Protection Specialist (subnational co-cluster coordinator, Herat)

Contract

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

WHO ARE WE?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunities 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. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, and participation.

ABOUT THE JOB

The sub-national protection cluster co-coordinator, together with the sub-national protection cluster coordinator, assumes the responsibility of promoting the centrality of protection in the overall humanitarian response in areas under the Herat hub. In addition to ensuring access to quality protection services, a key focus of this role will be to strengthen the capacities of sub-national partners through training, guidance, and ensuring protection principles are adequately mainstreamed across the response.

The sub-national protection cluster co-coordinator represents the protection cluster in inter-cluster coordination mechanisms and in other relevant fora (as necessary). The subnational protection cluster co-coordinator represents the interests of the members of the protection cluster, respecting and promoting humanitarian principles.

The sub-national protection cluster co-coordinator will also strengthen linkages with other sub-clusters, including strengthening referral pathways and service mapping, to ensure a holistic and coordinated approach in the protection response and ensure consultation to represent the interests of the sub-clusters.

The subnational cluster co-coordinator will support the cluster coordinator in advocating with local authorities for the prioritization of protection activities in the Herat area and unimpeded access protection actors/ including female staff to affected populations and for the delivery of critical service delivery.

Responsibilities:

Coordination and information sharing

• Co-facilitate meetings for the sub-national protection cluster in Herat, alongside the cluster coordinator, ensuring agreement and follow-through of key decisions and action points.
• Help track trends and identify shared and common concerns in operational areas; Ensure that subnational protection cluster members are updated on protection needs and situation analysis, gaps planning, and funding processes. Strengthen monitoring, tracking, documentation, and information exchange on protection concerns between protection cluster members at the subnational level.
• Ensure coordination and information exchange on protection issues with other clusters, UN, and government counterparts, and strengthen links with non-protection actors as appropriate.
• Liaise with and coordinate with different components (Areas of Responsibility, AORs) of the protection cluster (child protection, GBV, HLP, Mine Action).
• Conduct field missions to strengthen the links between sub-national clusters and the protection cluster at the national level.
• Support the subnational cluster coordinator in both internal and external advocacy, at the regional and national levels including with HCT members, donors, and government authorities.
• Proactively represent the subnational protection cluster and the interests of cluster members in the inter-cluster working group, including with the government, ensuring consultation with sub-national protection cluster members on key messages and adherence to humanitarian principles.
• Support the cluster co-coordinator in ensuring effective implementation of the work plan in consultation with partners and sub-clusters at the regional level.
• Co-lead and coordinate protection need assessments at the sub-national level of all affected populations.

Capacity building, training, and promotion of protection mainstreaming.

• Together with the cluster coordinator, identify gaps in the current cluster member capacities and opportunities for the roll-out of targeted capacity-building activities. To that end, design, facilitated, and/or deliver protection training, including tools and methodology for protection mainstreaming in emergency response and protection needs assessment, to protection partners and across sectors, to ensure adherence to relevant standards and guidelines.
• Support efforts and strengthen the capacity of national organizations, civil society, and local authorities where relevant.
• Ensure the integration of protection issues in sectoral needs assessment, analysis, planning, monitoring, and response.

Promote and support Accountability to Affected Populations

• Support timely and coordinated action by cluster participants to meet the protection needs of IDPs and affected populations in the country, according to humanitarian principles of do-no-harm.
• Based on assessed protection vulnerabilities, needs, and gaps, develop or update agreed-upon response strategies and action plans for the sub-national cluster and ensure that these are adequately reflected in overall country strategies.
• Support cluster partners in their development and implementation of mechanisms for increased accountability to affected populations.
• Ensure that the cluster participants are aware of relevant policy guidelines, technical standards, and commitments under international humanitarian and human rights law.

Key Deliverables:

• Co-chairing cluster meetings as well as the technical insights on protection affairs
• Clear, realistic, and technically strong support given to the cluster on matters for the protection cluster.

Key stakeholders:

• Internal: Area Program Manager, Protection technical coordinator, Protection technical Specialist, Emergency Specialist, Protection manager, Protection team leader,
• External: Protection cluster west region, protection cluster members in the west region

We Offer:

• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the DRC salary scale

Experience and technical competencies:

• At 3-5 years of relevant coordination experience in the protection sector
• Familiarity with the cluster systems and OCHA functions is mandatory.
• Prior experience in roles of coordination and representation of national and international NGOs.
• Strong knowledge of protection mainstreaming, referral pathway mechanisms, and service mapping.
• Excellent leadership, coordination, capacity building, planning, advocacy, and analytical skills.
• Previous experience as cluster co-coordinator preferred.
• Excellent representation and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships with members of the cluster, consortiums, or other groups with diverse members.
• Proven experience with protection monitoring, documentation, and analysis of protection data.

Education:

• University degree, in social sciences or other relevant disciplines

Languages:

• Fluency in Dari and Pashto [ESSENTIAL]. Good knowledge of English is preferred, but not essential.

Application process:

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking the below link. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV-only applications will not be considered.