Purpose of the Role:

1. To support the organization to carry out community based programming of protection and to integrate it into the emergency response programme
2. To support the organization to build the capacity and attitudes of staff and partners in relation to protection interventions.
3. To support in managing information, communication and monitoring and evaluation requirements relating to the protection intervention, and to build appropriate networks

Key Responsibility Areas:

• To support the organization to carry out community based programming of protection and to integrate it into the emergency response programme

• Map protection issues of the affected vulnerable community, particularly women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities
• Map and identify existing community resources, capacities and institutions by developing appropriate assessment tool.
• Assist in conducting the assessment in coordination with the UN protection cluster and its members
• Develop a community-based protection approach and advocacy strategy to address the practical and strategic needs of women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.
• Link protection policy work with programme activities to bring coherence between policy and programme work, and ensure a bottom up approach
• Coordinate with UN clusters (particularly protection, gender based violence and psychosocial) to raise issues and influence them to engage with other clusters to determine which sectoral programmes/interventions target women, children, elderly etc. in relation to food, NFIs, health, shelter, livelihoods/early recovery and WASH initiatives.
• Develop the bottom up transparency and accountability mechanism with active participation of the affected communities and partners.
• Ensure that all planned activities are culturally sensitive and take into account the local context, and are in line with Red Cross and NGO Code of Conduct, Sphere minimum standards (if applicable) and humanitarian principles.
• Follow the humanitarian principles, standards and guidelines to ensure these are adhered by the staff, partner staff, deployees and volunteers.

• Support to build the capacity and attitudes of staff and partners in relation to protection interventions.

• Build the capacity of ActionAid staff and partner staff to enable them to analyse issues with a protection lens, and to develop programmes
• Devise a contextual training module on community based protection in emergencies and conflict for staff and partner staff.

• Support in managing information, communication and monitoring and evaluation requirements relating to the protection intervention, and to build appropriate networks

• Develop an appropriate communication and information strategy
• Network with other organisations and build alliances of communities on the protection issues
• Coordinate with international donor organisations and local government authorities
• Develop and implement effective monitoring and evaluation systems
• Develop strong MIS from field to national level, and meet donor reporting expectations

Skills and Qualifications:

Essential:

• Prior experience of working in emergency situation with direct responsibilities for protection issues
• Ability to work through networking and with partnership
• Willing to live and work in difficult conditions and travel extensively at the field level
• Exposure to complex emergencies
• Current knowledge of development issues, policies as well as social programming policies and procedures in international development cooperation.
• Good analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills.
• Good writing and editing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.
• Leadership and teamwork abilities.
• Experience of team management and working in a cross cultural environment
• Proven ability to work creatively, innovatively and effectively with limited direct supervision
• Proven experience leading M&E programmes and an ability to use a variety of approaches and methodologies.
• Strong background working with partners and supporting the professional development of local organisations and staff. Including provision of training, mentoring and coaching support.
• Proven ability to work with government authorities, UN clusters, NGOs, development agencies and community groups.
• A high level of computer competency (excel, word, email, internet).
• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential
• A strong commitment to AA’s vision, mission and values, especially the rights based approach and the principles of equal opportunity.
• Understanding of and commitment to gender and cultural
• Understanding of and commitment to humanitarian principles and minimum standards for disaster response, the NGO/Red Cross Code of Conduct, the People in Aid Code of Conduct, ActionAid’s human security in emergencies and conflict strategy and approach, and security and policy procedures.
• A commitment to the importance of downward accountability to rights-holders and transparency in humanitarian response.

Desirable: 

• Fluency in written and spoken local language preferred.
• Knowledge of and experience in working in the affected country preferred.
• UN experience is an advantage