The Venezuelan Red Cross (CRV) is a humanitarian organization whose mandate is to save lives and improve the conditions of vulnerable people. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, it provides timely assistance in emergencies, disasters, and other humanitarian crises.
Guided by its Fundamental Principles—Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality—the CRV acts as an auxiliary to public authorities in the humanitarian field, working to reduce human suffering without distinction of race, gender, religion, or ideology. Its work encompasses emergency medical care, strengthening community resilience, first aid training, disaster response, and the promotion of health and well-being.
Through a network of highly committed volunteers, the CRV efficiently and effectively mobilizes resources to be present where and when they are most needed. Its work is based on solidarity, respect for human dignity, and a commitment to protecting life in all its forms.
Commitment to Safeguarding
The Venezuelan Red Cross is committed to creating and maintaining safe and respectful environments for communities, staff and volunteers and to preventing exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment.
Selected candidates will be required to comply with the Code of Conduct and applicable Safeguarding policies and standards. As part of its secure recruitment process, CRV may conduct professional reference checks and request relevant background information on professional conduct and Safeguarding, in accordance with its procedures and applicable regulations.
General Safeguarding Responsibility
The person holding the position must promote and respect the Safeguarding standards of the Venezuelan Red Cross, comply with the Code of Conduct and applicable policies, maintain appropriate professional boundaries, contribute to preventing harm, and immediately report any Safeguarding concerns through established mechanisms.
Addition for high-risk positions
Due to the nature of their duties, the person will be required to actively identify and mitigate Safeguarding risks associated with their activities, maintain reinforced standards of conduct and professional boundaries, and ensure that their interaction with communities and people in vulnerable situations is safe, dignified, inclusive, and respectful.
Emergency Context: The Earthquake of June 24
On June 24, 2026, north-central Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, with epicenters near Morón and Yumare. The impact was devastating: as of July 2, 2026, 2,595 deaths and 12,400 injuries had been confirmed. The national government declared a State of National Emergency, designating La Guaira a disaster zone due to severe infrastructure destruction. In Caracas, structural collapses left thousands displaced, with approximately 12,800 people housed in 80 temporary shelters.
The emergency has critically exacerbated protection risks. An alarming incidence of family separation has been identified, along with the presence of unaccompanied or separated children and adolescents who lack a unified monitoring system. Furthermore, the collapse of basic services and overcrowding in shelters have increased vulnerability to gender-based violence, exploitation, and sexual abuse. The medico-legal system in La Guaira is overwhelmed, hindering the dignified handling of bodies and the re-establishment of contact with families of missing persons.
Purpose of the Position
The Social Protection and Inclusion Assistant will be responsible for contributing to the implementation of social care, protection, and community strengthening actions aimed at individuals, families, and communities affected by the earthquake emergency. Their role will focus on rapid social assessment, providing guidance on available services, ensuring safe referrals to specialized actors, and strengthening community participation mechanisms, under the DAPS (Dignity, Access, Participation, and Security) approach, which integrates the activities of the Community Point with those of a DAPS Center.
Technical Functions and Responsibilities
- Participate in community and needs assessments through interviews, observation, community visits, and other appropriate methodologies to identify risks, vulnerabilities, capacities, and existing resources in the community.
- Identify individuals, families, or groups with specific needs for social support, protection, or access to services, using humanitarian and vulnerability criteria established by the operation.
- Conduct rapid social assessment, first response and safe referral processes, based on the National Society’s safe referral protocol, facilitating timely referrals to specialized health services, protection, SMAPS, Restoration of Family Contact (RCF), legal support and other relevant actors.
- Assist in the execution of safe referrals to specialized services, ensuring follow-up on cases that activate the emergency fund.
- Support the safe identification and referral of people at risk of protection, including children and adolescents, older people, people with disabilities and other people with specific needs.
- Provide social guidance and information on services available within and outside the Community Point, including the financial inclusion programs, banking, Green Account and microcredits of the Point, in conjunction with corporate volunteering and the Community Banking arm of Banesco.
- Keep the community mapping and directory of services, institutional actors and referral mechanisms available in the intervention area up to date.
- Plan and facilitate awareness sessions for mothers, fathers, caregivers and community members on positive parenting practices, child protection, child welfare and development, as well as on available support services.
- Support the implementation of Community Participation and Accountability (CEA) mechanisms, promoting the active participation of communities in identifying needs, making decisions and improving services, and disseminating feedback mechanisms accessible to the population of the PCAI (Community Point of Comprehensive Care)
- Supporting Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) actions, promoting safe, inclusive and culturally appropriate strategies for the population served.
- Contribute to the identification and analysis of access barriers related to gender, age, disability or other vulnerability factors, proposing measures that promote inclusion and equitable participation.
- Support the implementation and monitoring of the Code of Conduct, under the technical guidance of the Protection Coordination and the Protection Officer.
- Collaborate in the training of volunteers on basic PGI topics, RCF and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PEAS) protocols.
- Systematize daily data on care and services provided to feed technical reports and the emergency monitoring plan.
- Maintain records, databases and documentation of cases, activities and referrals made, respecting the principles of confidentiality, data protection and informed consent.
- Contribute to the monitoring, analysis of information and preparation of reports in accordance with established institutional procedures.
- Coordinate and integrate actions with the components of Health, SMAPS, WASH, PGI, CEA, RCF and other sectors involved in the humanitarian response.
- Maintain constant communication with the Protection Officer and operational teams to ensure the timely flow of information and the consistent implementation of protection activities.
- Support the logistical and technical planning of technical activities, workshops or events at the PCAI.
- Promote and act in accordance with the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, institutional policies and procedures of the Venezuelan Red Cross.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned by your direct supervisor.
Report
The Protection Assistant reports directly to the Protection Officer and maintains a technical line with the Protection Coordination according to the established procedures for response.
Workplace
Catia La Mar Spa, Comprehensive Community Care Point. La Guaira State.
To qualify as a builder of the Venezuelan humanitarian system, you must meet the following requirements:
- University degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Education, Anthropology, Community Development or related areas.
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience in community work, social intervention, community mobilization or care for vulnerable populations.
- Desirable experience in humanitarian contexts, protection, safe referral or community programs.
- Basic knowledge of rapid social assessment and ethical handling of sensitive information.
- Ability to work with vulnerable populations and diverse age groups.
- Skills for community facilitation, interpersonal communication, and problem solving.
- Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and multicultural environments.
- Ability to work under pressure and in emergency contexts.
- Residence in the state of La Guaira or immediate availability to reside in the area.
- Commitment to the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
- High sense of professional ethics, confidentiality, impartiality and respect for human dignity.
How to apply
Only a shortlist of candidates will be contacted to advance to the next phase of the selection process. Candidates will be asked to speak with their previous direct reports/line managers before proceeding to interviews.
All those interested in applying for the position and who meet all or most of the requirements for the role should send their CV to the email address: postulaciones@cruzrojavenezolana.org
The email subject line should read: Social Protection and Inclusion Assistant
CVs received without the title assigned to the call will be discarded.
Please review the professional requirements to be eligible.