Protection Monitoring Team Leader at Danish Refugee Council

Introduction

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 8,000 employees and also 8,000 volunteers, while managing a turnover of over 400 million Euro. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization. The Danish Refugee Council is Denmark’s largest humanitarian NGO and has been ranked the 3rd best NGO in the world in 2018 (for the six consecutive years, the organization is among the top five of the NGO Advisor Annual List).

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

1. Background

The Danish Refugee Council initiated its activities in the island of Lesvos in November 2015 due to the unprecedented influx of asylum seekers. Following new political developments and displacement dynamics in early 2016, DRC expanded its activities to the mainland to support the people living in several sites across the country. With offices in Athens, Larissa and Thessaloniki, it currently implements a wide range of activities, including Site Management Support, legal assistance, identification of individual needs and protection of highly vulnerable persons, access to services within and outside the hosting sites through cultural mediation, and non-formal education. DRC works closely with the refugee communities, the Greek authorities and other humanitarian actors to ensure a protective environment for refugees and asylum seekers in Greece.

2. Purpose

Under supervision of the Field Protection Manager and in close coordination with other DRC field units, the Protection Monitoring Team Leader will be field-based and will support the implementation of all Protection objectives under DRC projects in the refugee hosting sites. Furthermore, the Protection Monitoring Team Leader acts as line manager to the DRC teams of protection monitoring. S/he will develop and maintain good relations with the persons of concern (PoC), relevant stakeholders and other humanitarian actors, to support adequate implementation and coordination of DRC’s Protection activities

3. Duties & Responsibilities

• Capacity building of protection monitoring staff and protection social workers.
• Ensure timely and sound implementation of protection activities in all relevant sites.
• Provide technical support, supervision and guidance to the Protection Monitoring teams at the field level (incl. development of technical tools and guidance, tailored capacity building plans, training and on-the-job coaching and mentoring).
• Contribute to preparing sound work-plans for Protection Monitoring teams in the field.
• Ensure regular update of referral matrix/tools and documentation of FGD, key informant interviews and site observation forms by Protection staff.
• Ensure that indicators measuring results, impact and performance on protection delivery are tracked and met.
• Participate in the implementation of general protection activities in accordance with agreed objectives.
• Monitor and analyze trends in the protection situation in sites for management, programme and advocacy purposes.
• Ensure that DRC’s protection activities are delivered in a timely manner and according to standards and are flexible and responsive by participating in (joint) assessments, identifying protection concerns and reporting for follow-up.
• Continuously monitor the provision of services on the site and report on findings, to ensure Protection considerations are mainstreamed across all sectors.
• Regularly review and adapt vulnerability criteria; identify vulnerable individuals and facilitate appropriate action, including referrals to specialized services.
• Encourage, support and monitor community-based protection networks in the emergency reception sites.
• Encourage a positive, innovative and mutually supportive team spirit amongst the team under her/his responsibility.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the Protection Manager, relevant to the achievement of Protection objectives.

Protection Analysis

• Maintain a strong protection analysis of issues and trends in the protection context within and affecting the area of operation for programme, advocacy and management purposes.
• Maintain an oversight of services provided and available to persons of concern with whom the protection team is working in the area of deployment.
• Provide support and insights to DRC’s Protection Monitoring team regarding the protection issues in the area of operation and ensure timely and effective protection response.

Program and team oversight and support **

• Supervise and support the protection team in the implementation of agreed protection activities through provision of day-to-day support and operational guidance;
• Ensure agreed protection activities are delivered on time and to agreed standards.
• Ensure preparation of required project and work plans, in coordination with and under the supervision of Protection Manager.
• Undertake planning and provide feedback to the Protection Team Leader on procurement and logistics needs, or any issues relating to staffing.
• With the protection team, identify, advocate for and support opportunities to mainstream protection considerations into DRC or other site activities and services.
• Ensure vulnerability assessments are conducted and relevant support is being provided to vulnerable PoC.

Coordination and Representation:

• Internal and external coordination at the site-level where needed.
• Liaise with local authorities, service providers and humanitarian actors to support mapping of services and development of effective referral pathways.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders, including government authorities, other humanitarian actors and service providers, as well as persons of concern in the area of deployment.
• Act as a focal point between DRC protection management, other DRC North protection team members (e.g. Protection Monitoring Team Leader, RCMs, Legal Aid team, Protection Manager, other DRC protection officers in other sites, etc.), between the DRC protection team in the area of deployment and other DRC units, and with other agencies in the area of deployment.
• Ensure service mapping and effective referral pathways are kept up to date.
• Organize and deliver on site protection meetings in the area of operation as required.
• Represent DRC and act as a focal point for protection issues with external stakeholders when required.

Reporting

• Ensure compliance with internal reporting system and participate in the DRC internal coordination mechanisms as required.
• Consolidate protection monitoring reports received from protection staff and draft periodic analysis and monthly reports.
• Prepare case reports when necessary.
• Draft protection monitoring reports, provide input in designing protection monitoring tools and formats.
• Regularly monitor the progress of protection activities against project plans and timelines.
• Support and undertake program monitoring and evaluation activities, including regular activity monitoring, documentation of case studies, best practices and lessons learned, as agreed with the Protection Manager.
• Ensure sound financial management and expenditure tracking, and the preparation, delivery and filing of agreed financial documentation.
• Provide inputs for the review of DRC SOPs and other work processes and identify gaps and challenges and make recommendations for improvements.
• Contribute to continual improvements in DRC protection programming and ways of working, through identification and communication of challenges, gaps, recommendations for improvements and lessons learnt.

Program Development

• In collaboration with the Protection Monitoring Team, Protection Manager and other colleagues, contribute to the development and design of DRC North’s protection program and activities.

Protection Information Management

• Ensure to apply and comply with the information management system which is in place in the area of deployment.
• Ensure files and MOVs are maintained to agreed standards to ensure donor compliance and accountability.

Accountability

• Guided by the DRC Programme Handbook, continuously monitor and suggest relevant accountability initiatives in the field as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of DRC activities in the area.
• Ensure that protection monitoring staff adhere to general protection, child protection and GBV best-practices and professional standards and principles through capacity-building and on-the-job support.
• Document case studies, best practices and lessons learned from each of the activities implemented.

4. Qualifications

Required:

• University degree in social sciences, law, refugee and migration studies, human rights, international relations, psychology, or any other relevant field
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English
• Minimum 4 years professional work experience within international humanitarian/development work
• Good understanding of displacement issues of both internally displaced and refugees and related international standards/frameworks
• Solid project management experience

Desired:

• Post graduate education – Master’s level degree in a relevant field
• Professional fluency in any of the following language: Greek, Arabic, Kurdish, Farsi/Dari, French
• Knowledge of displacement issues and local context in Greece

5. Required Skills and Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:

o Striving for excellence

o Collaboration

o Taking the lead

o Communication

o Demonstrating Integrity

6. Terms & Conditions

• The contract will be under the Greek Labor Law (this is a national position)
• All allowances will be provided to the employees (Christmas, Easter, Vacation bonus)
• DRC provides training opportunities to develop and strengthen the quality of its services as well as its staff members’ professional and personal development.
• The position will be based in Thessaloniki (Greece) and national terms and conditions apply