Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a qualified and motivated Area Protection Specialist (Community Centre Project) who will support the implementation of the UNHCR community center project in the specific location area.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to promote and protect durable solutions to conflict and displacement-affected populations on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC is implementing a multi-sector response to support Ukraine refugees, IDPs, and host populations both within Ukraine and in the neighboring countries of Poland, Romania and Moldova, and wider Europe. Since late February 2022, nearly 4 million Ukrainians and third-country nationals have crossed the border to Poland. As part of its neighboring country response, DRC is establishing an operational presence in Poland to support displaced populations through direct implementation, partnership with civil society organizations and national NGOs, duty bearers, and other actors.
The community centers evolved from UNHCR-UNICEF Blue Dots and are supposed to serve as protection hubs supporting linking conflict-affected people, especially those at heightened risk, with services they require. In addition, the community centers aim to strengthen resilience and social inclusion and operate in support of social cohesion. In each location, the Community Centers will be run in collaboration and/or under the leadership of local/national NGOs. In each location, a designated area project coordinator is responsible for the coordination of the Community Center. With the support of the Area Protection Project Manager and Country Protection Team, the Area Protection Specialist will be responsible for supporting area partners in the implementation of the Community Center project in line with work plans and guidelines and ensuring timely and efficient communication and troubleshooting between the area coordinator and Project Manager.
About the Job
The Area Protection Specialist will have a base focus and ensure compliance with DRC procedures and guidelines within the specific location. He/She will contribute to the development of area strategies, which will be translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks, and provide support and/or technical guidance to area operations while overseeing base activities specific to the Community Center project.
Project coordination and implementation
- Support the area Community Center coordinators in Lublin in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of project activities.
- With the support of the area protection project manager support partners in using relevant project management tools such as work plans, procurement plans, monitoring plans, IM tools.
- Support area partners in the implementation of relevant project tools such as intake and screening forms, referral pathways, standard operating procedures (SOP) for referrals, community engagement plans, and community-driven initiatives.
- Jointly with partners identify and act on opportunities to enhance communication with/in communities and outreach activities aimed at the identification of persons at heightened risk in hard-to-reach areas/outside of major urban areas including through participation in mobile service provision
- Support ongoing community engagement to identify required adaptations of the project to match the needs and preferences of affected communities in relation to protection outcomes.
- Liaise between area partners and the Area Project Manager, feedback on and facilitate troubleshooting of any challenges encountered.
- With the support of the Area Protection Manager, take leadership of the Community Center project within the allocated geographical area in terms of high-quality and timely deliveries.
- Provide narrative reporting inputs from the relevant area on activity/work plans, periodical donor reporting inputs, and inputs to budget follow-ups.
- Ensure procurement needs are timely communicated to area support services officers and provide needs-based support to the supply chain processes based on requests from the support service team.
- Maintain program equipment lists and registries, prepare and manage Right of Use agreements.
- Ensure linkages and synergies with DRC protection monitoring activities.
Accountability and reporting
- Guided by the DRC Programme Handbook, continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives within relevant project programs as well as strengthen the effort to document the impact of activities.
- Ensure compliance with internal and external reporting requirements including procurement.
- Coordination and representation.
Program development and strategy
- Monitor changes in the protection landscape at the area level and report on key developments/changes.
- Contribute to knowledge sharing across area teams, document programmatic learning, and ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve programs.
- Contribute to the development and growth of the DRC Protection program and feed into country-wide strategy development.
Representation
- Upon request participate in meetings with UNHCR field offices, and municipal offices.
About You
To be successful in this position, we expect you to have a minimum of 3 years of proven experience in the area of protection, social work, community engagement and/or human rights, MHPSS, legal aid, or child protection. Moreover, we expect the following:
- Master’s degree in social/political science, social work, psychology, law, or other relevant fields
- Experience working with NGOs.
- At least 2 years of experience in project management.
- Strong communication and facilitation skills.
- Full professional proficiency in English, proficiency in Polish and/or Ukrainian, and/or Russian is highly desirable.
- Very good writing and editing skills for external audiences.
- Experience working with Monitoring and Evaluation.
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: You act in line with DRC’s vision and values.
We Offer
Contract length: 12 months with the possibility of extension depending on funding.
Band: Management, G
Duty base: Lublin
Start date: January 2023
Number of positions: 1
We offer a competitive salary and benefits in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National Staff.
How to apply
All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered. Please use the link below to submit your application:
Closing date for applications: December 4th, 2022.
Candidates need to have the right to live and work in Poland or be EU/EFTA or Ukrainian citizens. DRC will not sponsor visas.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we, therefore, encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.