Protection Manager at the Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than twenty five countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.

The protection and assistance to conflict affected population is provided within a long-term, regional and rights-based approach in order to constitute a coherent and effective response to the challenges posed by today’s conflicts. Assistance consists of relief and other humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, support to return and repatriation as well as promotion of long-term solutions to displacement and its causes. In addition, support and capacity building of local and national authorities and NGOs form an integral part of DRC’s work.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Protection Manager

Location: Yola

About the Programme
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been operational in West Africa since 1998. Our aim is to contribute to the peace and stabilization, protection and promotion of durable solution to crisis affected populations in the region. The overall strategic objective of the programme is to support peace and stabilization, protect and promote durable solutions to conflict affected populations in Nigeria, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinée, and Mali on the basis of humanitarian principles and fundamental human rights.

DRC has opened a new country programme in Nigeria focusing on responding to the huge humanitarian needs and challenges in the North East of Nigeria. Nigeria’s north-east is currently experiencing a significant humanitarian crisis, which has been the result of the ongoing-armed conflict between Boko Haram, the Nigerian military and the Multi-National Task Force in the north-east. An estimated 10 million people are affected by the conflict, which has led to a state of emergency being declared in three North-Eastern states and spill-over effects into neighbouring countries. High insecurity in the region has made access for humanitarian actors extremely difficult and further exacerbating the situation.

DRC operations is initially focus on Yola and Mubi in Adamawa State, and in the process of opening an base in Maiduguri, Borno State and from there we will focus on meeting the basic needs (protection, WASH, food security and shelter) of urban caseloads as well as supporting outreach to affected areas and displacement camps. DRC also maintains a representational office in Abuja and a larger coordination and field based implementation office in Yola, Adamawa State.

Job Profile

• The Protection Manager will have the overall responsibility of leading, coordinating and implementing DRC protection activities in North East Nigeria and support a consistent integration of a rights- based approach into all DRC’s program activities in Nigeria.
• The Protection Manager will play a central role in building relationships with key humanitarian partners and donors in securing funding to expand DRC’s protection programs in Nigeria.
• He/She will be directly supervised by the Country Director / Program Coordinator in North East Nigeria. Specifically, the Protection Manager will perform the following tasks:

Key Responsibilities
Program Strategy & Design:

• Develop, coordinate, plan, implement, monitor and report on DRC’s Protection Program interventions in North East Nigeria in camp and off camp conflict-affected IDPs and Host Communities, as per International best practice standards
• Conduct needs assessments to inform program design and strategic direction as well as identify risks and vulnerabilities, including those related to gender, age and diversity
• Develop concrete community based initiatives to reduce these risks and specific strategies to build upon assets within the population
• Assess protection needs and identify problems/gaps and propose/prioritize timely practical actions to respond to particular protection problems
• Lead the compilation and analysis of protection monitoring information for sharing with partners and donors
• Ensure that protection information is used effectively to advocate on important issues as well as longer term planning for target populations
• Ensure the delivery of Individual Protection Assistance packages to most vulnerable individuals
• Develop training materials on protection principles, protection monitoring, reporting and referrals for field based staff, including strengthening information and reporting systems.
• Ensure the mainstreaming of protection, child protection, women protection and community based protection components in the DRC Nigeria emergency response programmes according to DRC’s protection mainstreaming framework, international law and protection standards
• Work in close coordination with UNHCR and the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs at the State level and all relevant stakeholders to support the management of the Protection Working Group in Adamawa State in order to coordinate the humanitarian response to the needs of disaster/conflict-affected populations in Adamawa State.
• Building the capacity of the Government and other Protection Working Group members to create a stronger protection environment and to prepare for future emergency responses
• Explore new business and partnerships and work closely with the Country Director / Program Coordinator to develop quality proposals, concept notes and budgets, ensuring that all new budgets accurately reflect program activities and required staffing levels.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Responsible to ensure that Protection programs meet stated objectives within the timeframe, with specific attention to ensuring quality interventions.
• Monitor financial spending and budgets for all protection projects in North East Nigeria
• Ensure that quality assurance systems are developed and applied, with particular reference to the HAP Standard and Age Gender and Diversity throughout the program
• Ensure that DRC Protection programmes are implemented in accordance with DRC standard regulations and operational procedures ( eg Code of Conduct, HAP Principles, DRC Assistance Framework, DRC Programme Handbook)

Team Management:

• Recruit, coach and mentor protection staff
• Ensure the roll out of regular staff trainings and refresher sessions to maintain a high standard of capacity among the protection field teams in all areas.
• Set clear objectives for the protection team and do timely performance evaluations

Coordination & Representation:

• Represent the DRC protection program at the Protection Sector Working Group meeting (PSWG), Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) and other relevant forums for protection advocacy.
• Participate in advocacy initiatives
• Coordinate with Government authorities, UN agencies, INGOs, local partners and other key stakeholders on the provision of protection services for IDPs and relevant contingency planning
• Work closely with other agencies to implement common protection standards in North East Nigeria and develop common strategies and responses, notably through supporting and participating in coordination meetings
• Promote improved understanding of protection issues among all relevant stakeholders and ensure the observance of international protection and humanitarian law standards
• Coordinate with the Country Director to forge connections with key government agencies
• Represent DRC Protection in high level and strategic meetings involving protection actors, UN agencies and the Government

Security:

• Daily aware and involved in the security situation and insure the communication with the programs staff and Safety Advisor;
• Responsible to understand and able to implement the security rules

Qualifications
Required:

• Professional background in protection of internally displaced persons and/or refugees, as well as human rights law in general (masters level or equivalent)
• Minimum of 5 years of protection work experience in the field of Law or Protection, particularly within the field of migrant/IDP protection, with experience in complex emergencies
• Proven track-record in understanding International Law and Humanitarian Principles
• Proven experience with implementation of operations in very insecure environments
• Experience with emergency protection monitoring, documentation & analysis of protection data, protection training and advocacy, child protection and set up of community protection networks
• Experience in project management, including donor relations and staff supervision
• Demonstrated aptitude in project design, management and implementation
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective and working relations with different stakeholders
• Strong coordination and advocacy skills
• Strong, creative problem-solving skills
• Flexibility to work in a diverse multicultural team with due respect for diverse culture and norms
• Proven ability to live and work in an unstable, insecure environment.
• Excellent professional written and oral English language skills

Preferable:

• Experience with relief/emergency response activities, especially assessments, monitoring are an advantage
• Experience working for or with UNHCR is an advantage;
• Good experience in training and liaising with Governmental authorities and national NGO;
• Experience with donors such as UNHCR, ECHO, and OFDA
• We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age

Conditions

• Availability: As soon as possible following interview process.
• Duty Station: Yola, Adamawa State, with frequent travel to Abuja and the field according to the needs - Non Family Duty Station
• Contract: One year with a possibility of extension, subject to funding.

Application Closing Date
7th January, 2016.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidate should:
Click here to apply online