INTERSOS is a non-governmental, non-profit humanitarian organization whose objective is to assist victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. INTERSOS bases its work on the values of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equal rights and opportunities for all people, respect for diversity, coexistence, and attention to the most vulnerable social groups.
Terms of reference
Job Title: Protection Coordinator
Code: SR-38-10132
Country : DRC
Duty station: Goma with frequent travel to operational locations
Date of appointment: 01/05/2026
Contract duration: 4.5 months
Under the supervision of: Head of Mission
Functional Supervisor: HQ Protection Officer
Dependents: Technical supervision of protection personnel
Place of assignment : No family
General context of the project
The humanitarian situation in the DRC remains complex and has deteriorated overall in recent years, characterized by multiple overlapping crises, particularly in the eastern provinces, which face endemic violence and armed conflict. This insecurity has led to massive and repeated displacement. The impact of violence on civilians is a major concern, with regular violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including targeted attacks against civilians and a high prevalence of gender-based violence.
INTERSOS has been present in the DRC since 2010 and is currently working in Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu through protection programs and in particular protection monitoring in partnership with UNHCR, with funds given by ECHO and OCHA and other donors.
General objective of the position
In collaboration with the CDM, define and coordinate the implementation of the mission protection strategy and program.
To lead and provide technical guidance to protection staff, ensuring that the various components of the protection program are executed in accordance with internal guidelines and international standards and principles, in order to ensure quality and effectively achieve mission objectives, in line with INTERSOS’ vision and values.
Main responsibilities and tasks
Strategy definition and implementation
- Design and write the mission protection strategy according to the context, identifying appropriate approaches and interventions.
- Develop a theory of change or a defined model of response to protection and ensure that it is aligned with the global protection strategy
- Supporting community understanding through participatory community engagement and strengths-based approaches.
- Ensure that community mapping is carried out and adapt the program to different scenarios.
- Participate in exploratory missions, situation assessments in current and future areas of operation (providing technical input and recommendations for new and ongoing interventions in the country and defining operational protection priorities where necessary) and support the development of mission policy, the annual plan, position papers, budget review and project proposal and donor reports.
- Ensure an evidence-based response through research and evaluation of interventions.
- Drafting position papers for a problem-based response based on context and learning materials on challenges and best practices to ensure the technical quality of protection activities.
- Support the implementation and monitoring of protection activities in accordance with INTERSOS’ protection strategy and project plans, standards and protocols.
- Identify and develop niche areas of technical expertise at mission level and share learnings and best practices with other missions.
- Ensure proper integration of gender, inclusion, disability and age into the protection program.
- Ensure cohesion and harmonization of protection activities and services between the different implementation sites within the mission.
- Assist the Programme Coordinator and/or Project Managers in finalizing project proposals by ensuring that protection is integrated into the programme and that international protection standards, both internal and from donors, are met, as well as appropriate technical language.
- Facilitate and ensure the integration of protection into other sectors.
Technical quality and capacity building
- Is responsible for strengthening the capacity of the entire protection team by ensuring technical quality.
- Write the SOPs for protection interventions (Case Management, Protection Monitoring, Cash, Legal, MHPSS, CB[P]) and ensure their compliance in all projects.
- Conduct regular case audits, critical case conferences and learning events to provide guidance and ensure adherence to standards and quality.
- Design training materials to strengthen the capacity of protection personnel and ensure that staff adhere to basic protection principles and are trained to implement good quality programs.
- Organize training courses and workshops for non-protection staff to strengthen skills and knowledge of protection principles and enable them to integrate protection into different sectors.
- Develop resources and guidelines to support protection activities targeting children and adults in the areas of case management, PSS, community protection, cash, protection monitoring and prevention and holistic protection intervention.
- Work with the protection team and specialists to ensure that all interventions are coordinated and that technical resources are available.
- Create opportunities for sharing experiences and learning within the protection team to strengthen cooperation and collaboration.
Analyse et reporting
- Analyze periodically (quarterly) the evolution of protection and INTERSOS protection intervention data in order to identify needs, problems and trends.
- Provide strategic protection analysis and periodic trend reports (including aspects of conflict analysis, gender equality and risk management) from program experience to improve policy development, implementation and advocacy activities.
- Monitor indicators, ensure that protection data is collected, archived, processed, analyzed and disseminated in an ethical manner, in accordance with internal data protection protocols.
- Manage the protection database by ensuring that all data is regularly encrypted.
- Ensure that protection reports are submitted to the AC on a monthly basis
- Assist the program coordinator and/or project managers in finalizing external reports.
- Ensure the integration of protection, compliance with internal and donor protection international standards and appropriate technical language.
Coordination and support
- Contextualize and adapt internal and global guidelines, ensuring that they are deployed and known to staff.
- Update and inform program teams about the protection situation analysis.
- Create opportunities for sharing experiences and learning within the protection team to strengthen cooperation and collaboration.
- Working with other coordinators to develop integrated programs in response to community needs.
- Conduct regular follow-up field visits and provide support tools to monitor the quality of program implementation.
Supervision and management of staff
- Supervise, mentor and directly coach protection specialists and conduct regular performance reviews (IRP).
- Review the work plans of the protection specialists and define priorities with the protection project managers.
- Organize regular meetings with protection specialists and the protection team to discuss implementation and ensure quality.
