Protection from Violence (PfV) Officer at Future Resilience and Development Foundation (FRAD)

Purpose of the Position

• The Protection from Violence Officer will support the implementation of community-based protection activities aimed at preventing violence, mitigating protection risks, and strengthening community resilience.
• Working under the supervision of the Project Manager, the officer will conduct protection monitoring, community sensitization, case identification and referrals, and engagement with community structures and service providers.
• The role is designed to ensure that individuals at risk of violence can safely access protection services and referral pathways while promoting protection principles, safeguarding standards, and survivor-centered approaches.

Key Responsibilities

Protection Service Delivery & Field Implementation

• Support the implementation of community-based protection activities aimed at preventing violence and reducing protection risks in target communities.
• Conduct regular protection monitoring and risk assessments to identify protection concerns affecting vulnerable groups.
• Identify individuals at risk of violence and facilitate safe and confidential referrals to appropriate service providers.
• Support community awareness sessions on protection risks, prevention of violence, and available protection services.
• Promote survivor-centred approaches, confidentiality, and respect for beneficiaries in all protection interventions.
• Support safe identification of vulnerable individuals, including women, children, persons with disabilities, and survivors of violence.

Case Identification, Referral & Protection Monitoring

• Identify and document protection cases and incidents of violence affecting individuals and communities.
• Facilitate referrals to specialized services, including GBV services, child protection services, health facilities, psychosocial support, and legal aid.
• Support follow-up of referred cases in coordination with relevant protection actors where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of protection cases, referrals, and follow-ups using FRAD-approved tools.
• Monitor emerging protection trends and risks and report them to supervisors for timely response.

Community Engagement & Protection Structures

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with community leaders, traditional authorities, women’s groups, youth groups, and community-based protection structures.
• Support the formation or strengthening of community-based protection committees where applicable.
• Facilitate community dialogues and engagement activities aimed at promoting protection awareness and violence prevention.
• Work closely with community members to identify protection risks and develop community-driven solutions.
• Promote the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in community protection mechanisms.

Awareness, Capacity Building & Inclusion

• Conduct community sensitization sessions on topics such as:
• Prevention of violence and protection risks
• Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response
• Child protection and safeguarding
• Available protection services and referral pathways
• Rights and protection of vulnerable populations
• Support training and orientation sessions for community volunteers and protection committees.
• Assist in distributing and explaining protection awareness materials to community members.
• Ensure inclusive participation of women, children, youth, and persons with disabilities in protection activities.

Reporting, Documentation & Coordination

• Maintain accurate documentation of protection monitoring findings, community engagement activities, and referrals.
• Contribute to weekly and monthly protection reports by providing timely and accurate field updates.
• Share relevant protection trends and observations with the Protection Manager to support evidence-based programming.
• Participate in internal coordination meetings and relevant protection sector engagements when assigned.
• Support the MEAL team during assessments, monitoring visits, and data collection activities.

Operational & Logistical Support

• Support planning and coordination of field missions and community protection activities.
• Ensure proper documentation of attendance sheets, activity reports, and monitoring tools.
• Assist in basic logistical arrangements for protection activities and community sessions.
• Adhere strictly to FRAD safeguarding, accountability, protection mainstreaming, and humanitarian principles.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Diploma or bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Social Sciences, Human Rights, Law, Development Studies, or related field.
• At least 2–3 years’ experience in protection programming or community-based humanitarian work.
• Experience working in conflict-affected or humanitarian contexts, preferably in Northeast Nigeria.
• Good understanding of protection principles, GBV prevention, child protection, and community-based protection approaches.
• Experience in community mobilization, awareness raising, and protection monitoring.
• Strong documentation and reporting skills.
• Proficiency in English; knowledge of Hausa and/or Kanuri is a strong advantage.
• Willingness to work in remote and hard-to-reach communities.

Desirable

• Experience implementing Protection from Violence (PfV) or Community-Based Protection (CBP) programmes.
• Familiarity with humanitarian coordination structures and referral pathways in Borno or Zamfara States.
• Experience working on donor-funded projects (NHF, UN agencies, INGOs).
• Knowledge of safeguarding, accountability to affected populations (AAP), and protection mainstreaming principles.

Key Competencies

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong sense of ethics and respect for confidentiality
• Community engagement and culturally sensitive approaches
• Basic problem-solving and organizational skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Commitment to FRAD Foundation’s values, safeguarding, and accountability standards