Protection Coordinator

We are looking for a highly qualified, self-motivated Protection Coordinator who is able to coordinate protection activities, work with diverse teams of both national and international staff, and equipped with technical skills to develop and strengthen emergency response capacity in a highly complex crisis.

DRC is operational in South Sudan since 2005, working with the overall aim of achieving durable solutions for displaced populations. The Danish Demining Group (DDG) started Humanitarian Mine Action in 2006.

Danish Refugee Council main program objectives (2018-2020) in South Sudan are:
1.    To save lives and alleviate suffering among displaced people and their hosts
2.    To reduce displacement related risks and support and facilitate solutions
3.    To promote peaceful, inclusive and resilient societies and address root causes to displacement

DRC primarily operates across Upper Nile and Unity states, both of which are heavily affected by conflict and experience high numbers of internally displaced populations as well as refugees in need of humanitarian assistance. DRC has operational bases in Maban, Malakal, Kodok and Aburoc in Upper Nile and in Bentiu, Mayom, and Ajuong Thok in Unity state, supported by a country-office in Juba.

Overall purpose of the role: 

Reporting to the Head of Programmes (HoP), the Protection Coordinator will provide strategic vision and overall coordination of DRCs general protection and GBV work across the country to ensure that DRC delivers high quality work that has a meaningful impact on those it serves.  S/He will be responsible for provision of sectoral technical leadership and support to DRC Protection/GBV Teams and other staff with a view to ensure that DRC provides a high-quality Protection and GBV response across its intervention areas.

The Protection Coordinator will be responsible for developing and implementing the DRC Protection strategy for South Sudan in coordination with the other staff. One of the key roles of the Protection Coordinator is to constantly improve programme quality and relevance. While the Protection Coordinator does not directly manage the Protection teams and are not directly in charge of project implementation, they are responsible for the mentoring, capacity building and training of Protection managers, team leaders and officers based on technical needs identified amongst the staff.

DRC is in one of the key protection actors in South Sudan, the Protection Coordinator ensures close collaboration and strong relations, as required, with clusters, donors, and other Protection partners. The Protection Coordinator will lead efforts to growing the protection/GBV portfolio including fundraising, proposal development and donor engagement.

Responsibilities

Programme strategy development:  

• Develop and implement DRC Protection country strategy in coordination with the Head of Programmes and in consultation with South Sudan Protection Cluster and support DRC field teams with local strategy development;  
• Produce guidelines on DRC strategy and its operationalization in the field for the sector managers.  
• Ensure protection is mainstreamed in all DRC proposals and interventions;
• Maintain up to date knowledge of protection issues in South Sudan and share this information with teams and senior management as appropriate; Provide high level technical advice to DRC Head of Programme to support DRC strategic directions in terms of Protection;
• Define and update DRC South Sudan standards of quality, standard operational procedures, and standard tools. Ensure their implementation across all protection activities in all locations;  
• Identify areas of improvement on the quality and impact of DRC Protection programming in South Sudan and develop innovative approaches - produce guidelines to implement these improvements and innovations.  
• Lead/Contribute to Protection proposal development, providing strategic direction, innovative approaches in consultation with Coordinators and field Managers.

External relations, advocacy, and representation:  

• Represent DRC in external meetings related to Protection, attend and engage in strategic discussions during the Protection national cluster meetings; Advocate and guide advocacy on protection issues; Represent DRC in the Protection Cluster Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), the GBV sub-cluster and related working groups, protection monitoring working group, Housing land and property working group, and GBVIMS coordination meetings

• Present DRC Protection strategy, innovative approaches, assessment outcomes, or/and key achievement in donor meeting or/and in National Cluster meetings;  
• Establish and maintain links with all Protections actors and stakeholders, and continuously seek advocacy alliances;  
• Stay up to date with donor strategies and practices within South Sudan and provide technical backstopping to the Head of Programmes in donor relations and humanitarian coordination meetings, when relevant;  
• Maintain close collaboration and good relations as required with donors and other partners;

Staff capacity building and people management;  

• Identify areas of improvement and potential gaps in technical protection capacity of DRC staff;
• Ensure all staff are familiar with Protection Information Management (PIM) principles and processes;
• Ensure training and capacity building of all DRC staff on Protection mainstreaming;  
• Identify professional growth opportunities and staff exchanges for the protection team
• Support recruitment of key protection staff by providing technical questions and participate in interview panels for;  
• Provide input in revised job descriptions if needed;

Technical advice & quality:  