- Organize ad hoc meetings with SMTs and project managers to share challenges and priorities and develop action plans to address them.
- Plan and supervise, in close coordination with the Human Resources department, the associated processes (recruitment, training, performance evaluation, development and internal communication) of the staff under their responsibility in order to improve staff capabilities and activities and ensure learning and development.
Surveillance
- Design monitoring and evaluation tools for protection activities and interventions, provide guidance on the use of these tools and ensure that they are used.
- Measure the impact of activities and identify best practices.
- In collaboration with the accountability unit, support the development of complaint handling mechanisms for beneficiaries and ensure that complaints are handled properly.
- In collaboration with the accountability unit, where appropriate, monitor the implementation of child protection and protection against sexual exploitation and abuse (LEFP) policies.
Networking and partnerships
- Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with donors, partners, project stakeholders and other relevant organizations.
- Maintain effective relationships with protection, gender-based violence and sexual violence working groups and related working groups at national level.
- Ensure that protection specialists maintain productive relationships with subgroups in the field.
- Ensure that key protection concerns are brought to the attention of relevant stakeholders in order to advocate for respect for human rights and minimum protection standards.
- Coordinate with other internal departments to ensure good collaboration.
- Network with protection coordinators from other missions to share best practices and resources and actively participate in monthly HQ protection meetings and internal thematic working groups.
- Collaborate with and support the AC protection advisor in the development of technical resources and guidelines.
Required profile
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (social sciences, psychology, social work, human rights, international humanitarian law or other fields related to social development and humanitarian work)
- A master’s degree (MA or LLM) in human rights, international humanitarian law, or related fields is desirable.
Professional Experience
- Minimum 8 years of experience with NGOs in developing countries, including at least 5 years in technical protection roles
- Experience in implementing key protection interventions related to case management, public safety services and community protection.
Professional requirements
- Essential computer skills (Word, Excel and Internet)
- Solid theoretical, technical and practical experience in the field of protection
LANGUAGES
- French
Personal requirements
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work and integrate into a multicultural team.
- Ability to work under pressure, flexibility
- Problem solver, dynamic, mature, proactive
- Diplomatic skills in networking with partners, authorities and donors
- Experience in complex emergency situations involving internal displacement
- Skills in report production, experience with monitoring tools and systems, data collection and analysis
- Stress management
- Commitment to INTERSOS principles
General Conditions
According to the Country of assignment
Salary: The monthly remuneration for each position is defined according to the INTERSOS international standard salary grid and function grid, taking into account the selected candidate’s experience. It is communicated during the HR interview, or at any rate during the first stage of the selection process.
Transportation: Round-trip flights for the humanitarian worker and partner. For any mission lasting at least 12 months, after 9 months, an additional flight ticket to the Country of residence and return to the mission is covered by the Organisation for the humanitarian worker. In the Accompanied duty stations, also for the partner. In Family Duty Stations, also for dependents.
Medical insurance: Injuries and death insurance; civil liability insurance, reimbursement for vaccines, medical certificate and PCR test for deployment; psychosocial support on request for the humanitarian worker and dependents. In the Accompanied duty stations, also for the partner. In Family Duty Stations, also for dependents.
Visa: INTERSOS covers the costs and visa support for the humanitarian worker. and the partner. In the Accompanied duty stations, also for the partner. In Family Duty stations, also for dependents.
Annual leave: 2.5 days per month.
Installation costs: According to the Country of assignment
School fees: According to the Country of assignment
Induction: Online orientation course: each new staff member receives preparatory training before departure, adequate to provide the necessary information related to the structure of INTERSOS and the main decision-making processes and working tools, in order to facilitate entry into the Organisation.
Note 1: INTERSOS applies a “Learning & Development Policy” which includes the possibility to receive capacitation and participate in internal and external training. Priority will be given to Staff working for INTERSOS for over two years.
Note 2: The categorisation of Family, Non-Family, and Accompanied Duty stations is subject to security criteria, access to health and education services, and is non-negotiable.
Accommodation
Shared accommodation in a Guesthouse is provided in Field duty stations. In the Accompanied duty stations and Family duty stations, there is also the option of reimbursement of part of the accommodation cost and a flat allowance for installation expenses. In Family duty stations, there is also a contribution to school fees for dependent children.
R&R
INTERSOS staff required to work for extended periods at duty stations under hazardous, stressful and difficult conditions are granted a regular and mandatory period of Rest and Recuperation (R&R). This is due to protecting their health and well-being and ensuring optimal work performance upon the resumption of their duties, while, at the same time, preserving the operational readiness of the Organisation. R&R benefits are not financial compensation for the degree of hardship and insecurity of a duty station. Eligibility: staff members recruited as international field staff whose contract states one R&R Duty Station as the main Duty Station and whose contract duration is equal to or longer than 4 calendar months. R&R: it consists of 7 days of psycho-physical recovery every 8/12 weeks, depending on the duty station. A €1000 allowance is associated with it.
How to apply
Interested candidates are invited to apply by following the link below:
Please note that our application process consists of three very quick steps: register (including your name, email, password, and nationality), log in , and apply by attaching your CV in PDF format . Candidates can track their application history with INTERSOS through this platform.
Please also include the name, position, and contact details of at least three references: two line supervisors and one HR contact. Family members should be excluded.
Only candidates selected for the first interview will be contacted.