The Danish Refugee Council is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in more than 40 countries to provide adequate assistance and protection to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, people on the move and vulnerable local people/communities. host. DRC is currently seeking a highly qualified Community Based Protection Officer based in Carúpano – Sucre, Venezuela.
About work:
DRC is managing its operations in Venezuela, under the direction of the country office in Caracas and three field offices located in the states of Sucre, Apure and Zulia. DRC Venezuela is implementing activities such as protection monitoring, legal assistance, individual protection assistance for PWSN, briefings for PoC, prevention of human trafficking, rehabilitation of health infrastructure and food security.
Objectives of the position:
Under the supervision of the Protection Team Leader (Sucre), the Community-Based Protection Officer (C-PBC) will support the field implementation of all Community-Based Protection activities under DRC projects. He will be responsible for accompaniment and technical support to communities for the development of participatory diagnoses, mapping of services/actors, participatory construction of action plans and coordination with local actors for their sustainability. The Community Based Protection Officer will develop and maintain good relationships with persons of concern, relevant stakeholders and other humanitarian actors. Likewise, he will support the implementation of differential approaches, especially age, gender, and diversity in protection activities.
Responsibilities:
Implementation of Community-Based Protection Activities
- Support communities in establishing community representation structures for the DRC project with a gender and differential approach.
- Approach the community in a culturally sensitive manner and organize to use community spaces in advance, liaising between DRC community structures and community leaders, where feasible.
- Contribute to improving protection and achieving solutions for persons of concern through people-centred and community-centred approaches.
- Identify key community members and actors with whom to coordinate and plan joint community protection activities.
- Support the population of interest to develop structures that improve their participation and self-protection.
- Responsible for carrying out and regularly updating service mapping in the intervention communities.
- Contribute to the design of the community-based protection strategy on the ground, including the identification of protection focal points and community-based protection groups.
- Based on the community-based protection strategy, support action plans for community activities, including awareness campaigns.
- Make frequent visits to the intervention communities to ensure the implementation of the community-based protection strategy.
- Responsible for planning and implementing, in collaboration with key community actors, the implementation of community activities.
- Work in coordination with the DRC Protection team and communities of interest to identify protection risks and community capacities.
- Contribute to the development of community structures and procedures that allow the safe referral of persons of interest to the corresponding Protection area.
- Coordinate community action plans with all areas of the DRC Protection Unit.
- Support PBC committees in developing work schedules for the implementation of community action plans.
- Continuously monitor the PBC intervention communities. Maintain periodic meetings with the PBC committees to identify challenges, evaluate and identify lessons learned.
- Prepare periodic reports on community protection activities, community action plans and challenges encountered in intervention areas.
- Strengthen the capacities of key community actors through capacity-building mechanisms, monthly meetings and workshops in coordination with the Protection Manager.
- Keep verification means up to date in physical and digital files, as well as reports and other documents related to PBC.
- Represent DRC on issues related to community protection.
- Other responsibilities that were assigned for the programmatic implementation of protection.
Experience and technical skills:
- Minimum 1 year of relevant experience in humanitarian work, social work, human rights or other similar field work, related to an NGO or other non-profit organization. Field experience and work with urban, and/or rural, and/or indigenous communities. Experience in strengthening community networks.
- Experience and ability to interview people of all ages, gender and diversity. Ability to establish interpersonal relationships and achieve articulation actions with relevant actors.
- Ability to work in contexts of difficult access.
- Good skills in working with tablets and computers.
- Good skills in office package.
- Willingness and ability to learn.
Logistics / Finance and Security:
- Proactively plan and coordinate logistics and movements to different operational areas.
- Initiate acquisitions and ensure their execution.
- Ensure distribution plans are prepared and shared with logistics in a timely manner.
- Comply with local safety regulations and promote compliance during field trips of your team.
- Ensure compliance with the DRC code of conduct, values, principles and core competencies.
DRC Core Competencies:
- Strive for excellence: Focus on achieving results while ensuring efficient processes.
- Collaboration: Involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
- Take initiative: Take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
- Communicate: Listen and speak effectively and honestly.
- Demonstrate integrity: Respect and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to the DRC values and Code of Conduct, including protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
Education:
- Professional with a university degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Rights, Social Sciences and related careers.
We offer:
- The opportunity to belong to one of the best NGOs in the world.
- Access to more than 1,000 free online trainings and certificates.
- Contract duration: according to budget availability.
- Salary: Band H.
- HCM insurance fully covered by the organization.
- Start date: June 2024
Application Process: All applicants must upload a cover letter (max. 1 page) and an updated CV (max. 2 pages, without supports) in Spanish, to the DRC employment platform. Applications sent by email will not be considered.
Application closing date: Friday, May 31 at 11:59 pm Local Time. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and interviews will be scheduled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. DRC reserves the right to close the vacancy prior to the deadline once a suitable candidate is identified.