Protection Coordinator

Job title: Protection Coordinator

Line Manager: Head of Programme (HoP)

Technical line manager: Regional Protection Coordinator

Duty Station: Yaounde with frequent field visits

Area of Operation: Adamawa, East, North, Far North, Southwest and Northwest regions

Duration: 1 year renewable

Type of contract: National contract (reserved for Cameroonian nationals only)

Salary & Benefits: NM.G 1

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

1. Background

DRC has been present in West and Central Africa since 1998. DRC’s regional office for West Africa, North Africa and Latin America is based in Dakar, Senegal, and covers twelve countries outside Senegal. The Cameroon country office opened in 2018 and currently includes a coordination office in the capital Yaoundé, a base in Buea covering the South West region, a base in Meiganga covering the Adamaoua and East regions, and a base in Kousséri for the Far North – hosted by its partner ASOL. DRC Cameroun plans to extend its activities to the North and North-West regions and to Maroua in the Far North.

DRC Cameroon implements several projects in its operational zones with strong protection components (including child protection, the fight against GBV, civil documentation, psychosocial support) and promotes an integrated approach with DRC Cameroon’s other key sectors (economic recovery and peace consolidation). DRC Cameroon also supports several local civil society organisations in building their capacity for protection activities. DRC is co-leader of the Protection cluster in Cameroon.

We are looking for an experienced humanitarian professional with excellent protection knowledge and project implementation skills to lead our strategic approach to protection in Cameroon.

2. Purpose

The Protection Coordinator is part of the DRC Cameroon coordination team based in Yaoundé and works closely with the other technical coordinators and the protection/programme teams based in the three intervention zones. The two main objectives of the role are:

• Provide technical support to operational teams (DRC and local partners) through capacity building and close coaching/follow-up of programme implementation for all protection activities including general protection, protection monitoring, individual assistance and case management, child protection, psychosocial support, GBV, civil documentation, etc.
• Overseeing the development and implementation of the country’s protection strategy and supporting the development of expertise and portfolio in the protection sector.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

Coordination and representation

• Collaborate with internal and external technical experts on protection issues.
• Represent DRC at coordination meetings and relevant clusters.
• Ensure good representation and reputation of the protection sector at all levels.
• Disseminate information internally on sector developments at country level.
• Keep abreast of protection activities implemented by other organisations in Cameroon; ensure complementarity of DRC interventions and assess opportunities for collaboration/referral in collaboration with the Head of Programmes.
• Coordinate with DRC counterparts in other countries in the region and beyond and actively participate in internal DRC workshops and events organised on protection-related topics.
• Coordinate with Cameroonian actors in the protection sector (MINAS, local CSOs, etc.).

General programming & operations

• Developing/updating the country’s protection strategy and disseminating it to the field teams.
• Monitor and technically supervise the quality of protection interventions.
• Support the Head of Programmes in implementing the protection components of the programme while ensuring compliance with the project proposal/logical framework, budget, work plan and MEAL plan.
• Produce protection needs assessments, analyses, periodic reports and other quality documents related to protection in collaboration with the Protection Information Manager (PIM).
• Carry out capacity building and training needs assessment for programme/protection teams and provide appropriate training.
• Support the quality of protection data collection and management by supervising the Protection Information Management Officer.
• Support field teams in building the capacity of partner CSOs.
• Ensure the mainstreaming of cross-cutting protection in all DRC projects, as well as the integrated approach to protection with other key DRC sectors.
• Ensure that individual assistance and case management by DRC teams and partners respect DRC’s protection principles and minimum standards.
• Providing technical support for the development of capacity-building plans for local players (guidance, expertise, training, etc.).

Programme development and reporting

• Leading the development of proposals for protection activities in coordination with Area Managers, Programme Managers, other technical coordinators and the Head of Programmes.
• Contribute to the development of work plans and budgets for new proposals.
• Contribute to the development of programme monitoring tools for protection activities and ensure that lessons learned are taken into account.
• Ensure that new proposals comply with international and national protection cluster standards and DRC protection guidelines.
• Support the Head of Programmes and Country Director in managing donor relations to secure new funding for DRC programming in Cameroon.
• Contribute to project reporting and ensure quality reporting of protection activities.

As coordinator, the post-holder is responsible for the following:

• Responsible for coordinating the country’s protection strategy.
• Responsible for supporting the quality of protection programmes and activities in Cameroon.
• Technical supervision of the Protection Information Manager (PIM) and responsible for the quality of all protection data.
• Technical support for protection teams in the field.
• Any other ad hoc tasks as requested by the Head of Programmes or the Country Director.

4. Required Qualifications

• At least 5 years’ practical experience in the humanitarian sector and in general protection issues or sectors specialising in protection.
• Excellent knowledge of protection issues in an emergency context and of protection guidelines and principles.
• Proven experience in programme planning and proposal development, including budgeting.
• Experience of working with local partners, local authorities and other INGOs as part of a consortium.
• Professional command of English and French, including excellent writing skills in both languages.
• Experience in facilitating training in the following sectors: protection in emergencies, protection monitoring, PSS, GBV, child protection.
• Good understanding of the Central African/Chadian/Cameroonian context would be an added value.

Education

• Master’s degree in political science, humanitarian or development studies, gender/protection or other relevant field
• Any other relevant professional training in protection

5. Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration and partnership development
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment.
• Excellent writing, proof-reading, and communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills.
• Strong ability to adapt, take initiative.
• Interest for humanitarian sector and donor’s environment.
• Listening, analytical and synthesis skills.
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required.
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace.

6. General regulations

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality, and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• Employee should not engage in any other paid activity during the DRC contract period without prior authorization.
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC.
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization.
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.
• Employee shall respect beneficiaries and partners rights and dignity.