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General Context of the Project

• With over a decade of conflict, there have been devastating humanitarian consequences across North-East (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states) and the North-West of Nigeria. According to the Humanitarian Needs Overview 2023, an estimated 8.3 million women, men, and children need some form of humanitarian and protection assistance.
• Over 2 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to persistent violence and remain internally displaced. Food insecurity and malnutrition are exacerbated by inflation, poverty, and restricted access due to insecurity, which impedes livelihood opportunities.
• Gender-based violence (GBV) has been a significant protection concern faced by IDP women and girls in the area. Numerous basic infrastructures, such as hospitals, clinics, and water supplies, are damaged, posing constraints on essential service provision. Epidemics like cholera arising from flooding and overcrowded settings put extra stress on the already vulnerable communities.

General Purpose of the Position

• In collaboration with the HOM, define and coordinate the implementation of protection strategy and program of the mission.
• Lead and provide technical guidance to protection staffs ensuring the different components of the protection programme are delivered according to internal guidelines and in line with international standards and principles, in order to ensure quality and achieve mission’s goals effectively, according to INTERSOS vision and values.

Main Responsibilities and Tasks
Definition of the strategy and implementation:

• Design and draft the protection strategy for the mission based on context, identifying suitable approaches and interventions
• Design a Theory of change or a defined model of protection response and ensure it is aligned to the Global Protection Strategy
• Support the understanding of the community using participatory community engagement and strength based approaches. Ensure community mappings are done and adapt the program to the different scenarios
• Participate in exploratory missions, situation assessments in current and prospective areas of operations (providing technical inputs and recommendations for new and ongoing interventions in the country and defining protection operational priorities when needed) and support the development of the mission policy, annual plan, position papers, budget review and project proposal and reports to donors
• Ensure evidence based response through researches and evaluation of the interventions
• Draft position papers for issue based response depending on context and learning papers on challenges and best practices to ensure technical quality of protection activities
• Support the implementation and monitoring protection activities according to INTERSOS protection strategy and project plans, standards and protocols
• Identify and build Niche areas of technical expertise at mission level and share learnings and good practices with other missions
• Ensure proper integration of gender, inclusion, disability and age in protection program
• Ensure cohesion and harmonization of protection activities and services across the different implementation sites within the mission
• Support the Programme Coordinator and/or Project Managers to finalize project proposals ensuring protection integration in the programme and the respect of international internal and donor’s protection standards and appropriate technical language
• Facilitate and guarantee protection mainstreaming in the other sectors

Technical Quality and Capacity building:

• Is responsible for the capacity building of the entire protection team ensuring technical quality
• Draft SOPs for protection interventions (Case Management, Protection Monitoring, Cash, Legal, MHPSS, CB[P) and ensure the respect of it in all projects
• Conduct regular case audits, critical case conferences and learning events to provide guidance and to ensure adherence to standards and quality
• Design training materials for capacity building of protection staffs and ensure staffs respect the basic principles of protection and are trained to implement good quality programs
• Deliver trainings and workshops to non-protection staffs to build skills and knowledge of protection principles and enable them to mainstream protection in different sectors
• Develop resources and guidelines to support protection activities targeting children and adults in Case Management, PSS, Community Based Protection, Cash, Protection Monitoring and Holistic Protection Prevention and Response
• Work along with the Protection team and Specialists to ensure that all interventions are coordinated and that technical resources are available
• Create opportunities for experience sharing and learning within the protection team to strengthen cooperation and collaboration

Analysis and reporting:

• Periodically (quarterly) analyse the protection trend and the data of INTERSOS protection intervention to identify needs, issues, trends
• Provide strategic protection analysis and development of periodic trend reports (including aspects of conflict analysis, gender and risk management) from programme experience to improve development, implementation and
• policy and advocacy activities
• Track indicators, ensure that protection data are collected, archived, processed, analysed and disseminated in ethical modalities, in line with internal data protection protocols. Manage protection database guarantying all the data are regularly encoded
• Ensure Protection reports are submitted to HQ on a monthly basis
• Support the Programme Coordinator and/or Project Managers to finalize external reports
• ensuring the protection integration, the respect of international internal and donor’s protection standards and the appropriate technical language

Coordination and support:

• Contextualize and adapt internal and global guidelines, guarantying these are rolled out and known by staffs
• Update and inform the programme teams on the protection situation analysis
• Create opportunities for experience sharing and learning within the protection team in order to strengthen cooperation and collaboration
• Work with other coordinators for building integrated programmes in response to community needs
• Undertake regular field monitoring visits and provide support tools to monitor quality of programme implementation

Supervision and Staff Management:

• Directly supervise, coach and mentor Protection Specialists and conduct regular performance reviews (IRP)
• Review work plans of Protection Specialists and define priorities together with Protection Project Managers
• Organize regular meetings with Protection Specialists and Protection team to discuss implementation and ensure quality
• Organize ad hoc meetings with SMT and Project Managers to share challenges and priorities and develop action plans to address them
• Plan and supervise, in close coordination with the HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, training, performance evaluation, development and internal communication) of the staffs under her/ his responsibility in order to improve staff’s capabilities and activities and to ensure learning and development

Monitoring:

• Design M&E tools for protection activities and interventions and provide guidance on use of the tools and ensure they are used
• Measure the impact of the activities and identify the best practices
• In cooperation with the accountability unit, support the development of complaints mechanisms for beneficiaries and make sure complaints are addressed properly
• In cooperation with the accountability unit, when required follow up on the implementation of the Child Safeguarding and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Harrassment and Abuse (PSEA) policies

Networking and partnerships:

