Protection Specialist

General Description of the Programme:

GOAL an International Humanitarian Organisation has had a presence in Turkey since 2013 and has been contributing to the migrant response since 2016 with a focus on responding to needs in health service delivery, social safety nets and the protection of vulnerable and marginalised migrants in southern Turkey.

GOAL has been working in Syria since 2013, responding to the acute needs of conflict-affected communities. GOAL is working in Idleb Governate, both through direct implementation and through partners, delivering food, non-food programming to highly vulnerable populations, and provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) through support to Water units, as well as emergency support to recently displaced households.

GOAL has been working in North Aleppo Governate since 2019, through direct implementation and through partners, delivering food, non-food programming to highly vulnerable populations, as well as emergency support for recently displaced household.

GOAL’s programming in Turkey is dedicated to the protection and social inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized refugees through the ECHO-funded LINK project which specifically targets refugees from nomadic and semi-nomadic backgrounds, as well as seasonal agricultural workers. It addresses protection concerns of these vulnerable groups by raising awareness about their rights, obligations, and available services in Turkey. The project employs a holistic approach that includes sensitization and advocacy activities, targeting key stakeholders and service providers, and delivering Individual Protection Assistance (IPA) and Case management (CM) to enable access to essential social and protective services under the Temporary and International Protection regulations in Turkey, as well as psychosocial support (PSS) aiming to improve the wellbeing of the targeted communities. GOAL’s protection programming is designed to mitigate risks faced by these communities and ensure their access to life-saving services. The LINK project also fosters partnerships with local actors to increase outreach and strengthen response mechanisms for the displaced and marginalized populations across southern Turkey. Additionally, GOAL conduct regular protection monitoring and provided context updates to service providers, helping them address personal and systemic challenges/barriers faced by refugees in Turkey. These efforts aim to promote resilience, self-reliance, and sustainable change among the targeted communities.

After the February 2023 earthquake, GOAL launched an emergency response to support earthquake-affected refugees and host communities in southeastern Türkiye. This response includes the distribution of food and non-food items, the provision of psychosocial support, and shelter assistance to those impacted by the disaster.

 

Overview of the role:

GOAL Türkiye seeks a Protection specialist. The program aims to connect vulnerable and marginalized communities to available state and non-state services in Gaziantep, Hatay, and Adana using the outreach, advocacy, community based protection, Individual Protection Assistance (IPA), and Case management (CM) approaches. The programme is a series of ECHO funded projects started on 1/7/2018, and currently GOAL is implementing its 5th phase LINK V programme.

The protection specialist will be responsible for managing relationships at field with local protection related authorities, clusters, national and international NGOs, other service providers and beneficiaries. S/he will contribute to achievement of GOAL Turkey’s annual country objectives through quality program implementation and contributions to program development and oversight. This role requires astute skills in building and sustaining relationships and coordination with diverse stakeholders to facilitate successful program implementation. He/she is also responsible for general activities that are indispensable when it comes to project implementation, such as planning, activity management, capacity building, tools and guidelines development, reporting, and programme design and proposal development process.

 

S/he will also supervise the implementation of GOAL’s safeguarding policies and guidelines, including the Child + Adult Safeguarding Policy, Child Protection (CP) Policy, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy, the Code of Conduct (CoC) and the Whistleblowing Policy, with the aim of creating a working environment free from SEA of children or adults perpetrated by GOAL or its members.

 

Overall, the protection specialist is responsible for the development of the programme approach, guiding the program teams and ensuring the technical quality of programme delivery as well as safeguarding across the programme. Experience in delivering quality programming, on time and in budget are key requirements of a successful applicant. Integrating service delivery across program departments and promoting evidence-based programming which takes into account a view of the system as a whole, is key to this position, as is a commitment to flexible management. The Protection Specialist has the responsibility for ensuring that a cross-cutting agenda (Child Protection, Gender, Marginalized Minority Groups, Accountability, Safeguarding, climate change adaptation and Partner Capacity Building) is systematically embedded in programme design and implementation.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

 

General responsibilities: 

