UGA - Protection Assistant

The Protection Assistant - Moroto, Amudat, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk and Napak.
Summary of the Position
The Protection Assistant will support implementation of Integrated Life Saving Humanitarian Assistance for the Most Vulnerable Communities in Karamoja (ILHA-Karamoja) in the districts of Moroto, Amudat, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk and Napak.
The role focuses on household and community level mobilization and follow up, beneficiary targeting, registration, Gender Equality and Protection sensitizations, providing Psychological First Aid, handling GBV disclosures and making referrals. This will ensure vulnerable households access timely and appropriate support without facing gender inequality risks including exploitation, abuse, or exclusion by demystifying and addressing prevailing negative social gender norms.
The position works closely with community, opinion, traditional and religious leaders, district stakeholders, health workers, NGOs/CBOs and beneficiary households to ensure quality implementation of activities in line with donor and IASC guidelines, Action Against Hunger Standards and Protection Mainstreaming Principles.
Purpose
Support implementation of community gender, protection and cash-related interventions through beneficiary engagement, mobilization and follow up. Conduct gender and protection awareness sessions to ensure safe, dignified, inclusive, timely and appropriate access to and utilization of services cognizant of the gender needs and reasonable accommodation.
Engagement
Work closely with Gender Officer, Project teams, district authorities, local, traditional, opinion and religious leaders, NGOs/CSOs, Financial Service Providers (FSPs), and community structures to support implementation of project activities.
Delivery
Ensure timely mobilization, sensitization and follow up of beneficiaries, while maintaining accurate records, promoting safe programming, accountability, inclusion, gender and protection standards & principles.
Essential Job Duties
Community Mobilization, Gender and Protection Sensitization

Conduct community sensitization and awareness sessions on gender equality referral pathways drought anticipatory action and early response measures.
Promote key gender equality messages ie demystification of negative social norms, positive masculinity, joint decision and alternatives to violence.
Sensitize beneficiaries on appropriate use of cash transfers for food and nutrition security purposes without causing further harm in the household.
Conduct household visits and community follow-up to support addressing negative gender norms, positive masculinity, male engagement to support women’s empowerment journeys and alternatives to violence.

Protection, Gender, Safeguarding and PSEA

Ensure integration of gender, protection and inclusion considerations in all programme activities.
Promote equal representation and participation of women, men, youth, older persons and persons with disabilities.
Ensure confidentiality and proper handling of beneficiary data in line with data protection standards.
Uphold Action Against Hunger safeguarding, anti-fraud and code of conduct policies.
Provide an enabling environment for GBV survivors for appropriate handling of disclosures and make timely referrals to GBV services.
Ensure cash distributions are conducted in safe and accessible locations with respect and dignity, and in line with IASC guidelines and protection mainstreaming principles.
Act as a focal point for beneficiaries to safely report concerns, complaints, or feedback regarding their assistance.
Ensure issues (e.g., fraud, extortion, or exclusion) are documented and reported confidentially and in a timely manner.


Maintain up-to-date mapping of available community services (e.g safety & security, medical, legal aid, psychosocial support).
Identify individuals with specific protection needs and refer them to appropriate case management agencies.


Support implementation of gender and protection processes and activities supporting alignment with wider programme policies and guidelines.

Monitoring, Reporting and Accountability

Maintain accurate beneficiary records, attendance lists and activity reports.
Collect routine field-level disaggregated data (PWDs, sex, age, gender) and submit timely reports to supervisors.
Contribute to daily quality implementation and monitoring of interventions and project evaluation.
Track progress toward goals and shares this information on a regular basis with supervisor
Document and disseminate project successes, lessons learnt, challenges, solutions and recommendations.
Timely consultation, documentation and reports of beneficiary feedback, complaints and protection concerns that supports community access and utilization of feedback and complaints mechanisms.


Assist in participatory needs i.e. Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM) exercises and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to assess if beneficiaries spent the cash safely on nutritious foods and it did not cause further violence or harm in the household.
Work and exchange information with internal counterparts to support effective collaboration, implementation and monitoring of ongoing project activities.

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

Represent and actively participate in Gender/Protection working groups/cluster meetings
Closely coordinate, network and collaborate with local, traditional, religious and opinion leaders, district authorities and NGOs/CSOs during activity implementation including referrals.
Participate in community meetings and support stakeholder engagement activities.
Maintain positive relationships with beneficiaries and ensure respectful engagement with communities.


Work closely with the other program components to maximize program output and impact.

Support to Management Team

Follow up all Action Against Hunger/DAAR procedures for Security, Finance, Logistics, HR and Administration.
Uphold Action Against Hunger’s Code of Conduct, Protection Mainstreaming and IASC principles, Child Protection, Safeguarding, Child Safeguarding, PSEA, Anti-Fraud and Whistleblowing Policies.
Any other tasks that may be assigned from time to time.


Supervisory Responsibilities

No direct supervisory responsibilities.
Provide support to community volunteers and local structures during implementation of activities where applicable.

Gender Equality Commitments

Create and foster an inclusive environment that supports equal participation of women, men, boys and girls inclusive of reasonable accommodation and seeks opportunities to work with people from different backgrounds.
Treat beneficiaries in a respectful and dignified manner regardless of sex, gender, disability, religion, ethnicity, age, education or social status.
Promote respect, dignity, inclusion and protection of vulnerable populations.

Fiscal Responsibility

Support proper accountability of programme materials and supplies used during activities.
Ensure responsible handling of programme resources at field level.

Physical Demands
The position requires extensive movement within communities, frequent household follow up visits and travel to remote locations under challenging field conditions.
Working Conditions, Travel and Environment
The role requires regular travel to hard-to-reach communities within Kotido and may involve working in challenging climatic and security environments.