Role purpose: The Protection Officer (PO) will support Front Line Defender’s work with indigenous groups, human rights defenders from rural communities and minority groups in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The Protection Officer will work in close coordination with the Protection Coordinator for East and Southern Africa and will also provide support to other relevant staff across Front Line Defender’s programme areas in relation to our work in the region, particularly with regards to in-country workshops and visits. This position is a fixed term position for 18 months, and based in one of the countries covered by the project (Kenya, Tanzania or Uganda). The Protection Officer will be responsible for mapping and supporting the development of Front Line Defenders' contacts with minority groups and indigenous peoples’ rights defenders in the region, undertaking research on the threats and attacks that they face, providing analysis and producing relevant materials to take action in their support, and inputting into all other programmes and activities specific to the countries assigned. Some travel within the three countries are envisioned for this role, as well as to Ireland for institutional meetings. The Protection Officer reports to the Protection Manager for the region, and accountable to the Protection Team and colleagues who work in East Africa.
Download full role profile here.
Team purpose: The Protection Team, through Protection Coordinators and Managers, drive the organisation’s strategic priorities on behalf of HRDs in each of the countries/regions. The Protection Team is primarily responsible for Front Line Defenders’ outreach to human rights defenders (HRDs) at risk, managing and nurturing these crucial relationships through their presence in all the world regions. The team coordinates and directs the protection work in the countries/regions, and hold the strategic overview of the various context and trends. The team is responsible for undertaking rapid advocacy actions (urgent appeals, statements and other advocacy submissions and initiatives) and directing, coordinating and supporting the various holistic protection responses (advocacy, digital, security, visibility, well-being, rest and respite, relocation and grant-making) via close collaboration with the various teams. The Protection Team is also responsible for conducting research on HRD protection trends (annual Global Analysis) and for the secure and accurate recording and storing of HRD related data.
Key responsibilities:
Protection Programming
• Connect with human rights defenders at risk, in particular indigenous peoples’ rights defenders and minority groups, and establish and sustain secure communications with them
• Maintain and update the relevant information on human rights defenders and action taken on their behalf on Front Line Defenders' database and submit timely reports on missions and other activities
• Support the grants team on applications, including verification of applications, follow up, and ongoing collaboration with the Africa grants coordinator and the Protection Coordinator for East and Southern Africa
• Liaise and coordinate with relevant human rights organisations for referral of cases and/or collaboration on protection work.
Research and Advocacy
• Undertake or collaborate on research on protection related issues, in particular collective protection and indigenous peoples rights defenders in East Africa
• Provide analysis and briefing papers on the threats faced by minority groups and indigenous peoples’ rights defenders in specific countries
• Collaborate on learning papers concerning the situation of indigenous peoples’ rights defenders in East Africa
External Representation
• Liaise with relevant regional and national networks and coalitions with regard to Front Line Defenders' work for the protection of human rights defenders in the region
Internal Collaboration and Communications
• Close daily collaboration and workload prioritization with the Protection Coordinator for East and Southern Africa
• Collaboration with the Visibility team for opportunities to bring visibility to indigenous HRDs in the region, and also with Advocacy team
• Collaboration with Digital Security Coordinator and Security Advisor to coordinate workshops and activities in the three countries
Finances and Funding
• Support the MEL and Fundraising Team to complete timely reporting requirements of funders such as evaluations and reports
Administrative and Logistics
• Dealing with queries and correspondence with human rights defenders
• Inputting HRD-related information on the Front Line Defenders' database;
• Providing support to staff across other programme areas in relation to activities in the region, including the organisation of and follow-up on training and field missions
• Carrying out administrative tasks, including the taking of minutes in meetings
Person Specification:
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Ability to work well with a wide range of people from different cultures, backgrounds and experiences, with empathy and clear boundaries
• Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a team
• At least some knowledge of key practices and trends in the area of protection for human rights defenders, in particular indigenous peoples’ rights defenders and/or collective protection
• Knowledge of key human rights trends in the region and their impact on human rights defenders and their movements
• Ability to demonstrate a nuanced understanding of contexts in which local HRD communities operate
Desirable
• Direct experience with collective protection accompaniment and/or risk assessment with indigenous groups and/or rural communities
Experience:
Essential:
• At least 3 years of experience working with human rights organisations
• Experience coordinating with human rights defenders located in rural areas and/or in marginalised locations
• Experience liaising with indigenous groups in East Africa, and a strong understanding of the challenges and risks these communities face
• Experience coordinating with national and local coalitions and/or networks
• Experience with drafting reports, conducting research and any other tasks where analytical writing skills are required
Desirable:
• Experience with managing collaborative projects inside organisations and with external partners
• Experience in organising national and international workshops and external activities
Location:
The location of the post will be finalised with the successful candidate. However, please note that the selected candidate for this role must be based and is legally permitted to work in one of the three countries covered by the project (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda). The successful candidate must be able to travel within the three countries, as well as to Ireland for institutional meetings.
Compensation and Benefits:
The annual salary for the post is €36,340. The post holder is responsible for complying with relevant tax and other legal requirements in their country of residence.
Benefits include: 21 days of annual leave per year, contribution to a pension scheme and towards healthcare expenses, life insurance and income protection schemes, employee assistance programme and well-being support.
How to Apply:
Applications (CV and a cover letter) should be sent in one PDF file and addressed to Ivi Oliveira, Protection Manager at recruit@frontlinedefenders.org
Please indicate the FULL title of the position (i.e. Protection Officer, East Africa) in the subject heading of the email. Please note that due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The closing date for applications is by 9am (GMT) on 24 February 2022. The successful candidate is expected to start by 01 April 2022.
Front Line Defenders is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
