Job Detail

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.   

This position may be based in Herat, Nimroz or Kabul (location will be determined based on the requirements of the mission) Only candidates with the flexibility to be based in one of these locations will be considered.

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.

1. 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.
2. Coordinates closely with consortium partners to ensure quality implementation of protection activities including the harmonization of standards and approaches. 
3. Provides adequate technical guidance to consortium technical focal points and to project managers when relevant in line with strategies, standards and cross cutting approaches.
4. Leads the technical working group for the consortium on protection (leads and designs the agenda for monthly meeting)
5. In collaboration with the Consortium Coordinator supports the consortium teams to produce regular reports on consortium activities (newsletters, case studies, project progress reports, etc.) both for internal use and submission to external stakeholders e.g authorities, donors.
6. Ensures quantitative and qualitative reporting through relevant tools, focusing on technical support outcomes and learnings.

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

1. 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.
2. Develops a thorough understanding of the protection environment in the Afghan context and provides country team with updated analysis of protection risks.
3. 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.
4. Provides appropriate technical guidance and support to project teams as needed (adapts standards to PM tools, assists in proposal writing and reporting) in accordance with mandatory strategies, standards, and cross-cutting approaches.
5. Ensures adequate support for multi-sectoral interventions within projects, in accordance with other technical specialists.
6. Ensures the control and the follow-up of the technical quality and the relevance of the activities of HI within the programs in its perimeter.
7. Assists with recruitment and briefing (when required).

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

1. Supports program monitoring to ensure data is used to inform programming as needed to contribute to high-quality implementation of protection programming.
2. Develops a comprehensive protection M&E plan as well as related assessment tools.
3. Develops tailored information sharing protocols (ISP).
4. Contributes to the capitalization of projects and ensures technical learning from projects within its sectoral scope. Develops to case studies, best practices, lesson learnt and other knowledge-based products.

4. Builds the technical capacity of program staff and partners

1. Identifies capacity building needs and appropriate and effective modalities to facilitate training for program staff.
2. 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.
3. Delivers technical training, ongoing technical coaching, and Training-of-Trainers.
4. Leads the development of training materials.
5. Supports integrated program design and leads the identification of key aspects for the integration of protection in other sector and provides capacity building through the development of specialized modules as needed.
6. In collaboration with the Inclusive Humanitarian Action Specialist ensure that all program-specific tools are in line with HI disability, gender, and age (DGA) policy and best practices. 
7. Contributes to the development of partnerships with local actors to support integrated and comprehensive protection services.

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

1. 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.
2. Ensures HI’s programming is in line with guidance and standards issued from the Inter agency fora.
3. Contributes to advocacy on specific themes in line with global advocacy priorities.
4. Contributes to delivery of communication message in line with overall communication priorities.

6. Business development and strategic positioning

1. Supports the development of major opportunities or new projects within country within her/his sectorial scope.
2. Contributes to the development of context analysis with her/his sectorial scope;
3. Contributes to the design and writing of concept notes/proposals for new projects in the country.
4. Identifies & develops local partnerships and/or consortium with NGOs and relevant institutions with a focus on delivering technical priorities within her/his sectorial scope.
5. Promote the identification and development of local partnerships with organizations of people with disabilities (OPDs) and persons with disability.
6. Promote and support the active participation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in the consortium and HI programming.