• Develop and continuously update and refine quality systems and tools for protection monitoring to ensure the effective collection and analysis of qualitative data relating to the protection environment.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen programmes results and impact through strategic programme integration especially around protection, social cohesion, and livelihoods.
• Closely monitor the pace of program implementation and take the lead in proactively addressing any barriers to timely implementation. This may include (but is not limited) to proposing design adjustments, issue identification and solution setting, addressing capacity or performance gaps among program staff, liaising with other departments to resolve issues related to finance or procurement, addressing issues with implementation partners, etc.
• Continuously identify opportunities and measures to strengthen programmes results and quality and impact through strategic programme integration especially around protection, social cohesion, and livelihood and implement these measures in a timely manner.
• Conduct regular team meetings, set reporting mechanism and tools to ensure project is implemented in line with agreed work plans.
• Work closely with the other departments to ensure a holistic and cohesive approach.
• Ensure quality implementation through compliance and adherence to relevant donor policies, procedures and guidelines of GOAL, the donor, and the Government of Turkey, including internationally recognized protection and social services standards.
• Ensure GOAL policies and procedures for programme management are known and are being implemented by GOAL staff members. Develop and roll-out Programme SOPs and train staff on SOPs and other prevalent GOAL policies.
• Contribute to GOAL program strategy design and implementation of ACPs and other relevant strategic initiatives by GOAL.
• Work closely to ensure that project risks are appropriately managed, including financial, programmatic, staff safety/security and reputational risks.
• Ensure the implementation of GOAL’s safeguarding policies and guidelines along with the supervision of Safeguarding Expert and Global Safeguarding Advisor.
• In collaboration with the protection team, develop program tools, and guidance notes to support and reinforce the quality of activities and lead the coaching, mentorship, and training required for implementation.
• Provide regular technical support and guidance to Protection teams to strengthen their capacity in delivering high-quality CM services, IPA, awareness raising and PSS, while ensuring that supervision and coaching structures are in place at the field level to ensure adequate oversight by teams supervisors.
• Undertake regular field visits to monitor the quality of implementation, provide technical advice, and conduct customized needs assessments to base the capacity building of protection staff especially on CM, IPA, and PSS.
• Support the broader information management needs of the protection program by data tracking and data visualization (POWERBI) ensuring data/information consistency and integrity, and continuous availability of data analysis for informed decision-making and project design.
• Contribute to the establishment and regular updates of the MEAL plan, including (a) ensuring appropriate indicator and quality tracking (both quantitative and qualitative) and (b) working closely with MEAL to put in place accountability mechanisms;

Capacity Building:

• Support protection field teams with the adoption of standardized community-level PSS methodologies (including those developed by consultants or internally), including associated monitoring and evaluation mechanisms;
• Stay abreast of developments that have an impact on the protection environment in Türkiye and provide ongoing analysis on key issues regularly.
• In coordination with the PD, Area manager (AM), and Deputy programme manager (DPM), assess training and development needs within the Protection team, develop a capacity building plan and implement that with the support from the AM, and DPM, including the development and/or delivery of training materials to further build the capacity of protection staff;
• Participate in the recruitment process, the capacity building, and the evaluation of the protection staff, as necessary;
• Establish processes, systems, and learning events in Türkiye that will lead to a general capacity building and professionalization of GOAL staff and other programme stakeholders;

MONITORING, EVALUATION, ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEARNING (MEAL) 

• In collaboration with the MEAL supervisor, ensure that programmes are closely monitored, evaluated, and delivered as expected by per our target communities, our donor through our contractual obligations and other concerned stakeholders.
• Work with the MEAL team to support the development of appropriate M&E, learning and programme management tools and systems and to develop internal mechanisms for knowledge management. This includes contribution to program assessment forms and other tools.
• Ensure program quality of GOAL is monitored and that knowledge management activities and organizational capacity development is provided to GOAL teams as appropriate.
• Improve the quality of services provided, analysis and dissemination of M&E data and lessons learnt, and review/revise GOAL’s and other best practice guidelines.

PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT & REPORTING:

• In close coordination with the PD, AM, DPM, the Protection Specialist contributes to the development and implementation of GOAL Türkiye, as well as the harmonization and rollout of tools, SOPs, and guidelines with a particular focus on CM, IPA, CBP, and PSS;
• Work closely with the Protection teams on the identification of the communities' needs and gaps in Protection services within GOAL Türkiye areas of intervention;
• Support the development of the guidance on implementation and integration of protection with other core sectors, ensuring the adoption of a participatory community-based approach;
• Provide technical input into the development and implementation of relevant SOPs and technical standards;
• In coordination with the Area Manager and Protection supervisors, contribute to the program strategy and the establishment of sector-based log frames and targets;
• Participate in the proposal development process by leading the protection component of the proposals and providing field-specific context analysis technical sector-specific analysis, beneficiary information, and technical feedback on the concept.
• Supporting the Programme Director with oversight the development of donor and internal narrative reporting, ensuring that all reports meet the appropriate standards and are delivered on time and to exceptional quality standards.
• Actively support/lead the development and drafting of concept notes, full proposals, modification requests, and supporting documents, such as needs assessments, in coordination with the Programme Director and in line with pre-agreed timelines.
• Support evidence-based programme development and learning, monitor programme progress, resulting in real-time programmatic adaption, ensuring evidence for learning.

