Job Title**: Protection Coordinator**
Reporting to: Head of Programme (HoP)
Technical Line Manager: Regional Protection Manager
Place of assignment: Bamako
Duration: 12 months renewable
Contract type: Expatriate or national
Salary and benefits: Non-management band G
- Context
DRC has been operating in West Africa since 1998, and in Mali since 2013. DRC is particularly present in the Central and Northern regions, and operates in the following areas:
- Food security and livelihoods: DRC implements a comprehensive food security programme that aims to strengthen the resilience of households and communities by linking emergency, rehabilitation and development while addressing structural and long-term problems. The programme is designed around seasonal cash transfers, complemented by individual and community activities, such as nutritional screening, training on agricultural techniques and cooperative farm management for farmers’ organisations.
- Protection: DRC implements ambitious integrated protection programmes that aim to provide direct assistance to victims of human rights violations (in an emergency context), to strengthen community, individual and institutional protection knowledge and capacities, and to participate in coordination and advocacy efforts at regional and national levels. Some protection projects also concern child protection.
- Peacebuilding: DRC implements ambitious and innovative projects for conflict prevention, monitoring and resolution, in complementarity with other DRC projects through both the strengthening of endogenous capacities (humanitarian mediation) and response actions carried out by DRC and its partners (such as rapid conflict analysis, inter/intra-community and cross-border dialogues, and support for community plans, etc. ). These projects are carried out in conjunction with the institutions concerned (in particular the National Early Warning Center). These projects also include an education component on the risks associated with explosive devices, as well as assistance to victims of these explosive devices. As part of the implementation of all these projects, DRC systematically ensures that conflict prevention and resolution systems are strengthened (by integrating women, young people and people with specific needs).
2. Objective
The Protection Coordinator works closely with the Mali Coordination Team, based in Bamako, as well as with the Protection/Programme teams based in the intervention areas. The three main objectives of the role are to:
- Develop a protection program based on a good analysis of protection needs
- expertise in the protection sector and provide local technical support to operational teams through support for the rights of displaced persons in their displacement context, child protection initiatives, assistance with individual protection based on vulnerability, legal aid, land and property rights, prevention of gender-based violence, registration services for internally displaced persons and refugees, monitoring of rights and awareness raising, facilitation of return and repatriation processes, protection monitoring, etc.
- Oversee the development and implementation of the country’s protection strategy; and
- Support portfolio development in the protection sector.
3. Functions and responsibilities
Coordination and representation
- Collaborate with internal and external technical experts on protection issues.
- Represent DRC at coordination meetings and relevant clusters.
- Coordinate with the Protection Cluster co-lead to ensure good information sharing.
- Ensure good representation and reputation of the protection sector at all levels.
- Disseminate internally information on developments in the sector at the national level.
- Keep abreast of protection activities implemented by other organizations in Mali and ensure the complementarity of DRC interventions, and assess referral possibilities in collaboration with the head of mission.
- Coordinate with his/her technical referent at the regional level as well as with DRC counterparts in other countries in the region and beyond and actively participate in DRC internal workshops and events organized on protection-related topics.
General programming and operations
- Develop/update the country protection strategy through a participatory approach and disseminate it to field teams.
- Ensure monitoring and technical supervision of the quality of protection interventions.
- Provide support to project managers in the implementation of the protection components of the program while ensuring compliance with the project proposal/logframe, budget, work plan and MEAL plan.
- Produce quality protection needs assessments, analyses, periodic reports and other protection-related documents in collaboration with the Protection Information Management (PIM) Officer.
- Conduct capacity building and training needs assessment of programme/protection teams and deliver appropriate training/development training programme.
- Support the collection and management of quality data for protection data in collaboration with the PIM specialist.
- Provide support to field teams in strengthening the capacities of partner CSOs.
- Ensure cross-cutting integration of protection activities and the protection mainstreaming approach in other DRC sectors.
- Work closely with all relevant departments to ensure the implementation of DRC’s Code of Conduct and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Policy.
- Ensure that individual protection assistance and case management by DRC teams and partners adhere to DRC protection principles and minimum standards.
Program development
- Take the lead on the development of new protection projects and the development of project proposals in coordination with the program managers, Area Managers, Program Director and the Program Development Specialist.
- Contribute to the development of program work plans and budgets for new proposals.
- Contribute to the development of programme monitoring tools for protection activities and ensure the capture of lessons learned.
- Ensure that new proposals meet international and national protection group standards, DRC protection guidelines and other global best practices.
- Support the Head of Mission and CD in managing donor relations to secure new funding for DRC programming in Mali.
- Contribute to program reports.
As coordinator, the post holder is responsible for the following tasks :
- Responsible for coordinating the country’s protection strategy.
- Responsible for supporting the quality of the protection operations program in Mali.
- Technical responsibility for protection teams in the field.
- Act as the focal point for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) for DRC in Mali and, as such, lead by example in safeguarding PSEA.
- Any other ad hoc task at the request of the Country Director or the Program Director.
4. Required qualifications
- Master of Science in Legal Sciences, Intervention Development, Gender/Protection Studies or other relevant field
- Any other relevant professional training in protection matters
- At least 5 years of practical experience in the humanitarian sector and in the thematic of general protection or specialized protection sectors.
- Excellent knowledge of protection issues in an emergency context and protection guidelines and principles. Expertise in case management, child protection and/or GBV would be an asset.
- Proven experience in program planning and proposal development, including budgeting.
- Previous experience in developing protection strategies and producing technical guidance related to protection components.
- Experience in working with local partners, local authorities and other INGOs within a consortium.
- Full professional command of French, including excellent writing skills.
- Fluency in English would be a strong asset.
- Experience as a trainer.
- A good understanding of the Sahelian context would be an added value.
Required skills and qualities
- In this role, you must demonstrate the five essential DRC skills, namely:
- Striving for Excellence: You focus on achieving results while ensuring an efficient process. You strive to produce accurate, thorough and professional work with optimal use of time and effort.
- Collaborate: You cooperate with and engage stakeholders, actively seeking their opinions and sharing key information with them. You support and trust others, while encouraging feedback.
- Taking the Lead: You take responsibility and prioritize your work based on DRC’s overall vision and goals. You take the initiative when faced with a challenge or opportunity and seek innovative solutions.
- Communicate: You write and speak effectively and honestly while adapting your style and tone to the situation. You actively listen to others and involve them in dialogue.
- Demonstrate Integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and code of conduct, including protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
- Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment.
- Excellent writing, proofreading and communication skills.
- Excellent organizational and multitasking skills.
- Strong ability to adapt, take initiative and work in a multicultural environment.
- Interest in the humanitarian sector and the donor environment.
- Ability to listen, analyze and synthesize.
- Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required;
- Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace.
- Ability to work in a team and a good sense of humor
General regulations
- The employee must follow DRC instructions on security, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Responsibility Framework.
- The employee must not engage in any other paid activity during the period of the DRC contract without prior authorization.
- The Employee shall not engage in any activity that may harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the period of the DRC contract.
- The employee shall not give interviews to the media or publish photos or other materials related to the project without prior permission.
- The employee must return to DRC all equipment borrowed for the project at the end of the contract period or upon request.
How to apply
Are you interested? Then apply for this position online :
All candidates must send a cover letter and an up-to-date CV (no more than four pages) .
DRC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against anyone with respect to employment based on race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not discriminate in the recruitment process.
