Protection Coordinator

PROTECTION COORDINATOR

Yemen

Background

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in conjunction with Danish Demining Group (DDG) has been operating in Yemen since 2008 using a protection of human rights framework. DRC initially worked in Yemen with mixed migrants coming from the Horn of Africa who are displaced by conflict and drought. Since then, DRC expanded its sectors of intervention and is now providing humanitarian assistance in nineteen governorates throughout the country. There are currently over 250 staff working between the Sana’a main office, two hub offices in Aden and Hodeida, and six field offices. Current programme sectors include protection (mixed migration, IDP, child), FSL, WASH, Shelter, and CCCM. DDG Yemen is currently focusing on Mine Risk Education and supporting the capacity development and deployment of standby Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams from the Yemen Executive Mine Action Center (YEMAC). Through quality surveys and data and information management, DDG will also support YEMAC in the development of a more accurate threat and response maps. 

Our operations in Yemen have both grown and changed as needs escalate following the country’s descent into civil war in 2015. 

Purpose

The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting DRC/DDG in quality protection programming at the country level in Yemen. This includes providing support, advice, and quality checks on protection aspects of country strategies as well as on programming initiatives and concrete projects. The Protection Coordinator will also contribute to raising DRC’s profile and involvement when it comes to relevant policy and advocacy initiatives. As the technical focal point for country protection staff, the Protection Coordinator will be responsible for strengthening DRC’s protection capacity of conflict affected persons in Yemen supporting IDPs, host communities, returnees, marginalized people, children and mixed migrants.

General Programming & Operations 

·      Create viable and relevant Protection Information Management systems in coordination with MEL colleagues for gathering, processing, analysing and sharing protection-relevant data, if necessary also involving research-related components.

·      Provide inputs and guidance for mainstreaming and integrating protection in DRC/DDG proposals and interventions and provide technical expertise and support on protection in proposals. 

·      Establish processes, systems and learning events in Yemen that will lead to a general capacity-building and professionalization of DRC/DDG staff and partners on protection.  

·      Develop DRC’s Protection Strategy in Yemen and provide technical assistance to roll it out, in coordination with the DRC Yemen Protection team;

·      Strengthens DRC’s protection service delivery, including GBV, to conflict affected host communities, returnees, IDPs, children, mixed migrants and Yemen’s marginalized communities.

·      Lead on securing follow on or expansion funding for the protection program as per identified needs and in alignment with the DRC/DDG Yemen country program strategy in coordination with the Grants Manager and the Head of Programme;

·      Ensure and strengthen regular, harmonized and qualitative reporting on protection, and facilitate results and right based protection programming;

·      Undertake field/onsite visits to monitor the quality of implementation and provide technical advice and customized and need based capacity building to field protection staff as necessary.

·      Coordinate the role out of protection mainstreaming capacity building to nonprotection teams;

·      Participate in the recruitment process, the capacity building and the evaluation of the protection staff, as necessary;

Coordination and Representation  

·      Active participation in, contribution to and representation of DRC in the Protection Cluster as with other relevant bodies, including Mixed Migration working groups and other meetings related to protection;

·      Stay abreast of developments that have an impact on the protection environment in Yemen and provide ongoing analysis on key issues on a regular basis;

·      Support the development of regional protection approaches such as protection monitoring, safe spaces, social cohesion and participate in learning and development exercises at the national, and regional level.

·      Any other duties as agreed with the CD and Head of Programs.

Core Humanitarian Standards 

·      Assess gaps and work to support country and project level policies and practices to ensure DRC is compliant with the Core Humanitarian Standard.

·      Support the development of an organizational culture that reflects DRC mandate and values as a humanitarian organization.

Advocacy 

·      Contribute to DRC/DDG advocacy and policy influencing for Yemen, externally as well as internally in DRC/DDG, and representing the organisation in relevant for a.

About you

To be successful in this role, we expect you to be a positive, mature leader with a proven track record of developing effective initiatives, programmes, and impact. You thrive in managing a wide range of responsibilities, and can effectively communicate and lead the country team. You are an effective people manager and enjoy working with teams of committed staff to build collaboration and capacity within the Yemen programmes and building strong relationships with the regional team.

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

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results through the country team both to position DRC and ensure excellence in all deliverables.

Collaborating: You lead initiatives at country operation level by involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen to beneficiaries, staff and other stakeholders; and you communicate concisely and persuasively

Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with DRC’s vision and values and set a very clear standard for your country team members.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Qualifications

University degree or higher education relevant to humanitarian work: preferably in law, social sciences or humanitarian aid;

Significant knowledge of International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law;

Proven communication, interpersonal, representation, negotiation, promotion and diplomacy skills;

Proven strong analytical and communication 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;

Sound understanding of humanitarian architecture;

Cultural sensitivity and adaptability;

Essential experience:

Proven experience of at least eight years in international field protection and management of protection programs, including in Child Protection, Mixed Migration and Protection of IDPs in conflict affected countries;

Proven experience of over eight years in international humanitarian work, advocacy and policy development, and cluster coordination mechanisms;

Extensive experience in protection monitoring and protection assessment, reporting and project development;

Experience with managing teams and providing technical guidance and training

Able to manage a high work load

Desirable Experience

Experience implementing MRM programs

Knowledge and experience of cash for protection programs and targeting methodologies

Experience in the region is a plus

Excellent English is essential, Arabic is a plus

DRC encourages all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age.

Conditions

Availability: As soon as possible

Duty station: Sana’a

Reporting: To the Head of Programs and for technical considerations to the Regional Protection Coordinator, as requested.

Supervises: Technical line manager for field protection project managers and team leaders in all field offices

Duration: 1 year with possibility of extension, subject to funding.

Contract: Level A12 this is an unaccompanied post. Salary, benefits and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates.