PROGRAM SUMMARY:

Since February 2020, Mercy Corps has been implementing Building Resilience in Affected Communities (BRAC) in South Kordofan state. The aim of the program is for women, men, girls and boys in vulnerable households to have increased resilience to economic, social and climate related shocks and stressors through improved access to gender responsive basic services and increased agricultural production. By improving access to equitable improved climate-adapted agricultural skills and inputs as well as access to financial, WASH and protection services then households the BRAC programs aims to have improved food security and income, health and nutrition outcomes, gender equitable relations and resilience to future shocks and stresses.

[Describe overview of job missioGENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps is looking for an experienced, qualified, practical, and solution-oriented person to fill the position of Protection Officer. Reporting to the Program Manager, this is a technical position aiming at promoting increased equality between men, women, boys and girls and increased empowerment of women and girls in smallholder agricultural and livestock market systems and at household and community levels.

He/she is responsible for, designing and or reviewing program protection strategy and implementing all protection activities in consultation with the program manager and other colleagues. S/he represents the Mercy Corps to authorities, humanitarian agencies and other stakeholders.

The Protection Officer coordinates quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern. S/he ensures that persons of concern of all age, gender and diversity groups are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying and implementing appropriate solutions to their problems. To undertake this role effectively, he/she will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with other relevant teams within the program, organization, humanitarian space, communities of concern, authorities and a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection and achieving solutions.

He/she will lead project protection activities and manage the protection activities action plans, including, the service gap analysis map, developing disseminating resources on information sharing with communities, capacity building of local protection structures and cash for protection. She/he will support sectorial teams to apply Safe-Programming standards throughout the programme cycle. The protection Officer will support the team in delivering contextual and practical analysis (on-going) of the protection issues in the assigned area, including constraints, sensitivities and risks associated with the work. She/he will support effective implementation of the protection activities with an emphasis on the gendered aspect of conflict, violence and abuse.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Management:

• Lead or participate in assessments, research and studies to gather information and carry out analyses on protection related issues, risks, exclusion status, barriers, opportunities and challenges etc. to inform strategies and activities, track progress on protection-related indicators at various levels.
• Work with staff from other sectors of the BRAC program to ensure all activities are inclusive and responsive to and address protection needs, gaps and barriers.
• Develop and or review training materials and approaches deliver capacity building for program staff and NNGO partners to ensure continuous improvements and social behavioral change.
• Initiate planning for short, medium and longer-term GBV prevention and response activities, including referral pathway and standard operating procedures.
• Maintain, monitor and measure GBV project implementation and contribute to effective information management on GBV survivors
• Closely work with case management officer and ensure that staff implement and respect best-practice and international standards in GBV prevention and response.
• Participate in the design of project activities, monitoring systems and capacity building activities for partners, community member and children.
• Develop, testing and roll out Behavior Change Communication (BCC) materials on protection, GBV and violence prevention for communities.
• Carryout and oversee awareness raising and capacity-building training activities and support the development of messaging on protection, safe-programming and conflict sensitivity
• Develop and maintain effective working relationship with relevant stakeholders including partner agencies, community leaders, CBO and local NGOs and service providers to foster protection.
• Identify and report success stories and document best practices and lessons learned
• Develop and regularly update emergency and protection service maps
• Monitor protection issues in the assigned areas of intervention and generate protection situation reports
• Assess and generate data for rapid gender and context analysis in programmes’ sub-districts
• Prepare (on-going) protection risk assessments, mitigation methods and action plans, and ensure implementation and consistent documentation of action plans
• Identify and review cash for protection cases ensuring they are in line with Oxfam standard operating procedures
• Work with the Programme teams to coordinate community consultations and orientation sessions about rights, entitlements, registration, essential and specialist services in the localities
• Works with local partners, local government offices and civil society organisations to conduct safe-programming and protection against sexual exploitation and abuse capacity building events
• Work and coordinate with the local partners closely in delivering the project outcomes.
• Provides written feedback about protection incidents, issues and aid-related community-conflicts.
• Supports and coordinate with MEAL Officers for baseline surveys, post-distribution and other monitoring activities.
• Submits monthly reports to track the beneficiary numbers regarding information dissemination and where applicable, referral activities

Collaboration, Networking, Representation and Coordination

• Maintain good coordination and working relationships and soliciting participation in activities where appropriate and as directed to create synergy, share experiences and obtain support for program objectives.
• On PM’s guidance, coordinate and share information with relevant stakeholders (government, NGOs etc) and obtain their support for meaning participation, access to resources and decision making by women
• Represent Mercy Corps and the program in Protection Working Groups and other local Protection forums and GBV working group meetings on behalf of the Programme Manager.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission. Respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Support the monitoring, evaluation, learning (MEL) and reporting on the gender thematic area by ensuring formulation of relevant indicators, participating in assessments, surveys and ensuring appropriate analysis.
• Work closely with the MEL team to capture data for measuring output, outcome and impact
• Conduct monitoring visits to assess the effectiveness of program activities and adjust as required.
• Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that are indicative of program progress. Respond to queries when necessary and maintain a proper filing system as required
• Provide follow up on recommendations and solutions where there are problems in implementation.

 Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Organizational Learning 

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically
  to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Do This

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports directly to:   Program Manager

Works directly with: Gender officer, FSL officers, WASH officers, program manager and Support Departments, (Finance, Operations, Logistics & Human resources) and other MC staff.

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

• A degree in law, human rights, social works or other protection-related fields is required.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in protection programming is required
• Demonstrated and understanding of protection, human rights, international law, refugee law and humanitarian principles
• Demonstrated and understanding with protection tools and approaches is required
• Good negotiation, representation, skills and the ability to work comfortably with a vast audience
• Experience of gender dynamics in target areas and knowledge of national gender policy frameworks
• Demonstrated commitment to human rights, refugee rights, women’s rights, and social justice;
• Proven skills in networking, collaboration, community consultation; teamwork and problem-solving.
• Excellent written and oral communication in English and Arabic and representation skills is required
• Good computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Word, Excel and Power Point
• Commitment to working with program participants in need regardless of race, religion or gender

SUCCESS FACTORS:

An ability to support programmatic objectives, willingness to work in rural areas, analytical, creative problem solving, negotiation, coaching and mentorship abilities. Should have a strong capacity to influence mindsets and drive behavior change. A strong results orientation, good interpersonal skills and an impeccable professional person with clear ethical standards and willing to comply with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.