Protection Officer

Handicap International (which runs projects under its operating name, Humanity & Inclusion - HI -), is an independent and impartial international aid organization working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions and promoting respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights. Handicap International is a not-for-profit organization with no religious or political affiliation. It operates as a federation made up of a network of associations.

OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION:

Under the supervision of the Project Manager and in close collaboration with the Global Specialists (Protection GS and MHPSS GS specifically but also Inclusion, DRR/Safe School Approach, and Emergency Cash & Distribution Specialists) and in liaison with the Regional Technical Unit (RTU), the Protection Officer is responsible to support the preparedness and humanitarian interventions ensuring the optimal quality and the impact of the project.

The Protection Officer contributes to the implementation of the mandate and the 10-year strategy of Humanity & Inclusion in the West Bank.

Besides supervising the implementation of the specific protection, psychosocial support and social work activities, he/she provides technical trainings and supports to mainstream the protection approach across the different activities (mainly the Safe School and Participative Multi-Risk Management approaches, as well as multi-sectoral emergency response and preparedness) or mobilises external local technical resources when necessary. 

Responsibilities:

Responsibility 1: Support the development of the project’s methodological framework and contribute to quality control in the field of expertise through technical guidance and field support to the team

Aim: Ensure  that the project intervention contributes  to positive outcomes for the beneficiaries.

Tasks:

• With the project teams and under the supervision of the Global Specialists and in liaison with the Regional Technical Unit (RTU), identify the most appropriate modalities of intervention in compliance with Protection HI technical framework.
• Provide appropriate technical guidance and support to the project manager (adapts standards to project tools) in line with internal mandatory cross-cutting approaches (DGA, Protection maisntreaming and conflict sensitivity), Institutional policies (PSEAH and CP), International standards in the field of protection such as Minimum standards for Child Protection, IASC guidelines for integrating GBV in humanitarian response, SPHERE Standards, and IASC for the Inclusion of Persons With Disabilities.
• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the identification and referral of people at risk and/or survivors of violence, and the safe and ethical sharing of sensitive data.
• Contribute to updating the mapping of services and the referral pathway for survivors of violence and children with protection needs. Ensure these information are well known by frontline staff.
• Organize safety audits of project facilities.
• Conduct an analysis of the protection/safeguarding risks associated with the implementation of the project. Assess the specific needs of women, children and children with disabilities.
• Collaborate with Inclusion technical resource to ensure that all project activities are accessible and safe for women, children and people with disabilities.
• Develop communication materials  related to  protection risk/service available that are child friendly and accessible.
• Support implementation of the protection risk mitigation plan and Safeguarding strategy.
• Ensure regular monitoring of the project's technical quality and « Do no harm » - including through regular field missions – provides feedback and support to the teams - shares written recommendations.
• Implement and contribute to develop and/or adapt methodologies in close collaboration with the Global Specialists and RTU.
• Develop technical tools, including full training packages on Child protection/GBV, first line support for GBV/CP cases, Identification and safe referral, conducting awareness raising on CP/GBV, case management (training needs assessment tools, training manuals and materials, pre-post training tests), users guidelines, etc.; ensure active contribution from the project team to their development whenever relevant.
• Ensure tools are tested and validated by Global Specialists before implementation and that the team is in capacity to apply them.
• Develop tools for collecting information measuring the project impact in close collaboration with the Global Specialists and in liaison with the Regional Technical Unit (RTU) and the Regional MEAL Manager;
• Provide regular report to the Project Manager and regular updates to Global Specialists and to the Regional Technical Unit (RTU) in the field of expertise.

Responsibility 2: Develop the technical competencies of the HI project team and project stakeholders

Aim: Ensure capacity buidling are established and run on timely manner and according to HI’s technical framework.  

Tasks:

• Assess HI project team, volunteer and/or project partner capacity building needs, define suitable training plan and training package under the supervision of the Global Specialists and in collaboration with the Project Manager.
• Train the project teams/volunteers in: protection mainstreaming, prevention of abuse, exploitation and sexual harassment, core concepts relating to child protection, GBV and the protection of people with disabilities, identification and safe referral of survivors of violence, basic emotional support for survivors of violence and other topics relevant to the project such as protection community based approaches.
• Provide on the job coaching of Social workers/Community volunteer/PSS workers and other relevant staff.
• In collaboration with MHPSS technical resources ensure appropriate supervision and staff care strategy for the project team.
• Support the PM in recruitment from a technical perspective.

Responsibility 3: Implementation and Monitoring of the project

Aim: Ensure a sound project planning and implementation in line with the existing frameworks

Activities:

3.1 Ensures project implementation, in collaboration with the relevant services and in line with general standards and procedures and under the Project Manager’s supervision:

• Ensures the planning of activities and establishes action plans.
• Ensures that activities are implemented according to internal quality and technical standards and, if necessary, proposes adjustment or improvements to help meet objectives.
• Coordinates and collaborates with relevant internal support services, especially logistics, RH, finance and technical resources when needed.

