Job Description
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to persons forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
The IRC implements extensive protection activities throughout Pakistan and is currently engaged in strengthening the protection program with the establishment of a “Protection Resources Hub”, comprised of a Senior Protection Coordinator, Protection Coordinator(s), Protection Capacity Building Manager, Protection Legal Manager and Protection Program Officer. The Protection Program Officer will be a key member of the protection team, responsible for supporting and strengthening IRC’s protection work country-wide, and will report directly to the Senior Protection Coordinator.
Scope of work:
The Protection Program Officer will directly support the Senior Protection Coordinator in the development, administration and implementation of the IRC’s protection program in Pakistan, both on a daily basis and with a long-term strategic perspective. The responsibilities and activities of the Protection Program Officer will be extensive and fluid, depending on the shifting needs of the program, and are likely to include but not be limited to those described below.
Responsibilities:
Program design, development and planning:
- Support the drafting of program strategy and planning documents, proposals, grants and related tools
- Support the development of M&E components into program design, along with any necessary tools for implementation
Reporting, documentation and accountability:
- Support the collection of reports from the field, collating, drafting, editing and submitting to the Senior Project Coordinator for review and final submission to donors as necessary
- Provide technical support and guidance to the database and information management teams, ensuring that data is collected and stored properly, and is used effectively in reporting and as a program management, monitoring and evaluation tool
- Track progress against activities and outputs as committed, and support team to adjust work plans to most effectively achieve targets
Financial planning and management:
- Support financial planning and management, assisting Program Coordinator(s) and Deputy Coordinators, supported by the Finance department, to develop and adhere spending plans and meet spending targets
- Assist in development of spending plans for new grants and extensions of existing grants
Tools, guidelines and frameworks development and training:
- Assist in the development of tools, guidelines and frameworks for program implementation and administration, and conduct trainings on them as necessary
- Provide support to new cycles of staff training, including logistical coordination in Islamabad or other suitable locations
- Support the Protection Capacity Building Manager and field based capacity building team to develop training materials for partners and government counterparts on protection, international law, refugee law, humanitarian principles and best practices
- Support the implementation of training sessions for partners and government counterparts
- Develop and maintain a log of scheduled trainings and for both internal and external events
- Support the development and implementation of internal protection mainstreaming training and other efforts
Communications and advocacy:
- Assist field teams in the identification and compilation of key protection information and issues for preparing protection briefs and advocacy documents as needed
- Analyze daily, weekly and monthly reports for identification of key achievements, challenges and advocacy issues
- Draft briefs and other advocacy documents
- Support the development a program advocacy strategy, in cooperation with the Senior Protection Coordinator and Regional Advocacy Advisor
- Capacity build protection staff on advocacy and communications, as necessary
Coordination and representation:
- Assist in coordination with NGOs, UN, donors and government, as requested by the Senior Protection Coordinator
- Represent the IRC protection program in coordination forums, as requested by the Senior Protection Coordinator
- Encourage and facilitate coordination between IRC and NGOs, UN, donors and government at the field office level, as necessary
Requirements:
- Undergraduate degree required. Law degree (LLB, LLM, JD) or post-graduate degree in international law, human rights, social sciences or a related field is preferred.
- Understanding of protection, human rights, international law, refugee law and humanitarian principles
- Understanding of project design, management and implementation of field-based protection programs
- Understanding of programmatic reporting
- Understanding of budgets and financial reporting
- Strong coordination, communication and advocacy skills
- Flexibility to work in a diverse multicultural team with due respect for Pakistani culture and norms
- Proven ability to live and work in unstable, insecure environments and sometimes inhospitable conditions
- Ability and willingness to work under tight deadlines and with fluid objectives – patience, flexibility and perseverance are key
- Willingness to travel, with frequent and extended periods outside Islamabad
- Native English speaker. Knowledge of Sindhi, Urdu and/or Pashto is beneficial
- Strong computer skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel
Specific Security Situation / Housing:
Security in Islamabad and Pakistan remains unpredictable and the Protection Program Officer is expected to comply with all IRC security policies, protocols and procedures. As of posting, field access and travel is feasible but limited, and candidates should expect periodic further limitations on movement. Shared housing of good standard is provided.
