Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) assists refugees and displaced persons around the world: we provide emergency aid to these people, fight for their rights and strengthen their opportunities for a better future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along displacement routes, and within the countries in which refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive to achieve responsible and sustainable solutions. We work for the successful integration of vulnerable communities and, where possible, the fulfillment of their wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown into an international humanitarian organization with over 7,000 employees and 8,000 volunteers. Headquartered in Copenhagen, and present in 40 countries, the DRC is a non-governmental, non-profit, politically neutral, independent and non-denominational aid organization.

Our vision is a life with dignity for all the world's displaced people. All our efforts are based on our moral compass: humanity, respect, independence, neutrality, participation, honesty and transparency.

1. Background

DRC Cameroon began its operations in Cameroon in 2018 responding to the humanitarian needs of refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) and vulnerable Cameroonians in the Adamawa region. Currently, DRC operates with a regional office in Meiganga and two sub-offices in Djohong (Adamawa region) and Garoua-Boulai (East region). Interventions focus on finding durable solutions for the most vulnerable, using the holistic graduation approach to enhance both protection and economic recovery. Subsequently, in late 2018, DRC began its activities in the South West region of Cameroon in late 2019 to respond to the needs of forcibly displaced persons in the context of the Anglophone crisis, commencing humanitarian activities in January 2019. DRC operates in the Meme, Fako, Kupe-Manenguba and Ndian divisions with an office in Buea and a sub-base in Kumba. Programming focuses on rural and hard-to-reach areas to meet people's basic needs for food, shelter and NFI, while improving the protective environment and providing income-generating opportunities.

In 2023, DRC expanded its activities to the Far North of Cameroon to provide a response in terms of protection, positive peace, governance and economic resilience to the multidimensional and interconnected crises affecting the region.

2.  Overall Purpose of the Role

Under the direct supervision of the Emergency Response Manager NW, the Protection Specialist plays a pivotal role in the development and implementation of DRC’s protection strategy in the Northwest region of Cameroon. She/he is responsible for the capacity strengthening and monitoring of DRC’s local partners Protection Activities under the “Localized RRM project”. To this aim, the Protection Specialist will support the harmonization and rollout of tools, guidelines, and SOPs, strengthen referral pathways and ensure standard donor and data analysis/reporting methods (in collaboration with MEAL) are in place for these activities.

3. Tasks and responsibilities

  • Project Initiation: Ensure a Protection plan is in place which outlines all Protection activities associated with the indicators, along with relevant methodologies, timelines, responsibilities, and budget requirements of the project, clearly broken down and included in the overall PMT. Contribute to the project kick-off meeting by explaining the Protection commitments, approach, and plan to all project stakeholders so that they understand their responsibilities, deliverables, and timelines.
  • Project Implementation: Coordinate with partners to ensure timely updates of the Indicator Trackers and participate in periodic project management/review meetings. Ensure that data quality checks are carried out regularly. Support the preparation of periodic reports to donors.
    • Day-to-day coaching: Support the project and partners by working closely with them at field level. Provide advice and mentoring to partners’ teams, identify challenges and areas for improvement and share feedback with the Project Manager and the rest of DRC team.
  • Project Closure Responsibilities: Ensure that all deliverables mentioned in the project Protection plan are accomplished by the time of project closure. Ensure all datasets and documentation supporting the indicators and are systematically centralized, digitized, and archived for audits and other institutional compliance purposes. Contribute to the final project reporting.
    • Evaluation & Learning Responsibilities: Ensure the project evaluation is carried out according to donor requirements and DRC evaluation policy. Facilitate an end-of-project learning event to capture best practices and lessons learned from the project. Ensure these learnings are accessible on SharePoint for future programming references.
  • Needs Assessment: Verify the scope of the needs assessment and provide quality assurance for the process and tools to ensure they include and capture important protection information and indicators. Develop the methodology in cooperation with the DRC team and/or DRC partners and ensure quality assurance of data collection tools.
  • Project design: Contribute to the development of the Theory of Change (ToC), lead in identifying relevant indicators, and draft the Protection technical activity design, narratives (describing the relevant approaches), and respective budgets. Review the logframe, budget and narrative proposal for quality, consistency, and realism.