• Contribute to coordination with the local stakeholders and to monitoring the partnership relationship with the project partners.

3.2. Contribute to project monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning

• Contribute to project monitoring, specifically activity progress indicators and the expected outcomes.
• Contribute to project evaluations at the request of the project manager, and ensure that project evaluation recommendations are followed.
• Contribute to the setup and smooth running of accountability mechanisms.
• Identify, analyse and document the good practices/lessons learnt of the project.
• Support the Project Manager in the organisation of their dissemination among the project stakeholders and among national stakeholders (government, NGOs, donors) involved into similar field of expertise.

3.3 Ensures project data management:

• Ensures that data related to the project is collected and compiled in the project database.
• Carries out regular verifications and makes any necessary corrections in the activity database.

3.4 Ensures project reporting upon the Project Manager’s requests:

• Monitors the achievement of results and indicators, as per the logical framework.
• Is in charge of updating the appropriate reporting tools: monthly situation report, updating the PM Box upon Project Manager’s request.
• Reports regularly to the line manager.
• Guarantees the proper archiving of information and documents.

3.5 Contribute to the coordination of project teams

• As authorized by the project manager, facilitate coordination meetings between the project teams and the support services located in the area when necessary.
• Ensure that the project teams and the support teams (shared and technical services, in particular) work well together in order to facilitate the implementation of the project in the country.

3.6 Contribute to external project communication

• Contribute to HI’s external influence by taking part in networks, when required.
• Participate in national protection networks (protection cluster and working groups on child protection, GBV, PSEAH, etc.).
• Communicate about the project to partners, authorities and stakeholders when relevant.

Responsibility 4: Support the development of new projects or Emergency Preparedness and Response 

Aim: Ensure that the design of new projects are responsive to the needs and good practices in the field of expertise and adapted to new crisis

Tasks:

• Contribute to the context analysis of protection risks and discriminations based on DGA (Disability, gender and age) .
• Analyze possible areas of programmatic response and the relevance of HI’s interventions in coordination with other key protection actors.
• Identify opportunities for partnerships with other actors to improve protection for affected populations.
• Participate to the development of new projects with protection component and/or the project exit strategy.
• Contribute to the programme’s emergency preparedness initiatives, and in an emergency situation, adapt his/her working arrangements in order to contribute to an effective humanitarian response from HI.

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Essential:

• Degree in social sciences, psychology, and human rights or any other related qualification, complemented by at least 5 years experience in the field of protection.
• Minimum 5 years working in Child Protection.
• Minimum 2 years providing direct support to children (case management, PSS support, teaching etc.._).
• Experience in conducting Protection needs assessment.
• Experience in designing and delivering training on protection mainstreaming, and protection programming.
• Experience providing technician advise and coaching to protection / MHPSS / social workers teams.
• Experience developing gender sensitive, child friendly and accessible materials.
• Experience in supporting the emotional wellbeing of children and adults during crises.

• Good knowledge of international core standards and guidelines related to protection in humanitarian and development settings.
• Good knowledge of national/ international legal framework (especially related to women, children, persons with disabilities and displaced population).
• Good understanding of concept such as gender, protection mainstreaming, intersectionality, transformative approaches, participatory approaches.
• Familiar with qualitative data collection methods such as focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews related to protection issues (especially GBV and CP issues).
• Strong basic psychosocial support skills required.
• Knowledge of MHPSS principles and practices highly desired.
• Ability to work in a team.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Good writing skills.
• Ability to work with partners.

• Knowledge of referral mechanism.

• Promotes gender equality and agency of persons with disabilities.
• Empathetic, Motivated, Flexible, Diplomatic, have a Positive personality, Demonstrate persistence and tenacity, and have Good communication skills.

Preferable

• Experience in MHPSS.
• Experience working with Non-governmental organizations.
• Experience providing remote supervision and coaching.
• Experience in team management.
• Experience to translate written technical documents from English into Arabic.
• Experience of participatory approaches to engaging and mobilizing communities.
• Knowledge on multi-risk analysis and assessment methodologies on both conflict and natural hazards (ex. EVC methodology).
• Good inclusive communication and facilitation skills.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS:

HI workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in HI Code of conduct.  In accordance with these values, HI operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-fraud, bribery, and corruption.

Initial contract will be for a period up to 12 months, to be extendable based on the availability of funds.

Handicap International is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from persons with disabilities.

Interested candidates should fill out the form Protection Officer and submit their resume with a motivation letter to reach on or before March 21, 2024. Incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline will be disregarded.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and those shortlisted will be contacted.