Protection Coordinator

Head	Protection Coordinator - Nigeria
Technical supervisor	HUB Sector Coordinator – Protection
Line manager	Head of Programme, Nigeria
Duty station	Abuja, Nigeria
Area of Operation	Nigeria
Employment Period	Starting November 2026 – 1 year renewable
Type of Contract (Expat/National/Trainee)	Expat or National
Salary & Benefits	Employment Band: G – Non Manager

Who Are We?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Background

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015. Currently, DRC delivers life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations including internally displaced persons, returnees, and host communities in the areas of Protection, Economic Recovery, Shelter WASH and Infrastructure (SWI), and Site Management across Borno, Adamawa, Sokoto, and Zamfara states in Northern Nigeria.

About The Job

Overall Purpose of the Role: The role is dedicated to technical coordination, advisory, fundraising and representing DRC in relevant technical fora and working group. The Protection Coordinator is responsible for formulating technical strategy for DRC Nigeria bringing addressing the root causes of displacement, contributing to solutions to displacement and enhancing protection of hard-to-reach. The Coordinator will provide effective, timely technical advisory to the implementation team and to the Country Office Team in line with the technical and country strategy. The role will be responsible for representing DRC in relevant technical fora and working groups on country level and area level, should that be necessary, and supporting the Head of Programme in fundraising efforts for their sector through well-designed strategy, timely updates, advisory and sector engagement.

The Protection Coordinator is based in Abuja– but expected to travel frequently the Area Offices and field locations in Borno, Sokoto and Zamfara states and other areas as the geographic presence of DRC Nigeria develops.

Responsibilities:

The role is dedicated to technical coordination, advisory, fundraising and representing DRC in relevant technical fora and working groups.

The Protection Coordinator is responsible for formulating technical strategy for DRC Nigeria bringing addressing the root causes

displacement, contributing to solutions to displacement and enhancing protection of hard-to-reach. The coordinator will provide effective, timely technical advisory to the implementation team and to the Country Office Team in line with the technical and country strategy. The role will be responsible for representing DRC in relevant technical fora and working groups on country level and area level, should that be necessary, and supporting the Head of Programme in fundraising efforts for their sector through well-designed strategy, timely updates, advisory and sector engagement.

The main responsibilities and tasks of the Protection Coordinator:

Technical Coordination and Advisory

• Provide technical advisory to the implementation teams and Country Office team on any stage of programme implementation.
• Lead on creation and roll out of the technical strategy with emphasis on needs of the affected communities, expansion to relevant sectors, and programme integration. Support the Head of Programmes on creating the Country Strategy.
• Provide technical inputs and review to proposals, reports, assessments and evaluations in line with the technical strategy.
• Provide technical capacity building to implementation teams and partners.
• Prepare learning/knowledge products, SoPs and guidelines covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall Protection sector development and good-practice implementation.
• Guide the teams and review protection incident reports, alerts and protection monitoring products.
• Initiate and contribute to the systematic assessment of Protection sector capacity gap analysis, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, and support the design of initiatives to strengthen capacities systematically.
• Analyse Nigeria Protection sector challenges, trends, programmes and projects, with a focus on Protection outcomes, using frameworks, analysis and tools available in the sector.

Representation, Fundraising and Advocacy

• Pro-actively lead on DRC’s Protection representation with relevant Sectors (Clusters) and working groups on country level and area level when necessary.
• Engage with relevant stakeholders incl. NGOs, donors and government to promote DRC’s Protection programme and support sector’s fundraising efforts.
• Actively seek out new viable partnerships for the Protection sector.
• Actively seek out appropriate funding opportunities for the sector in line with the sector strategy.
• Produce materials for Protection advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund-raising.
• Interact with global and regional initiatives and partnerships for Protection sector.

In addition to the above, the Protection Coordinator may be asked to carry out other duties requested by the Head of Programme - but always in the scope of this job description.

Experience and technical competencies:

Qualifications and Work Experience:

Required

• At least 5 years’ experience working in the field of protection, at least 3 years of which at a senior technical level.
• Proven experience with proposal and report writing processes.
• Direct experience with drafting and reviewing of technical SoPs and guidelines, technical papers and analysis.
• Proven experience with representation in Clusters, Working groups and other relevant technical bodies.
• Proven experience with impactfully engaging with stakeholders and advocacy initiatives.
• Experience across sectoral areas of responsibility. In-depth experience in Protection Monitoring, case management, PSS, legal assistance, GBV, and protection advocacy are strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current sectoral best practices and familiarity with humanitarian architecture.
• Full professional proficiency in English with the capacity to produce well-written products for formal reporting and communication.
• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field (International Law, International Relations, Political Science, Social Work, Humanitarian Assistance, Sociology, Psychology, or another related field).

Desirable

• Master’s degree from an accredited academic institution in relevant field (International Law, International Relations, Political Science, Social Work, Humanitarian Assistance, Sociology, Psychology, or another related field) or equivalent.
• Experience with capacity building for national partners.
• Prior knowledge of Nigeria context.
• Fluency in French

Required Skills & Qualities

Core Competencies of DRC:

• Striving for excellence
• Collaboration
• Taking the lead
• Communication
• Demonstrating Integrity

• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment
• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are required
• Multi-tasking and Organizational skills is a must
• Adaptable and Flexible
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills
• Exemplary sense of ethics in the workplace
• Team-oriented & good sense of humor

Education : (include certificates, licenses, etc.)

• Bachelor’s degree in international law, International Relations, Political Science, Social Work, Humanitarian Assistance, Sociology, Psychology, or another related field.

A master’s degree in the above fields will be an added advantage.

Languages:

English (fluent) – Essential

We offer

Contract length: 1 Year

Band: G1 – Non Management. Please note that there is a strong possibility that this role will be changed to F1 – Manager in the coming months once anticipated funding is confirmed

Start date: As soon as possible

Designation of Duty Station: Abuja Country Office

Application Process

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) on DRC website. Both must be in English.

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process.

However, all applicants shall take into consideration that DRC cannot offer an international work contract to a citizen of the country of assignment (in this specific case, Nigeria).

Applications close on 20/09. Applications submitted after will not be considered.