Position Title: Protection Officer

 Duty Station: Negelle, Gumi Eldelo

Open Position: 1

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, academic institutions, private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Ethiopia has reached more than five million Ethiopians with interventions to save lives and build secure livelihoods. Our programs emphasize market-driven solutions, reinforce social bonds, and help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Currently in six regional states – Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR), and in Dire Dawa Administration and the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa – Mercy Corps Ethiopia is driven by the mission to contribute the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic directions focus in promoting inclusive and dynamic markets; promoting peace and social cohesion through strengthening formal/informal governance structures and citizen engagement; improved natural resource governance; and integrated humanitarian response. 

Program / Department Summary

The position holder is also responsible to provide capacity building trainings on different protection topics together with the Protection Specialist, trainings including basic protection principles, GBV and CP case management, prevention, and response mechanisms, PSEA and safeguarding to government line bureaus, community representatives, community volunteers, and other humanitarian actors. S/He will be responsible for day-to-day activity implementation in the Women and Girls Safe Spaces and Child friendly Spaces and community-based and home-to -home sensitizations. S/He will also be responsible for documentation of GBV and Child Protection related activities, compile weekly reports, proper utilizations of different safe space tools, well as represent Mercy Corps in protection and GBV related coordination forums such as Zonal and Woreda levels protection, CP/GBV cluster, PSEA Network and so on.

Essential Job Responsibilities

PROGRAM  

• Oversee Safe space and community based program startup and ongoing program implementation in the assigned field locations. 

• Ensure that all the GBV and Child Protection implementations are responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.

• Ensure that Clients are effectively targeted specially for Dignity kit and UASC material support and work together with respective government offices at woreda and kebele level to established vulnerability criteria.

• Make sure community approaches by integrating with Child protection and, gender sensitivity and capacity building are integrated in all activities as appropriate.

• Ensure program implementation at ground level is on time, target and within budget, using effective M&E tools in both Child protection and GBV areas to reach desired impacts with quality.

• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

• Coordinate and implement GBV and Child Protection related activities of the project.

• Mentor and capacitate the Women and Social Affairs office and other protection frontliner service providers on CP, GBV and psychosocial support interventions

• Conduct Safety Audit, Market Assessment, and protection risk assessment to better understand protection risk factors.

• Conduct GBV and CP service mapping and coordinate with service providers to strengthen service provision and to support vulnerable children and GBV survivors to have timely and multi- sector response services as required.

• Participate in GBV and CP coordination platforms in the area.

• Lead the community level awareness raising sessions on GBV, CP and protection related issues together with community volunteer workers and social workers.

• Provide awareness to community members on basic protection principles, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) trainings, Mercy Corps safeguarding principles and reporting mechanism

• Lead and organize review meetings and other periodic meetings with community members, government representatives and other humanitarian actors on the GBV, CP and protection concerns in relation to the project.

• Ensure that the GBV and CP referral and psychosocial support related activities are properly implemented with all protection frontliner service providers at the kebele and woreda level in collaboration with women and social affairs office.

• Provide on job training and mentoring session for the safe space facilitators, and community volunteers in GBV, CP and protection related activities.

• lead the process of WGSS and CFS activities in the selected areas together with the community volunteers and social workers.

• Cascade trainings and provide the unstructured and structured safe space interventions, like positive parental sessions, Adolescent girls programing, information dissemination, skill building and other sessions.

• Participate in capacity building trainings and workshops which focuses on gender, CP, GBV and protection issues.

Finance & Compliance Management

N/A

Influence & Representation

• Represent Mercy Corps in different GBV, CP and protection related platforms (Kebele and Wereda) levels and communicate what Mercy Corps is doing regarding GBV, CP and protection and share lesson from other agencies as well.

• Provide timely training and orientation to safe space facilitators and community volunteers and make sure that they convey messages clearly to the community

• Coordinate with safe space facilitators, community volunteers and other community structures in the area to provide information to community member on available services for GBV, CP survivors and other protection issues.

• Upholds the image and values of Mercy Corps at all times,

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

 Organizational Learning 

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to implement community accountability reporting Mechanism (CARM) effectively.

• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Accountability

• Reports Directly to: Protection specialist.

Job Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

• BA degree in Gender and social development, Sociology, Psychology, Social work, or other similar social science field of studies

• Minimum two years’ work experience in GBV, Child Protection and Protection related roles (Experience working in NGO is an advantage

• Ability to communicate in both local language & English languages and knowledge the area is preferred 

  SUCCESS FACTORS:

  • Willing to work in remote area and able to work in team.

  • Motivated and committed.

  • Flexible and willing to work under pressure, outside normal office hours and during weekends.

  • Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and appropriate flexibility.

  • Emotional maturity and physical stamina.

  • Ability to work effectively with diverse group of people

  • Good Time Management Skill, Attendance.

  Skills like Safety Management, Problem Solving, Dealing with Complexity, Analyzing Information

  Equal Employment Opportunity

  Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. 

  We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

  Safeguarding & Ethics

  Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

How to Apply

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised.  All applications submitted to  electronically include a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents.

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and    diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”

Link:-Protection Officer -Re Advertise | Mercy Corps Ethiopia (ultipro.com)

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 06 July 2023/ 4:00 PM