Protection Officer (Humanitarian Mediation)

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization that assists people forced to flee. Established to address crises across 31 countries, NRC provides emergency and long-term assistance to millions of people each year. The organization advocates for the rights of displaced individuals and operates NORCAP, a deployment capacity that enhances international and local capabilities to prevent, prepare for, respond to crises, and recover from them. NRC also manages the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva, a global leader in reporting and advocacy for internally displaced persons. NRC takes health, safety, and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security risks seriously, implementing procedures to mitigate known risks, although they cannot be entirely eliminated. NRC is an equal opportunity employer aiming for a diverse workforce in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.

Job Overview:
The Protection Officer (Humanitarian Mediation) will play a crucial role in implementing humanitarian mediation activities within the Nashiriki project, aimed at enhancing social cohesion both horizontally and vertically. This position requires adherence to NRC policies, manuals, and guidelines while managing the delegated project portfolio in accordance with the action plan. The officer will be responsible for drafting progress reports as requested by supervisors or management, ensuring proper document archiving, and promoting continuous improvement of the activities under their charge. The role also involves identifying protection needs and mediation opportunities in NRC intervention areas, planning, preparing, implementing, and monitoring protection and mediation activities in Mahagi, and preparing necessary documentation for funding requests within required timelines. The officer will conduct risk analyses related to protection, conflict sensitivity, and gender, and will manage information effectively by collecting, analyzing, and sharing protection and mediation needs. Additionally, the officer will organize and facilitate training sessions for NRC teams and external partners on protection risk analysis, humanitarian mediation, and cross-cutting protection themes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The main responsibilities of the Protection Officer include ensuring adherence to NRC policies and guidelines, implementing the assigned project portfolio according to the action plan, drafting project progress reports, ensuring proper document archiving, and encouraging continuous improvement of activities. The officer will identify protection and mediation needs in NRC intervention areas, plan and implement protection and mediation activities in Mahagi, prepare necessary documents for funding requests, conduct protection risk analyses, and manage information effectively. They will also organize and facilitate training sessions for NRC teams and external partners, support community mechanisms for conflict prevention and management, organize mediation and community dialogue activities, ensure inclusive participation of beneficiaries, and supervise the follow-up of mediation processes. The officer will also collect project data and indicators in collaboration with monitoring and evaluation teams.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree (3 years) in conflict prevention and management, development sciences, political science, international relations, law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">international law, gender and development, governance, or related fields. They should have cumulative experience as an assistant or officer in social cohesion, humanitarian mediation, conflict management, peacebuilding, and protection. A minimum of 1 year of experience with an international NGO is required, along with prior professional experience in complex and unstable contexts. Candidates should have experience in organizing and facilitating adult training and proven results in the responsibilities of the position. Technical knowledge and experience in Neutral Third Party (TPN) are also essential.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree (3 years) in relevant fields such as conflict prevention and management, development sciences, political science, international relations, international law, gender and development, governance, or other related areas. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the complexities of humanitarian mediation and protection work.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have at least 1 year of experience working with an international NGO, particularly in roles related to social cohesion, humanitarian mediation, conflict management, peacebuilding, and protection. Experience in complex and volatile contexts is essential, as is a proven track record in organizing and facilitating training for adults. Candidates should demonstrate results in their previous responsibilities and possess technical knowledge in Neutral Third Party (TPN) operations.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken French is mandatory. Knowledge of local languages such as Swahili, Lingala, Lendu, and Hema, as well as some proficiency in English, will be considered advantageous. Strong communication skills in these languages are essential for effective engagement with diverse communities.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve deployment to regions with significant health, safety, and security risks. NRC emphasizes the importance of maintaining ethical facilitation principles and ensuring inclusive participation in all activities. The organization is committed to equal opportunities and aims to foster a diverse workforce.