• Establish and maintain collaborative relations with relevant donors, partners, project stakeholders and other organizations
• Maintain effective relationships with Protection, GBV and CP clusters and related working groups at national level
• Ensure that Protection Specialists maintain productive relationships with sub clusters at field level
• Ensure that main protection concerns are brought to relevant stakeholders to advocate for the respect of human rights and minimum protection standards
• Coordinate with other internal departments to guarantee good collaboration
• Network with Protection Coordinators from other missions to share best practices and resources and participate actively in monthly HQ Protection meetings and internal thematic Working Groups
• Collaborate and support HQ Protection Advisor in the development of technical resources and Guidelines

Required Profile and Experience

• BA in relevant field (Social Science, Psychology, Social Work, Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law or other fields related to social development and humanitarian work)
• Desirable Master degree (MA or LLM) in Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law or related subjects
• Minimum 8 years of experience with NGOs in developing countries of which minimum 5 years should be in protection technical roles
• Experience in implementation of key protection interventions related to Case management, PSS and Community based Protection
• Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)
• Strong theoretical, technical and practical background in protection
• English mandatory.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work and integrate in a multicultural team
• Ability to work under pressure, flexibility
• Problem solver, dynamic, mature, proactive
• Diplomatic skills in networking with partners, authorities and donors
• Experience in complex emergency setting involving internal displacements
• Reporting skills, experience with monitoring tools and systems, data collection and analysis
• Stress management
• Commitment to INTERSOS principles.

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General purpose of the position

• The Head of Program is responsible for the overall program strategy across the country and for providing technical input to the team within the different sectors.
• S/he is also responsible for developing policies, processes and standards within the respective area of responsibility. S/he will enable and oversee the monitoring and evaluation of the activities across the country and s/he is finally responsible for the development of the portfolio, ensuring consistent donors reporting, internal and external representation. Ultimately, s/he will be active in high level and strategic decision-making, collaborating closely with the Country Director and the Finance and Logistics Managers.

Main responsibilities and tasks:

Strategy and vision

• Contribute to the development and update of the country strategy, within INTERSOS overall global strategic plan, values and principles
• Work as part of the Senior Management Team to share ideas and program recommendations, supporting and implementing continuous improvement on activities, processes and procedures to optimise results and improve quality of delivery in line with quality standards
• Determine, set and deliver goals and objectives for the program team in line with the mission strategic objectives
• Develop in collaboration with technical referents, high quality program strategies and proposals in relevance with context and needs
• Ensure that program strategies and processes are in place to meet quality implementation and to achieve the targets.
• Develop holistic and needs-based programs, identifying funding opportunities and strategic partnerships.
• Design and roll-out creative and innovative programming, lead assessments for rapid response or scale-up programming in existing or new areas of intervention
• Together with the Country Director and the Finance and Logistics Managers, create and implement best practice program management vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve organizational performance
• Supervise the design of standards and processes with technical referents at Mission level.

Program management

• Supervise and guide the program team (Program Managers, Grants & Reporting Managers, Technical Coordinators)
• Ensure program coordination and coherence across portfolio
• Ensure program and project reviews are regularly and effectively conducted, monitor the delivery of programs based on work plan
• Together with the Finance and Logistics Managers, ensure adequate resources allocation are provisioned to deliver programs.
• Trigger and oversee the design of concept notes, proposals and budgets for cost-related activities, ensuring the coordination with Program Managers, Grants & Reporting Manager, Technical Units and support functions (HR, Finance, Logistics and Security), in line with INTERSOS and donors’ requirements
• Ensure timely communication and information flow on program achievements to internal and external parties
• Conduct risk assessments of the program activities and related processes

Accountability and quality control

• Oversee and support continuous improvement of program quality standards
• Explore innovative solutions to improve the impact on program
• Oversee the program development, implementation, ensuring targets and quality are respected in collaboration with MEAL department
• Ensure the appropriate systems and procedures are established and followed, ensuring best practices in project management are developed and adopted with appropriate program management frameworks in place

Representation and advocacy

• Together with the Country Director and Finance and Logistics Managers, establish strong and efficient partnerships with organisations, donors and authorities, in line with the country strategy
• Represent INTERSOS in relevant coordination forums
• Contribute to the definition of the country advocacy strategy and represent INTERSOS within national and international media and participate in community activities as appropriate
• Upon delegation of authority, act as Country Director when needed

People management

• Lead the program team ensuring daily supervision and regular support to maximize efficient performance
• Communicate with the program team on program status, risks and issues in an appropriate and timely manner. Ensure regular and timely communication between project team members
• Monitor the completion of tasks and ensure good performance and record on appropriate systems
• Motivate and coach the program team. Communicate key performance Indicators (KPIs) to the staffs so that they are aware of the strategic annual plan
• Consistently promote high standards through personal example and roll out through the team so that each member understands the standards and the behaviours expected
• In collaboration with the HR Coordinator, undertake continuous training and staffs’ development. Inspire the team and provide technical expertise
• In collaboration with Protection and/or Medical coordinator, support the identification and deployment of the technical skill sets, resource levels and systems to deliver projects, including the engagement of external resources as required

Required profile and experience:

• BA in relevant field, Master in Business Administration or equivalent
• Essential working experience of at least 5 (five years) in related activities at Senior Management level
• Desirable previous experience with NGOs
• Experience in setting up new projects and programs and of developing and implementing departmental and organisational strategies
• Experience of planning, budgeting and executing complex strategies
• Experience in managing medical, protection and interdepartmental technical staffs
• Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)
• English
• Strategic vision
• Leadership, people management and development
• Planning and organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines
• Teamwork and cooperation
• Negotiation and networking skills
• Behavioural flexibility
• Innovation and creativity
• Decision making and influence
• Communication skills written and oral
• Excellent budget/financial management skills
• Commitment to INTERSOS principles