Title: Protection Officer (Peace Committees)

Location:  Shire

Required No: 1

Employment Category:  H2

Reporting To: Protection Team Leader

Direct Reports: N/A

Start of Contract & Duration:  From August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022

Posting date: June 22, 2021

INTRODUCTION

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), an international non-governmental organization (NGO), has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. DRC promotes and supports solutions to the problems faced by refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and migrants. The organization has offices across the region, and has been operational in Ethiopia since 2009.  With funding from bilateral and multilateral donors, DRC is currently implementing a range of activities across Ethiopia and Djibouti, including WASH and shelter provision, child and youth protection, Gender based violence response, awareness-raising of migration risks, protection monitoring of migration routes, and livelihoods support for returning migrants or those at-risk of migration.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

Under supervision of the community engagement team leader, the officer will be responsible for coordinating and implementing activities related to the establishment and management of peace committees in Shire. Specifically, she/he will work to establish and train peace committees as an alternative dispute resolution body, map community-based structures, establish them/strengthen their representatively, build their capacity, mobilize them, liaise and support them to develop protection initiatives. The officer will also facilitate and coordinate the peace committees and social cohesion activities in Shire and surrounding areas as agreed with protection manager. The position is also expected to contribute to other protection activities that DRC is implementing in the area based on capacity and direction from the supervisor.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Support

•  Lead or contribute to protection/multisectoral assessments and mappings, and identify protection needs;
• Establish inclusive community protection focal points in first phase emergency in collaboration with the Protection team;
• Contribute in mapping community-based structures and strengthen existing community-based protection structures or establish new ones for representatively;
• Ensure that the community-based protection structures are inclusive, representative, gender and age sensitive;
• Provide ongoing mentorship and technical support/capacity building to the protection focal points, protection community-based structures and peace committees in the areas of intervention on various protection related topics in line with internal standards;
• Connect the focal points and structures to the other local actors and key stakeholders;
• Support the structures in developing protection action plans and developing and implementing related initiatives;
• Contribute to the development of comprehensive service mapping by providing information on the community -based structures in the area and inputting in DRC service mapping;
• Contribute to the protection monitoring by conducting protection monitoring assessments with the protection community- based structures and sharing information with the identified relevant person;
• Provide capacity building on basic protection, PFA, identification and referrals to all community-based structures and focal points DRC works with;
• Ensure strong synergy with the other community-based structures DRC work with (including in WASH and Shelter);
• Ensure the protection community-based protection structures play a key role in supporting DRC protection activities and objectives;
• Contribute to the development of DRC community-based protection approach and relevant tools in line with best practices and standards;
• Promote team building and contribute to a positive working environment;
• Plan and oversee the protection activities under this position, produce work and activity plans and ensure implementation;
• Coordinate inputs from DRC’s supporting units, particularly logistics and finance;
• In collaboration with the Protection Manager, ensure implementation of protection activities according to program commitments;
• Compile and provide weekly and monthly reports on all protection activities under their direct responsibility and on project implementation progress.  This includes submitting weekly and monthly reports to the Protection Manager and M&E team;
• Provide ongoing general monitoring of the operating context to ensure relevance and accountability to DRC's beneficiary populations;
• Report any noteworthy developments in the external context, humanitarian and security situation to the Protection Manager or Area Manager;
• Contribute to donor report and external report developments;
• Maintaining accurate and comprehensive files of project activities, outputs, materials, means of verification and other relevant documentation.

Experience and Technical Competencies: (include years of experience)

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in an entry to mid-level position, with experience in the field of protection in a humanitarian response working with refugees and/or IDPs for an international NGO, UN agency or relevant ministry or local authority.
• Technical understanding of core protection concepts, prevention and response strategies in line with best practices;
• Experience in conducting protection monitoring and assessments, in developing and strengthening service mapping and referral pathways;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Hands-on experience and emergency and first line response experience is highly desired;
• Strong initiative skills;
• Experience working in protection in an integrated manner with other humanitarian sectors of intervention;
• Experience working with displaced or conflict affected populations;
• Strong planning, organizational and problem-solving skills with the ability to work both independently and within a team;
• Integrity, strong work ethic, and ability to consistently meet deadlines under pressure;
• Strong interpersonal skills and commitment to learning and implementing organizational policies and procedures;
• Full proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.

Education (include certificates, licenses etc.):

• University degree in social sciences, law, social work, international development, or other relevant field from a recognized institution.

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• Excellent verbal and written proficiency in Amharic, English and Tigrinya.

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: Acting in line with DRC's vision and values