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 the direct supervision of the Emergency Project Manager and the technical support from the Protection Coordinator, the Mobile Protection Officer will be responsible for the implementation of DRC Mobile Protection programs in Oromia Region. The Mobile Protection Officer will implement DRC Mobile response program to respond to displacement crises across the West Guji Zone, Oromia Region with a focus on active and rapid post displacement protection programming. This includes pre-planning, follow up of new emergencies and displacement with the cluster and other partners; conduct rapid protection assessment; ensuring rapidity of response; determine scale of assistance and timely delivery of program activities. She/he will work with protection partners and mainstream protection with other humanitarian actors by building capacity, increasing community engagement, and strengthening mechanisms for self-protection by communities. 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Conduct multi-sectorial rapid assessments

• Plan and timely Implementation of DRC protection response during displacements (due to conflict) and other emergencies as they arise with a greater focus on population movement monitoring, information management, coordination, community engagement, community services, lifesaving distributions
• Undertake timely rapid needs assessments in new areas with a greater focus on protection; produce and disseminate assessment reports in a timely manner
• Supervise the team for data collection and entry, conduct quality checks, and triangulate information to ensure veracity and reliability of data
• Collaborate with the Emergency Project Manager, the Emergency Advisor and Protection Coordinator to define the scope and objectives of  DRC protection response to each specific emergencies
• Oversee the implementation of the mobile protection responses and ensure that stated goals and objectives are met
• Produce structured work plan for each emergency  deployments
• Ensure synergy between protection and other sectors response at the field level
• Ensure compliance with DRC and international policy, procedures and practices throughout emergency response activities, including adherence to Do No Harm principles
• Preparation of necessary logistic and financial requirements  priori to any  field needs assessment
• Write rapid needs assessment reports using defined format, and within established deadlines, providing clear operational recommendations for intervention

Manage the project team

• Initiate and take the lead in recruitments of mobile protection staff and, in coordination with the HR department, ensure that procedures are followed
• Conduct Performance planning and appraisal for staff, identifying areas for capacity building and training
• Carry out protection staff skills needs assessments, prepare annual capacity building and training plans in consultation with Emergency Project Manager, the Emergency Advisor, Protection Coordinator and HR Coordinator and oversee the execution of the plan
• Ensure timely and effective staff recruitment and induction processes, and regularly review staffing structures and staff deployment plans ensuring appropriate gender balance, paying sensitivity to ethnic contexts and expanding opportunities for nationalization
• Ensure staff is well versed on the DRC’s Code of Conduct, accountability, respectful dialogue with communities, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse

Represent DRC

• Represent DRC and actively participate in various clusters, coordination, and other meetings relevant to protection issues when requested.  Liaise with partners, local authorities, and local communities whenever it serves the objectives of the program in the area of protection
• Identify gaps in service provision to displaced communities, proactively referring those gaps to relevant forums or advocating with government authorities or humanitarian partners for additional support
• Liaise regularly and work closely with other sector response teams and DRC normal programs program, operations and finance staff at national and field sites to coordinate program planning
• Represent DRC towards communities, communicating about DRC mandate, eligibility criteria for under emergency projects, and humanitarian principles

In this position, you will also be expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

Striving for Excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

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.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATIONS

REQUIRED

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• Experience in protection program design and implementation (minimum 2-3 years) including but not limited to rapid protection assessments, protection monitoring, identifying and providing assistance to Persons with Special Needs, and establishing community based protection approaches
• Experience of coordinating activities across locations
• Prior work experience in INGO in project management
• Prior experience in working in complex emergency setting, involving internal displacement
• Proven experience in staff supervision and remote management
• Strong experience with Assessment monitoring tools and systems
• Good computer skills (proven computer literacy, in particular Excel knowledge is a must)
• Representation and negotiation skills, demonstrated interpersonal skills, strong communication and diplomatic skills
• Analytical skills, observation and analysis capacity
• Strong team spirit, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment
• Ability to plan ahead and stress-resilient
• Additional qualities: ability to multi-task, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions

Education: (include certificates, licenses etc.)

• University degree in law, international cooperation, social sciences or social work (bachelors as a minimum)

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• English (fluent)
• Oromo (fluent)
• Amharic (fluent)