Protection Officer - (2 Positions) Mogadishu & Baidoa

                                          OPEN TO INTERNAL CANDIDATES 

Action Against Hunger-Horn and Eastern Africa is part of the Action Against Hunger International network, which provides humanitarian relief in over 40 countries worldwide in the sectors of nutrition, health, water/sanitation, and food security. Action Against Hunger Horn and Eastern Africa is an independent NGO, currently managing operations in Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Cambodia, and Haiti. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $60 million in programs, and approximately 1,700 permanent staff based in New York City, Washington D.C, Nairobi, and country offices.

Purpose.

Action Against Hunger Somalia seeks -The Protection Assistant will be responsible for implementation of protection activities, especially GBV and Child protection case management, prevention , response and mintigation through quality programming , capacity building , documentation , standardization of protection materials , tools and guidelines at area level compliance with ACF Protection , Safeguarding , and donor’s policies and procedures.Ensuring. The Protection Officers will support on protection assessment , services mappting , and closely work with community-based protection groups and community engagement while upholding protection and GBV guiding principles. The role aims to strengthen the protection princiles are mainstreamed through out the programs  ensuring protection risks mitigated and ensuring meaningfull access to essential services.

About the Job

Under the direct supervision of the ACF Social and GBV Coordinator, The Protection Officer will be responsible primarily for implementation of protection activities with ACF Protection and donors required policies and compiliance.He/She will be in charge of implementation of proction , GBV , CP and social activities through implementation of GBV case maonagement ,  prevention , response and mitigation aspecs , engaging with community health workers,  community based protection groups, mother to mother support groups and other stakeholders on protection , GBV and strengthen coordinatin and refeffal patheways among the serviacs providers.

The selected candidate will be responsible primarily for implementation of GBV activities through prevention, response and mitigation. Implementation of GBV/CP case management process t with respect of survivors Central Approaches, coordination with case workers by using case management tools, guidelines, referral pathways, and monitoring of case process and

Delivery

The Protection Officer ensures the effective delivery of roles and responsibilities through protection services, needs assessments, GBV case management and reporting, support for prevention initiatives, and outreach to vulnerable populations, including women, girls, men, boys, and minorities, to promote gender equality, address social and cultural norms that affect women's and girls' well-being, and reduce limited access to opportunities, services, and resources. This will contribute to the design and execution of ACF protection programs.

1. Essential job roles and responsibilities:-

1.  Protection Officer , GBV , Child Protection Case Management

• Conduct vulnerability and needs assessments through field visits, interviews, and assessments to identify GBV and protection risks within the community.
• Support case management processes, including identification, assessment, referrals, follow-ups, and referrals to other GBV service providers through maintaining a confidential and survivor-centered approach in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Ensure GBV case files, documentation, and activity reporting, and closely work with key GBV focal points at health facilities for referrals.
• Ensure the availability, support, and follow-ups of GBV focal points at health facilities to ensure  the survivors received/provided appropriate services such as psychosocial first Aid, adequate services, especially PEP kits
• Strengthen Baby and Child Friendly Spaces (BCFS) by integrating protection and nutrition interventions with child protection
• Coordinate with specialized staff for incident response and follow-up where required with GBV and CP guiding principles.
• Strengthen and link GBV survivors to specialized available services  (health, PSS, shelter) , explain rights and eligibility in a clear, accessible way with survivors centered approache and case management process.
•   Link individuals to legal aid, health services, psychosocial support, shelters, etc.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of survivor/participant information throughout the  case management process.

2. Document incidents and produce reports

• Maintain accurate case files and incident records using cluster tools, with follow-up with GBV focal points at the HFs to ensure data protection and confidentiality.
• Draft narrative reports, situation updates, and donor/management submissions.

4. Lead Community Engagement and Awareness.

• Engage with communities to raise awareness on protection issues, rights, and available services.
• Sensitization sessions on key protection issues, such as gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection, and also use and communicate (IEC) materials.
• Organize and support the implementation of International Commemoration Days such as 16 Days if Activism, International Women’s Day, International Humanitarian Day, etc.
• Facilitate focus group discussions and participatory assessments, including services mapping activities.
• Promote prevention activities (awareness, community outreach, behavior change).
• Gather community feedback based on gender, age, and diversity to improve protection programming.
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5. Capacity Building

• Train GBV/CP focal points, case workers, CHWs, FHWs, community-based protection committees on protection principles, GBV, CP, referral pathways, and PSEA and safeguarding.
• Train community volunteers/committees on safe identification of risks, referral processes, protection, CP, GBV, etc.
• Plan and facilitate intergrated trainings including social behavior change , for community members, volunteers, and program staff to promote safer behaviors and reduce protection risks using the cluster tools.

6.  
7.  Coordination and representation.

• Support emergency response through joint coordination with other sectors, including Health , WASH , FSL , etch through joint responses, sharing key information needed and ongoing interventions with/by other humanitarian actors, and protection partners to enhance service delivery at your duty station.
• Participate protection WG, GBV AoR, and Child Protection AoR in your locations and represent ACF in meetings for updates and coordination.
• Work closely with GBV focal points , GBV/social workers, CHWs, FHWs, community-based protection focal points, field teams, and partners for smooth multi-sectoral referral pathways.

8.  Reporting and Documentation

• Prepare and submit activity reports on a weekly, monthly, & Quarterly basis based on the donor calendar, indicating the key achievements, challenges, lessons learnt, recommendations, and impact of the field.
• Document best practices and lessons learned to improve ACF programming in your location.

9. Supervisory responsibilities.

    This position does not have any supervisory role.

10. Gender Equality commitments

• Foster an environment that supports values of women and men and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men are evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, boys, and girls regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status,
• Value and respect all cultures.

11. Physical demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.

To travel to the field, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations, which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet, and/or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

12. Working Conditions, Travel and Environment.

The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.

Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as infectious diseases

13. Required Qualifications.

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Law, Human Rights, International Relations, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3-5  years of experience in protection, GBV, CP, Social -related work, preferably in a humanitarian setting.
• Knowledge of protection,  GB, principles, social norms, case management practices, and humanitarian standards.
• Strong understanding of protection principles, confidentiality, consent, and ethics
•  Experience with case management, referrals, and incident reporting