gender and protection officer at Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) - MY NGO JOBS

GENDER AND PROTECTION OFFICER

The Opportunity: Driving Principled Reintegration and Equity

In communities recovering from protracted conflict, the systematic integration of gender and protection measures is not merely a formality—it is a moral and operational imperative for achieving lasting peace. This role is crucial for ensuring that reconciliation and reintegration efforts in Yobe State are safe, equitable, and do not inadvertently expose vulnerable groups to further harm. By technically leading the application of global standards, the Officer will directly contribute to safeguarding marginalized individuals, empowering women, and fostering sustainable, inclusive development outcomes that uphold humanitarian principles.

Job Summary

Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is seeking a dedicated Gender and Protection Officer to be based in Potiskum, Yobe State. This specialist will be responsible for translating international protection and gender equality standards (IASC Guidelines, SPHERE Standards, DNH) into tangible, actionable measures across all project components, ensuring the successful and sensitive reintegration and reconciliation of former combatants and their affected communities.

What Skills Are Needed: Core Protection and Mainstreaming Competencies

Competency	Description
Technical Protection Expertise	Strong foundational knowledge of protection principles, gender-based violence (GBV) risk mitigation, and established referral pathways in humanitarian settings.
Capacity Strengthening	Proven ability to design and deliver targeted training, conduct on-the-job mentoring, and translate complex policies into practical actions for field teams.
Conflict Sensitivity	Expertise in applying the Do No Harm (DNH) approach and conflict analysis to project design and implementation to minimize negative community impacts.
Accountability (AAP)	Experience in establishing and managing community consultation, information provision, and gender-sensitive Complaints and Feedback Mechanisms (CFMs).
Reporting & Analysis	Skill in conducting gender and protection risk analyses and preparing comprehensive technical reports based on qualitative and quantitative field data.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables

The Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator to ensure that protection and gender are central to every stage of the project cycle.

1. Protection and Gender Mainstreaming Leadership

Serve as the technical lead for embedding protection minimum standards, humanitarian principles, and a gendered lens across all project activities, in line with UNDP and COOPI policies.
Ensure that all beneficiary identification, verification, and service distribution processes are age- and gender-sensitive, actively promoting the equal and meaningful participation of women, men, and marginalized groups.
Implement specific, targeted protection and gender integration activities based on identified community priorities and needs.

2. Capacity Building and Program Quality Assurance

Design and facilitate internal capacity-building sessions for project staff on protection, GBV prevention, and gender-sensitive service delivery to enhance internal knowledge and quality of implementation.
Lead the delivery of social and behavioral change communication (SBCC) components related to gender equality and protection risks, including awareness-raising on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).
Ensure rigorous compliance with data protection and privacy protocols for all sensitive beneficiary information collected in the field.

3. Monitoring, Analysis, and Accountability (AAP)

Conduct regular protection risk assessments and in-depth gender analyses, using data from the field to proactively identify potential program gaps and advise the Project Coordinator on necessary mitigation measures.
Support the design, implementation, and management of the community Complaints and Feedback Mechanism, ensuring it is accessible and responsive in a gender-sensitive manner.
Contribute to comprehensive project reporting, including submitting protection monitoring scorecards, safety audits, and detailed monthly progress reports on gender indicators.

4. Partnership and Conflict Sensitivity

Establish and maintain effective collaborative relationships with the Protection, GBV, and Child Protection Clusters, relevant Working Groups, and key external stakeholders at the state level.
Apply conflict analysis to understand local dynamics (dividers and connectors) and act upon this understanding in program implementation to promote sustainable peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts.
Document barriers faced by vulnerable groups (e.g., people with disabilities, women-headed households) in accessing assistance and propose appropriate project adjustments for inclusion.

Professional Qualifications and Experience

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Humanitarian Studies, or a related relevant field.

Experience

A minimum of four (4) years of progressive professional experience in gender programming, safeguarding, protection, or GBV-focused intervention within humanitarian or development contexts.
Proven experience applying international standards, such as the SPHERE Standards, IASC Guidelines, and Do No Harm (DNH) principles, in field operations.
Experience working directly with rural communities and engaging in complex reintegration/reconciliation programming, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

Skills & Attributes

Strong understanding of gender justice, women’s rights principles, and power analysis methodologies.
Exceptional facilitation, training, and team capacity-building skills.
Fluency in English is required; knowledge of local languages (Hausa/Kanuri) is a significant advantage.
Willingness to travel frequently to deep-field rural communities in challenging operating environments.

Benefits of Applying

COOPI offers a stimulating environment focused on humanitarian impact and principled action:

Competitive Salary: Compensation is competitive and commensurate with the senior technical and operational demands of this field-based role in Yobe State.
High-Impact Program: Opportunity to contribute to a critical UNDP/EU-funded project focused on sustainable peace and community reconciliation.
Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in protection analysis, conflict sensitivity, and accountability mechanisms within a high-risk environment.
Inclusive Culture: Join an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all staff.

About the Organization (Cooperazione Internazionale – COOPI)

Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) is a leading humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in Italy, dedicated to supporting vulnerable communities globally to enhance their resilience. Our mission focuses on integrated programming, specializing in climate-smart agricultural productivity, disaster emergency response, protection, and peacebuilding initiatives. We are committed to empowering communities not just through aid, but through sustainable practices, innovative solutions, and localized capacity building efforts. COOPI prides itself on strict adherence to humanitarian principles and fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.

Application Details

Detail	Information
Location	Potiskum, Yobe State, Nigeria
Employment Type	Full-Time Contract
Salary Expectation	Competitive
Application Closing Date	24th December, 2025

Method of Application

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their application, consisting of a CV and a cover letter detailing their relevant qualifications and experience, via the designated online application link.

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Tips for Applicants

Contextualize Your Experience: In your cover letter, specifically detail your experience in reconciliation or reintegration programs and how you applied Conflict Sensitivity (Do No Harm) principles in a Nigerian context.
Highlight Practical Application: Do not just list your knowledge of IASC or SPHERE; provide a concrete example of a protection risk you identified in the field and the tangible mitigation measures you successfully implemented.
Demonstrate Training Skill: Quantify your experience in capacity building by stating how many personnel or community members you have successfully trained on PSEA, GBV referral, or gender mainstreaming.