Assessment Specialist – Protection

We are currently looking for a Specialist to lead the Protection portfolio in HQ.

Title: Assessment Specialist – Protection

Location: Geneva with travel (up to 25% field deployment)

Contract duration: Open-ended

Start date: October 2022

POSITION PROFILE

Under the direct supervision of the Accountability & Inclusion Manager, the Protection Specialist will support the development of research in areas pertaining to protection, including Child Protection, Gender-based violence and mine action, as well as research adopting a conflict sensitivity lens of analysis. The Protection Assessment Specialist will also be tasked with reviewing internal research guidance and training material on data collection with vulnerable individuals in order to ensure that the material is fully aligned with global standards and guidance. The Protection Assessment Specialist will also engage with protection partners at the Global level in order to foster the use of REACH data and, in turn, ensure REACH protection indicators are fit for purpose.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Accountability and Inclusion Manager, the Protection Assessment Specialist will perform the following functions and responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development of the REACH Accountability & Inclusion Strategy through supporting ongoing efforts aimed at reviewing past and present research practices, methodologies and deliverables, identifying areas of improvement and outlining practical solutions ;
• Provide bilateral support to REACH country teams that are developing quantitative and qualitative modules with a focus on Protection, including initial brainstorming sessions, review of research Terms of Reference and tools, technical advice during data collection, and output review.
• Build capacity of REACH staff on Protection-specific data collection and on protection mainstreaming across intersectoral and sectoral research cycles through the regular sharing of best research practices, including through facilitating protection-focused discussions as part of the Accountability and Inclusion Community of Practice.
• Support the Accountability & Inclusion Unit Manager or country teams in fundraising for new research projects focused on protection or with a strong protection mainstreaming strategy.
• Represent REACH in relevant protection forums, including the Global Protection Cluster and its Assessment and Information Working Group, the Global Child Protection AOR, the Global GBV AOR, and the IASC Taskforce 1 on the Centrality of Protection, including through :
  • Technical support to Global Cluster and AORs in the development or revision of sectoral assessment toolkits and guidance ;
  • Tailored presentation of findings emerging from REACH protection research in various contexts and participation in joint analysis along with other protection actors ;
  • Develop partnerships with operational agencies that implement strong protection programming in order to promote the use of REACH data by operational end users ;
• Identify avenues of formal collaboration / joint fundraising with protection actors at Global level or at country level, with a focus on developing frameworks of partnership that would be conducive to system change.

In collaboration with the Accountability & Inclusion Research Manager, complete the following functions to support the running of the Accountability & Inclusion unit as required/requested:

• Ad hoc direct support to country teams (both remote and up to 25% field deployment)
• Support in external engagement, identification of new partnerships and advocacy
• Support in internal unit processes and systems.
• Other support as is requested

REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent academic qualifications, including Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. development,

humanitarian studies, international relations, research methods, social sciences)

• At least 3 years of experience in the humanitarian sector, with protection-focused assignments, including field-based roles

• Experience with promoting and mainstreaming do no harm / protection principles in humanitarian programming

• Experience with designing and implementing quantitative and/or qualitative primary research, and familiarity with the Protection Analytical Framework (PAF)

• Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting

• Excellent interpersonal skills, include strong external engagement and coordination skills

• Familiarity with the humanitarian system and global humanitarian policy frameworks, in particular the

Grand Bargain Participation Revolution, IASC Commitments on AAP, and related policies

• Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility

• A self-starter with proven ability to work independently

• Fluency in English required; proficiency in French or a second relevant language an asset

• Ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel and Project Management Software

• Ability to operate Stata, R, SPSS, or related statistical programming an asset