Job Objective
The Protection Officer will be responsible for ensuring the effective implementation of protection strategies and activities within CESVI projects, focusing on the care and support of vulnerable populations, such as migrants, women victims of gender violence, children and adolescents at risk, and victims of armed conflict. He or she will also play a key role in strengthening advocacy at the local level, working closely with key community actors, local authorities, and other organizations. His or her work will seek to promote an integrated and coordinated approach that guarantees the protection and well-being of the communities in which CESVI operates.
Who we are
About Cesvi ETS Foundation
Cesvi is a secular and independent organisation founded in Italy in 1985, which promotes global solidarity and social justice through humanitarian development actions. The name CESVI, which stands for Cooperazione, Emergenzia e SVIluppo (Cooperation, Emergency and Development), reflects its philosophy of action, which focuses on fostering the involvement of beneficiary communities in order to promote their own progress. In this way, international aid is not limited to temporary charitable action, but seeks to promote genuine sustainable development in the most needy populations.
CESVI is part of the international network Alliance 2015, created in 2000 with the aim of halving extreme poverty in the world by 2015, within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals. This network is made up of seven European non-governmental organisations: Concern (Ireland), Welthungerhilfe (Germany), Hivos (Netherlands), Ibis (Denmark), ACTED (France), People in Need Foundation (Czech Republic) and Ayuda en Acción (Spain).
Cesvi in Colombia
Cesvi has been present in Colombia since 2019, carrying out interventions based on emergency, rehabilitation, livelihood development and protection projects. These actions respond to the most urgent needs of vulnerable populations located in the north of the country and the Pacific coast region. Among the most benefited groups are migrants, Colombian returnees, as well as people in highly vulnerable situations, with special emphasis on attention to victims of the internal armed conflict, women victims of gender-based violence (GBV), women heads of household, adolescents, children, among others.
Protection strategy for Colombia
By 2027, CESVI aims to establish itself as a leading international protection organization in the Colombian Caribbean and Pacific regions. Its focus will be on providing care to populations that are victims of armed conflict, migrants, children and adolescents at risk, women victims of gender-based violence (GBV) and people affected by trafficking. Along this path, CESVI seeks to be recognized in local and interagency advocacy spaces, positioning itself as a benchmark in the protection sector. The organization plans to replicate its experience in providing care to highly vulnerable populations, based on successful cases in similar contexts, such as supporting refugee centers and creating care protocols for shelters for women survivors of GBV. Always maintaining a logic of intervention focused on resilience and the construction of exit strategies, in which the beneficiaries are the protagonists of the process.
Description of functions
Legal assistance and advice
- Provide information, guidance and legal advice in the modality that best suits the context (in person or remotely) to people in vulnerable conditions identified within the framework of the projects, including children and adolescents in situations of violence, homeless people, adolescent victims and/or survivors of GBV to guarantee access to local institutional offerings.
- Raise awareness among community leaders and focal points within communities in their area of expertise.
- Monthly update the databases of project beneficiaries who receive legal assistance and advice, in the formats established for their respective follow-up.
- Maintain the confidentiality of data related to received cases and ensure that they are stored securely.
Case Management
- Maintain the care models derived from the resilience tutors strategy in the cities of Barranquilla and Santa Marta.
- Updating the mapping to identify existing services in the territory related to protection routes, as well as basic and specialized services focused on the response to and prevention of gender-based violence (GBV), and those aimed at children and adolescents (NNA). In addition, other services aimed at the population identified within the framework of the project will be included.
- Develop, in close collaboration with other members of the Cesvi team and project partners, a protocol for case management and routes that guarantee access to basic and specialized services for GBV survivors.
- Provide support in the identification and planning of exit strategies and intervention plans, aimed at the beneficiary population, in the area of their competence.
- Collaborate closely with the team in collecting information necessary for case management (intake form, referral form, individual care plans, follow-up reports and other documents useful for case management).
- Guide, advise and accompany the beneficiary population of the project throughout the legal assistance process, when required.
- Follow up on case management in coordination with local authorities and protection networks.
- Support in the articulation and activation of institutional offer routes and in the referral of cases to specialized services provided by local actors.
