Mobile Protection Officer

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The IRC started operations in Cameroon in 2016 to respond to the increasing concerns for people affected by violence linked to Boko Haram, in the Far North of the country.  Assistance to displaced populations extends across the Far North, notably Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga and Logone & Chari, delivering lifesaving programming to increase access to water and improving hygiene practices in vulnerable displaced and host communities, cash programming to enable poor families to meet basic needs and improve food security, and protection programming, including meeting specific needs of women and girls.  The Coordination office is located in Maroua, with a field base in Kousseri and a representation office in Yaounde.

Following the increasing crisis in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon, the IRC expanded its operations into the South West region in August 2018. The IRC is delivering lifesaving humanitarian assistance to internally displaced populations, with a field base in Buea.

IRC Cameroon is committed in its 2020 Strategic Action Plan, to continue to provide essential humanitarian services, with a focus on safety in communities and ensuring affected populations can meet their basic needs, whilst also building the resilience of beneficiaries, especially women and girls. IRC Cameroon is funded by European and American donors

The Protection Officer is responsible for protection activities in the areas affected by the crisis. The main tasks will be to monitor the situation in terms of protection of populations affected by the crisis, to conduct the mapping for existing service providers and provide information to the communities through the organization of focus groups or individual interviews and finally refer the most urgent cases to the appropriate service. The Protection Officer will respect the principle of confidentiality of the information received during the activities. This officer will work closely with the Protection Manager and other Mobile Team members to provide a protection response during deployment.

The Protection Officer will report to the Protection Manager

RESPONSABILITES:

• Conduct protection risk analysis in deployment areas and in coordination with WPE teams, work with communities including CBOs to develop risk reduction mechanisms
• Conduct the Rapid Protection Assessment and refer at-risk individuals to relevant / appropriate service providers, including health centers, community-based organizations, NGO programs or other care services in the intervention areas.
• Providing emergency response to cases of protection for persons with special needs
• Conduct mapping of existing service providers on deployment areas and, through focus group, provide an update on existing services and their accessibility for people with specific protection needs.
• In collaboration with the Protection Manager and the WPE team, organize capacity building sessions for COB members and community leaders on protection topics.
• Work with WPE teams to facilitate internal referencing.
• Report daily information protection situation Protection Manager for integration in monitoring reports.
• Ensure ethical and confidential data collection during monitoring and evaluation.
• Monitor the progress of the program and identify any delays that have been or may be expected
• Comply with the IRC security procedures and report the security information provided to him to ensure a safe and secure environment for the implementation of the program.

Monitoring & Reporting,

• Ensure that activities are fully documented, including regular and systematic collection of data required by the lessor and for use in M & E activities.
• Establish and implement a training evaluation system as pre-post tests to measure participants' learning level.
• Produce / contribute to the writing of the reports required by IRC and the lessor (progress of activities, monitoring of indicators, etc.)

Coordination & Représentation

• Ensure coordination on the organization of training in mainstreaming protection with other stakeholders on the theme as well as with communities.
• Work closely and coordinate with the IRC Support Services to carry out program activities. This includes participation in the opening, follow-up and closing meetings of the grant
• Ensure linkage, coordination and sharing of information on activities with national NGOs, international organizations, donors and the government

Master’s Degree of Law or Science in Social Science, Public Health, Humanities or other related field, desirable;

Skills and Abilities

• At least two years' experience in humanitarian work, specifically in the protection sector and in an emergency context
• To be of Cameroon nationality;
• Strong ability to maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, and work in a difficult environment;
• Fluency in English and/or pidgin preferred or required ;
• Clear understanding of gender, human rights, and issues surrounding violence against women and girls;
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients;
• Knowledge and experience with community outreach and mobilization in the South West Region