Senior Protection Manager At Alight

POSITION TITLE: Senior Manager for Protection and Information Management

DATE: Febuary, 2023

COUNTRY PROGRAM: Sudan, East Sudan

GRADE: C

RESPONSIBLE TO: Area Manager

EEO Code:

STATUS (Full time, Part-time, Temporary): Full time

Exempt Non-Exempt

SUPERVISORY CAPACITY: Protection Mangers, Information and Reporting Officers

DEPARTMENT/COUNTRY PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/MISSION

ALIGHT (formerly the American Refugee Committee (ALIGHT)) Sudan Program began in 2004 in response to the emergency needs of some 500,000 war-affected IDPs and host populations in the Tulus and Gereida corridors in southern Darfur. The program has expanded to East Darfur and recently has also expanded to East Sudan (Kassala and Gedaref).

With technical and operational backstopping support from the Country Office in Khartoum, the field offices in Nyala, Ed Daein, Kassala, and Gedaref along with sub-offices in Gereida and Adila, ALIGHT staff support the delivery of primary health care services in 30 health facilities in addition to reaching out with mobile clinic services to 6 remote communities. Water provision and sanitation services, including the construction/rehabilitation of boreholes, water yards, household, and institutional latrines, and hygiene promotion messages, are also delivered in over 70 conflict-affected communities. A gradually growing component of food security and livelihoods and protection targeting South Sudanese, Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees, resettling IDPs and hosting populations with agricultural seeds, tools, extension, and protection services including training and supporting of employable skills to these marginalized communities.

With an annual budget of over $20m, the Sudan Program has 700+ staff, most of them national staff and volunteers and seconded from the line Ministries of the Sudan government spread over various localities in Gedaref, Kassala, East and South Darfur including the national office in Khartoum.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

ALIGHT Currently runs sixteen projects funded by UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, SHF, UNDP, IOM, BHA and UNFPA with a focus on health and nutrition, WASH, FSL and Protection. These projects are implemented in Kassala, Gedaref, South and East Darfur states with possibility of ALIGHT to expand its implementation areas to other states.

The Sr. Protection and Information Manager is primarily accountable for leading and directing protection staff for managing, supervising, and implementing of high-quality and effective protection services in refugee camps and host communities in East Sudan, including needs assessments, protection monitoring, community-based activities in line with the project documents, analyze data, extract necessary information, and share it with the line-manager. Provides support to the management through providing technical information and innovative ideas for problem solving and preparing the proposals.

S/he will lead implementation of UNHCR protection project in East Sudan through planning, budgeting, and execution of project activities in line with agreed work plans and communication with donors and key stakeholders. She/He responsible for ensuring proper coordination mechanism with all stakeholders, improve documentation and reporting system, development of protection tools to build/strengthening the capacity of protection team and the communities both refugees on host communities on protection aspects. S/he will work in close collaboration with other ALIGHT sector leads; WASH, Health, NFIs, Nutrition, FSL and Protection as well as ALIGHT local NGO partners. The position is based in Gedarif state with frequent travel to Refugee camps to support the UNHCR protection project which target 3 refugee camps and will include community-based protection, GBV and CP activities.

MAJOR AREAS OF ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Project planning, implementation and strategy

