensure the delivery of protection activities in all GFD, BSFP and CBT sites covered by IMC within Borno State
• Undertake regular field visits with the GFD/ BSFP/ CBT teams to identify and address, along with the sectorial teams, potential protection concerns arising from IMC humanitarian response.
• Prepare for and organize community consultations and community-based orientation sessions, in coordination with IMC team(s) and other partners
• Participates in developing and updating the mapping of services for threats and abuses (including GBV) that IDPs and Host Community members face in IMC operation areas.
• Lead and supervise assessment teams during thematic surveys, needs assessment and data collection for protection-related research
• With the support of the Program Manager, follow-up with humanitarian actors about requests and invitations for community sessions
• Monitor protection issues affecting IDPs and host population in IMC areas of operation
• Support the Program Manager and Team Leaders to strategize, plan for and ensure appropriate integration and mainstreaming of protection through all program activities and the various stages in a distribution site.
• With the support of the Program Manager, develop and update relevant Information, Education and Communication tools (leaflets, brochures, posters etc.) that can be used during beneficiaries’ sensitization sessions.
• Support the Program Manager in developing safe programming and conflict-sensitive approaches to the humanitarian response
• In collaboration with the Program Manager, ensure program staff are fully trained on existing referral systems and relevant SOPs
• Sensitize beneficiaries on available feedback mechanisms and maintain an open line of communication with them to obtain feedback and complaints with regards to protection issues and ensure corrective actions are taken and monitored
• Ensure most vulnerable people are identified and prioritized during program activities
• Disseminate protection related findings from PDMs and ensure the recommendations are implemented effectively
• Work with the Security Manager to ensure effective crowd control and safety of beneficiaries and staff

Coordination:

• Develop lines of communication and close collaboration with the other protection implementing stakeholders and contribute to a coordinated humanitarian response
• Liaise with logistics and procurement to ensure protection activities have the required resources in good time. Complete and keep records of the necessary paperwork
• Attend external meetings in coordination with Program Manager
• Coordinate field activities with other IMC teams
• Attend internal protection related meetings

Reporting:

• Produce gender and protection updates that will be included in field visit reports
• Organize and prepare regular protection analysis reports
• Contribute in biweekly/monthly reports, donor reports and proposals.
• Prepare weekly and monthly plans and facilitation of community awareness sessions on basic and specialist protection services using approaches that promote gender equality
• Support and coordinate with M&E Officers and data clerks for surveys, post-distribution and other monitoring activities.
• Support country teams to ensure M&EL processes engendered protection and ensure learning of protection issues are captured.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:

• Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within International Medical Corps and amongst beneficiaries served by International Medical Corps.

Any other duties that may be assigned from time by supervisors.

Compliance & Ethics:

• Promotes and encourages a culture of compliance and ethics throughout International Medical Corps. As applicable to the position, maintains a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards
• Conducts work with the highest level of integrity.

Qualifications and Experience

• University Degree in a relevant discipline (Law, Political Science, Social Science, Psychology or any other relevant education profile), or comparable addition to the experience
• Previous experience in protection within a humanitarian response and providing counseling services that are gender-sensitive and child-friendly.
• Previous experience with GFD, BSFP and Cash Programming for Protection
• Experience in working in Borno State
• Demonstrate experience (minimum 2 years) in working with communities in humanitarian or development contexts.
• Capacity and willingness to regularly travel to the field locations where IMC operates
• Very good interpersonal skills, particularly in networking, working with communities, local civil society and local authorities.
• Previous experience in using and adapting community-led approaches.
• Good understanding and knowledge in application of do no harm, conflict sensitivity principles and IMC standards and ethics for protection work.
• Good understanding of protection concerns, including GBV issues in displacement, human rights, and international humanitarian law
• Proven analytical skills
• Understanding of monitoring processes, learning, adaptation and evaluation
• Good levels of spoken and written English.
• Understanding of local dialects - Hausa and Kanuri
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and action and to IMC’s equal opportunity and gender policies
• Excellent computer knowledge and skills of using Microsoft word, powerpoint and excel
• Females are strongly encouraged to apply