Protection Assistant – Erbil – (KRI/019)

INTERSOS is an international, non-profit, humanitarian organization on the front line of emergencies, bringing assistance to victims of armed conflicts, natural disasters, and extreme exclusion with particular attention to the protection of the most vulnerable people. Since 1992 our humanitarian workers have been helping people affected by humanitarian crises: we provide first aid, food, shelter, medical assistance, and basic goods. We ensure that basic needs, such as education, access to clean water, and health assistance, are met.

All INTERSOS employees are expected to perform their roles and responsibilities according to the INTERSOS charter of values, code of ethics, PSEA, and Child Protection policies. This is mandatory for all positions within INTERSOS and shall be signed by the employee within the first week of employment.

Purpose/objective of the position:

The Protection Assistant is responsible to monitor the protection context in the project area, reporting on protection incidents, concerns and trends, and ensuring the safety and dignity of refugees and IDPs in respect to their basic rights, including through the identification of individuals with specific protection needs.

Specific Duties:

• Assess the information landscape and define the information needs for protection and legal teams in the Area of Operations, devise and implement a strategy for the collection of useful, usable, and reliable protection data that is gender balanced.
• Identify key informants in the community who will remain resource persons for regular protection assessments through semi-structured or unstructured interviews (KIIs);
• Develop and undertake effective qualitative and quantitative assessments using tools such as KII, FGDs, observations, household surveys, and other sources of information on selected topics to better understand the causes and consequences of identified risks as well as opportunities for community-led solutions that facilitate a holistic rich contextual monitoring and understanding of the protection environment, in collaboration with the MEAL and other legal protection teams;
• Identify individuals with specific protection needs and concerns during household assessments to appropriate services including referrals for legal assistance, MPHSS, CP/ GBV case management, and when considered necessary, directly accompany them to different service providers and ensure timely and adequate follow-up for every case referred / for which intake assessment is conducted;

• Systematically collate, triangulate and analyze information gathered, both firsthand and from other sources, related to monitoring of the protection context, in order to determine trends and major issues for follow-up.

• Analyze and identify violations of rights or general protection risks for refugees/asylum seekers and IDPs, as well as security incidents and other events (water crises, etc) which may cause or exacerbate displacement and/or increase protection risks
• In close collaboration with UNHCR, conduct comprehensive assessments for high-protection risk cases whose concerns cannot be addressed through a combination of available interventions;  
• Ensure documents are physically and electronically safely stored in line with the established SOPs and data protection principles; 
• On a quarterly basis, update the service mapping with functional service providers for both camps and urban areas (for both refugees and IDPs) actors. 
• Support the Team Leader to write analytical reports of findings from qualitative and quantitative data collected with practical recommendations for action; 
• Cultivate a network of sources of information through good working relationships and coordination with local authorities, government officials, community leaders and other public institutions to facilitate information gathering that ensure an increased protective and enabling environment for IDPs/Refugees;
• Report to the Protection Assistance Team Leader any serious protection incident or identified immediate protection concern for urgent action/attention;
• Mainstream protection principles – Do no harm, non-discrimination, confidentiality, accountability and increased access to vulnerable persons in all the work we do;
• Support sensitization, information dissemination and awareness raising activities in the community;

• Conduct other duties as assigned by supervisors

Core Functions/Refugee Component: 

• Conduct intake interview at UNHCR registration Center interview rooms on a daily basis to provide orientation and counselling, and conduct immediate refugee referrals to UNHCR and/or to other service providers, using existing referral forms, mechanisms and pathways.
• Refer persons with specific needs to Medical Cash Assistance (MCA) and Emergency Cash Assistance (ECA) in accordance with the MCA and ECA SoPs.
• Produce immediate report to protection team leaders on urgent cases such as deportation, forced return and discrimination, hindered access to safety, detention due to illegal entry, and cases needing lifesaving action, and implement follow-up also through case conferences (liaising with UNHCR) and/or case management approach to ensure further assistance when required.
• Participate in the established mobile desks in remote and far locations to conduct protection interviews, in line with the established work plan.
• Conduct community level surveys whenever it is called for, in close coordination and collaboration with UNHCR.
• Conduct KIIs, HH assessments and FGDs as part of the situation monitoring based on a set plan;
• Conduct information sessions in the covered areas to ensure the community is aware of INTERSOS services.
• Refer other protection concerns to UNHCR for specialized attention or fast tracking.

Person Specification:

Education and professional experience:

• University Degree in a related field (Social Sciences, Social Work, Law, etc) or another relevant field;
• At least one year of relevant professional experience in the protection sector and humanitarian response;
• Previous working experience with IDPs, refugees and returnees;
• Strong knowledge of international protection in the humanitarian context.

Competencies: (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

• Computer literacy (Word, Excel)
• Willingness to work in the field in all areas of Erbil Governorate, including in IDP or refugee camp locations.  
• Respect and non-discriminatory attitude toward refugees, IDPs and other categorized vulnerable persons
• High integrity, respect for confidentiality, and commitment to humanitarian and do-no-harm principles (including strict upholding of INTERSOS Code of Ethics and PSEA & Child Protection policies).
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong data collection and reporting skills
• Ability to show empathy
• Ability to work under pressure and as part of a team

Languages : 

• Fluency in Arabic and Kurdish (written and spoken)
• Working knowledge in English (written and spoken)