Regional Protection Coordinator – Latin America

Position Title: Regional Protection Coordinator – Latin America

Supervised by: Regional Protection Manager – West Africa, North Africa and Latin America (WANALA)

Reporting to: Regional Protection Manager – West Africa, North Africa and Latin America (WANALA)

Duty Station: Bogota

Area of Operation: Latin America

Employment Period: 12 months (potentially renewable)

Type of contract: Expatriate contract

Salary & Benefits: Non- Management, Band F ; Accompanied position, Small family package

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 fulfillment 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 operating in Latin America since 2011. The DRC West & North Africa and Latin America Regional Office (hereafter: WANALA RO) is based in Dakar, Senegal, and covers over twelve countries outside of Senegal. Led by the Executive Director for West & North Africa and Latin America, the DRC WANALA RO oversees, supports and provides strategic directions for DRC’s Country Offices within the region, which currently includes Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Algeria-Tunisia, Libya, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Mexico.

2. Purpose

The Regional Protection Coordinator LA is responsible for supporting DRC in quality protection programming at the in Latin America (Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and a regional project). This includes providing support, advice, and quality checks on protection aspects of country and regional strategies as well as on programming initiatives and concrete projects. The RPC LA will also contribute to raising DRC’s profile and involvement when it comes to relevant policy and advocacy initiatives in Latin America.

This position is a senior one, requiring a strong previous experience in protection programming, protection strategy and management. This position also requires strong communication and analysis skills in order to feed informed decision-making regarding DRC operations. The Regional Protection Coordinator LA will be part of the WANALA regional programme team. The Regional Protection Coordinator LA will be based in Bogota but may have to travel up to 30% of the working time through the region.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Regional Protection Manager WANALA, the Regional Protection Manager LA will lead the Protection Programming in Latin America. Protection as a sector for DRC includes advocacy for the rights of displaced people in their context of displacement, child protection, individual protection assistance based on vulnerability, legal aid, land & property rights, sexual and gender-based violence prevention, registration services for the internally displaced and refugees, monitoring of rights and rights awareness-raising, facilitation of return and repatriation processes. As the technical focal point for country protection staff, the RPC LA will be responsible for developing DRC’s protection capacity in Latin America as well as supporting the technical expertise in countries. Under the direct management of the Regional Protection Manager WANALA, s/he is expected to pursue the following objectives and duties in his/her daily work:

Overall objectives:

Under the management of the WANALA Regional Protection Manager, the RPC LA will have the following activities and tasks:

• Supervise the WANALA’s Protection Strategy and protection programme development in Latin America
• Assure protection programme quality and accountability
• Represent DRC in Regional Protection Fora and with donors in Panama
• Capacity building of the Protection Staff in Latin America
• Facilitate the coordination and exchanges of best practices in Latin America and with the larger WANALA region

Specifically, his/her main responsibilities will be:

STRATEGIC AND PROGRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT

• Support the WANALA Protection Manager in the development of strategic protection documents, guidelines, advocacy papers for Latin America
• Support countries in the development of protection analyses and strategies.
• Follow up and support the country’s action plans to reach the DRC Protection Minimum Standards (PMOPS)
• Explore new business and partnerships and work closely with the LA PDQM to develop quality proposals, concept notes and budgets, ensuring that all new budgets accurately reflect program activities and required staffing levels.

PROGRAM QUALITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

• Develop the technical capacity of Protection Staff in Latin America
• Provide technical guidance and support to the regional office and to programmes in Latin America to ensure the highest level of quality in protection analyses, strategies, proposals and responses, in adherence with global standards and principles
• Control quality and compliance for protection projects, proposals, and reports.}
• Ensure that quality assurance systems are applied, with reference to upholding CHS (Core Humanitarian Standards) and Age Gender and diversity throughout the protection programme
• Conduct regular field visits to identify and address programme quality concerns and gain a solid first-hand understanding of protection risks and trends at the CO level
• Champion the mainstreaming of protection in DRC’s wider programmes, according to DRC protection mainstreaming framework and in strong collaboration with other teams and sectors.
• Systematically and closely monitor the delivery and expenditure rates of ongoing regional protection projects, promptly identifying and correcting under-delivery issues and deviations from workplans
• Ensure that regional Protection programs meet stated objectives and indicators within agreed timeframes
• Oversee knowledge sharing across protection teams and ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve programs.

EXTERNAL COORDINATION

• Liaise permanently with DRC partner organizations, R4V, REDLAC, UNHCR, OCHA and other protection humanitarian actors within the region.
• Representation of DRC and active participation in protection sectors/working groups.
• Liaise with and support regional initiatives with protection and research components.
• Contribute to DRC advocacy and policy influencing in the region for protection sector, externally as well as internally, and representing the organization in relevant fora

4. Required Qualifications

• Post-graduate degree/ University Degree (Master) from a recognized institution in International Relations, International Law, Political Science/ Public Affairs, or another relevant field is required
• Minimum 5 years of experience in senior protection positions including proven monitoring capacity building in the field.
• Proven and significant experience related to ethics, safeguarding and accountability to affected populations
• Proven experience in developing protection strategies.
• Experience working in a regional or global office
• Strong understanding of Human Rights Mechanisms in Latin America.
• Experience in the facilitation of training events and workshops; experience working with national partners, local/government authorities, and INGO.
• Proven commitment to humanitarian accountability and quality standards
• Experience in community-based protection activities and protection analysis.
• Documented skills in project planning and design, drafting, calculation and technical writing
• Excellent skill in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Experience in Project Cycle Management
• Fluency in English and Spanish, French is desirable.

5. Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Collaboration
  • Taking the lead
  • Communication
  • Demonstrating Integrity
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required
• Multi-tasking and organizational skills are necessary
• Adaptable and flexible
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace
• Team-oriented & good sense of humor

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 or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period
• 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