Protection Officer

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Context / Introduction to the IRC

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a non-political, non-profit, non-religious humanitarian organization serving refugees worldwide. The IRC implements programs to promote sustainable solutions for displaced persons, refugees, and host communities through health, sanitation, shelter, rehabilitation, and education projects. IRC has been serving refugees since 1933 and is present in 40 countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as through a resettlement support program in the United States. IRC is an organization committed to freedom, human dignity, and self-reliance. This commitment translates into well-planned resettlement assistance, global emergency aid, rehabilitation, and advocacy for refugees.

IRC began operations in Cameroon in 2016 to respond to the growing concerns of people affected by Boko Haram-related violence in the Far North region of the country. Assistance to displaced populations extends throughout the Far North, particularly in Diamaré, Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga, and Logone & Chari through the field office in Maroua. IRC implements programs to increase access to water and improve hygiene practices in vulnerable displaced and host communities, as well as cash transfer programs to enable economically disadvantaged families to meet basic needs and improve food security. This includes both education and child protection services to address children's learning and safety needs and priorities. IRC also offers protection programs to combat gender-based violence against women and girls and to support victims of human rights violations.

Following the escalating crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, IRC expanded its operations in the South-West region in 2018 and in the North-West in 2019. IRC provides vital humanitarian assistance to internally displaced populations, with field bases in Buea, Mamfe and Bamenda.

Job Overview / Summary

Under the supervision of the protection project manager, the Protection Officer is responsible for overseeing and supervising the effective and high-quality implementation of protection interventions (GBV, PRoL and child protection) in the targeted sites in response to the current humanitarian crisis.

He/she will oversee the proper implementation of protection activities (child protection, PRoL and GBV) in collaboration with the implementing partner and ensure that people in difficult situations (displaced persons, returnees, and vulnerable indigenous populations) in the intervention zones have equitable access to protection services, and that community protection structures receive adequate training to ensure continuity and adherence to the principle of protection through the implementing partner.

He/she is responsible for ensuring/establishing the local relationships essential to enable acceptance and understanding of the intervention by the community and local authorities.  The position requires a high level of dedication given the security context.

Main responsibilities

1. Planning and implementation of protection activities including child and women protection activities in collaboration with IRC  partners.

• In collaboration with implementing partners, ensure the planning of activities on a weekly and monthly basis;
• Actively participate in conducting protection needs assessments and identifying risks related to the protection of children and women;
• Implement psychosocial activities for children and adults in the various locations identified for the project;
• Conduct training and provide technical support to local actors in the field of protection (child and women's protection);
• Actively participate in identifying the technical needs of each sector for each partner.
• Develop a capacity-building plan for partners and monitor its implementation.
• Design and/or deliver formal training modules and/or provide support to trainers in different sectors.
• Be responsible for documentation and the effective distribution of documents produced at the end of training courses.
• Provide technical support to partners in the implementation of all project approaches (psychosocial support for children and adults, SAFE, Parenting, CBO, Girlshine, IDTR approaches, etc.).
•  Ensure the distribution of dignity kits for vulnerable women and adolescents
•  Support local actors in setting up mechanisms to prevent and respond to violence and abuse against children and women
•  Provide training for local structures, including (CBO, protection committees, community leaders, and local chiefs, on topics covered by the project
• Ensure that community structures (CBO, protection committees, community leaders) carry out their tasks in relation to the project
• Organize workshops on the development of protection risk plans for women and children and support them
• Train community facilitators and partners on the SAFE, Girlshine, and Parenting approaches
• Monitor the implementation of SAFE, Girlshine, and Parenting sessions by partners.
• Establish referral mechanisms to meet the needs of children and women.
• Lead community mobilization activities by raising awareness among the various actors involved in the protection of children and women.
• Ensure seamless collaboration with local authorities and community leaders to establish a community protection strategy
• Ensure regular quantitative and qualitative monitoring of activities implemented under the program.
• Ensure seamless collaboration with local authorities and community leaders to implement a community protection strategy
• Ensure regular quantitative and qualitative monitoring of activities implemented under the program;
• Ensure that the Minimum Standards on GBV and Child Protection in Humanitarian Action and any other standards relevant to the sector of intervention are respected, in particular standards relating to separated or unaccompanied children and children associated with armed groups and forces;
• Ensure that children and all beneficiaries are involved in all activities, including consulting them regularly and proactively in the field, and ensure the quality of interventions.

2. Reporting, monitoring, integrated approach

• Plan and conduct field visits to monitor the quality of protection activities within projects and support partners;
• Produce periodic reports (weekly, monthly, etc.) and ensure that they are sent regularly and on time to the project manager;
• Contribute to the collection of monitoring and evaluation data to support the development of project proposals in the child protection sector;
• Produce activity reports (weekly, monthly, etc.) presenting the results achieved, best practices, and lessons learned from the intervention.
• Ensure the timely collection of quality protection monitoring data necessary for protection risk analysis.
• Support communities in an effective community action plan process for protection.

