Protection Officer at International Medical Corps

JOB SUMMARY:

• The selected candidate will work as part of the core team to ensure that gender, protection issues of beneficiaries are identified and addressed at all stages while implementing the General Food Distribution, Livelihood and nutrition related programme for vulnerable children and Pregnant and Lactating women and Cash Based Transfers to vulnerable beneficiaries within the areas covered by IMC in Borno State. The protection Officer will be technically supervised and supported by the Programme Manger

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure the delivery of protection activities in all General Food Distribution, Nutrition and livelihood sites covered by IMC within the LGA.
• Undertake regular field visits with the 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 beneficiaries face in IMC operation areas.
• Lead and supervise assessment teams during thematic surveys, needs assessment and data collection for protection-related research.
• With support of the Program Manager, follow-up with humanitarian actors about requests and invitations for community sessions.
• Monitor protection issues affecting host population in IMC areas of operation.
• Support the Program Manager and Team 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 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 for protection cases.
• Sensitize beneficiaries on available feedback mechanisms and maintain an open 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.

Coordination

• Develop lines of communication and close collaboration with the other protection implementing stakeholders and contribute to a coordinated humanitarian response.
• Liaise with logistic and procurement to ensure protection activities have the required resources in good time. Complete and keep records of the necessary reports.
• Attend external meetings in coordination with Program Manager.
• Coordinate field activities with other IMC teams.
• Attend internal and external 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 for surveys, post-distribution other monitoring activities.
• Support country teams to ensure M&E processes engendered protection and ensure learning of protection issues are captured.

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 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 Kanakuru and Burah.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and action and to IMCs equal opportunity and gender policies.
•  Excellent computer knowledge and skills of using Microsoft word, power point and excel.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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.

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.