Protection Coordinator – Syria – Syrian Arab Republic

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organisation that helps victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, with special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Scope of application

Job title: Protection Coordinator

Code: SR-53-9471

Location: Based in Damascus, with frequent field visits to the area of ​​operations

Start date: 01/10/2024

Contract duration: 6 months

Report to: Head of Mission

Supervision by: MHPSS Specialist

Dependents: MHPSS Specialist

General context of the project

INTERSOS is officially registered and entered Syria in May 2019 and operates under the umbrella of a MoU with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). Currently has two sub-MoUs with line ministries (MoSAL and MoE).

INTERSOS implements a program that includes Protection, Health and Education activities, along with some integrations with Livelihoods and Non-Food Items. INTERSOS operates in the governorates of Rural Damascus, Hama and Southern Idleb, with possible expansion to other government controlled areas.

INTERSOS is a member of the Protection Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), a member of the Inter-agency Referral WG and represents INGOs in the Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) Working Group.

General purpose of the position

Provide technical guidance and advice to security personnel and ensure that the various components of the program are implemented according to internal guidelines and in line with international standards and principles, so that the mission objectives are effectively achieved, in accordance with the vision and values ​​of INTERSOS.

In collaboration with the HoM, define and coordinate the implementation of the mission’s protection strategy.

Main Responsibilities and Tasks

Coordination and support:

• Contribute to the design of the mission protection strategy in accordance with the specific context and provide technical support and assistance for the implementation of protection-related activities.
• Contextualize and adapt internal and global guidelines, develop contextualized standard operating procedures (SOPs) and ensure they are rolled out and understood by staff.
• Ensure coherence and harmonization of protection activities and services across the different implementation sites within the mission, taking into account the specific socio-cultural patterns of each area.
• Responsible for the effective implementation of all conservation projects within the mission and ensuring that all conservation programs are in line with international standards and best practices.
• Provide training and workshops to INTERSOS staff not active in the protection sector to build skills and knowledge of protection principles and enable them to integrate protection across sectors.
• Assess the protection needs and gaps of the target groups in the current and future operational areas, update the protection situation analysis periodically and inform the programme teams accordingly.
• Create opportunities for experience sharing and learning within the security team to strengthen collaboration.
• Conduct strategic protection analyses and prepare periodic trend reports (including conflict analysis, gender and risk management aspects) based on programme experiences to improve development, implementation, and policy and advocacy activities.
• Develop context-sensitive M&E tools for effective data collection from projects. Analyse data regularly and produce reports that feed into programming.
• Ensure that protection data is collected, archived, processed, analyzed and disseminated ethically, in accordance with internal data protection protocols.
• Conduct regular field visits and provide resources to monitor the quality of programme implementation.
• Identify opportunities for new conservation interventions and support assessments and development of new project proposals.
• In collaboration with Head Office and the Protection Advisor, you will support the development of grievance mechanisms for beneficiaries and ensure that complaints are handled appropriately.
• In collaboration with Head Office and the Protection Advisor, monitor the implementation of the Child Protection (CP) and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) policies.

Supervision and personnel management:

• Directly manages, coaches and mentors security personnel reporting to his/her line management and conducts regular performance reviews.
• Review work plans of protection officers under his/her line management and set priorities together with the protection project managers.
• Develop a capacity building plan for protection personnel and support the delivery of training and workshops to strengthen their skills in specific protection topics.
• Organize ad hoc protection meetings with protection personnel under his/her line management and other relevant project personnel to share challenges and priorities and develop action plans to address them.

Advocacy, networking and partnerships:

• In collaboration with HOM, ensure that key protection concerns are presented to relevant stakeholders for advocacy.
• Build and maintain partnerships with relevant donors, partners, project stakeholders and other organizations.
• Maintain effective relationships with all protection sector AoRs and related working groups at national level.
• Ensures that the protection personnel under his/her line management maintain productive relationships with the subsector at field level.
• Strengthen the network with all relevant stakeholders in the field of protection. Collaborate with other internal departments to ensure good cooperation.
• Collaborate with protection coordinators from other missions to share best practices and resources.

Required profile and experience

Education

• BA in relevant field (social sciences, psychology, social work, human rights, international humanitarian law or other fields related to social development and humanitarian work)
• Desired Master’s degree (MA or LLM) in human rights, international humanitarian law or related subjects

Professional experience

• Demonstrated technical expertise in assessing, designing and delivering relevant security programming.
• Demonstrable experience in child protection, MHPSS and disability programming
• Extensive experience in training and capacity building in the field of technical protection with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience with participatory approaches and working with vulnerable groups, including gender mainstreaming, and with persons with disabilities.
• Knowledge of the legal framework and international standards applicable to INTERSOS activities, as required by local and national authorities and by major donors (EU, UN, bilateral donors).
• Good knowledge and understanding of humanitarian principles and protection frameworks, instruments and minimum standards.
• Strong program management skills, with extensive experience in managing large portfolios of programming.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience with internal and external coordination and representation of programs.

Professional requirements

Languages

• Fluent English
• Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage

Personal requirements

• Demonstrable ability to solve problems creatively.
• Professional, hardworking and a self-motivated person.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Flexibility and ability to cope with a stressful workload and working with limited resources.
• Very strong interpersonal and team skills; a collaborative approach with the ability to work in different cultural environments.
• Positive and solution-oriented leader who focuses on team building, problem solving and supporting the teams and beneficiary communities.