Requête nº: req12245
Intitulé de poste: Protection Working Group Coordinator
Secteur d’activité: Protection et état de droit
Type de contrat: Durée Déterminée
Taux d’occupation: Plein temps
Ouvert aux expatriés: Oui
Lieu de travail: Derek, Syria
Descriptif du poste
CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND
The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Inside Syria, 6.1 million people are internally displaced and 11.6 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to UNHCR figures, there are 5.6 million Syrian refugees, most of whom are displaced within neighboring countries. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.
IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis. With an annual budget in excess of $45 million and a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 3,000 staff and workers in the region, IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, protection and rule of law, education, women’s protection and empowerment, NFI and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.
Despite the efforts among a large number of International and Syrian NGOs and UN Agencies that have been providing assistance inside Syria, needs continue to increase and coordination structures remain fragile as a result of continuous political sensitivity in Syria. As a result, the humanitarian community has embarked since 2014 on a Whole of Syria Approach in order to improve the overall humanitarian response based on a more integrated and connected coordination structure between the various “hubs” from which relief aid is being provided– either from Syria or cross-border operations from Turkey, and Iraq.
The North East Syria (NES) Hub has INGO led Working Groups across sectors that coordinate directly with Whole of Syria. The INGO led Protection Working Group already in place is supported by a dedicated PWG Coordinator.
Job Overview/Summary:
The INGO Protection Working Group Coordinator (PWG) will be leading the coordination efforts of INGO Protection partners in NES, liaising with UN protection partners, Whole of Syria (Protection, Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence Areas of Responsibilities), and fostering information sharing between INGOs and UN agencies operating in NES, and leading NES INGO protection advocacy messaging and strategies for the INGO community, especially in relation to the Raqqa and Deir Ez Zor conflicts.
Major Responsibilities:
Coordination and Representation
Chair regular coordination meetings of the INGO Protection Working Group (PWG). Actively identify and make contact with new and existing actors to add to the working group, inclusive of those that may be registered in other hubs, but responding in North East Syria;
• Work with protection sector members towards ensuring that key protection concerns are identified and addressed;
• Support the working group’s data collection efforts, helping partners to submit accurate and consistent data; provide analysis back to the working group and other interagency stakeholders; support the development of uniform data collection and monitoring tools for ease of comparison and analysis across INGOs;
• Support effective response planning in consultation with PWG members based on protection needs identified from collected data and analysis;
• Raise protection concerns for the NES hub and liaise with coordination fora (NES INGO Forum/OCHA NES Focal Point/Qamishli Sub Office/Whole of Syria) locally and on a technical level to identify solutions to raised concerns. Ensure and facilitate contextual analysis, needs assessments and access to beneficiaries and sites/structures;
• Collaborate with other sectors, including the WASH Working Group, the Health Working Group and the FSL Working Group to ensure integration of protection principles, responsive programming across sectors and course correction where protection concerns identified;
• Identify gaps and areas of overlap in protection services in NE Syria;
• Represent NES PWG in coordination with the WoS protection cluster coordinators and other Whole of Syria protection initiatives as required;
• Identify and support WoS resource and funds tracking and coordinate with WoS coordinators to advocate with donors to ensure appropriate support for inter-agency protection activities;
• Ensure PWG preparedness and contingency plans are updated on a regular basis and made available to PWG partners;
• Assist in developing/updating information management tools and products;
• Oversee, compile and analyze key protection indicators and data from the NES hub to ensure production of knowledge to steer strategic and operational planning for the WoS response, including but not limited to contributions to the HNO and HRP process.
Mainstreaming Protection and Application of Standards:
• Establish and implement a strategy for mainstreaming protection across each sector/working group;
• Mainstreaming protection and application of national and international humanitarian principles among PWG actors and others as requested through trainings and technical support;
Capacity Building:
• In close coordination with PWG sub-groups, coordinate and facilitate training for PWG members, local government authorities and other humanitarian actors on protection relevant topics; identify opportunities for training in other areas as needed;
• Look at ways of building the capacity of the local authorities and other PWG members to create a stronger protection environment and to prepare for future emergency responses;
Monitoring, Reporting and Communication:
• Support existing systems for reporting on the progress of PWG members’ activities for effective monitoring and evaluation; Develop/refine/harmonize monitoring systems as required;
• Develop and maintain effective communication and information sharing within the PWG, UN partners and among other sectors;
• Ensure a high standard of analytical reporting on identified issues and production of regular situation reports;
Advocacy:
• Support the design of evidence-based advocacy strategies and take a strong role in coordinating and leading advocacy initiatives on identified protection concerns;
• Work closely with the Regional Public Affairs team to identify and facilitate opportunities for field-driven advocacy;
• Support drafting of regional advocacy products and be available for media opportunities as required;
• Map out and report on funding gaps and programmatic needs of PWG members and regularly advocate to donors and various forums to help address such funding gaps and needs;
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Field Director NE Syria
Indirect/Technical Reporting: WoS Protection Sector Co-Coordinator
Position directly Supervises: n/a
Key Internal Contacts: IRC NES Integrated Protection Coordinator, Field Director/Iraq CD, Technical Adviser Protection Rule of Law (PROL)
Key External Contacts: NES INGO PWG members, NES INGO Forum, WOS, UN representation in NES (including UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA and OCHA), Donor representatives, local authorities.
Profil
Essential
• Minimum of 5 years proven experience working on protection issues in humanitarian environments, including provision of technical advice to field teams;
• Excellent understanding of Protection issues in emergency situations/conflict environment and detailed knowledge of humanitarian principles, guidelines and laws and the cluster system;
Preferable:
• Previous experience in cluster or sector coordination;
• Demonstrable experience and excellence in advocacy, representation and high-level negotiation skills, including the development of strong interpersonal relationships to facilitate communication within the PWG/cluster;
• Strong experience with information management as related to the protection sector, including maintaining standards of impartiality and confidentiality with data of a sensitive nature
• Excellent leadership, coordination, capacity building, planning and analytical skills;
• Able to work successfully under pressure and ability to make timely decisions;
• Excellent written and spoken English, Arabic is an asset;
• Experience in Syria and/or in the region is preferred;
• This position includes travel throughout the region (mostly within North Easy Syria, and to a limited extent within the region as needed).
Education: Post graduate degree in international law, human rights or related social science field
Work Experience: Minimum of 5 years proven experience working on protection issues in humanitarian environments, including provision of technical advice to field teams;
Demonstrated Technical Skills: advocacy
Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies: previous experience in cluster or sector coordination
Languages Required/Preferred: Arabic preferred, Kurdish preferred, English essential
Computer/Other Tech Requirements: Excellent understanding of protection issues in emergency situations/conflict environments and detailed knowledge of humanitarian principles, guidelines and laws and the cluster system
Ability to Travel: 50% of the time to sites throughout NES
Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
Attention Returning National Candidates: IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs. We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply.
Working Environment
The position will be based in Derek, NE Syria. Shared housing will be provided. Frequent travel required, access and security permitting.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.