Protection Officer-1

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Overview

The Protection Officer is responsible for the day-to-day delivery and quality of ReSET’s protection component in the assigned settlement. The role ensures that protection is the entry point and the safeguard of the cash-plus model: households are screened for protection risks at first contact, protection overrides are applied where lives, safety or dignity are at risk, survivors and at-risk individuals receive safe, confidential, survivor-centered case management, and every referral is followed through until the person has received the service. The Protection Officer also leads protection monitoring and community-based protection.

The Protection Officer works in an integrated team alongside IRC cash staff and consortium partners (TPO Uganda for community-based MHPSS and protection, UGANET for legal aid, GBV, child protection and access to justice, and RELON for community mobilization and accountability to affected populations), and in close coordination with OPM, UNHCR, district authorities and sector working groups.

In close cooperation with the Protection and Referral Specialist, will:

• •Lead the delivery of ReSET protection activities in the assigned settlement;
• •Deliver technical support and guidance to the protection team, including case workers and community-based protection volunteers;
• •Ensure the quality of planning, implementation and follow-up of all technical aspects of protection activities, including integrated protection screening, protection case management, protection monitoring and referrals;
• •Ensure that cash and protection operate as one client journey, with protection overrides and cash-linked protection support applied safely and without exclusion;
• •Develop and maintain good relations with forcibly displaced and stateless persons (FDSPs), host community members, RLOs, consortium partners, government and other humanitarian actors to support effective, accountable and locally led delivery.

Duties & Responsibilities

• •Protection monitoring, identification of protection concerns and facilitation of access to services through the referral system; individual protection assistance, awareness-raising and advocacy for the rights of forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
• •Contribute to project planning and implementation at field level, and monitor protection activities to ensure alignment with implementation plans, ReSET standard operating procedures (SOPs) and quality standards.
• •Document case studies, best practices and lessons learned from the cases handled by the protection staff, feeding the ReSET learning agenda.
• •Develop mitigation strategies for potential challenges affecting protection operations in the settlement.
• •Contribute to proposal development and program learning to support continuity and innovation .

Integrated protection screening, targeting and cash-protection integration

• •Operate the protection entry point of the dual-entry client journey: apply integrated protection screening for individuals who present through protection, GBV, child protection, legal, disability or MHPSS services, and screen them for household vulnerability and potential MPCA eligibility.
• •Support the vulnerability assessment and household verification process so that protection risks (GBV, child protection, disability, documentation barriers, unmet MHPSS needs) are captured and acted on
• •Identify and support Persons with Specific Needs (PSNs), oversee PSN needs assessments and ensure appropriate, targeted assistance and follow-up.
• •Support the placement of households in the assistance packages (including Package B – Protection and Protection Plus).
• •Contribute protection input to the targeting panel and to the Safer Cash approach: help identify protection risks linked to cash delivery and recommend mitigation.
• •Support the appeals process for targeting decisions, ensuring urgent protection-related appeals are escalated and triaged the same day, and that confidential information is protected.

Protection case management (GBV, child protection and other protection concerns)

• •Ensure protection case management is delivered according to established standards
• •Oversee child protection case management, including identification and assessment of unaccompanied and separated children, ensure timely referral to specialized services.
• •Coordinate with TPO Uganda to ensure access to MHPSS and with UGANET for legal assistance, representation, civil documentation and Housing, Land and Property support.
• •Support multidisciplinary case conferencing for complex and high-risk cases, and escalate cases involving suicide or self-harm risk, severe protection risk or safeguarding concerns immediately in line with protocols.
• •Ensure case data is recorded in the appropriate case management systems.

Community-based protection and prevention

• •Support community-based protection, including community protection risk assessments, safety audits, Targeted Individual Assistance, responsive information provision and capacity strengthening of community protection structures.
• •Strengthening the capacity of Refugee Welfare Councils (RWCs), Community Protection Committees, women’s and girls’ groups, youth groups, para-social workers and community volunteers to identify protection risks, facilitate safe referrals and support case follow-up.
• •Plan and participate in awareness-raising sessions and information campaigns on rights, services, referral pathways, safeguarding and complaints mechanisms etc.
• •Support peaceful coexistence and social cohesion activities between refugee and host communities, applying conflict-sensitivity and Do No Harm principles in all activities.

Protection monitoring, referrals and access to services

• •Carry out protection monitoring, data collection and documentation of the needs and risks of FDSPs, including new arrivals, women and girls, children, persons with disabilities, older persons and minority groups.
• •Support mapping of services and the maintenance of the joint service directory and referral pathways; apply the agreed referral standards and ensure referrals are closed loop.
• •Ensure that Pillar Two referrals for recovery-ready households are voluntary and based on informed consent, and that declined referrals do not result in exit from assistance; maintain continuity of care for active protection cases.
• •Flag referral failures, long waiting times and service gaps to the Protection and Referral Specialist for escalation through the adaptive management process and relevant coordination structures.

Safeguarding, accountability and inclusion

• •Uphold the IRC’s safeguarding policies and the Common Approach to Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH).
• •Support accountability to affected populations and help ensure feedback and complaints are acknowledged within 1 working day and resolved or escalated within 3 working days and use community feedback to adapt protection services.
• •Apply the program’s gender, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) approach: use the Washington Group Questions and accessibility audits to identify and address exclusion.
• •Ensure informed consent, confidentiality, data minimization a