Protection Officer

Contract

This is a DRC - National contract. More about DRC - National contracts.

Vacancy Announcement

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs founded in Denmark in 1956. DRC has provided humanitarian assistance to people in need in Myanmar since 2009. DRC is currently engaged in humanitarian response in Rakhine, Kachin, and Northern Shan. In 2012, waves of inter-communal violence swept through Rakhine, forcing approximately 140,000 persons to flee their homes and take refuge in IDP camps spread across the state. DRC activities target these IDPs, as well as other local vulnerable populations such as host villages and isolated villages. DRC implements a multi-sector response, including Camp Management, GBV, Child Protection, General Protection, Economic Recovery, and WASH activities.

DRC Myanmar in Rakhine State is funded by ECHO, SDC, DANIDA, DFAT, USAID, SIDA and UN agencies, including UNHCR, UNICEF, UNOPS and UNFPA.

To support and strengthen the DRC programme in Myanmar we are looking for highly motivated and capable candidates to fill the position of

Protection Officer (1) Post

Duty Station : Myitkyina Office, Kachin State

Reporting to : Protection Team Leader

Direct Report : No direct report but supervisor of Protection Assistants

Overall purpose of the role:

• Ensure the quality of the planning, implementation and follow up of all technical aspects of case management, Individual Protection Assistance (IPA), and psychosocial support/PFA activities being implemented by DRC.
• Develop and maintain good relations with the persons of concern, relevant stakeholders and other humanitarian actors, to support adequate implementation and coordination of DRC’s case management activities.

Sector responsibilities: Individual protection assistance/case management service per protection risks imposed to individual new displacement and the victims of rights violations, referral and coordination with other service providers, promotion of help seeking behaviour regarding protection risks through better community engagement, provision of individual psychosocial support/PFA to conflict-affected population.

Geographic scope: Area (Kachin State)

This role has an area focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the area. The role contributes to the development of area strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to base operations in case management, individual protection assistance, referrals, individual psychosocial support/PFA and community outreach.

The Protection Officer-Case Management works as part of DRC's Protection team, under the guidance and direct supervision of the Protection Team Leader-and Protection Project Manager. This position is based in Myitkyina, with frequent travel to field locations in Bhamo, Waing maw, Tanai, Shwe gu, Momauk and Mansi townships. The post holder is responsible for supporting the Protection team in their response activities, individual psychosocial support/PFA and community outreach activities to ensure high technical quality in accordance with DRC standard operating procedures. The main responsibility of this position is to support DRC’s Protection Team, working with communities of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps and with other affected communities/villages to strengthen community engagement promoting help seeking behaviour of community, to identify right violations cases and support to victims and families through holistic response services (individual protection assistance, case management, referral and psychosocial support/PFA).

Main responsibilities

Case Management and Individual Protection Assistance

• Support and provide technical guidance to caseworkers in the identification, recording and response to protection cases via individual protection assistance or case management, individual psychosocial support, referrals and ensure community engagement/outreach in-field.
• Ensure that the most urgent issues are brought to the attention of the Protection Project Manager and Protection Team Leader.
• Ensure protection cases are timely responded in proper modality: individual protection assistance or case management per protection risk assessment by case workers.
• Ensure that respond activities (IPA, case management, individual psychosocial support, referrals) of the project are carried out in accordance with relevant DRC standards, guidelines and SOPs, DRC Code of Conduct and in coordination with relevant actors in the field.
• Ensure data accuracy and confidential handling of individual case files and databases in line with Protection Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Data Protection Protocols.
• Supervise case workers in regular updating of service mapping and referral pathway.
• Be responsible for the referral of cases to other agencies in line with case management principles, interagency referral SoP and establish/develop relationships with other agencies’ focal points to strengthen referral mechanisms.
• Be responsible for high-risk cases including identification, assessment, case planning, implementation and including psychosocial support/ psycho logical First Aid, review and follow up, closure of cases in accordance with DRC SOP/guidelines on case management.
• Conduct weekly case management consultations with caseworkers to promote peer to peer learning and share updates to the Protection Team Leader and/or Protection Specialist and discuss the way forward.
• Conduct weekly case discussion meetings and supervision visit with individual caseworkers per DRC’s coaching and supervision modality and tools.
• Conduct monthly case audits, sharing findings and action points to the Protection Team Leader.
• Coordinate regularly with the Protection Monitoring team for the identification of cases.

