Founded in 1956, The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization providing direct assistance to conflict-affected populations – refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities – in more than 40 countries around the world. DRC has been implementing emergency response projects in Tanzania since the onset of the Burundi refugee crisis in 2015 in three refugee camps in the Kigoma Region at the border with Burundi. DRC’s integrated projects for refugees, asylum seekers and host communities comprise sectors such as Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), Protection (CBP, PSN, GBV, CP and Legal), Shelter and infrastructure, and Economic Recovery.

Overall purpose of the role:

The Protection Officer [community-based] will be responsible for the implementation of community-based protection activities, namely support to leadership structure, community mobilization, feedback and complaints mechanism, community engagement, and information dissemination. He/she will support in developing and maintaining community-based participation mechanisms in the camp and Kigoma, ensuring that the voices of men, women, boys, girls, and groups with specific needs asylum seekers are heard and represented.

Main Responsibilities:

Lead the establishment and capacity building of active and efficient temporary refugee leadership structures at the reception centers in consultation with MoHA and UNHCR.
Lead the development and facilitation of a two-way information flow between asylum seekers and key stakeholders through the dissemination, collection, and analysis of information.
Ensure timely response is provided to asylum seekers’ complaints and concerns.
Conduct mobilization of different activities carried out by MoHA and UNHCR at the reception centers.
Disseminate various information collected from MoHA, UNHCR, and partners to new arrivals at reception centers.
Participate in coordination meetings for influx response.
Identify Protection gaps at the reception centers and in the zone where new arrivals are allocated and share to Protection Team Leader for further action.
Prepare a daily and weekly report on the activities carried out at the reception centers and share it with Protection Team Leader.
Ensure work plans are prepared and implemented timely
Attend the community-based protection, and other working groups to ensure coordination of activities.
Act as a focal point for community engagement and messaging from humanitarian agencies to asylum seekers in the camp and Kigoma.
Support Protection Team Leader [community-based] to write monthly reports for local authorities and donors regarding activities of supporting Congolese influx.
Develop, support, and manage a team of refugee incentive workers.
Any other tasks assigned by Protection Team Leader [community-based]

Programming & Operations

Ensure efficient and effective program implementation while following the budget and work plan
Participate in preparing monthly/quarterly/annual highlights/reports and proposals and budgets for donors
Lead the team in carrying out monitoring and evaluation exercises
Take initiative on procurement, working with Protection Team Leader, Protection Coordinator and Protection Manager, and Supply chain to ensure a smooth procurement process and correct use of budget spending.

Coordination and representation

Collaborate with relevant internal and external technical experts on sector-relevant issues
Represent DRC at meetings and other relevant technical coordination meetings
Ensure integration with other DRC sectors, such as Camp Coordination and Camp Management livelihoods, WASH, and General Food Distribution (GFD).

Project development

Asist in developing project plans and budgets for funding
Develop projects tools
Project implementation and reporting
Monitor and evaluate projects.

About you

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in social sciences, political science, development, law, or other related fields
Good proficiency in written and spoken English, and Swahili
Competency profile

Compliance and Detail-oriented
Strong team player
Excellent interpersonal skills, culturally sensitive and adaptable
Flexible, enthusiastic and willing to learn from others
Understands humanitarian issues in Tanzania, and the region
Willing to travel to project sites in Tanzania

Position Information

Employment category: Grade H, level 1

Reporting to: Community Based Protection Team Leader

Technical line manager: Protection Manager

Direct reports: N/A

Unit/department: Protection

Location: Kasulu/Kigoma

Providing equal opportunities We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, age, ability, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other factor. At DRC we celebrate diversity and appreciate our employees for the people they are and their unique skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.

DRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff within its programs. As such, we strongly encourage national and diaspora candidates to apply for this position. However, candidates should take into consideration that DRC cannot employ, under an international contract, a national of the country in which he or she will be working (in this case, the United Republic of Tanzania)

Promoting high standards : DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.