Protection Specialist – Afghanistan

Handicap International/Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an independent and impartial international solidarity organization, which intervenes in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflicts and disasters. Working alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, it acts and speaks out to meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. More info: www.hi.org

At Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion, we truly believe in the importance of inclusion and diversity within our organisation. This is why we are engaged to a disability policy to encourage the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities.

Please indicate if you require any special accommodation, even at the first interview.

 

 

JOB CONTEXT:

HI started working in Afghanistan in 1996 and currently works across 6 provinces (Kabul, Kandahar, Kunduz, Heret, Nimruz and Bamyan). The population groups targeted by HI interventions include IDPs, returnees, persons with disabilities, women headed households and other vulnerable people who have been affected by natural and manmade disasters. HI is a strong actor promoting and advocating for the rights of survivors of landmines and other people with disabilities as a whole and provides technical support to key stakeholders including humanitarian partners.

HI’s activities cover several thematic areas including Mine Risk Education, Physical rehabilitation, Mental Health and Psychosocial support (MHPSS) and Livelihoods.

HI co-chairs the Disability Inclusion Working Group (DiWG) as well as supports Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) as an integral aspect of mainstreaming disability inclusion in the country and across the humanitarian response.

 

 

YOUR MISSION:

Under the line management of the Technical Head of Programmes, the Protection Specialist contributes to the deployment of HI’s protection response in Afghanistan in line with the implementation of the HI’s mandate, country and global strategy with a primary focus on the delivery of HI’s FCDO funded consortium project.

The FCDO funded SHAPE project is a consortium project implemented by HI (lead) and its partners, War Child UK, YHDO and SDO. This 2-year project will run from October 2023 – October 2025 and will focus on activities in health, protection and supporting Organizations of People with Disabilities (OPDs). Project activities will be delivered in 4 provinces in Afghanistan – Herat, Kandahar, Nimroz and Nangahar.

The Protection Specialist works in synergy with other mission sector specialists in the country, region and at HQ providing sound technical advice for the establishment and implementation of protection programming and protection mainstreaming in all areas and sectors of intervention. S/he ensures the optimization of the quality and impact of the projects implemented in the program.

 

Primary responsibilities are as follows:

 

1. Oversees and supports the SHAPE consortium project on protection, best practices, training and reporting

• In collaboration with consortium partners War Child UK and YHDO develops a strategy for quality implementation of protection activities under the FCDO SHAPE consortium project.
• Coordinates closely with consortium partners to ensure quality implementation of protection activities including the harmonization of standards and approaches.
• Provides adequate technical guidance to consortium technical focal points and to project managers when relevant in line with strategies, standards and cross cutting approaches.

 

2. Guides the establishment, development and implementation of protection programming in Afghanistan

• Develops the protection technical strategy for the program and ensures technical support to projects in accordance with global technical frameworks and standards within its sectoral scope.
• Develops a thorough understanding of the protection environment in the Afghan context and provides country team with updated analysis of protection risks.
• Develops adequate technical standards and guidance for the implementation of protection activities, including needs assessments, protection mainstreaming, GBV and child protection risk mitigation, capacity building, awareness and sensitization, community-based protection, beneficiary consultations and engagement of local stakeholders.

 

3. Establishes program monitoring, evaluation, learning and information management

• Supports program monitoring to ensure data is used to inform programming as needed to contribute to high-quality implementation of protection programming.
• Develops a comprehensive protection M&E plan as well as related assessment tools.
• Develops tailored information sharing protocols (ISP).

 

4. Builds the technical capacity of program staff and partners

• Identifies capacity building needs and appropriate and effective modalities to facilitate training for program staff.
• Leads the development of resources/curricula/SOPs and works with program staff and HQ protection specialist to contextualize and adapt global and country-specific materials.
• Delivers technical training, ongoing technical coaching and Training-of-Trainers.

 

5. External representation and active participation in inter-agency coordination mechanisms and platforms

• Represent HI within the protection cluster and other relevant local networks, and work collaboratively with the other agencies sharing knowledge and best practice with relevant coordination mechanisms.
• Ensures HI’s programming is in line with guidance and standards issued from the Inter agency fora.
• Contributes to advocacy on specific themes in line with global advocacy priorities.

 

6. Business development and strategic positioning

• Supports the development of major opportunities or new projects within country within her/his sectorial scope.
• Contributes to the development of context analysis with her/his sectorial scope.
• Contributes to the design and writing of concept notes/proposals for new projects in the country.

 

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION:

The security rating of the security environment Afghanistan continues to remain high. However, continues to enjoy has wide acceptance from stakeholders and within the communities it works in.

This position is based in Kabul where expatriates live in secure within compounds in houses equipped with safe rooms and armored doors. Social interaction with other members of the humanitarian community is allowed and expatriates visit other NGO compounds (subject to validation of the security situation by the security manager). In addition, HI has bases in Kunduz, Bamyan, Kandahar, Nimroz and Herat and expats are expected to travel to and work from field locations as and when required.