 

Coordination and Representation

• Active participation in, contribution to, and representation of GOAL in the Protection Cluster, and other relevant bodies, including working groups and other meetings related to protection;
• Ensure that GOAL work is coordinated with the efforts of other agencies, ensuring the specific needs of vulnerable communities are being addressed;
• Feed into national clusters transition through Technical Coordinators, in particular regarding context, needs, and possibilities for coordination.
• Contribute and ensure active participation in and to forums, coordination and working groups meetings, to develop and nurture fruitful relations and referral partnerships
• Represent GOAL with Technical Government Ministries at all levels of project implementation, as well as for donor interaction, in collaboration with and as determined by the Programme Director and the Liaison Coordinator.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships and communication lines with relevant local authorities and representatives, non-government organizations, managing communications, organizing and facilitating meetings at field level as needed.
• Coordinate and support visits from representatives from the government, donors, GOAL and other I/NGOs.

 

MEDIA/PR/VISIBILITY 

• Provide content and a technical review of publicity materials, including project and programme brochures, case studies and press releases, etc.
• Review all curriculum and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for content prior to production.
• Actively participate in donor and/or media visits to field activities.
• Provide necessary oversight to all visibility products including case study, programme fact sheet/brochures, videos, and pictures to help raise the profile of the LINK and GREEN programmes and to link these efforts to the advocacy strategy and objectives.

OTHER

• Contribute to mainstreaming humanitarian and protection principles across GOAL’s programme and workplace.
• Work with the GOAL Systems departments, to ensure comprehensive buy in and understanding of programme goals and commitment to same, along with action plans. Lead in dialogue to ensure systems are informed, are participating in planning and delivering appropriate support to the programmes teams.
• Develop IT, procurement and recruitment plans and logistic timelines in line with committed program activities and closely follow up with their implementations together with respective system department leads.
• Ensure appropriate information flow within the Protection team, across departments, and also with the line manager and Goal Turkey (GT) SMT.
• Carry out other duties as requested by the Programme Director

 

Experience and technical competencies

• Proven experience of at least 5 years in protection and management of protection programs, including in Case Management, GBV, CP, and PSS. the expertise in other sectors such as Livelihoods, WASH, Shelter … etc will be an added value.
• Postgraduate degree in social sciences preferably in social work and/or social development.
• Demonstrable previous experience in programme planning, budgeting, implementation, and review in particular with implementation by national partner(s).
• Prior experience implementing case management, PSS at a community level is required; previous experience in GBV (including GBV case management);
• Experience providing technical guidance, developing and delivering participatory training/capacity building;
• Significant knowledge of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws and International standards relating to the protection;
• Experience in report writing, data/information analysis, and M&E;
• Strong information management skills, including but not limited to the creation of databases, use of server-based information collection tools, etc.;
• Proven strong analytical and communication, representation, negotiation, advocacy, and diplomacy skills;
• Strategic thinker with the ability to quickly develop good insight and understanding of the conflict, the human rights situation, and the political environment of the program country;
• Knowledge of Gender and Protection mainstreaming, AGD, and AAP approaches;
• Experience working and living in a multicultural environment and traveling to conflict-affected areas;
• Experience in developing effective empowerment strategies for refugee communities.
• Experienced and confident in representation with government at all levels; with donors including ECHO, EU, USAID; the UN agencies including OCHA and the cluster system; and I/NGOs.
• Excellent management skills with the ability to quickly re-prioritise activities to meet the demands of the programme in a rapidly changing context environment.
• Extraordinary diplomacy skills and ability to rapidly read situations and determine appropriate responses.
• Good interpersonal and facilitation skills with the ability to lead teams to reach consensus on complex and/or divisive issues.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate delays and bottlenecks, analyse risk and pre-emptively manage it.
• Commitment to capacity building of GOAL staff.
• Extensive experience in reporting and project development,
• Excellent writing skills in English.
• Good command of Arabic/Turkish is an asset.

Interested?

Then apply for this position via clicking on the 'apply now' button and fill out the application form. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application deadline is  28 November 2024.  

“Please note that GOAL does not charge a fee of any kind or any other financial obligation at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training, induction) or other fees, or request information on applicants’ bank accounts. GOAL does not work with intermediary institutions and ind