Protection Officer [Community-Based] at Danish Refugee Council (DRC) | June 2024

Founded in 1956, The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization providing direct assistance to conflict-affected populations – refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities – in more than 40 countries around the world. DRC has been implementing emergency response projects in Tanzania since the onset of the Burundi refugee crisis in 2015 in three refugee camps in the Kigoma Region at the border with Burundi. DRC’s integrated projects for refugees, asylum seekers and host communities comprise sectors such as Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), Protection (CBP, PSN, GBV, CP and Legal), Shelter and infrastructure, and Economic Recovery.

Overall purpose of the role:

The Protection Officer [community-based] will be responsible for the implementation of community-based protection activities, namely support to community structure, community mobilization, feedback and complaints mechanism, and community engagement. He/she will support in developing and maintaining community-based participation mechanisms in the camp, ensuring that the voices of men, women, boys, girls, and groups with specific needs are heard and represented.

Main Responsibilities:

• Lead the establishment of community-based structures in host communities and camps (men, women, community-based protection network, peaceful coexistence, and site maintenance committees) follow up regularly on the performance of the structures, and conduct regular meetings with the committees.
• Support the committee’s development by identifying needs, and gaps and suggest best ways to address them.
• Supervise election and re-election of committees and provide orientation and training on identified needs including Code of Conduct and PSEA to newly elected members.
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to host community villages, and oversee all activities done, provide support where necessary and possible.
• Hold regular meetings with committee representatives and the community itself to gather feedback and challenges they face.
• Prepare and lead the feedback sharing meetings with members of the village council and make sure that the minutes and feedback are shared on time.
• Conduct the election of a peaceful coexistence committee and ensure the members from the host community and the camp meet regularly for Information and experience sharing as well as follow up on action points established during peaceful coexistence meetings.
• Organize and lead peaceful coexistence meetings between the host community and refugee representatives.
• Support women’s committee activities and ensure that they use their corresponding podia to raise awareness on different thematic areas.
• Lead the committees in life skills learning sessions and hold regular “giving back to the community” sessions, awareness raising sessions e.g. “violence free homes” and meetings in the community.
• Manage the incentive workers team, manage their attendance, and report any issues of concern to the Protection Team Leader [community-based]
• Ensure accurate documentation of activities and keep all documents in order and safely (e.g. distribution lists, attendance lists, etc.)
• Ensure that AGD and Protection principles are mainstreamed into work with camp leadership, committees, and communities.
• Attend the community-based protection, SGBV, and other working groups to ensure coordination of activities
• Work closely with partner agencies through coordination on the information/feedback needs to and from the refugee community.
• Support Protection Team Leader [community-based] to keep track of indicators and monitor progress towards targets according to log frame and project proposal;
• Keep an updated database of names and addresses of all members of committees
• Prepare work plans and reports (weekly/monthly) on the activities and submit them timely to Protection Team Leader [community-based]
• Ensure full cooperation with other protection staff and act on their behalf during their absence.
• Any other activities assigned by the Protection Team Leader [community-based]

About you:

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s 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 act in line with our vision and values.

Qualifications and Experience

• 2 years’ experience in the refugee response with hands-on community-based protection
• Able to coach, mentor, and train staff to undertake CBP activities.
• Knowledge of Monitoring and evaluation
• Good Computer knowledge
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Able to operate in extremely harsh living and working environments.
• Ability to travel as necessary and work under pressure and to short deadlines.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, Social work, psychology, political science, development, law, or other related fields

Key stakeholders:

• Other DRC departments and managers in particular protection, camp management, Livelihoods, energy and environment, supply chain, grants, and finance.
• UNHCR, in particular CBP UNIT
• MoHA
• Other INGOs
• Refugee representatives
• Police

Languages:

• English (Fluent, written and spoken)
• Swahili (Fluent, written and spoken)

Competency profile

• Compliance and Detail-oriented
• Strong team player
• Excellent interpersonal skills, culturally sensitive and adaptable
• Flexible, enthusiastic and willing to learn from others
• Understands humanitarian issues in Tanzania, and the region
• Willing to travel to project sites in Tanzania

Position Information

Employment category: Grade I

Reporting to: Team Leader – CBP

Technical line manager: Protection Manager

Provides Technical Supervision to: N/A

Direct reports: N/A

Unit/department: Protection

Location: Nduta Camp,Kibondo

Providing equal opportunities We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, age, ability, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other factor. At DRC we celebrate diversity and appreciate our employees for the people they are and their unique skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.

DRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff within its programs. As such, we strongly encourage national and diaspora candidates to apply for this position. However, candidates should take into consideration that DRC cannot employ, under an international contract, a national of the country in which he or she will be working (in this case, the  United Republic of Tanzania)

Promoting high standards : DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.

Application and CV

Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered.

DRC only accepts applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.ngo under JOB.