Overall objectives
1. Provide management and technical support to staff in implementation of DRC Somaliland’s advocacy and protection activities
2. Strengthen DRC Somaliland and Puntland’s capacity and profile as a rights based protection agency by providing advisory support and training to staff;
3. Support consistent integration of a rights based approach in DRC’s short term humanitarian and longer term development activities and ensure the timely implementation of UNHCR-funded activities;
4. Mentor and support our local project management in programme implementation and development
5. Support the linkages between DRC’s livelihood and protection activities
Background
DRC Somaliland and Puntland’s programme operates within a regional framework (East Africa and the Horn) and incorporates three major components namely, long term community driven development, short term urban/rural humanitarian interventions and advocacy.
DRC implements longer-term interventions targeted to the development of the economic and institutional capacities of selected communities in rural and semi-urban districts affected by displacement. Internally displaced people, returnees and other groups who are living in urban shanty settlements in abject poverty and with considerable protection gaps are assisted though short term humanitarian interventions in water and sanitation, income generation and protection activities. DRC advocates through traditional leaders for increased respect for international human rights, particularly for the increased respect of the rights of displaced people, refugees, migrants, women and children. An integral part of the advocacy programme is conflict resolution between disputing clans through traditional mechanisms.
Recognising the link between protection, security and livelihood opportunities, DRC wishes to strengthen community capacities within the area of community-based protection. DRC Somaliland will increasingly be focusing on community empowerment and mobilisation – that is, capacity building of community based organisations, community development committees, civil society organisations and traditional organisations to enable them to freely exercise their rights to decide on the design, implementation and evaluation of their own development projects, including projects and initiatives relating to their own protection and security.
Duties
The position of Advocacy and Protection Officer will support a consistent integration of a human-rights based approach in all DRC Somaliland and Puntland programmes activities. The candidate will be expected to:
Capacity building and advisory support
- Assess protection needs and identify problems/gaps and propose/prioritise timely practical actions to respond to particular protection problems.
- Conduct rapid needs and assets assessments to identify risks and vulnerabilities, including those related to gender and age. Develop concrete initiatives to reduce these risks and specific strategies to build upon assets within the population.
- Develop staff capacities on the rights bases approach, participatory protection assessments and monitoring, migration monitoring, and inclusion of vulnerable groups though training, mentoring and coaching;
- Ensure technical quality of protection and advocacy responses though supervision of national staff;
Project management and quality assurance
- Ensure that the design and implementation of program activities carried out address protection needs of internally displaced people, vulnerable populations, and affected populations, contributing to durable solutions.
- Manage and implement protection projects;
- Manage and supervise the work of the Protection and Advocacy teams in Puntland and Somaliland, jointly with the Somaliland Protection and Advocacy Officer;
- Apply tools and methodologies in regards to participatory protection assessments and monitoring and inclusion of vulnerable groups;
- Ensure that quality assurance systems are developed and applied, with particular reference to the HAP Standard;
Information management
- Analyse and synthesise collected protection information, including on migration, in concise reports with recommendations for programmatic responses for reducing and mitigating protection gaps;
- Analyse and report on relevance, outcomes and impact of DRC protection related activities to provide lessons learnt and to identify best-practice;
- Contribute to the implementation of the mass information campaign and information sharing activities related to mixed migration and protection;
Coordination and advocacy
- Ensure coordination and harmonisation of DRC protection and advocacy related activities - externally with other agencies and partners, and internally within the DRC regional programme;
- Work closely with local authorities and/or national government, the country team, international organizations, and NGOs to advocate for humanitarian access and remedies and solutions to protection problems facing internally displaced people, vulnerable civilians, and other affected populations.
- Work closely with other agencies to implement common protection standards in the field and develop common strategies and responses, notably through supporting and participating to protection working groups and the Mixed Migration Task Force;
- Promote improved understanding of protection issues among all relevant stakeholders and ensure the observance of international human rights and humanitarian law standards.
- Establish strong operational links and ensure an adequate information sharing system with DRC Yemen, other offices in the region and the MMTF Somalia.
Qualifications
- University degree, preferably in Human Rights, International Law or related field;
- Extensive work experience within the field of human rights, particularly within the field of IDP/refugee protection;
- Experience working with International NGO’s, UN agencies, line ministries and/or local authorities in IDP/refugee settings in complex emergencies or post-conflict countries;
- Experience in participatory protection assessment and community-based protection activities;
- Excellent analytical and report writing skills;
- Experience with capacity building of national staff, and in convening and facilitating trainings and workshops;
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective and working relations with local staff and other stakeholders;
- Experience and willingness to work in the field;
- Experience living and working in a cross-cultural, multi-sector, insecure and remote area;
- Ability to work well under pressure and in adverse conditions;
- Substantial project and people management skills and experience;
- English language (written and spoken) essential, Somali an advantage.
- Regional experience essential.
We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of age, nationality, race, gender or age.
Conditions
Availability: October 2009
Duty station: Hargeisa, Somaliland with travel to the field in Somaliland and Puntland. Non family duty station subject to Rest & Recreation of 5 working days after 12 weeks.
Contract: One year with possibility of extension.
Salary and other conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Field Recruited Expatriates recruited by the Horn of Africa (HOA) Regional Office in Nairobi, Kenya. Salary is $5,000 per month which includes all allowances; no additional allowances or compensation is provided.
For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult
http://www.drc.dk.
