Protection Officer (GBV Response) job at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Overall Purpose of the Role

The Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response Officer is responsible for providing quality frontline services to GBV survivors and vulnerable women and girls through survivor-centred case management and psychosocial support (PSS) interventions within DRC’s programme in Fashoda. The position ensures the delivery of safe, confidential, and technically sound GBV response services, including appropriate referrals, while promoting the integration of GBV response activities across humanitarian programmes.

The GBV Response Officer will provide technical supervision and support to GBV case workers and outreach teams, contribute to capacity-building of staff and partners, and lead initiatives that strengthen Gender, Equity, and Social Inclusion (GESI) within DRC programming and staff practices. The role also represents DRC in relevant GBV coordination mechanisms and forums, ensuring alignment with national and international standards and best practices.

Key Responsibilities

1. Case Management and Direct Service Delivery

Supervise and provide technical support to GBV case workers to ensure the provision of safe, confidential, and survivor-centred case management services for adult survivors of GBV, including counselling and basic case management.

Oversee case management processes, including:

• Needs assessment
• Development of action plans
• Implementation of action plans
• Follow-up and monitoring
• Case closure when appropriate

Support case workers to provide specialized and age-appropriate case management services for adolescent and girl child survivors, ensuring:

• Age-appropriate engagement and decision-making
• Application of Do No Harm principles and risk analysis

Lead the design and implementation of specialized group-based emotional support interventions for vulnerable women and girls, with particular focus on survivors of GBV.

2. Capacity Building and Mentorship

Develop and lead training sessions for staff and partners on:

• GBV case management
• Guiding principles and survivor-centred care
• GBV response and preparedness
• Clinical Care for Sexual Assault Survivors (CCSAS)

Provide ongoing mentorship and coaching to the GBV outreach team on a weekly basis.

Support case workers to plan and conduct community outreach and awareness activities, including at health facilities.

Promote a positive team spirit and constructive working environment among DRC staff.

Work with stakeholders to ensure survivors have safe, confidential, and timely access to GBV response services.

3. Coordination and Representation

Ensure adherence to established GBV referral pathways and protocols.

Assess gaps in GBV prevention and response services in Malakal, Kodok, and Kaka, and support appropriate response planning.

Represent DRC in GBV-related coordination meetings and forums, including the GBV Sub-Cluster/Working Group.

Facilitate community-based GBV coordination meetings and other response-related platforms as required.

Maintain strong working relationships and coordination with partners, relevant authorities, and DRC sector teams.

Develop and implement monthly outreach plans based on case trends and the evolving needs of women and girls.

Strengthen coordination with GBV focal points in hospitals and health facilities and ensure collaboration with health facility staff.

Ensure outreach, awareness raising, and mentorship activities are conducted in compliance with DRC policies and delivered in a timely manner.

4. Monitoring, Reporting, and Information Management

Ensure ethical and safe data collection practices and maintain effective GBV information management systems, including GBVIMS, in accordance with standards and confidentiality protocols.

Prepare and submit weekly, monthly, and quarterly work plans in a timely manner, incorporating feedback from the line manager.

Compile monthly activity reports and submit them to the Protection Specialist or Protection Team Leader.

Ensure all required financial documentation is accurately completed and submitted in line with DRC finance policies and procedures.

Experience and Technical Competencies

Essential

• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in community-based protection programming, including training, human rights, GBV response, or protection monitoring.
• Strong understanding of human rights and protection principles.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultural, gender, and social backgrounds.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills with ability to contribute to results.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and coordination skills.

Desirable

• Demonstrated commitment to human rights and protection principles.
• Familiarity with customary laws, judiciary systems, and legal developments in South Sudan.
• Previous experience conducting and supervising trainings at different scales and with diverse partners.
• Strong relationship-building and facilitation skills.
• Training background in basic protection and human rights.
• Positive attitude and strong initiative.

Education

Higher Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Law, or a related field.

Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and email applications.

• Supervise and provide technical support to GBV case workers to ensure the provision of safe, confidential, and survivor-centred case management services for adult survivors of GBV, including counselling and basic case management.
• Oversee case management processes, including: Needs assessment, Development of action plans, Implementation of action plans, Follow-up and monitoring, Case closure when appropriate
• Support case workers to provide specialized and age-appropriate case management services for adolescent and girl child survivors, ensuring: Age-appropriate engagement and decision-making, Application of Do No Harm principles and risk analysis
• Lead the design and implementation of specialized group-based emotional support interventions for vulnerable women and girls, with particular focus on survivors of GBV.
• Develop and lead training sessions for staff and partners on: GBV case management, Guiding principles and survivor-centred care, GBV response and preparedness, Clinical Care for Sexual Assault Survivors (CCSAS)
• Provide ongoing mentorship and coaching to the GBV outreach team on a weekly basis.
• Support case workers to plan and conduct community outreach and awareness activities, including at health facilities.
• Promote a positive team spirit and constructive working environment among DRC staff.
• Work with stakeholders to ensure survivors have safe, confidential, and timely access to GBV response services.
• Ensure adherence to established GBV referral pathways and protocols.
• Assess gaps in GBV prevention and response services in Malakal, Kodok, and Kaka, and support appropriate response planning.
• Represent DRC in GBV-related coordination meetings and forums, including the GBV Sub-Cluster/Working Group.
• Facilitate community-based GBV coordination meetings and other response-related platforms as required.
• Maintain strong working relationships and coordination with partners, relevant authorities, and DRC sector teams.
• Develop and implement monthly outreach plans based on case trends and the evolving needs of women and girls.
• Strengthen coordination with GBV focal points in hospitals and health facilities and ensure collaboration with health facility staff.
• Ensure outreach, awareness raising, and mentorship activities are conducted in compliance with DRC policies and delivered in a timely manner.
• Ensure ethical and safe data collection practices and maintain effective GBV information management systems, including GBVIMS, in accordance with standards and confidentiality protocols.
• Prepare and submit weekly, monthly, and quarterly work plans in a timely manner, incorporating feedback from the line manager.
• Compile monthly activity reports and submit them to the Protection Specialist or Protection Team Leader.
• Ensure all required financial documentation is accurately completed and submitted in line with DRC finance policies and procedures.

• Strong understanding of human rights and protection principles.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultural, gender, and social backgrounds.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills with ability to contribute to results.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and coordination skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to human rights and protection principles.
• Strong relationship-building and facilitation skills.
• Positive attitude and strong initiative.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and email applications.

• Higher Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, Law, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in community-based protection programming, including training, human rights, GBV response, or protection monitoring.
• Familiarity with customary laws, judiciary systems, and legal developments in South Sudan.
• Previous experience conducting and supervising trainings at different scales and with diverse partners.
• Training background in basic protection and human rights.