Field Protection Assistant

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries, the IRC aims to restore safety, dignity, and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. In response to the increased refugee arrivals into Europe, the IRC established the program initially in Greece, which was expanded with programs in Serbia and the broader Balkans and with programs in Germany. Following a first assessment conducted in January 2017 in Italy and another in July 2017, several critical protection gaps were identified within assistance provided to refugees in migrants in Italy: mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), assistance to unaccompanied children, information provision and legal support. IRC established a small presence in Italy to respond to the identified gaps. Programs in Italy include Refugee.Info web-based information platform, child protection programming targeting unaccompanied children and victims of trafficking, mentoring programs for the socio-economic inclusion of refugee youth, WPE, and education (social, emotional learning, and healing classrooms).

Job Summary

We are looking for a Field Protection Assistant who will support the protection activities and cultural mediation and interpretation in the Friuli / border region of Italy with Slovenia. Reporting to the Senior Protection Officer, the job holder will carry out outreach and protection activities, including information dissemination and interpretation to support asylum-seekers and people on the move in Trieste and facilitate their access to services. They will also help data collection and contribute to protection monitoring and assessment activities.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Deliver up-to-date and accurate information to people on the move and asylum-seekers about their right to access asylum procedures and fairness in Italy and available services.

• Provide information on and facilitate access/accompany to relevant services, including health, housing and emergency shelter, transportation, police station, etc.

• Carrying out outreach activities and supporting Trieste transit center with constant presence, NFIs distribution, and information sessions.

• With training and support from IRC staff, identify the needs and vulnerabilities of clients and deliver PFA to people on the move and asylum-seekers in need.

• Provide cultural mediation services during individual MHPSS support sessions and other activities as requested by the line manager.

• Regularly implementing data collection and protection monitoring activities.

• Under the supervision of the Senior Protection Officer, ensure appropriate, timely, and accurate data collection against agreed indicators and use approved supervising templates to enable internal and external reporting.

• Support Senior Protection Officer in identifying eligible clients and coordinating NFIs distributions to people on the move and asylum-seekers in collaboration with local NGOs and volunteer groups.

• Under the supervision of the Senior Officer, ensure that agreed distribution registries and means of verifications are duly and timely signed/filled out.

• Participate in assessments and relevant meetings.

• Any other task assigned by the line manager.

Reporting Lines

Position directly reports to Senior Protection Officer, IRC Italy

Expected Travel

This position is based in Trieste or Friuli region, with regular travel along the border.

Requirements:

• At least 1-year working experience implementing protection activities to support people on the move. Previous experience in cultural mediation/interpretation is strongly preferred

• Experience conducting protection/protection monitoring activities, preferably with a nonprofit in the target region, would be an asset.

• Good understanding of the asylum system and rights of migrants and refugees in Italy

• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact, and diplomacy

• Proficiency in spoken and written Dari, Pashto, and English (or Italian)

• Report writing skills/experience preferred

• Be based in Trieste / Udine or another location in the Friuli region.

• Valid driver’s license and vehicle available for use would be preferred

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them more significant influence over program design and delivery.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that enable women to participate in our workforce, including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: At IRC, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone from any background can do their best is the right thing. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.

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