Protection & Mainstreaming Officer at Sahei Gender Development Initiative

Location: Northwest, Sokoto, Katsina

Dration: 9 months with possible extension

• Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Protection and Mainstreaming Officer will be responsible for integrating protection principles into all sectors of SGDI’s programming.
• This role ensures that interventions are designed and implemented in a way that upholds dignity, safety, and rights of the affected populations while minimizing risks of harm and maximizing the engagement of vulnerable groups, including persons with disability.
• S/he will be responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring protection and community outreach activities, in compliance with work plans, donor regulations and SGDI policies.
• S/he will play a key role in increasing community knowledge and access to services while strengthening SGDI’s knowledge and acceptance within the community

Responsibilities

• Identify and support women and girl survivors of sexual violence through safe, confidential, and survivor-centered approaches.

• Conduct initial assessments, develop case plans, and follow up with cases requiring multisectoral support.
• Provide direct referrals to health, psychosocial, legal, and shelter services as needed.
• Coordinate with service providers to ensure timely and appropriate assistance is delivered.
• Work closely with community leaders, women’s groups, and youth representatives to raise awareness on SGBV, rights of survivors, and available support services.
• Facilitate safe space activities for women and girls to promote resilience and social cohesion.
• Promote community-led protection mechanisms and monitor potential protection risks.
• Conduct capacity-building and training to field staffs on thematic of protection (including CP, GBV, protection mainstreaming, confidentiality of protection data)
• Conduct training sessions and workshops for WASH, Nutrition and GBV staff on protection mainstreaming, social cohesion and the importance of incorporating protection principles into their daily work.
• Support the development of training materials and tools to support protection mainstreaming in the field
• Support effective community engagement and community input into program activities and design through close contact and structured activities
• Participate in community events and meetings, and lead the organization of awareness sessions and workshops
• Ensure the identification, internal/external referrals and follow-up of protection cases and urgent cases to the Health, FSL and Nutrition team
• Collaborate with program teams to identify and address potential protection risks associated with project activities.
• Develop appropriate key messages and IEC materials and ensure that they are disseminated among the community
• Develop and implement strategies to promote inclusivity and accessibility of services for marginalized groups, including women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
• Ensure protection is mainstreamed in all SGDI Programs at the field and protection cases and concerns are timely referred and addressed
• Report immediately any difficulty or delay faced in the implementation of activities to the Program manager

Team Management:

• Supervise Field staff under the protection team and ensure the timely implementation of their activities
• Coordinate the work of Field staff: work plans, progress toward targets, and frequency of submitting collected data
• Ensure that field staffs have the necessary information on the referral system and provided services and properly understand the activities to be implemented in the framework of the project
• Routine field visits to monitor field staff activities
• Continuously collect feedback from field workers and ensure the communication to the Project Manager

Logistic & Administration:

• Report to the line manager the needs in materials and tools required to conduct trainings and outreach activities
• Participate in the organization on training sessions: venue, attendees and support materials Ensure a proper utilization of the tablets and make sure all of it are daily charged and fully operational

Reporting & Data collection:

• Collect, analyze, store in a database and report information received from field workers (households surveys, FGDs, awareness sessions…)
• Collect, and analyze data related to protection mainstreaming to inform program adjustments and improvements
• Collect and analyze identified protection cases and referrals
• Document and report training sessions and feedback from participants
• Work with the M&E Officer to develop indicators and tools for monitoring protection outcomes within health, livelihood and nutrition programs

Internal and external representation:

• Build and maintain relationships with external partners, community leaders (especially Bulamas), community committees and other stakeholders
• Represent SGDI at anytime and anywhere when s/he is in duty
• Ensure coordination with SGDI Staff and stakeholders concerning community intervention activities

Priorities of the Department:

• Strengthen the community outreach network in the assigned catchment area supported by SGDI interventions
• Ensure a continuous grasp on the population needs and vulnerabilities and strengthen  reactivity responding to emerging humanitarian needs
• Support SGDI integrated approach through protection trainings for other departments
• Strengthen referral mechanisms internally and externally
• The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are non-exhaustive and can evolve depending on the project’s needs.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Candidates should possess a minimum Degree in Psychology, Health, Gender Studies, Law, or related field (Bachelor’s degree preferred).
• At least 4 years of experience in protection, case management, or community-based work, especially with survivors of GBV.
• Knowledge of national and international GBV protection standards and guidelines (e.g., IASC GBV Guidelines).
• Fluency in Kanuri and Hausa an advantage
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with sensitivity to cultural and conflict dynamics.
• Previous experience working in humanitarian settings or insecure environments.
• Familiarity with the context of Borno State and ongoing protection challenges in the Northeast.

General Requirements for All Candidates:

• Strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment.
• Team player with excellent communication and management skills.
• Fluency in English, both written and oral including local language (Kanuri) an added advantage