The Joint Country Program (JCP) of DanChurchAid (DCA) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) is seeking a dedicated Protection Advisor specialized in Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Mental health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to join our program in Ukraine. The person hired will train the National Protection Manager to lead the development and implementation of the JCP’s programme to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and support emotional well-being of conflict affected people, particularly women and girls affected by GBV. MHPSS are essential components of a comprehensive package of care to promote psychosocial wellbeing and prevent mental disorders among GBV survivors. The Advisor will also support the overall country program portfolio to ensure protection risk analyses and mainstreaming is at the center of project design and decision making.
The Joint Country Program (JCP) has been working directly and through partners in Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. The JCP’s program portfolio in Ukraine focuses on Cash and Livelihoods, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Mine Action, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), and prevention of and response to Gender Based Violence (GBV).
The main geographical focus is the southern and eastern regions of the country, with offices in Kyiv and Mykolaiv. The Protection Advisor provides a crucial contribution to ensure the development, implementation, and quality control of the response implemented directly and by local partners. An important part of the job is to train, guide and support the National Protection Manager and other national team members. The position is based in Kyiv with frequent travels to Mykolaiv and other field locations.
The Protection Advisor will report to the Head of Programmes. The contract is for ten months and is based at DCA’s office in Ukraine. This is a non-family duty station and DCA will provide you with accommodation, as well as comprehensive insurance and an R&R (Rest and Recuperation) plan.
Start is as soon as possible.
Due to visa constraints, the JCP might be restricted on which citizenships to recruit.
Duties and responsibilities:
The Protection Advisor will advice and support the National Protection Manager in running the programme, focusing on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), to:
- Contribute to the implementation of GBV strategies, including working with local organizations, women’s groups, and other community groups to develop processes and advocate for GBV services and prevention.
- Develop and implement fundraising strategies to secure donations, grants and investments for GBV and Protection programming.
- Working with the National Protection Manager in designing and starting up GBV and MHPSS programming where appropriate.
- Advice in recruitment and capacity building of national staff incl. from partners, and other relevant stakeholders on GBV and MHPSS, including the development and delivery of a capacity building plan for staff and partners on GBV and MHPSS.
- Effective day to day advice and support to protection team members through the National Protection Manager, supporting them to set objectives and workplans while providing appropriate and timely feedback regarding performance.
- Ensure GBV and MHPSS interventions are implemented in a timely manner, are evidence-based, and underpinned by sound MEAL and quality assurance procedures, developing clear SOPs and training/backstopping staff/partners accordingly.
- Providing hands-on technical advice to ensure quality implementation and monitoring while upholding sector best practice and NCA/DCAs codes of conduct.
- Collaborate with the National Protection Manager to build the capacity of staff and partners on GBV prevention, mitigation and response and improving procedures/practices around GBV disclosures.
- Supporting the overall country program portfolio to ensure protection risk analysis and mainstreaming is at the center of project design and decision making.
- Support the National Protection Manager in establishing and maintaining regular and collaborative relations with relevant stakeholders (partners, donors, focal points at DCA and NCA Head Office, other organizations, local authorities, institutions, community groups, etc.) to ensure coordination, avoid duplication, and strengthen the referral network.
- Support the National Protection Manager in participating and representing the JCP in relevant working groups and sectoral coordination meetings leading and contributing to protection assessments in collaboration with other DCA teams as well as inter-agency initiatives.
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree from an accredited academic institution in relevant field (International Law, International Relations, Political Science, Social Work, Humanitarian Assistance, Sociology, Psychology or any other related field)
- Minimum 5 years relevant sector experience, including at least 3 years in a managerial or advisory role
- Professional proficiency in English required, Ukrainian is an asset.
- Strong experience and understanding of protection risk analyses, GBV programming, community-based protection approaches, and MHPSS.
- Proven experience in protection project development and management, including familiarity with sector standards and humanitarian architecture.
- Strong written and oral communication skills that demonstrate empathy, discretion, and integrity.
- Proven ability and willingness to work and live in diverse, challenging and potentially unstable environments/emergency settings .
Personal Qualities:
- Demonstrate flexibility, reflection, and the ability to maintain positive relationships and composure in stressful situations.
- Exceptional cooperative skills, seeing strengths as well as opportunities in colleagues and partners.
- Ability to listen and build trust while at the same time establish a clear direction and motivate others.
- Excellent at communicating and engaging partners and staff.
We offer:
- A 10-month contract
- A competitive salary package, including hardship allowance, to be negotiated based on experience level.
- Non-family posting based in Ukraine with frequent travel.
- 5 weeks of paid vacation and a generous R&R package
- Insurance as per industry standards
- Opportunity to work in an international environment with one of largest ongoing emergency responses
- Most of all, you will make a real difference in lives of people in crisis
In your application, please include the following:
- Experience in:
- setting up GBViE programmes
- managing GBViE programmes
- Experience in using therapeutic interventions, PM+, CETA, mhGAP (reference to these 3 must be mentioned)
- Experience in facilitating participatory training of non-professionals in using therapeutic interventions
All qualified and interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, abilities or ethnic affiliation are encouraged to apply for the vacancy. DCA conducts an anti-terror check as part of the recruitment process. It is a prerequisite that you can pass this check and maintain this status throughout your employment with us. Everyone applying for a job with DCA must be ready to comply with our Code of Conduct, Staff Policy on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment and our Child Safeguarding Policy.
Closing date of application is 5 May 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and only application sent via the DCA recruitment portal are considered. The interviews with the shortlisted candidates are scheduled to take place the week following the closing date. Shortlisted candidates may be required to complete a written test prior to the interview. Initial interviews will take place using Teams. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.