Protection Program Officer- Ngala at Mercy Corps

General Position Summary

The Protection Program Officer is responsible for the implementation of protection sector activities including the mobilization of women’s groups, adolescent programming, training on topics such as psychological first aid, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) prevention and response, and the validation of referral pathways in Borno state, Northeast Nigeria. With the support of the Protection and GBV Coordinators, s/he will also advise and build capacity of other sector teams on gender and protection mainstreaming and best practices. S/he will report directly to the Field Program Manager and will work closely with other sectors.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Oversee the implementation of protection activities and ensure adequate gender mainstreaming across program field locations;
• Develop activity work plans and manage day-to-day activity implementation related to protection;
• Ensure that program implementation mainstreams gender and protection in coordination with other sectors in line with best practices;
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to vulnerability criteria;
• Lead where necessary community meetings to identify protection concerns.
• Establish and maintain effective program reporting, and monitoring and evaluation systems (to track, analyze and report on results) for both internal and external use;
• Integrate community approaches, protection mainstreaming, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate;
• Ensure program filing system is in place, adheres to internal and donor regulation and filing is regularly maintained;
• Adhere to all MC policies related to security, operations and transport/ logistics information related to programming.
• Support orientation for all new staff on MC guidelines on gender and protection mainstreaming. If necessary, organize capacity building sessions for other sector staff on gender and protection.
• Provide weekly field reports, capturing activities progress, lessons learned, success stories on the project as well as general situation and community updates and needs.
• Report on any problems encountered in the field such as project participant complaints, local authority interference, and security threats to MC staff and activities. Coordinate with MC Security Officer and Protection Coordinator on any threats to MC staff and activities.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned.

Program Management

• Oversee program startup and ongoing program management and administration of teams across various field locations.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Ensure that beneficiaries are effectively targeted according to established vulnerability criteria.
• Develop program implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, beneficiary targeting and distribution process as well as psychosocial and capacity building of partners.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Fulfill Mercy Corps’ Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
• Ensure teams are able to apply the “I’m Here Approach” and safe space programming to identify, engage, and empower adolescent girls and boys including the use of tools like the Girl Roster, Boys Matrix and Inclusion Now.
• Monitor progress and ensure that sex and age disaggregated data and analysis is used in assessments, implementation documents, monitoring, and evaluations to adapt and meet the unique needs of adolescent girls and boys (10-14 yrs, 15-19 yrs, 20-24 yrs).
• Ensure mentors receive support and training to engage adolescents, their care providers and stakeholder, promote psychosocial well-being, and enable safe programming.
• Promote holistic approach that encourages the participation of young people that strives for girl and boy led initiatives as well as promote enabling environments that involve care providers and community stakeholders.

Team Management

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

Safeguarding Responsibilities:

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Draft and/or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Influence & Representation

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with consortium partners, sub-grantees, donors, local governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

 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 beneficiaries 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.
• 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.

Supervisory Responsibility

S/he will supervise Gender and protection Program Assistants

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Field Program Manager

Works Directly With: Finance, Program, MEL, and Operation Teams.

Knowledge and Experience

• BA/Sc. in relevant field required;
• 3 years of experience working on the development, implementation, administration and compliance of a field-based international development or humanitarian program; general gender and protection mainstreaming experience & knowledge required.
• Experience with conducting gender analysis, protection assessments, monitoring and evaluation and other learning efforts required.
• Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
• Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills
• Fluency in English and Hausa is required.