Protection Officer at Care Best Initiative

Care Best Initiative (CBI) is a fast-growing, woman-led, and youth-driven Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in 2019 and presently operational in states within North-East, Nigeria. Our objectives are to save lives, alleviate the suffering of children, women, and other vulnerable people; and maintain human dignity during and in the aftermath of man-made crises and natural disasters; as well as to prevent and strengthen preparedness for the occurrence of such situations; and to promote the right of children, women and vulnerable people in the society. Our actions are multi-sectorial inclined, gender-sensitive, and socially inclusive.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Protection Officer

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Contract
Job type: Contractual - Twelve (12) months
Responsible for: Delivering CBI Nutrition program
Reports to: Nutrition Supervisor
Department: Programs

Background

• We have implemented various donor and self-funded projects/activities in several areas of humanitarian needs among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities. We are actively present in Northeast (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Bauchi States) and Northwest (Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi states) Nigeria. CBI employs a multi-sectorial stakeholder-engagement and community-inclusion approach to the implementation of all her programs and activities and is well experienced in advocacy, influencing awareness creation, and behavioural change programming.
• Our thematic areas of operations cut across sectors like Health (FP, SRH, HIV/AIDS & RI), Education, Nutrition (CMAM, MIYCN), Protection (GBV, Child Protection, GE&I), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Food Security & Livelihood (FSL) among others with the objectives to improve access to basic and reproductive health services, and support distressed families.
• We also facilitate developmental programs, such as stakeholders’ advocacy campaigns against systemic and deep-rooted gender inequalities and barriers that will improve the socio-economic status of the most vulnerable (including orphans, PLWHA, PWDs, out-of-school children, Almajiri students, and Islamiyya students), promote infrastructural and environmental development, and promote equitable gender and social activities in communities.
• As our activities are also aimed at strengthening the resilience of the most vulnerable and building their capacity and self-reliance through education, sensitization, and awareness creation, CBI works in partnership with the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Health as well as other relevant line-ministries for implementation.
• CBI also partners with other local and international partners and is an active member of several Clusters, working groups, and CSO Networks in all her states of operation and at the national level is a member of the Coalition of NGOs in Nigeria.

Job Purpose

• The Protection Officer will be responsible for protection mainstreaming in project implementations. Under the guidance of the CBI Protection Focal Person, the role supports implementation of the CBI Nigeria's protection programme with the objective of providing timely and effective protection to targeted populations.
• He/she supervises protection interventions including the provision of appropriate and timely supervision of case management services, identifying training needs of protection assistants, and ensuring that protection issues are effectively embedded in all project activities. The role supports and ensures protection services and activities are delivered in line with CBI and international quality standards.
• The Protection Officer will be a member of PCO Project Team and report to Programme Coordinator (PC).
• The staff is also expected to be responsible for the entire process of management of protection mainstreaming activities at the field. Furthermore, He/she will assist the PC regarding regular updates and progress of the project on project and strategic interventions with regard to protection mainstreaming.
• Through strategic implementation of this project, he/she will directly work to contribute to the execution of CBI overall mission and strategic plan goals for 2023 and 2024.

Job Description / Principal Accountabilities

• Supports in developing tools to ensure up to date and technically sound mechanisms are in place for gender and protection mainstreaming.
• Provides guidance to outreach volunteers and social workers in the planning and implementation of participatory community activities, awareness sessions and campaigns and in the general communication with communities
• Supports the planning, implementation and reporting on all protection activities via monthly work plans, schedules and team management
• Assists in decision-making vis-à-vis material assistance to beneficiaries, documenting for both technical and financial reporting
• Provides individual supervision sessions on a weekly basis to each field volunteer, supporting and coaching them in their duties using various methods. Support the field volunteers’ ability to find solutions and respond appropriately to daily challenges
• Identifies gaps and training needs for the project team and request support from the Protection Focal Person to provide the same. Provide learning opportunities via the delivery of trainings, workshops and role modelling
• Compiles information from protection focal points and provide weekly reports to the Program Coordinator and the relevant thematic manager with observations and recommendations to enhance the protection environment.
• Provides verbal and written feedback on a daily basis to direct supervisor; assist in writing regular narrative and quantitative reports when requested.
• Conducts field visits to distribution sites, areas of operation, centers, and other areas where Human Appeal conducts activities.

Job Holder Entry Requirements
Knowledge (Education & Related Experience):

• University Degree in a related field (e.g. Social Work, Psychology, Law)
• Minimum 2-years of relevant work experience in psychology, social work, case management, counselling, etc.
• Minimum 1- of work experience with an INGO, NGOs and/or local authorities in years Nigeria in the protection sector
• Minimum 1-year of supervisory experience with an INGO, NGOs and/or local authorities in Nigeria

Skills (Special Training or Competence):
General professional competencies:

• Proven experience in computer systems and network administration
• Previous experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• Team management
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities

Training skills:

• Clear written and verbal communication
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal
• Good knowledge of the local humanitarian and security context
• Context / Specific skills, Knowledge and experience:
• In-depth knowledge of the Office 365 suite
• Designing and managing IP networks
• Bandwidth optimization and high availability techniques.
• Knowledge of installation, configuration and maintenance of HF and VHF radios is an asset.

Performance Management:
The employee will be accountable for the responsibilities and the competencies, in accordance with CBI Human Resource and Performance Management manual. The following documents will be used for performance reviews:

• The Job Description
• The work and development plan
• The Mid-term / End of trial period Performance Review Template
• The End-term Performance Review Template
• The CBI Competency Framework.

Key Behaviours:

• Interpersonal and intercultural sensitivity.
• Social and receptive (active listener).
• High degree of integrity.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of the team, as the situation dictates.
• Proactive and ready to take initiative.
• Ability to assimilate and handle a wide range of information efficiently and effectively.
• High level of stress tolerance and ability to work under pressure with minimum supervision.
• Willingness to undertake extensive field trips within the PCO working area.

Key Relationships (excluding own line manager and staff):
Internal:

• Program Coordinator
• Protection Coordinator
• Finance and Support Services team
• Various staff based in all CBI core departments, as and when necessary (e.g. funding, PDA, MEAL, finance, PPA)

External:

• Partners
• Consultants
• Service Providers/Stakeholders (Other NGOs)
• Government agencies
• Community leaders/CBO

Application Closing Date
31st March, 2024.