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 uprooted and struggling to endure.

In late 2021, following the shift in power in Afghanistan and the expected increase in people arriving from Afghanistan to Europe, IRC Italy launched an emergency response in Trieste at the Italian-Slovenian north-east border. The IRC roving team and local NGOs have been supporting newly arrived migrants from the Balkan route by distributing non-food items (NFI), providing legal information sessions, and supervising protection concerns. Since June 2022, IRC in Trieste has also provided case management and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services to Ukrainian women and children living outside the reception system. In early 2023 IRC opened a safe space where women and children from different nationalities can participate freely, socialize, and engage in paths of empowerment. Other 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).

Do you have compassion towards and understanding of the unique needs of people in need with relevant work experience? Then we are interested in hearing from you!

Job Summary

We are looking for a part-time Field Protection Assistant proficient in Pashto and/ or Dari, who will be based in Trieste, Italy.

The successful candidate will support the protection activities, including the delivery of information on rights in the asylum procedure and access to services, and cultural mediation and interpretation in the Friuli Venezia Giulia border region of Italy with Slovenia. After undergoing training on asylum processes and the context in Italy, outreach and protection activities will be carried out, including information dissemination and interpretation to support asylum-seekers and people on the move in Trieste and facilitate their access to services. The job holder also supports data collection and chips into protection monitoring and assessment activities. They will be mentored, trained, and collaborate with the RAI US team to identify alignments between the Afghan response in Europe and the US.

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 rights in Italy based on approved and vetted content.

• Provide information on available services 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.

• Work closely with IRC RAI US team to identify alignments between Afghan response in Europe and the US

• Under the supervision of the Area Manager, ensure appropriate, timely, and accurate data collection against agreed indicators and using agreed indicator tracking templates to enable both internal and external reporting.

• Support Area Manager in identifying eligible clients and organizing NFIs distributions to newly arrived refugees in need, in collaboration with local NGOs and volunteer groups.

• Under the supervision of the Area Manager, 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.

• Upon completion of the assignment, share information with RAI US colleagues through presentation or otherwise on the situation of Afghan (and other) asylum seekers in Italy.

Reporting Lines

Position directly reports to Area Manager, IRC Italy - Trieste

Expected Travel

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

Requirements:

• Experience in implementing protection activities to support people on the move. Previous experience in cultural mediation/interpretation preferred

• Experience providing orientation and legal information is strongly preferred

• Experience in conducting protection/protection including significant, strong data leadership skills

• Good understanding of international refugee law and the rights of asylum seekers

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

• Proficiency in spoken and written Dari and/or Pashto; proficiency in English; Italian not required

• Report writing skills/experience preferred

Hourly flexibility (sometimes work is required in the evening or on weekends) and willingness to work as a team

Standards of Professional Conduct

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons, and several others.

Gender Equality

IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Working Environment

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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Qualifications