Take active leadership in the planning, implementation, and monitoring for all protection related project activities to be delivered by the protection team.
Ensure quality and quantity of all protection activities efforts in Gadarif state in line with agreed work plans.
Analyze protection-related information weekly, monthly, and quarterly, and the year-end and communicate protection efforts to the Alight country office, donor, relevant partners, and duty bearers. Ensure proper cooperation with partner organizations and delivery of quality services to ensure smooth linkage.
Support and contribute to advocacy efforts on selected themes in coordination with stakeholders working closely together with the Protection Coordinator and State Project Manager, Area Manager for East Sudan and UNHCR protection technical field staff.
Conceptualize awareness raising efforts according to needs of targeted populations
Identify and expand sectors and areas of cooperation with duty bearers and stakeholders.
Seek and guide dialogue with partners and duty bearers regarding protection related affairs in the target communities.
Provide continuous input to ALIGHT protection work and vision in East Sudan.
Manage project cycle of all protection-related activities in East Sudan including protection elements including project progress review and evaluation
Responsible for managing project budgets, monitoring expenditure to budget and identify and act on any corrective actions required. In conjunction with the Finance and Logistic teams, ensure project budgets are well scheduled and a procurement plan is drawn up and implemented on time
In coordination with MEAL team, lead village and locality profiling and needs assessments of PSN’s.
Lead the process of establishing community protection structures including identification and training
Monitor protection-related trends at the field level, understand and apply protection standards and (inter)national guidelines.
Support in developing Alight’s community-based protection strategies that aligned with Country strategy, local context and donor requirements.
Ensure monitoring of protection activities at individual and community level and have them reported timely
Ensure facilitation of protection response, referrals and tracking mechanisms with relevant actors
Ensure refugee leadership structures and relevant committees are included in protection related activities both prevention, mitigation, and response activities.
Ensure supervision and coordination of 3 Team Leaders directly managing the protection activities in each refugee camp, with regular field visits and remote technical support.
Ensure revision, compilation and monitoring of data received by the MIS officers of the 3 refugee camps.

Reporting, Compliance and Coordination

Ensure smooth coordination with protection actors and UNHCR protection team in East Sudan
Represent ALIGHT to other NGOs, UN agencies, and visitors, ensuring coordination and constructive working relations and attendance at relevant inter-agency coordination meetings or delegating to staff as appropriate.
Work independently and with other agencies to build refugees and host communities acceptance of ALIGHT
Support protection related project proposal development including writing up of protection related activities for East Sudan; by providing specialist area of knowledge around protection issues.
Develop high quality and informative weekly and monthly protection reports and share information on regular basis with UNHCR field team and internally with Alight.
In coordination with MEAL and Grants teams, provide interim and final project reports for submission to donors in accordance with the reporting schedule and the required reporting formats.
Coordinate on all reporting efforts of ALIGHT on protection related topics including internal reporting, contributions to protection working group, donor reporting, etc
Have a presence at relevant cluster and sub cluster meetings and tasks force ensuring that ALIGHT is up to date with current strategies and issues.
Provide coordination and administrative support to ensure that implementation of protection activities builds the capacity of communities and is conducted in a way that is consultative, participatory, gender-sensitive and inclusive of people with disabilities.

Information Management

Serve as the primary person responsible for ensuring the availability of protection trends analyses and dashboards from protection monitoring data and other program data, which includes quantitative and qualitative data, and ad hoc basis as required.
Manage protection related feedback and complaints in coordination with the Monitoring and Evaluation team and IM Officers
Support field teams to maintain high standard of data protection and confidentiality of beneficiaries and of the staff involved in data collection.
Ensure safe protection of data, create, and maintain confidential databases, manage hard copies where applicable and train Protection staff on safe data protection and management.
Support the camp-based IM Officers to ensure data received from the field teams is correctly entered into the program trackers on a weekly basis – gather, consolidate, clarify errors and clear the program data.
Support the IM Officers to ensure accurate and regular data entry and review, including robust analysis and identification of trends, following the Protection information management protocols and standards set out by the donor.
Share the monthly updated program data and indicator tracker with the relevant managers, alongside a brief trends analysis report on cases documented to guide protection activities and informed programming.
Ensure all hard copy of case management and Integrated Protection activities files are securely stored (i.e. in strong lockable file cabinets where appropriate).

Reporting

In collaboration with respective protection managers, build the capacity of Senior Officers and Officers, Protection volunteers on how to access, and use protection-related databases and information management tools as required.
Coordinate with Senior Officers and Officers on standardizing internal reporting under the guidance of Senior Program Manager.
Develop, establish, maintain, and continuously improve protection reporting and information management processes.
Ensure submission of monthly program data and indicator tracking reports and analysis to the Protection Managers, in-line with data safety and ethical standards.
Support the compilation, editing, and writing of monthly and quarterly program reports using assigned templates, including collating reports from field staff, and producing final information products.
Contribute to relevant protection reports, factsheets, summaries, and dashboards.
Ensure timely submission of monthly protection monitoring data to the Senior Program Manager.

