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| PROTECTION OFFICER | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Afghanistan | Province | Herat, |
| Categories | Program, | Type | Full Time |
| Post Date | 2022-01-30 | Close Date | 2022-02-12 |
| Vacancy No | MCA001-2022 | Gender | male female |
| No Of Jobs | 1 | Contract Duration | 7 Months with possibility of extension |
| Education | Requires at least a university degree, in physiology, MD, social sciences | Experience | 2-3 years of relevant experience in the physiology sector |
| Organization | Opportunities for you | Salary | As per MCA Salary Scale |
About Company
About Mercy Corps: About Mercy Corps Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Country Summary Mercy Corps works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build a more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks, and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives. Recognizing both the great potential and the complex challenges faced by Afghanistan, since 1986 Mercy Corps has been implementing a range of humanitarian assistance and development programs tailored to the specific needs of the country and of those communities where we work. Mercy Corps has been working in Afghanistan continuously since 1986 with a large portfolio of programs addressing the promotion of sustainable licit livelihoods, agriculture development, youth vocational training, Renewable Energy and natural resource management; it has helped more than 2.5 million Afghans through these wide-range of community–based agriculture and economic development programs. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today. Equal Employment Opportunity Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work. Safeguarding & Ethics Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
Job Description
Program/Department Summary
The Nova-INVEST (Introducing New Vocational Educational Skills’ Training) program is a vocational training and employment program funded by the US State Department of Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM) to be implemented in the provinces of Kandahar and Herat in its fourth phase. INVEST is Mercy Corps’ flagship Technical Vocational and Educational Training (TVET) program running since 2011, focusing primarily on delivering technical vocational skills training for six months’ to vulnerable Afghans (IDPs, returnees and host community members from 15-40 years old, including youth and women) with the aim of increasing their opportunities for self or waged employment after the training period. The Nova-INVEST program will provide vocational training and apprenticeships to
4,300 participants in 2 provinces (Kandahar and Herat) for 3 years, while working in close coordination with relevant government stakeholders, including the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA), Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MoRR), Ministry of Women’s Affair (MoWA), Ministry of Education (MoE), Governor’s Office, Community Development Councils (CDCs), District Development Councils (DDCs), Provincial Development Councils (PDCs), District Development Assemblies (DDAs), Shuras, community elders; partner INGOs/NGOs, private sector actors such as Chambers of Commerce and business/producer associations.
General Position Summary
Under Nova-INVEST, Mercy Corps is piloting timely access and effective psychosocial support to the target participants at risk while they are receiving vocational skills. The protection officer will be a leading role who provides training to build staff’s capacities to understand the safety, dignity and inclusion challenges that affect our program participants. For example, we will use participatory safety mapping and the Cohort Livelihoods and Risk Assessment (CLARA) tool, to build basic psychosocial helping skills on our staff so they could refer participants to essential services. In coordination and guidance from our HQ based Technical Support Unit (Youth and Protection team), the protection officer will coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of target participants and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all Vocational Training Centers. The incumbent contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the Office externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. S/he also ensures that target participants are involved in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners. The incumbent may represent Mercy Corps in various coordination forums with government, humanitarian agencies and partners. The Protection Officer reports directly to the Senior Program Manager in Herat.
Essential Job Responsibilities
General
- Design, maintain and endorse a referral system in Herat. And research the psychosocial and basic services available in the target communities and establish agreements with partners specializing in psychosocial assistance, reinforcing protection and referral networks.
- Represent Mercy Corps in the clusters and meetings conduct in the protection sector and identify best practices and use lesson learns.
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable Mercy Corps policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Provide advice and guidance on protection issues to target participants; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Lead and facilitate protection capacity building workshops in coordination and guidance from our HQ based Technical Support Unit (Youth and Protection team) to VTC staff.
- Contribute to a country-level protection and education plan as part of the protection strategy and take active role in proposal development in the Youth and Protection sector.
- Assist the supervisor in implementing and monitoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Manage individual protection cases including those on SGBV and child protection. Monitor, and assist the supervisor with intervening in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on target participants and their problems.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
- Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
Strategy and Planning
- Actively support to new proposal development, both solicited and unsolicited proposals.
- Identify project design frameworks for project development/assessment.
- Represent Mercy Corps with government and relevant actors in the field of youth, protection and entrepreneurship.
- Work closely and collaborate with other Mercy Corps’ departments: MEL, Finance, HR, Operations, Procurement, Security to ensure proper program implementation according to internal and the donor’s policies and procedures.
Department Management
- Work closely and collaborate with other Mercy Corps’ departments: MEL, Finance, HR, Operations, Procurement, Security to ensure proper program implementation according to internal and the donor’s policies and procedures.
Leadership and Team Management
- Engage and work with the staff of the Nova-INVEST program by exemplifying a collaborative and professional team culture.
- As an integral member of the Nova team, participate in the development and implementation of program-wide goals and decisions.
- Coach and develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
- Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Motivate, influence and engage staff in the investment of MC’s culture, mission and vision.
Job Requirement
Hard Skills
- Requires at least a university degree, in physiology, MD, social sciences, or a discipline with a strong social-physiology development background. Master’s Degree preferred.
- 2-3 years of relevant experience in the physiology sector.
- Responsible overall for coordinating multiple support functions such as translation, reception and travel coordination.
- Advanced, technical advisory role – assists supervisor with programmatic, technical decisions and strategies. May advise on organizational policies.
- Responsible for analysing data and summarizing information with recommendations to supervisor. This may involve protection, programmatic strategies and/or administrative policies.
- Responsible for training incoming staff on physiology and social cohesion aspects of Nova program and Mercy Corps systems.
- Active support in the development of future programs and proposals.
- Previous experience of working in civil society organisations including the ability to develop strong relationships at grassroots level
- Advanced knowledge of spoken and written English.
- Advanced knowledge of spoken and written Pashto.
- Advanced computer skills in basic office programs (Word, Excel, Power Point).
Soft Skills
- Takes initiative; is proactive and highly organized.
- Possesses strong leadership, communication (verbal and written), time management, problem solving, decision making, critical thinking and interpersonal skills (team player).
- Requires minimal supervision.
- Teachable spirit. High work ethic, high attention to detail.
- Good sense of urgency to accomplish tasks and responsibilities.
Ability to work under pressure, multi-task and deliver high quality results with a positive attitude
Submission Guideline
While sending your CV & Cover letter, please mention the vacancy number and position in the subject line, application received after the closing date and without subject line will not be given consideration. .
Only short listed candidates whose application responds to the above criteria will be contacted for interview. Interested candidates should send their Application to : eataie@mercycorps.org and Cc: nabsafi@mercycorps.org
Females are highly encouraged to apply