3. Representation and Communication

• Actively participate, and sometimes in a leadership role, in meetings, report writing, minutes, and responding to external requests for information;
• Actively participate in protection coordination forums (CP AoR, GBV AoR, Protection Cluster, etc.);
• Organize meetings with other organizations and international agencies working in the field of protection (GBV and child protection) to ensure the provision of holistic services to survivors.
• Directly or by supervising other staff, draft and, if necessary, distribute minutes of meetings, whether internal to the program, the IRC, or external. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor, coach, and supervise teams.
• Ensure the timely collection, analysis, and transmission of required qualitative and quantitative data, in collaboration with the MEAL team.
• Verify and validate contractual deliverables from implementing partners prior to any payment.

4. Integration and Development within the team

• Maintain positive and professional relationships with team members;
• Promote strong team spirit, provide advice/guidance and technical support to enable team members to succeed in their roles.
• Ensure the quality of integration activities such as focus groups and awareness-raising sessions.
• Ensure effective collaboration with other IRC sectors, particularly the Education sector, and participate in coordination meetings to ensure effective integration between sectors.

5.    Documentation and Archiving

Ensure the smooth running of the program's documentation and archiving system, with a view to building capacity to respond to any disputes and to facilitate the capitalization of experiences on the process and practices.

6.         Logistics

• Coordinate, on behalf of the project manager, logistical requirements, particularly with regard to supplies, vehicles, the organization of meetings, workshops, training sessions, and employee schedules (vacations, field missions, etc.), in collaboration with the IRC logistics department for the functions for which it is responsible.
• Ensure strict and ongoing compliance with safety rules in the organization of field missions and the use of IRC resources (buildings, vehicles, equipment).

7)    Other

• Maintain regular contact with implementing partners, local authorities, community leaders, and the community, while ensuring their commitment to the project in order to improve the quality of the response.
• Immediately report any problems or incidents to the line supervisor and liaise with community representatives or other stakeholders to ensure the security of IRC programs.
• Perform any other tasks requested by the supervisor to ensure the smooth running of the program.
• Prepare daily/weekly and monthly schedules for team movements as necessary, in accordance with current deadlines, and submit them for approval.

The description above is not exhaustive; other tasks may be assigned to the employee depending on their skills and the focus of the project.

Required qualifications

• Hold at least a bachelor's degree in social sciences or other relevant fields;
• Have at least 5 years of proven professional experience in the humanitarian field or with NGOs;
• Have at least 3 years of proven experience in the protection sector, particularly general protection, child protection and GBV, with a thorough understanding of prevention and response approaches in these sectors;
• Have received training in child protection and GBV case management supervision;
• Strong capacity in partner management and supervision;
• Strong planning, organizational, and communication skills;
• Familiarity with approaches to supporting adolescent girls in the context of GBV prevention and reducing the use of harmful coping mechanisms among adolescents;
• Experience in socio-economic reintegration and in the field of community awareness and mobilization;
• Experience in capacity building/training organization and post-training follow-up
• Good knowledge of the intervention area and local languages of the project area
• Good communication skills
• Organizational skills and attention to detail
• Be able to take relevant initiatives for the program as needed
• Be available to travel to the target areas for services
• Willingness and ability to work in a volatile environment;
• Strong resistance to stress and ability to work at a fast pace in emergency situations;
• Have acceptable computer skills, specifically in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Have a sense of rigor and attention to detail;
• Have a sense of responsibility and accountability;
• Have a sense of initiative and responsibility;
• Have a sense of teamwork and collaboration;
• Have a sense of empathy and compassion;
• Fluency in French or English (spoken and written) with an advanced level in the other language
• Perform other tasks useful to the program as requested by your supervisor, in addition to those described in this job description.

Standards of Professional Conduct: IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC WAY - Standards of Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality. 

Safeguarding: Strictly adhere to IRC's Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy and all other policies, including those related to security and fraud prevention.

In line with safeguarding, the IRC has policies on protecting beneficiaries/clients from exploitation and abuse, child protection, anti-harassment in the workplace, fiscal integrity, and anti-retaliation.

Equal opportunity employer: The IRC is an equal opportunity employer. IRC considers all job applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, gender, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Gender Equality: IRC recognizes and honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, gender, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. IRC is also committed to reducing the gender gap in leadership positions.

We offer benefits that provide an environment conducive to women participating in our workforce, including parental leave, gender-sensitive safety protocols, and other supportive benefits.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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