Protection Specialist (Access to Justice and Community Based Protection)

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Protection Specialist – Access to Justice and Community Based Protection for our Addis Ababa Office. 

About the job:

The Protection Specialist (Access to Justice and Community-Based Protection) will support the Protection Manager in strengthening and expanding DRC’s protection programming in Ethiopia, with a focus on access to justice, legal aid services, and community-based protection mechanisms. The Specialist will provide technical leadership and capacity building to field teams and local partner organizations, ensuring that protection interventions are rights-based, survivor-centered, and in line with international and organizational standards. In close collaboration with field protection teams and partners, the specialist will support the development of community-led protection initiatives, strengthen linkages with justice actors, and enhance access to legal remedies and protection services for vulnerable populations, particularly internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities affected by conflict and displacement. S/he will also play a key role in mentoring partner organizations, facilitating technical trainings, and promoting evidence-based programming that advances accountability, inclusion, and durable protection outcomes.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Technical Oversight and Management of Protection Programming

• Ensure that DRC’s legal protection and CBP interventions are in accordance with international best practices and minimum standards;
• Provide technical oversight of community-based protection activities, including support in developing training manuals, community-based protection SoP, and community action plans.
• Conduct regular technical reviews of Access to Justice and Community-Based Protection programming to ensure alignment with international protection standards
• Technically lead the development of concept notes and proposals for legal aid and CBP, as requested.
• Deliver targeted training and mentoring to field teams on legal aid and community-based protection principles and practices.
• Support field protection managers on access to justice and community-based protection team recruitment and induction, and provide technical supervision and mentoring, as well as support line manager in performance monitoring
• Conduct legal needs assessments and legal analysis to inform program design and ensure evidence-based and context specific interventions
• Develop, adapt and oversee the roll-out and application of quality measures for DRC’s legal protection activities in line with SPHERE standards, the Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Child Protection, IASC guidelines on GBV and protection mainstreaming and guidelines defined in national coordination forums;
• Act as a focal person for complex or precedent-setting legal cases referred to the Country Office; provide legal information, referral, and follow up to UNHCR and other relevant stakeholders
• Lead the engagement with human rights mechanisms initiative in collaboration with the CO Protection Manager
• Strengthen partnerships with relevant stakeholders, such as bar associations, legal aid providers, human rights commissions, and government entities, to enhance justice pathways and referral mechanisms.
• Provide technical capacity development support to DRC’s legal aid and CBP partners, including through structured training, on-the-job mentoring, and joint monitoring and evaluation.
• Conduct joint field visits, technical reviews, and capacity assessments with partners to identify gaps, provide feedback, and develop tailored capacity strengthening plans.

Coordination and Representation

• Represent DRC in Access to Justice and HLP working groups, and other coordination platforms as agreed with the Protection Manager;
• Ensure internal coordination and harmonization of DRC legal protection/community-based-related activities with DRC's Ethiopia and regional protection programs;
• Promote improved understanding of legal protection issues among all relevant stakeholders and ensure the observance of international protection and humanitarian law standards.
• Creating a network among legal aid providers in Ethiopia to enhance legal aid services to refugees, IDPs, and returnees.
• Advocate for policy and legislative reforms at national and sub-national levels to improve justice and protection mechanisms for displacement-affected populations.

• Monitoring, Reporting, and Development

• Support the Protection manager and Head of Programs on protection-related proposals as relevant.
• Undertake quality control and site monitoring of DRC’s and partners’ programming to ensure that services provided are according to international best practice standards;
• Conduct program monitoring as per expected outputs and outcomes;
• Ensure that the design and implementation of protection activities address protection needs of refugees, IDPs, and other vulnerable populations within DRC's mandate, and contribute to the relevant durable solutions;
• Ensure that quality assurance systems are developed and applied, with particular reference to the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) approach, and Protection Mainstreaming principles;
• Contribute to building a learning culture by supporting after action reviews, learning events, and periodic protection (legal aid and CBP) reflection sessions with partners and field teams.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum of 5 years' work experience within the field of law and protection, particularly within the field of migrant/IDP/refugee protection;
• At least 3 years of experience working with international NGO's, UN agencies, relevant ministries and/or local authorities in IDP/migrants/refugee settings in complex emergencies;
• Demonstrated experience coordinating with and supporting national and local authorities as well as humanitarian coordination forums;
• Excellent analytical skills
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently unsupervised;
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, meet deadlines and adapt in a complex and challenging environment;
• Experience with capacity building, and in convening and facilitating trainings and workshops;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective and working relations with staff members and other stakeholders;

Education: (include certificates, licenses etc.)

• Minimum a university or graduate degree in law.

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

• Excellent English writing skills;

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 12 Months

Contract Type: National Contract

Band: G2 – Non-Management

Designation of Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Start date:  ASAP

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National employees

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 9th Nov 2025

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.

Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gendergap.
Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, colour, race, marital status, or other protected characteristics

We strongly encourage female candidates to apply for the position!

We encourage only qualified Ethiopian Nations to apply. DRC considers all applicants based on merit.