Protection Working Group Co-coordinator (Taiz and West Coast Hub) 

Duty Station [Mocha -Yemen]

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.
The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.
All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.
DRC has been operating in the Middle East (ME) region for over a decade, running a combination of emergency, livelihood, protection and advocacy programmes through Country Offices (COs) in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey with a Regional Office (RO) in Amman.

DRC Yemen’s response

Throughout its nine field offices and a workforce of 270 staff, DRC upholds its main programmatic objectives to provide immediate and life sustaining assistance, to strengthen the protective environment, and to reduce displacement related risks and vulnerabilities by promoting self-reliance at household and community level.

About the Job:

Overall 

Under the supervision of the Protection Manager (Country Office) and in coordination with Aden Sub-National Protection Cluster (SNPC) and the National Protection Cluster (NPC), the West Coast (WC) – Taiz Protection Working Group (PWG) Co-Coordinator will be responsible for the overall implementation of the cluster coordination role covering Hodeidah and Taiz governorates (IRG-controlled areas). S/he will be responsible to improve the effectiveness of the humanitarian response of the Protection Cluster in accordance with the Protection Cluster Terms of References and the IASC guidelines on Cluster Coordination to meet high standards of transparency, predictability, and accountability to affected communities. 
The WC-Taiz PWG Co-Coordinator reports to DRC Country Protection Manager, but s/he is also accountable to the National Protection Cluster and shall ensure regular but not less than quarterly check-ins with the National coordination team, in addition to ongoing coordination with the Aden SNPC.

Responsibilities: 

Strategic Direction and Coordination 

• Promote, together with Aden SNPC and the NPC, the centrality of protection in the overall humanitarian response throughout the Humanitarian Programme Cycle, including through a timely and comprehensive protection analysis and recommendations for action. 
• Guide the development of a WC-Taiz protection strategy in a consultative process with PWG members and external partners, and ensure it is line with the National Protection Cluster’s strategy.
• Ensure that the West Coast and Taiz actors’ protection response is driven by the Protection strategy, which is informed by protection considerations and humanitarian principles.
• Develop mechanisms to eliminate duplication of service delivery by ensuring that partners are contributing to Service Mapping as well as 4W. 
• Ensure monitoring and reporting on activities, needs, and performance against the Protection Cluster strategy and agreed results.
• Convene and facilitate PWG meetings in line with the Principles of Partnership, ensuring that meetings are consultative and results-oriented, with a particular focus on elevating the voices and priorities of the INGOs and NNGO cluster partners.
• Proactively represent the PWG and the interests of NGOs within cluster coordination and in forums such as the Regional Coordination Teams (RCTs), ensuring consultation with the National Protection Cluster and PWG members on key messages and adherence to humanitarian principles of impartiality, independence, neutrality and humanity.
• Actively participate in inter-cluster missions led by the OCHA and contribute protection inputs to the mission reports.
• Needs Assessment and Resources Mobilization 
• Lead and coordinate protection needs assessments, including participatory assessments of all affected populations within the Sub-Hub or at the inter-cluster level.
• In coordination with Aden SNPC and the NPC, ensure that the PWG identifies, responds to and where necessary advocates for funding to cover all identified protection needs of the affected populations/areas.
• Develop analysis on context-specific Cluster priorities, activities and approaches based on the displacement environment, operating environment and the identified needs, including through partner consultation (with a particular focus on NGOs).
• Ensure evidence-based collaborative planning through an analysis of the protection needs of the affected population.
• Provide timely information as available and appropriate to the NPC and PWG members, and advocate for support for under-resourced protection intervention initiatives, particularly for local NGOs and Community Based Organizations. 

Capacity Development 

• Coordinate and contribute to initiatives, including the delivery of protection training activities, to build the capacity of the PWG members, local stakeholders, and closely coordinate with Aden SNPC and the National Protection Cluster.
• Ensure capacity building in preparedness and contingency planning with advice as needed from Aden SNPC and the NPC. 

