Protection Officer: Integrating Dignity and Safety in Humanitarian Programming
Championing Protection Principles in Deep Field Operations
In displacement settings, ensuring the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of affected populations is not an ancillary task—it is the moral cornerstone of humanitarian response. This Protection Officer role is critically important, serving as the functional link between humanitarian principles and on-the-ground program implementation across all sectors (Health, Nutrition, FSL). The successful candidate will play a central role in mitigating harm, actively identifying the most vulnerable individuals, and establishing safe mechanisms for access and accountability in Monguno, where needs remain acute.
Job Summary
The Protection Officer is responsible for the direct execution, monitoring, and quality assurance of protection mainstreaming and community outreach activities across PUI’s programs in Monguno. Working under the direct supervision of the Protection Supervisor, this role is tasked with ensuring all interventions are delivered safely, uphold the rights of beneficiaries, and specifically enhance the inclusion of marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities. The incumbent will strengthen community knowledge of services while simultaneously building PUI’s acceptance and trust within the community.
Why This Role Matters
This position is vital for shifting the focus from simply delivering aid to ensuring that aid is delivered responsibly and ethically. By embedding protection principles (such as minimizing risk, maximizing participation, and promoting accountability) into health and nutrition services, this role prevents unintended harm and guarantees that the most excluded voices are heard. It transforms program design from a general provision of goods and services into a targeted, dignity-affirming process.
Key Responsibilities and Deliverables
I. Protection Mainstreaming and Capacity Building
- Design, deliver, and document comprehensive capacity-building initiatives and training sessions focused on protection themes (including Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence, confidentiality of protection data, and mainstreaming) for Community Outreach Workers (COWs).
- Conduct specific training and workshops for Health and Nutrition personnel to ensure the systematic integration of protection principles and social cohesion concepts into their daily operational routines.
- Support the development of tailored training materials, guidance documents, and tools necessary for field teams to effectively mainstream protection into their daily work.
II. Community Outreach and Case Management
- Drive effective community engagement and feedback mechanisms through close contact and structured outreach activities to incorporate community input into program planning and design.
- Lead the development of key protective messages and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, ensuring their wide and appropriate dissemination throughout the community.
- Proactively identify, internally and externally refer, and follow up on protection and urgent cases to ensure timely access to appropriate support from PUI’s Health, Food Security & Livelihoods (FSL), and Nutrition teams, as well as external partners.
- Organize and lead awareness-raising sessions, community meetings, and workshops aimed at increasing community knowledge of their rights and available services.
III. Inclusive Programming and Compliance
- Develop, implement, and monitor specific strategies to ensure the inclusivity and accessibility of all PUI services for marginalized populations, including women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
- Ensure protection considerations are consistently integrated into all PUI programs at the field level and that all related concerns are addressed promptly and effectively.
- Collaborate closely with PUI program teams to pre-emptively identify and address potential protection risks that may arise from project activities.
IV. Monitoring, Reporting, and Coordination
- Supervise and coordinate the activities of Community Outreach Workers (COWs), including monitoring their work plans, tracking progress toward targets, and ensuring timely submission of collected data.
- Collect, analyze, and manage sensitive protection-related data (including household surveys, FGDs, training feedback, and case referrals), storing it securely in a dedicated database.
- Work closely with the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) team to develop appropriate indicators and tools for tracking protection outcomes within multi-sectoral programs.
- Act as PUI’s representative in meetings, community events, and with external stakeholders (including community leaders and Bulamas) to build relationships and ensure coordination of community interventions.
Essential Skills and Qualifications
Education and Experience
- A university degree (Bachelor’s level) in Social Work, Psychology, Law, International Development, or a related discipline.
- Minimum of two (2) to five (5) years of professional work experience, preferably in the field of humanitarian protection, community engagement, or social service provision.
Core Competencies and Attributes
- Proven ability to design and deliver effective capacity-building and training sessions for field staff.
- Strong knowledge of international protection principles, referral pathways, and best practices for protection mainstreaming, including specific knowledge of CP and GBV.
- Excellent ability to gather, analyze, and document sensitive data, ensuring strict confidentiality and ethical data storage.
- Demonstrated experience in supervising and coordinating field-level community workers.
- Exceptional communication, liaison, and diplomatic skills for building effective relationships with both beneficiaries and external stakeholders.
- High proficiency in using tablets and ensuring technology is operational for daily data collection.
- Fluency in relevant local languages spoken in Monguno is highly advantageous.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary and Contract Details
The gross monthly salary for this full-time role is ₦520,524. The contract is offered as a Full-time position.
Benefits of Applying
By joining PUI, you will be part of a dynamic, non-political, and non-religious international organization committed to emergency relief and human dignity. This role offers the chance to deepen your expertise in protection case management, multi-sectoral integration, and community engagement in a challenging yet deeply rewarding environment. You will receive competitive compensation and gain valuable experience in a humanitarian context that is currently expanding its reach in Northwest Nigeria.
About Première Urgence Internationale (PUI)
Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) is an independent international aid organization dedicated to supporting civilians worldwide who are victims of marginalization, exclusion, or catastrophic events like war and natural disasters. Our mission is centered on providing swift emergency relief to help uprooted people stabilize their lives, regain their dignity, and eventually achieve self-sufficiency. Since establishing a presence in Nigeria in 2016 in Borno State, PUI has strategically expanded its operational footprint into hard-to-reach areas like Monguno and Pulka, and recently initiated programming in Katsina State, demonstrating a sustained commitment to meeting acute fundamental needs in marginalized communities.
Application Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Monguno, Borno State |
| Employment Type | Full-time |
| Salary | ₦520,524 per month |
| Application Deadline | 21st December 2025 |
| How to Apply | Interested and qualified candidates should apply via the link below. |
| Application Link | Click here to apply online |
Tips for a Successful Application
- Focus on Mainstreaming: Use your cover letter to detail specific examples of how you have successfully integrated protection principles into non-protection sectors (like Health or FSL) in previous roles.
- Detail Case Management: Clearly describe your experience with ethical identification, internal/external referral, and follow-up of vulnerable protection cases, highlighting your adherence to confidentiality.
- Demonstrate Outreach: Provide evidence of your ability to effectively train and supervise field teams (like COWs) and conduct community awareness campaigns.
- Emphasize Dignity and Rights: Frame your experience around upholding beneficiary rights and promoting the inclusion of marginalized groups, as this is central to PUI’s mandate.
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