Accountability

Guided by the ALIGHT Staff Handbook and FCRM policy, continuously monitor and support accountability initiatives within the protection sector as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of activities.
Stay updated with the changing security and political situations which may have impact on the programming, adapting project plans and strategy as required and preparing project contingency strategies

Team building and leadership

Provide line management supervision for East Sudan UNHCR project protection staff direct reports, including the Team Leaders, Protection Officers and Assistants, working closely with the State Project Manager and Area Manager, Protection Coordinator and Human Resource team for the capacity building and development of the team.
Build a positive team environment and undertake the Protection specialist work in an efficient effective manner
Provide leadership to Officers, Assistants and Community Facilitators; and where relevant partner staff, encouraging effective teamwork and helping to prioritize tasks.
Assist in defining training needs, then develop and implement in-country technical training & development programmes for project staff about Protection
Uphold staff conduct and discipline with regard to ALIGHT health and safety and security procedures

EDUCATION, TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

Advanced University Degree in, international humanitarian law, international relations, political science, social work, social sciences, psychology or a related course.
A minimum of 5-year protection related work experience including working in refugee setting and 2 years of managing staff and 1 years at management level.
A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in information management, database management/Administration, data visualization, or data analysis.
Strong understanding of accountability and proven ability to build client feedback systems. – Ability to organize and manage data, while adhering to data protection principles.
Knowledge of Kobo, PowerBi, and /or ODK is mandatory GIS and other software tools are additional assets.
Detailed understanding of humanitarian principles, international refugees’ law and practices
Proven experience in financial management, understanding of logistics and procurement procedures and human resource management
Experience in project management, proposal development, and reporting
Excellent writing and presentation skills for external audiences (including governments and donors)
Experience in producing high-quality technical material (training material, program tools, proposals, strategic documents etc.)
Fluency in English and report writing skills.
Must be willing and able to travel and attend possible trainings/workshops and supervision in the field outside of his/her duty station whenever needed.
Exceptional and proven cultural sensitivity, adaptability, and flexibility with deep understanding of, and commitment to humanitarian principles and emergency refugee response
Supreme conflict-mitigation and conflict-management skills with demonstrated ability to defuse conflict in both internal and external settings
Proven ability to take decisions and act quickly under pressure for the benefit of the people served and the program
Willingness to work in, and travel to remote areas with limited-to-no-access to internet and mobile communication, with breaks in electricity for pro-longed periods of time.
Comfortable and willingness to live in guest house with private room but shared common living spaces, including kitchen and lounge

Key Behaviours & Abilities

Self management: Ability to maintain effective performance under pressure or adversity; ability to manage time and resources efficiently; ability to handle stress in a manner consistent with the organisation’s values; managing own personal growth and development continuously; managing emotions and stresses positively, adapting to change.
Operational decision making: Taking decisive action within own scope of authority to achieve goals in uncertain environments and changing contexts; analyzing and diagnosing problems with depth and insight; displaying sound judgment and decision making; providing creativity and innovation.
Working with others: Helping others to achieve goals; ability to build the capacity and potential of the team; resolving conflict successfully; building rapport, communicating effectively and maintaining relationships within changing emergency teams.
Achieving: Showing drive and initiative, willingly takes ownership, being accountable.
Partnership approach: Supporting a culture of mutual respect, equality, trust and transparency where partnerships flourish, in accordance with the Global Humanitarian Principles of Partnership.
Demonstrated ability and flexibility to adapt to changing requirements.
Ability to work independently in a rapidly changing professional environment
A team builder with excellent people skills; culturally sensitive and have the ability and interest to identify and work with a multi-cultural team;
Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritizing a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
Experience with relevant software such as Mapinfo, SPSS, EpiInfo6, SQL Server, and/or progress.

Benefits

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Alight is an Equal Opportunity Employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status. Alight complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.