Protection Officer at CARE

CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside women and girls. Equipped with the proper resources women and girls have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. In 2021, CARE worked in over 104 countries, reaching more than 90 million people through 1,300 projects. CARE currently works in Nigeria implementing Development and humanitarian relief assistance to affected populations. CARE Nigeria’s thematic areas includes Food Nutrition Security and Livelihood, Women Economic Empowerment, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, and Gender-based Violence and Protection activities.

JOB SUMMARY

The protection officer will be responsible for assisting the Program to mainstream protection and AAP as well as assist in providing technical guidance to Program to undertake conflict sensitive programming and to provide support to policy and program activities that effectively meet food assistance needs.

JOB DESCRIPTION

I. RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS: 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:  

Specific Tasks related to Protection Mainstreaming:

• Work with the Program Units in coordination with Gender & Protection Sector Manager to integrate protection concerns into the project management cycle
• Undertake research to assist in contributing to Northeast Nigeria context analysis
• Provide regular information on protection concerns and trends in Northeast internal meetings
• Contribute in developing tools and guidelines for specific Program Units to mainstream protection based on CARE/WFPs policy
• Lead community engagement activities including sensitization and consultations with affected communities in protect matters.
• Uphold and ensure implementation of CARE and WFP’s code of conduct including PSHEA and child safeguarding policies at the field level
• Coordinate with the WFP Protection Officers on mainstreaming protection into the project
• Liaise with government authorities, Protection Cluster representatives, UN agencies and INGO staff on protection issue
• Contribute to mainstreaming Protection into Country Office Programs and Interventions:
• Assist Project Manager in providing technical guidance in how to include protection into programming to safely deliver food beneficiaries, cash, and vouchers to beneficiaries before, at and after the distribution
• Undertake and contribute to research if necessary
• Assist in drafting advocacy notes and reports on protection in CARE
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes, such as evolving needs of beneficiaries.
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to the mission

Capacity Building and Coaching:

• Assist in organizing and conducting protection mainstreaming / conflict sensitive program - trainings for CARE staff, PMCs and Service Providers
• Undertake field travels to the field locations to conduct protection monitoring and integrate protection concerns into interventions through trainings, workshops, and briefings at field level
• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills

Coordination and Representation

• Participate on seasonal and Nutrition cluster assessments and share findings
• Work integrating with CARE warehouse, finance, procurement, and admin/HR staff to process Purchase Requests, and Payments
• Represent the CARE on coordination meetings at different level like LGA, community and wards.
• Build very good team sprit with CARE program and supporting staffs at field, at office
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop CARE programs.

JOB EXPERIENCE

II. QUALIFICATIONS (KNOW HOW)

A)    EDUCATION:

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social / Management Science, International Affairs, International Law or other fields relevant to international development/ humanitarian assistance. Desired:

Desired:

• 1st Degree in a related field.  

B) EXPERIENCE:

Required:

• At least 3 years of professional experience relevant to the position in addressing protection issues in humanitarian responses
• Experiences working in the field, in both development and emergency response, understanding the operational aspects of local, state and national level of food-security programs in complex conflict environments
• Experience in delivering trainings and debriefings
• Knowledge of protection mainstreaming
• Experience in implementing protection programs in emergency contexts

C).  TECHNICAL SKILLS

Required:

• In-depth knowledge of protection and protection mainstreaming tools
• In-depth knowledge about international standards and policies, especially those centered around food-insecurity
• Knowledge of CARE/WFPs protection and AAP policy desirable
• Understanding of procedures and policies of the U.N. system is a plus

Desired:

• Previous experience working with an INGO or a Development organization.  

D) COMPETENCIES:

• Strong level of autonomy to provide independent follow through on processing issues and concerns
• Excellent planning, organizational and time management skills
• Integrity
• Details focus
• Strong team player
• Strong problem solving, analytical, operational, and coordinating abilities
• Good interpersonal, oral and written communication and presentation skills
• Strong customer service focus and ability to work well with people from various backgrounds and cultures at all levels in organization.

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• 20% AO, 70% travel to field locations; 10% travel to HQ office and other sub office.

There are individuals who may use CARE’s name and trademark in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested jobseekers. Please note that CARE will not request for any monetary payments from applicants at any stage of the recruitment process.

CARE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CARE considers all applicants on the basis of merit without prejudice to race, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, colour, national origin, marital status, or veteran status.

Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.