Standard Setting and Implementation 

• Facilitate protection mainstreaming in the work of other clusters as well as within the PWG.
• Coordinate the integration of cross-cutting issues in the work of the PWG.
• Ensure that the activities of PWG adhere to inter-agency guidelines on age, gender and diversity. 
• Provide input to National Protection cluster on policies and standards being developed. 

Information Management and Reporting 

• Facilitate reporting and information sharing within the Sub-Hub and at the inter-cluster level.
• Work with the NPC Information Management focal point to produce and discuss with PWG members protection dashboards. 
• Oversee the production of analytical protection reports, regular updates and briefings on the protection concerns of the affected populations, partners’ response activities, challenges and recommendations to be discussed with PWG members, the National Protection Cluster, West Coast RCT and other relevant stakeholders.  
• Ensure the collection, analysis and use of sex and age disaggregated data, and that reporting captures gender, age, and diversity dimensions.
• Work with the NPC information management officer to ensure that information products (gaps analysis, SitReps, dashboards, profiles, maps) reflect the protection issues at the West Coast – Taiz Sub-Hub level.
• Maintain and regularly update the protection services map to ensure that partners have access to current information regarding the protection services available in the West Coast – Taiz Sub-Hub, in close coordination with the NPC.

 Advocacy and Promotion 

• Identify core advocacy concerns for the PWG through a consultative process, ensuring that NGO voices are reflected in cluster messaging and strategy. 
• Advocate on behalf of affected populations and Protection partners with a view to enforcing protection priorities at the inter-cluster level.
• Provide guidance and capacity building to PWG partners to ensure adherence to international human rights and humanitarian law principles and instruments, including the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement as well as other relevant international and regional instruments.
• Support coordinated interventions when violations of international protection standards and principles occur, in cooperation with RCT members. 

  Authority 

• Jointly co-chair PWG meetings in the West Coast – Taiz Sub-Hub with the national NGO Co-Coordinator and represent the PWG in external meetings. 
• Secure minimum commitments on participation in activities from PWG members.
• Ensure the Principles of Partnership are fully respected in managing PWG coordination mechanisms.

  Accountability

• Coordinate with PWG members to support timely and effective responses that address the identified protection needs of affected populations.
• In coordination with NPC support the development of tools for the PWG members to conduct assessments, planning, implementation, and reporting.
• In coordination with partners, collect, review, and analyze data on the protection situation and needs of affected populations, ensuring consideration of age, gender, and diversity factors. 
• Facilitate regular consultations with affected populations and establish feedback mechanisms to promote accountability among PWG members.

About you

To be successful in this role you must have:

Experience and technical competencies:

• Excellent understanding of protection issues in emergency situations and detailed knowledge of humanitarian principles, standards and relevant legal frameworks.
• Excellent knowledge of the West Coast context.
• Excellent leadership, coordination, capacity building, planning, advocacy and analytical skills.
• Minimum of 5 years proven experience working on protection related issues in humanitarian environments, including provision of technical advice to field teams.
• Previous experience in cluster/sector coordination in complex emergency context; previous experience as cluster coordinator or co-coordinator preferred.
• Proven experience with protection monitoring, documentation and analysis of protection data.
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills.
• Excellent representation and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective and working relationships with members of cluster, consortiums, or other groups with diverse members.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.   
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.   
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.   
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.   
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required qualifications: 

Education:

• Degree in Social Sciences, Law, or related fields

Languages:

• English (fluent)
• Arabic (native)

Key stakeholders: 

• Protection Manager (Country Office)
• PWG national NGO Co-Coordinator
• Local authorities 
• Aden Sub-National Protection Coordinator
• National Protection Coordinator and `Co-Coordinator
• West Coast Partners and relevant I/NGOs

We offer

DRC will offer the successful applicant a contract until December 2024, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work as soon as possible, and be willing and able to work in West Coast, Al-Turbah & Taiz City.
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment. This position will be placed at Band (G – Level 2- Non manager) and will be reporting to Protection Manager – Country office.