• Provide technical support and advice to Protection staff on implementation of Protection activities, including advice on dealing with arising protection concerns at the field locations;  
• Provide guidance on development of new Protection activities;  
• Ensure standard operating procedures are in place for all activities and approaches;
• Promote a principled and participatory approach and solutions-oriented approach to Protection in the DRC programmes;
• Provide guidance and support to teams on principled and conflict-sensitive programming, as well as develop advocacy messaging on such.
• Ensuring data protection and security standards are upheld for all protection data and information gathered and processed by DRC protection team;
• Lead on engaging external consultants for technical protection assessments, such as legal assessments and Housing land and property assessments.
• Ensure harmonization and standardization of tools, and monitor implementation and use of the tools;
• Provide technical support and analysis on GBV case management and protection monitoring;
• Review all protection assessments, protection monitoring reports, and other protection technical reports, before external sharing. Ensure quality of advocacy notes and policy notes, other protection reports;  
• Ensure collection of lesson learned from ongoing project (in coordination with the MEAL Manager) and promote learning from relevant best practices internally and externally;
• Ensure DRC feedback, complaints and accountability mechanisms in country are sensitive to protection concerns and sensitivities;
• Mainstream Age Gender and Diversity into protection programme;
• Act as an advocate for gender equality, and mainstream gender-sensitive approaches into programmes and practices 

Coordination and Information sharing:

• Strengthen protection programmatic synergies between different implementation areas and between DRC’s various projects and donors;
• Facilitate communication and coordination between protection staff based in different locations via information sharing, skype group, workshops, and trainings. Ensure a strong information flow to and from field sites, including updates to and from the Protection Cluster;  
• Identify gaps and needs in Protection programme in DRC IDPs and Refugees sites;  
• Support the strategic planning and implementation of project activities related to Protection components of all projects;  
• Ensure link and integration of Protection activities with other DRC sectors (CCCM, NFI/Shelter, FSL, WASH and AVR);
• Work closely with MEAL team on protection programme quality monitoring and evaluation; and ensuring protection related baseline and endline assessments are of high quality.
• Support protection/GBV managers on donor reports through review of performance/progress assessments against pre-defined project objectives, outputs, activities and indicators;  

About You

Experience and technical competencies

• At least 7 years’ proven and successful record of accomplishment of protection and GBV experience, with at least 4 years in similar international settings. Prior experience in similar position.
• Solid experience in SGBV programming, standards and experience in conflict and disaster affected countries.
• Strong knowledge of protection and legal aid, and housing land and property;
• Demonstrated experience in providing training on protection, GBV, GBVIMS, PIM, protection mainstreaming, PSEA, etc.
• Knowledge of Protection information management;
• Experience in conducting protection advocacy in high level coordination meetings;
• Ability to work effectively as an integral part of multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team and to work with a wide range of counterparts, and other partners;  
• Strong external and internal coordination and communication skills;  
• Demonstrated experience in working to tight deadlines, and managing pressure;  
• Experience in managing teams
• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential;  
• Self-motivated and able to work with a minimum of guidance;  
• Very strong computer skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook)  

Desirable qualifications

• Fluency in written and spoken English language;
• Prior experience in South Sudan  
• Prior experience with UN cluster system  
• Experience in accountability to beneficiaries and communication with communities;  

Moreover, in this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ 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: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Key stakeholders:

• International and national colleagues
• Displacement-affected communities
• UN Agencies, humanitarian and development actors, coordination bodies, other donors

We offer

Duration: 1 year contract, renewable contract subject to Performance and Funding.

Contract:    Salary and conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Global Expatriates available at www.drc.dk under Vacancies graded as Band M.F level 2. 

Start Date:   asap

Duty Station:     Juba – South Sudan

Reporting:         This position reports to Head of Programme

Commitments:     DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html).  All DRC staff must be committed to the Red Cross Code of Conduct, as well as the Core Humanitarian Standards.

Gender Equality:     DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels.  In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gender gap. 

Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer.  We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees.  We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, colour, race, marital status or other protected characteristics.

Applications 
All applicants must send a cover letter (max 1 page) and an updated CV (max 3 pages) in English. The cover letter should outline your personal motivation for applying and your key qualifications for the position.

Please click on the apply button to apply. Applications sent by email will not be considered. 

Closing date for applications: 12th September, 2021 and note that due to urgency to fill this position, recruitment can be finalized before closing date of applications.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit  drc.ngo/jobsupport