Regional Protection Coordinator At Danish Refugee Council

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Background

The Regional Protection Coordinator is responsible for supporting DRC in quality protection programming at the regional and country level (Greece, Italy, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova). This includes providing support, advice, and quality checks on protection aspects of country and regional strategies as well as on programming initiatives and concrete projects. As the technical focal point for country protection staff, the DRC Regional Protection Coordinator will support the Regional Head of Programme in all regional initiatives involving protection activities and needs and lead initiatives focused on enhancing DRC’s policy responses upholding human rights and promotion of durable solutions. The position will overall support DRC’s work in the Europe region, which is grounded in protection of persons and communities affected by displacement.

The most direct counterparts for the RPC in her/his daily work will be protection coordinators or managers in the individual country programmes, with whom the RPC will have an advisory and technical role. The RPC will report to the Regional Head of Programme for DRC Asia & Europe and have a technical reporting line to DRC’s Protection Global Protection Unit in HQ.

Duties and Responsibilities

As Coordinator the post-holder is responsible for the following:

• Provide technical support to country offices, particularly in the following programmatic areas: legal aid / assistance, protection monitoring, case management, psychosocial support, and community-based protection to ensure overall quality protection analysis, strategies, and responses are in adherence with global standards and principles.
• Lead the roll out of global and regional DRC protection standards and guidance, development of strategic protection documents including the regional protection strategy, Standard Operating Procedures, and capacity-building tools at the regional level.
• Provide technical expertise and support to regional and country programmes on advocacy and policy papers and in program development, to ensure the harmonization of protection approaches across the different countries in the region.
• Lead technical development of integrated programming approaches with DRC’s humanitarian mine action, shelter and economic recovery sectors.
• Lead development of regional protection programming and as focal point/lead in regional protection projects.
• Represent DRC in regional protection coordination meetings when relevant and as focal point for protection with donors at regional level.
• Liaise with DRC Global Protection Unit (GPU)/ protection technical experts at HQ and ensure coordination, dissemination of policies, standards or guidelines to countries and as well as act as interface between countries and GPU for specific requests coming from the field.
• Carry out capacity assessment and build capacity of protection staff in countries as needed.
• Support/conduct needs assessment in new areas of operation.
• Backstop country protection managers/coordinators as required.

Experience and technical competencies:

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of senior level experience in Protection at field level for an I/NGO
• Minimum 5 years of practical experience in sector area working for an I/NGO
• Documented skills in project and budget development for Protection activities
• Documented skills in technical writing, including writing policy and advocacy papers
• Documented skills in capacity building
• Proven experience working with local partners
• Proven experience in data collection and analysis

Desired Qualifications

• Field protection experience from one of the concerned countries is a strong advantage
• Having a clear understanding of the regional protection situation in the Europe region

Languages

• English (Fluent)
• Fluency in any of the languages of the European COs would be an advantage

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Education:

• Advanced academic qualification in a relevant field (law, social sciences or related disciplines).

We offer

Contract length: (24) Months

Position Band: This position will be placed at Non-Management (F) band

Preferable Start date: October, 2023

Duty station: duty station to be negotiated within DRC country operations in Europe.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact Younes.elazm@drc.ngo