Partnership development and Engagement

• Support/ contribute to develop and strengthen relationship with networks, other relevant stakeholder and partners in Kachin. Actively explore and identify potential partners in line with localization strategy in coordination with Partnership team.
• Support CSO/CBP partner and their field-based staff on identifying cases and referral to the relevant actors in accordance with the case management principles.
• Work closely with CSO/CBO partners to be able to provide referral, case management and IPA support in a timely manner in line with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Data Protection Protocols
• Support CSO/CBO partner on developing their referral pathways and service mapping as needed.

Internal and external trainings

• Provide trainings on Protection, Case Management, Individual Protection Assistance (IPA) and referral pathway to newly recruited staff, in addition to refresher trainings for existing team members.
• Develop, organize and deliver training for CSO/CBO partners, Protection Focal Point (PFP) and community members/ groups on a regular basis to ensure that they can identify and provide quality case management and IPA support in a timely manner.
• Support Protection Specialist and Protection Team Leader in designing and delivering trainings such as case management, Individual Protection Assistance (IPA), Psychological First Aid (PFA), Psychosocial Support (PSS) to DRC staff, CSO/CBO partners, humanitarian partners and Government stakeholders.
• Provide trainings on how to identify cases, including protection risks, to Protection Focal Points, Community-Based Protection Group, and Partner’s staff.

Reporting and Information management

• Prepare internal bi-weekly case management and IPA report in English to be submitted to the Protection Team Leaders; these reports should summarize activities carried out by the Protection Assistant – Case Management and underline key bi-weekly findings.
• Maintain the case management database, Individual Protection Assistance (IPA) database and referral database and produce monthly reports .
• Regularly liaise with the DRC MEAL office-based staff, and CSO partners and ensure the accurate management of case management and IPA data records and trackers.
• Provide support with translation of programme related documents such as case management, IPA, PSS, PFA, etc. and interpretation during meetings, trainings and other relevant activities when needed.
• Support with MEAL activities related to case management and Individual Protection Assistance (IPA).

Coordination

• Coordinate with CSO/CBOs partners and relevant stakeholders in the field and liaise with relevant authorities and individuals to ensure a smooth implementation of activities.
• Contribute to constructive, supportive and effective coordination and working relationships between DRC program teams, DRC support teams, CSO partners and offices in Kachin, in collaboration with the Protection Team Leaders and Protection Officers in the other base.
• Participate and represent DRC Protection in relevant external meetings when requested by the Protection Project Manager or Protection Team Leaders.

Finance and HR support

• Under supervision of the Protection Team Leaders, draft relevant financial and procurement documents such as weekly cash withdraw, CTR, PRs, LVOs, Cash Advance Requests, etc. as needed.
• Support the Team Leader and Protection Project Manager in recruiting new caseworkers.
• Lead the recruitment process for Protection Focal Points together with the Protection Officers under the guidance of the Protection Team Leader
• Support the monthly payments to field-based workers together with the Protection Officers as needed.

*Any other duties relating to the nature of the job as requested by the Protection Team Leader and/or Protection Project Manager.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum 2 years of practical experience in Protection Field working for an INGO.
• Solid experience in case management, psychosocial support and information management
• Good understanding of protection work
• Excellent training skills, particularly on concepts of protection, case management, protection information management, psychosocial support, etc.
• Advance IT knowledge (hardware and software, MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Power BI, remote management and capacity building tools)

Education: (include certificates, licenses etc.)

• University degree in relevant field (e.g., political science, human rights, social work, international development, etc. ) or equivalent professional qualification.

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• Intermediate or advanced language skill in English
• Full professional proficiency in Myanmar
• Fluency in the local language would be an asset.

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• Team Leader and Protection Project Manager
• Case workers
• General Protection Officers
• MEAL Team
• Service Providers in Project Locations
• CSO/CBO partners
• DRC program teams and support teams

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• 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: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. "

We Offer:

• Starting date of employment: ASAP.
• Contract length: DRC’s regular contract including a probation period of 3 months. Renewables depend on both funding and performance.
• Salary: Competitive salary according to DRC Myanmar salary scale.

This position is open for Myanmar National only. DRC strongly advocates for equal opportunity and promotes a diversified and inspiring working environment. Therefore, qualified candidates of ethnic minorities and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application process:

Applicants who meet the above-mentioned requirements should apply by submitting their applications in English (consisting of Cover Letter and CV of no more than 4 pages, including contact details of 3 professional references) and CV only applications will not be considered. Apply button.

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for a written test in English and an interview.
• After the closing date, applications are not to be considered. Please note that due to the urgency of this position, applications will be reviewed on an on-going basis and DRC reserves the right to initiate the recruitment process before the deadline for applications.

Deadline for submission of applications: 18th-October-2023 (COB)