Protection Officer Full Time NEW

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Protection Officer for our operations in Ura Woreda, Benishangul-Gumuz.

Overall purpose of the role

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the Protection Officer is responsible for delivering quality, rights-based protection services within the Hope, Empowerment, Resilience (H.E.R) project. The officer ensures the provision of quality, survivor-centered psychosocial support services while promoting positive behavioral change through the Engaging Men in Accountable Practices (EMAP) approach. Working closely with community structures, the role strengthens community-based protection mechanisms, supports inclusive participation, and fosters safer environments for women and girls. The position contributes to building resilience and self-reliance among affected populations by linking psychosocial and protection interventions with broader recovery and empowerment initiatives.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Program implementation

• Lead the implementation and follow-up of community-based protection (CBP), psychosocial support (PSS), and EMAP related activities under the H.E.R. project, ensuring quality, accountability, and alignment with DRC standards.
• Facilitate two-way communication between communities and stakeholders through effective information sharing, feedback, and complaint mechanisms that strengthen trust and community ownership.
• Promote active participation of affected populations, especially vulnerable and at-risk groups—in all stages of the Community Action Plan (CAP) cycle, ensuring inclusivity and gender sensitivity.
• Identify capacity-building needs among protection assistants and community stakeholders and organize tailored training or mentorship sessions to enhance their technical and facilitation skills.
• Support the facilitation of community sensitization activities and awareness sessions based on EMAP focus group findings, promoting positive behavioral change and engagement of men and boys in fostering safer community dynamics.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments to identify individuals or groups requiring support, and provide culturally appropriate individual or group-based counseling and crisis intervention following DRC’s PSS standards and SOPs.
• Support the design and implementation of psychosocial interventions that promote emotional well-being, resilience, and social cohesion within affected communities.
• Work with clients and local actors to ensure PSS initiatives are integrated into community protection mechanisms and contribute to system-strengthening efforts.
• Engage with local structures—including CBPNs, informal support systems, and community-based organizations—to enhance coordination and referral pathways for psychosocial and protection services.
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of context-appropriate IEC materials promoting mental health, protection awareness, and available support services.

Capacity Building and Coordination

• Provide ongoing technical support, supervision, and mentorship to protection assistants and community mobilizers to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality activities.
• Participate in consortium coordination, planning, and review meetings to ensure integration of PSS, EMAP, and CBP across protection and recovery interventions.
• Facilitate partner and stakeholder training sessions to strengthen community-based protection systems and promote cross-sector collaboration.
• Support documentation of lessons learned, promising practices, and innovations in the integration of PSS and EMAP within broader protection programming.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Operations

• Prepare timely and accurate reports on CBP, PSS, and EMAP activities, ensuring they are supported with relevant data, case studies, and documentation.
• Maintain secure archiving and information management practices for all activity reports and monitoring tools, both in hard and soft copy.
• Contribute to internal learning and adaptive management through regular monitoring, feedback collection, and reporting to the Project Manager.
• Support coordination of program-related logistics, procurement, and administrative tasks in collaboration with relevant departments.
• Comply with DRC’s operational policies, Code of Conduct, safeguarding measures, and accountability frameworks.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in protection related work, preferably within humanitarian or development settings.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating psychosocial support (PSS), community-based protection, or EMAP related activities.
• Experience working directly with refugees, IDPs, and host communities in participatory community engagement or awareness raising initiatives.
• Good understanding of protection principles, community mobilization, and gender equality approaches.
• Basic skills in data collection, reporting, and use of common digital tools (e.g. Microsoft Office, Activity Info).
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively with community members and partners

EDUCATION: (include certificates, licenses, etc.)

• Bachelor degree in Psychology, sociology, social work or other related fields from recognized institution.

LANGUAGE: (indicate Fluency level)

• Proficient of English language
• Knowledge of local language is an advantage.

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: 1 Year
• Contract Type: National Contract
• Band: H2 – Non-Management
• Designation of Duty Station: Assosa
• Start date: ASAP
• Number of Positions required: 2
• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National employees.