Background:
The humanitarian situation in South Sudan in 2026 remains one of the most severe and complex crisis driven by conflict, economic collapse, climate shocks, disease outbreaks, mass displacement, and shrinking humanitarian funding. An estimated 10 million people will experience critical needs in 2026.
The conflict in neighbouring Sudan continues to drive refugee inflows and returnee movements into South Sudan, placing additional pressure on already overstretched services and humanitarian systems. Over 1 million people have crossed into South Sudan since the Sudan conflict began.
NRC works in South Sudan to protect the rights of displaced and vulnerable people during crisis and meet immediate humanitarian needs, prevent further displacement, and contribute to durable solutions. Access remains one of the most significant operational challenges due to active conflict, insecurity and bureaucratic impediments making it difficult for aid organizations to reach those in need. Our programme primarily includes Rapid response to emergencies, multipurpose cash assistance, legal protection, education, shelter, Water and hygiene promotion. Beyond this, NRC South Sudan has volunteered to co-lead Protection, WASH, Shelter, Land, and Site Coordination Clusters, including HLP and Durable Solutions Working Groups.
What you will do:
The main role of the Protection Cluster Coordinator is to ensure effective coordination of the National Protection Cluster in South Sudan together with the UNHCR Protection Cluster Coordinator, and the rest of the Protection Cluster Coordination team. The coordinator will closely work with the Cluster Coordination team and Protection partners. S/he will represent the cluster in coordination fora and with key stakeholders, support the design and implementation of Country level strategies and humanitarian funding processes (e.g. Protection Cluster strategy, HNO/HRP, SSHF/CERF, HCT Centrality of Protection Strategy). S/he will also ensure appropriate Protection Information Management system is in place, facilitate effective information sharing for context analysis, coordination and advocacy, as well as providing support and guidance to field cluster, focal points and partners on effective response coordination and technical issues.
General Responsibilities:
- Facilitate and co-chair meetings of the national Protection Cluster with the UNHCR Cluster Coordinator, ensuring key and needed information is shared in a timely and accurate manner
- Ensure effective coordination of the protection response in South Sudan
- Ensure information exchange with Protection Cluster partners and other relevant stakeholders related to protection issues, situation analysis, gaps, planning, funding processes etc.
- Represent the Protection Cluster and the interests of its partners to government, donors, inter-cluster, stakeholders, and other for a
- Provide practical support and guidance to Cluster partners on needs assessments, coordination, project development and implementation, and utilization of funding opportunities
- Provide capacity-building to cluster partners and relevant counterparts such as other cluster partners, UN Mission, or government actors
- Build the capacity of partners, design technical tools, guidance and facilitate trainings and workshops
Specific responsibilities:
- Facilitate and contribute to South Sudan Protection Cluster needs assessment and analysis, reporting and development/review of strategic, contingency, and response plans, ensuring that these are in line with and contribute to cluster objectives
- Ensure adequate monitoring and reporting mechanisms are in place to review the progress and outcomes of Protection Cluster activities
- Ensure that cluster analysis and priorities are adequately reflected in humanitarian country strategies and plans
- Ensure effective cluster participation and fundraising for priority needs in pooled funding processes (South Sudan Humanitarian Fund)
- Develop internal strategic action plan for the PC to operationalize Cluster and HRP strategic objectives, and ensure effective implementation in consultation with partners, sub-clusters, and field clusters
- Support the development and implementation of a HCT Centrality of Protection Strategy
- Conduct field missions where relevant to strengthen links between national and field level clusters
- Enhance monitoring, tracking, documentation and information exchange on protection concerns between sub-national levels with the national cluster
- Develop, adapt, and/or contribute to, and disseminate/promote protection tools and guidance among protection partners and across clusters
- Strengthen understanding of and participation in joint planning and funding processes
- Support the establishment of Protection Information Management (PIM) systems to identify and address field-based protection concerns through state-level clusters and partner organisations
- Ensure/ support the development of relevant, appropriate and useful PIM products for cluster coordination and advocacy purposes, and support the compilation of information and draft reports and briefs on protection concerns for sharing with partners, the ICWG, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), donors and government counterparts as appropriate
- Identify key advocacy concerns and consolidate policy positions amongst protection partners, support the development and implementation of evidence-based advocacy initiatives
- Liaise with donors to mobilize resources for the joint protection response and update donors on protection cluster priorities and needs
- Encourage and promote NGO participation, particularly national partners, in cluster decision- making through protection cluster meetings, Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) or Steering Committee, or any other technical working group
- Manage the grant that funds the position (including donor reporting and proposal writing for the continuation/modification/expansion of the co-lead function funding)
- Effectively implement the grant (s) funding the coordination function (in accordance with NRC Mandatory PCM steps and tools including grant opening, grants review and grant closure)
What you will bring:
Generic professional competencies:
- Post graduate degree in international law, political sciences, or related field
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience working on protection related issues in humanitarian emergencies, including inter-agency work and provision of technical advice to field teams
- Excellent understanding of protection issues in emergency and displacement situations, detailed knowledge of humanitarian principles, guidelines for humanitarian assistance, and relevant international legal frameworks
- Sound understanding of humanitarian coordination, funding, and leadership mechanisms, as well as experience in working with protection cluster coordination
- Strong leadership, coordination and inter-personal skills, working well both in teams and independently
- Strong analytical, planning and drafting skills
- Excellent advocacy and representation skills including the ability to develop strong interpersonal relationships to facilitate communication within the cluster
- Able to work under pressure and good at timely decision making
- Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills in English
- Self-motivated and excellent observer of protection issues in the country
Context/ Specific skills, knowledge and experience:
- Previous experience in South Sudan is an advantage
- Proven ability to live and work in hardship duty stations within a sometimes unstable and stressful local environment
- Ability to work under stressful conditions, meet short deadlines and travel extensively within South Sudan at short notice to support field operations
- Highly reliable, mature and able to work independently as well as in a team
- Proven communication, interpersonal, representation, and negotiation skills
- Culturally sensitive, with the ability to work within different cultural contexts
- Flexible, creative and co-operative, and a sense of humour is an asset
- Previous experience in Cluster coordination is highly desirable
Experience with humanitarian protection programmes and humanitarian policy and advocacy
What we offer:
- Duty station: Juba, South Sudan
- Contract: 12 Months (renewable based on funding and performance)
- Travel: 20%
- Salary/benefits: grade 9 on NRC’s International or national contract.
- NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
- We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.
Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC
Important information about the application process
- For Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity MarketPlace.
- When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
- Applicants who do not fill in the required information will not be considered for the role.
- Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
- Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
- Mandatory to submit the below when applying:
- Your most updated English CV and remove all previous outdated CVs.
- Your updated Cover Letter.
- Do not attach certificates or any other documents apart from the two mentioned above.
- Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- This position is open for international and national candidates. Internals might be assessed before externals.
- We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- If you have any questions about this role, please email esa.recruitment@nrc.nowith the job title as the subject line.
Why NRC?
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.
Watch this short video to see NRC in action.
We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:
- do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
- join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
- be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.
About Us
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.
Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.
At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.
Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:
• treat everyone with respect and dignity
• contribute to building a safe environment for all
• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)
• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH
How to apply
Apply here.