Gender & Protection Officer at Plan International

Location: Gwoza LGA, Borno

Role Purpose

• This position is responsible for mainstreaming protection issues into project activities in close collaboration with the team in Gwoza.
• 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
Programme development & Quality Management:

In collaboration with the Field Team and sector Specialist, the Gender and Child Protection Officer will:

• To ensure that target women and children with protection concern accessing GFD + BSFP 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.

Technical Skills:

• Provide technical leadership to project team in accordance with best practice and Plan policies, including its gender-sensitive and child-centred 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 Coordinator and CPiE Specialist 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

Staff Supervision & Development:

• Ensure training, support and ongoing capacity building opportunities for project staff
• Ensure that all Plan policies are upheld, as well as international Minimum Standards for Protection and WFP Guidelines.

Grant Planning & Implementation:

• Produce weekly and monthly data and regular narrative reports for different stakeholders and information to feed into donor narrative report.
• Supports implementation and ensure adherence to monitoring and evaluation plans.

Monitoring & Reporting:

• Initiate regular, participatory assessments/feedback surveys with client communities.
• Provide inputs into and consolidate weekly, monthly and quarterly progress reports on the protection activities; Submit reports for all field activities, trainings and meetings.
• Maintain effective and efficient oversight, quality control and reporting systems and processes that ensure regular field monitoring and modifications as required.
• Contribute to high-quality Plan International and donor reports on activities, indicators and achievements, as well as best practices and lessons learned.

Coordination & Representation:

• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including UNICEF and WFP cooperating partner agencies.
• Regularly attend WFP and FSSWG level protection sub-working group meetings, or as directed to contribute to coordination of protection responses across agencies.

Program Development:

• Contribute to the development of the protection mainstreaming in Food Security, Early Recovery and Livelihood support services.
• Contribute to proposal development activities (narrative and budget) through planning and program design with relevant field-based staff and ensure technical standards are taken into consideration

Community Services:

• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of field teams; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to Plan International management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for Plan programs.

Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge
Qualifications and Experience:

• University degree or equivalent in Law, Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Human Rights or related degree desired
• At least 1- year post- NYSC work 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

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 knowledge of local language strongly desired.