Protection Officer

CONTEXT

Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world. The IRC provides rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of oppression and violent conflict. Present in more than 40 countries, IRC's mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are affected by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and take charge of their future.

IRC has been present in Cameroon since January 2016 when the organization launched an assessment in response to increasing concerns for people affected by violence in the Far North.  In March 2016, IRC opened its first field office in Maroua followed in February 2017 by a second field office in Kousseri. As a result of the ongoing crises in the North West and South West Regions, IRC opened another branch in the South West Region in January 2018 with field offices in Kumba, Meme Division and Ekondo Titi, Ndian Division. A Sub Office was opened in North West Region in November 2019. IRC  Delivers lifesaving programming to increase access to water and improve hygiene practices in vulnerable displaced and host communities, cash programming to enable poor families to meet basic needs and improve food security, and protection programming, including meeting specific needs of women and girls, men and persons with specific needs. 

The violence in the North West (NW) and South West (SW) regions has contributed to the internal displacement of people creating humanitarian needs for the affected populations in the two regions.

In the face of the growing humanitarian needs, IRC is running emergency programmes in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon. The programmes include environmental health (EH), Protection and Rule of Law (PROL), Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) and Child Protection (CP).

Project Description:

IRC is the partner of ECHO for the implementation of Protection activities in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon, to respond to the humanitarian protection needs caused by the protracted crisis situations in the two Regions.

This project seeks to ensure that the situation of the persons of concern is continuously monitored in these regions, key protection risks identified and analyzed, persons with specific needs identified and referred for further assessment and assistance, and that communities are monitored and community level concerns are identified and referred for further assessment. Protection incidents will be continuously documented analyzed and reported to IRC and the Protection Cluster regularly to inform response and advocacy.

IRC is recruiting a Protection Officer, who is a member of the Protection Team, operating in the North West and South West Regions. The role of the Protection Officer will be to ensure the implementation of protection monitoring and protection case management activities in the field through the supervision of the Protection Assistants. The Protection Officer will work under the supervision of the Senior Project Manager, and collaborate closely with the Partners: LUKMEF in South West Region and RHEMA Care in North West Region.

Job Overview/ Summary:

The Protection Officer, in line with prevention and response approaches, will be responsible for the day-to-day direct delivery of Protection monitoring and protection case management activities. She/he will provide supervision and support to Protection Assistants, lead protection monitoring exercises, be responsible for the development and implementation of relevant communication with community activities, coordinate the community engagement through leadership structures, lead case management process for extremely vulnerable individuals, ensure regular data on all activities and reports are available. She/he will work closely with the Senior Disaster Preparedness Officer and Protection Specialist, identifying areas for collaboration and sharing of resources in achieving the objectives of the project.

Major Responsibilities:

A.Activity implementation

·Lead the conduction of protection monitoring exercises and providing data for analysis.

·Supervise the collection of protection data, ensuring that Protection Monitors are using approved IRC methodologies, the correct systems and approaching communities in a sensitive and culturally appropriate way.

·Ensure timely production and sharing of monthly protection monitoring reports and incident snapshots.

·Provide case management support for extremely vulnerable individuals (EVIs), ensuring tools provided are used and process and procedures complied with by Assistants.

·Flag any individual cases that come forward while Protection Monitoring Assistants are carrying out Protection Monitoring activities in the community to the Senior Project Manager for appropriate advice/guidance 

·Oversee PSN needs assessment exercises and ensure SOP and other related procedures are followed in the provision of targeted assistance support and home visits.

·Work closely with Health Officer to provide a comprehensive support to Persons of Concern.

B.Supervision

·Manage the work of Protection Assistants to ensure that they are providing regular updates on protection information as needed, including daily/weekly phone checks.

·Provide direct support and technical assistance to staff, including 1-1 sessions with staff, holding case management meetings, reviewing files and reports and providing constructive feedback.

·Support partner capacity assessments, contribute in organizing trainings and mentoring sessions for IRC staff and staff from partners on protection case management and protection monitoring

C.Coordination and representation

·Ensure service mapping is up to date, referral pathways established and follow up of cases, concerns and issues are conducted by Assistants.

·Work closely with the Protection Assistants to ensure linkages and referrals are done in a safe, effective and timely manner.

·Participate in some program related coordination meetings involving IRC and all its partners.

·Represent IRC in relevant external coordination meetings such as Protection Cluster and Task Force monitoring

D.Monitoring

·Ensure efficient and regular collaboration with M&E on the use of the CommCare application.

·Ensure that a system is in place for the collection and storing of data in line with principles of confidentiality.

·Report daily protection situation to the Senior Project Manager and M&E Officer for integration in monitoring reports.

·Provide weekly reports, data and work plans covering area of operation in a timely manner for review by the Senior Project Manager.

·Ensure the confidentiality and security of all information in both hard copy and soft copy, including overseeing the storage and transfer of information, according to IRC’s information sharing protocol.

·Monitor the progress of the project and identify any delays that have been or may be expected

·Comply with the IRC security procedures and report the security information provided to him/her to ensure a safe and secure environment for the implementation of the project. 

Others:

·Any other task requested by her/his supervisor for efficient project implementation.

Professional Standards:

·Commit to IRC Way (or Code of Conduct / Mandatory Reporting Policies).

·Commit to ensuring the optimal implementation of these policies in its framework.

·Commit to comply with IRC's Internal Regulations in Cameroon

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Senior Project Manager

Position directly supervises: Protection Case Management Assistants, Protection Monitoring Assistants