The hostilities in Gaza has had a widespread and deep impact on the capacity to deliver planned protection programming including much needed specialized services. The protection needs are vast, the humanitarian space for operating is extremely limited and unpredictable and movement constraints (for reasons of insecurity as well as logistical reasons – blocked roads, lack of fuel and vehicles) are enormous. With the fact that close to 80% of the population is displaced, and given the above mentioned challenges in context, many protection partners, including partners of different AoRs, are not functioning at all or have very limited operations. Mapping of active partners has itself been challenging as a result of frequent communication blackouts and a general lack of connectivity, alongside a fluid situation that sees people and organizations that are functioning one week, displaced and non-operational the next. That said, The IRC, in close collaboration with the Global Protection Cluster (GPC) and the Protection Cluster (PC) for oPt, have jointly planned and designed an immediate protection response model that provides a much-needed flexibility to respond to acute protection risks in Gaza in light of the above-mentioned challenges. The Emergency Protection Responder (ERP) model is designed to enable the protection capacity that does exist in Gaza to be activated in a flexible manner that can support the population and engage with the humanitarian operations more effectively. Therefore, EPRs may be traditional protection actors or frontline actors working across sectors, who are empowered to provide time-critical and live saving interventions and general protection support embedded across services. This frontline protection response can be delivered in EPRs current locations and in locations served by mobile teams once conditions permit increased movement on the ground. Under the supervision of the Deputy Director for Programs (DDP), the technical support from the regional TAs, and with support and oversight from the Protection Cluster, the Protection Network Coordinator is responsible for technical support, coordination, and standard setting among interagency emergency protection responders. The Protection Network Coordinator will work, support and coordinate closely with the Protection Cluster Coordinators and focal points to provide day–to-day operational and technical collaboration and share up-to-date information on any changes in the context, responders or situation, coordinate the process of deploying the emergency protection responders’ model, and contribute to responses provided by the network.
Responsibilities Coordination• Identify life-saving service provision and distribution points and maintain up-to-date lists of service points in Gaza.• Maintain and expand the roster of emergency protection responders, agencies and contact details.• Update a list of local contacts and community networks with relevant protection and MHPSS experience or trainings.• Keep disaggregated data of community networks including gender, area of expertise, trainings, and location.• Coordinate with frontline actors and sector specific coordination mechanisms to map out available services, locations, and access. Ensure mapping is updated regularly and accessible by actors providing frontline assistance.• Observe and stay abreast of developments and changes in services / activities, access, partners and population served and inform the EPRs accordingly.• Engage with EPRs to understand and communicate constraints in access or difficulty linking with service points and agree with the PC and the EPRs on alternative plans.• In coordination with frontline actors, identify and analyze protection risks, patterns, frequency, and impacts on the population keeping the Protection Cluster abreast with both qualitative and quantitative data through weekly or ad/hoc reporting that inform decisions at new or existing coordination fora (ICCG, JHOC etc).• Leveraging existing local capacities, prioritize and promote actions to reduce the impact of protection risks on clients and prevent further harm.• Coordinate with the EPRs in non-protection service points to support mitigate barriers to the inclusion of all populations.• Proactively monitor the situation, identify gaps in protection service delivery and approach non-network actors to support deploying EPRs in their service points.• Receive requests for support in service points and actively coordinate the process of deploying EPRs in accordance with needs and partners capacity.• Participate in assessment visits to existing or new reception sites in coordination with the Protection Cluster. • Coordinate closely with EPRs to ensure the timely implementation of action plans and advise on further adjustments of work plans or approaches based on changes and needs.• Work closely, and in coordinated manner, with the IRC integrated protection coordinator, to harmonize interventions and ensure that the IRC and its partners are also active members of the EPR’s network.• Coordinate with other IRC sector leads to participate in the network either through IRC directly implemented programs, or through their active partners. Technical Backstop• In coordination with GPC Coordinators and IRC technical advisors, develop minimum service package, tiered support, and guidelines for frontline protection response and protection mainstreaming, including time-bound deliverables and timeframe.• Set clear and realistic expectations for doable protection services in light of existing capacity. • Proactively identify modalities to roll out tools and guidelines to frontline protection responders, and creative opportunities for remote and / or in-person technical support, coaching, and capacity building.• Locally assess existing capacities and provide or channel support when required and available.• Closely work with the PC and identified EPRs to develop context-specific action plans for EPRs that are realistic and build on needs assessments, feedback and partners capacity.• Support frontline protection responders to identify and appropriately implement protection mainstreaming actions in routine activities and in the surrounding environment.• Advise on concrete and actionable steps to ensure that humanitarian aid is safely accessible, accountable, and does not expose clients to further harm while ensuring their meaningful participation. • In close coordination with PC Coordinators, and network organizations, support contextualization and roll out of protection tools designed by the Protection Cluster  to identify and analyze protection risks and impacts on IDPs.  • Propose recommendations for the emergency protection responders, based on protection analysis and observations, consultations, and other inputs shared by emergency protection responders and other actors.• Closely monitor the situation on the ground and asses the needs and changes that may require shifting response delivery from the minimum package to the enhanced one. Representation and Participation• Take an active role in the protection cluster meetings representing IRC and the work they do through this inter-agency role and provide regular updates to the cluster members on key achievements and challenges.• Advocate for the expansion of the network members and establish mailing lists and clear communication channels for members of the cluster, and other clusters, for inquiries, requests, feedback or expression of interest. • Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key collaborators including government actors, donors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, community networks and other relevant actors to lobby support and mobilize resources efficiently. Business Development and Strategy• Advocate for and demonstrate the centrality of protection and the criticality of frontline protection response to support Protection Cluster efforts to this direction  and within IRC business processes. Take part in strategy development exercises and ensure that national protection coordination priorities are reflected within IRC’s country strategy as appropriate.Information Management, Reporting and Learning• Ensure that ethical and sound data collection and information management systems are in place for appropriate analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy.• Ensure that achievements are accurately reported internally within IRC and externally utilizing existing national reporting mechanisms and tools (ex. 4Ws, dashboard, etc.) under Protection Cluster.• In collaboration with the PC, support the conduction of learning exercises to inform adjustments and further development. Professional Standards• Ensure that inclusion, protection, and environmental stewardship are mainstreamed in EPRs work plans and deliverables.• Promptly report concerns or incidents to senior management to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs.• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.• Adhere to the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies as a requirement of the IRC.• Foster IRC’s Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion initiative for effective and quality program delivery. Qualifications • 6-9 years of professional experience in the management and coordination of relevant protection programs in emergencies (child protection, GBV or general protection).• Experience in inter-agency protection coordination at national or sub-national levels.• Strong knowledge of technical tools, resources, and standards related to protection programing, including protection mainstreaming, in emergencies and post-conflict settings. • Competency in coordinating protection interventions and working with a pool of different actors at the field level.• Demonstrated competency in the provision of integrated protection programs across multi-sectoral interventions and strong abilities in clearly communicating protection-related topics and concepts to non-protection audience. • Demonstrated experience developing technical standards, training materials and facilitating workshops and training for protection and non-protection actors.• Skills and competencies in navigating the protection landscape locally and communicating ideas, concepts and objectives eloquently and evidently to non-protection actors.• Genuine interest in and commitment to collaborating with local and national NGOs and government partners in emergency programs.  • Strong verbal communication skills and effective in representation and liaison with external actors • Capable of applying skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including partner-led implementation, coordination, training, and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to external actors including community representatives. • Previous experience in the national context. • Fluency in English. Arabic language skills are highly desirable and preferred.• This position is open for nationals and expats. National candidates are highly encouraged to apply.