Technical and operational oversight of projects:

  • Monitors the humanitarian situation in their area and reports all protection concerns to the RRM Project Manager.
  • Supports the drafting of alert sheets in the event of population displacement in the Region
  • Ensures and supports quality regular reporting on the progress of protection activities, and updates data for the RRM Project Manager and participates in the drafting of donor reports.
  • Participates in the identification of new intervention areas.
  • Participates in the preparation and implementation of assessments.
  • Regularly monitors activity indicators, program/project results, and contextual monitoring in coordination with the Project Manager.
  • Supports the collection and reporting of information relating to population movements in the implementation areas.
  • Consolidates/updates RRM, monitoring and alert tools in coordination the MEAL/IM Specialist and the RRM Project Manager.
  • Ensures mastery of reporting and other tools in the intervention area in coordination with the Project Manager.
  • Supports DRC project and partner teams, in collaboration with the Project Manager and the Area Manager and in consultation with the Technical Coordinators.
  • Strengthens the capacity of focal point relays within the framework of RRM interventions according to their individual needs.

Partnerships

  • Ensure partner capacities are assessed, and realistic Protection expectations are factored into the project (measurement methods, deliverables/reporting, etc.). Ensure partners are aware of their Protection commitments during the kick-off meeting and throughout project implementation.
  • Leads the assessment of partners' capacities, ensures the development of training plans, organizes capacity building and training with support from technical staff the Country Office (Protection and Economic Recovery Coordinators, Partnership Management Specialist etc) while actively involving partners for better ownership of the capacity strengthening.
  • Support partners with tools and systems required for them to comply with donor and DRC technical requirements/standards.
  • Carry out regular monitoring and quality checks to ensure partners are adopting the required standards for Protection activities.
  • Where possible, support partners in adapting and applying the Core Humanitarian Standards in their institutional processes and implementation.
  • Before project closure, ensure that partners complete all Protection requirements for the projects (all measurements, data collection), ensure all data sources are complete and accurate, all relevant data for the project (indicators and MEAL) are transferred to DRC, and any supporting means of verification are also turned over to DRC.
  • Ensure partners communicate to the communities they serve about the end of the project, the partnership with DRC, and the transition of services.

The responsibilities listed above are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

4. Skills and qualities required

  • Proven experience of at least 4 years in Protection and management of protection programs, including in Legal Assistance, MHPSS, Case Management, and Protection of IDPs in conflict-affected countries; 
  • Prior experience implementing Legal Assistance, MHPSS, Case Management at a community level is required; previous experience in GBV (including GBV case management) is strongly preferred;
  • Experience providing technical guidance, developing and delivering participatory training/capacity building; 
  • Significant knowledge of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws and International standards relating to the protection of IDPs; 
  • Experience in report writing, data/information analysis, and M&E; 
  • Strong information management skills, including but not limited to the creation of databases, use of server-based information collection tools, etc.; 
  • Proven strong analytical and communication, representation, negotiation, advocacy, and diplomacy skills; 
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to quickly develop good insight and understanding of the conflict, the human rights situation, and the political environment of the program country; 
  • Knowledge of Gender and Protection mainstreaming, AGD, PwSN, and AAP approaches; 
  • Experience working and living in a multicultural environment and traveling to conflict-affected areas; 
  • Extensive experience in reporting and project development.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

  • Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 
  • Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 
  • Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 
  • Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
  • Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment

5. Experience and technical competencies: 

  • Master’s in political science, humanitarian Or development, MHPSS, Legal Assistance, gender/protection or other relevant area
  • All other professional training relevant in terms of protection

Languages :

  • Fluency in written and spoken English.
  • Fluency in written and spoken French (desirable)
  • Knowledge of the local language (required)

Key interactions :

  • Cluster Protection
  • DRC staff and partners
  • Local Partners
  • Local populations and leaders

6. General Regulations

  • The employee must follow the DRC's instructions for security, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework.
  • The employee must not exercise any other remunerated activity during the term of his contract with the DRC without receiving prior authorization to do so
  • The employee must not engage in any activity that could interfere with the DRC or the implementation of any project during the term of the contract with the DRC.
  • Employee must not give media interviews or post photos or other material related to the project without prior permission.
  • The employee must return all equipment borrowed for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.

    

 7. Application Process

If you are interested, then apply online via the link: www.drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/currentvacancies .

Applications can only be made online, on the website indicated above. You must upload your CV (3 pages maximum) and a cover letter online. The CV and cover letter can be in French or English. Applications submitted by post, email or physical application will not be considered.

DRC provides equal employment opportunities and prohibits any practice of discrimination based on race, sex, color, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, age, marital status or any situation of disability. DRC does not practice any discrimination in its recruitment processes. For more information about the Danish Refugee Council, please visit the organisation's website: www.drc.ngo

 Applications will close on 16th of March 2026  at 23:59. However, it is possible for the DRC to begin the recruitment process before the end of the publication of the offer if an application meets the expectations and requirements of the position.


If you experience any technical difficulties, please contact us at this page: drc.ngo/about-us/job-and-career/support-for-job-seekers

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.