Incidence
- Participate in local advocacy spaces to contribute to the protection of the rights of children and adolescents (NNA) at risk, women and adolescents who are victims and/or survivors of GBV or victims of human trafficking.
- Support the Cesvi team when required in generating spaces for dialogue with the beneficiary population of the projects, including children, young people, adults and the elderly (women and men) with the aim of preventing identified protection risks.
- Support the development of sessions, talks or workshops to raise awareness about the prevention of violence, sexual exploitation, gender-based violence, comprehensive care for victims of the armed conflict, the migration crisis and the legal framework for their protection and integration in Colombia (ETPV).
- Participation in inter-agency protection spaces at local, regional and national levels, such as the working groups and the local protection sector of GIFMM.
- Technical support in the construction of care protocols and institutional strengthening in CESVI’s intervention areas.
Others
- Conduct and support needs assessments, supporting the identification of opportunities and risk factors related to the area of their competence.
- Support, in coordination with the rest of the CESVI team, in the logistics and administration of field activities.
- Support the preparation and review of informational material in the area of their expertise.
- Prepare qualitative and/or statistical reports, when required, on the status of the implementation of the protection strategy
- Support in the analysis, systematization of information and
- Support in the construction of reports on access barriers to rights present in CESVI’s populations of interest.
- Support in the monitoring and follow-up of care and activities to meet the indicator goals of the programs concerning the protection area.
- Participate in team and supervisory meetings.
- Participate in the training and experience exchange processes to which you are invited.
- Other functions assigned by your immediate superior and related to the nature of the position.
Required attributes
Essential attributes
Training:
- University degree in legal or social sciences. Postgraduate studies in subjects related to international law, humanitarian action, human rights, gender, etc. are desirable.
Knowledge and experience:
- Minimum proven experience of one (1) year in the execution of projects aimed at the care of vulnerable populations, including the protection of children and adolescents (NNA), survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), victims of human trafficking and/or people affected by the armed conflict.
- Minimum proven experience of one (1) year in the execution of projects with similar responsibilities, such as training officials and/or carrying out community work
- Minimum verifiable experience of one (1) year in project management, with responsibilities in the management of local partners and/or in the coordination of protection teams
- Work experience in international or local NGOs, state entities and community-based organizations.
- Knowledge of protection mechanisms for children, adolescents and women.
- Knowledge of the regulatory framework related to care for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), victims of human trafficking, care routes and accessibility to the corresponding services.
- Knowledge of the legal framework in Colombia for the care of Venezuelan migrants.
- Experience and knowledge of the legal framework for comprehensive care for victims of the armed conflict in Colombia.
Preferred attributes
- Work experience in the Colombian Caribbean.
- Knowledge of the country’s humanitarian assistance architecture
- Skills or Ability to express oneself in a synthetic and structured written form.
- Proactive and purposeful attitude.
- Knowledge of the English language.
- Management of web-based information management tools and IT mastery.
- Strong command of Microsoft Office Package. (Will be valued in technical test)
Conditions
- Main work base: Santa Marta.
- Availability to move between CESVI bases and intervention areas in Colombia.
- Contract duration: 6 months, with the possibility of extension.
- Expected start date: 6/01/2025
- Type of contract: Fixed-term employment contract
- Net salary: COP 3,577,867
How to apply
Applicants must submit*:*
- Updated resume (maximum three pages) and
- Cover letter (maximum two pages)
To the attention of Elisabetta Casarini, at the address [email protected] with the subject “Protection Officer – CESVI” . Emails containing objects or documents other than those indicated will not be considered.
Applications close at 12:00 pm on 24/12/2024 *.***
Please refrain from applying if your profile does not match the essential attributes requested for this role. Shortlisted candidates will be called for a technical test.
For more information about Cesvi, please visit our website http://www.cesvi.org
CESVI has a zero tolerance approach to any harm or exploitation of a child or vulnerable adult by any of our employees, related persons or partners.
CESVI’s commitment to being a safe organisation begins with the recruitment process for staff, which includes meticulous checks, such as criminal record checks or disclosure of previous convictions, to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable people and prevent abuse. Safety checks are part of the performance of the selection process.
