Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed, and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity, and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure, and wishing to advance on a path of development.

The Protection Officer will be responsible for monitoring protection concerns (rights violations, discrimination, and exclusion) among the Rohingya refugee population in a manner that protects the safety, confidentiality, and dignity of the refugee and host communities. The overall goal of the protection monitoring program is to provide actionable information about the protection environment in Bangladesh for the Rohingya refugees for advocacy and response targeting and to directly facilitate information provision and referrals for vulnerable refugee populations. The Protection Officer will be supervised by the Senior Protection Monitoring Officer.

Quality Program Implementation:

• Ensure data security protocols are in place and followed by all protection monitors to ensure
• that sensitive and identifying information is not shared and that procedures are understood for dealing with security breaches.
• Conduct Mobile Field Visits 4-5 days per week to the camps to meet with persons of concern within the community and identify individuals at risk and humanitarian needs according to the monthly work plan.
• Identify and refer individuals to appropriate service providers with evidence.
• Mobilize, mentor and supervise community volunteers in protection monitoring. Facilitate their monthly honorarium in the field.
• Utilize digital data collection system based on tablets for data collection and uploading; participates in protection monitoring activities in the digital system (ComCare), data cleaning, and regular debriefing and supervision of digital data collection activities.
• Directly translate protection data from Bangla/Chittagonian to English to produce a clear, protection-focused report and translate and follow up on red flag protection-related issues.
• Weekly analyze data and highlight trends and protection needs in reporting to Senior Protection Officer.
• Under the mentorship of the direct supervisor, facilitate one-to-one interviews (KII) and focus group discussions (FGD) with refugees, site management, state actors, and service providers in the field on selected protection concerns.
• Do awareness programs and community engagement on different protection concerns in camp.
• Conduct spot observation in areas where refugees are housed or clustered for inclusion in protection monitoring, using qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Keep records through the digital system (ComCare) of the urgent protection needs identified and the actions taken to assist affected Person of Concern (PoCs).
• Work in emergency situations e.g., cyclone, monsoon, COVID-19 with discussion with Sr. Protection Officers and Manager.
• Assist Sr. Protection Officer and Manager in need of assessment approval and monthly project report to CIC.
• Coordinate with project partner BLAST regarding legal issues of beneficiaries in camp.
• Maintain remote communication with volunteers whenever access to the camp is restricted or during emergencies.
• Work to strengthen IRC’s relationship with refugees, refugee/host community leaders, and municipal actors to maintain good access to PoCs.
• Perform other duties, as needed or requested by the supervisor.
• Coordinate with the security team when needed / in case of emergency/ protection issue.
• Facilitate training in field and report in collaboration with Sr. Protection Officers.
• Coordination and advocacy:
• Dedicatedly develop and maintain effective working relationships with other programs, key partners, including government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors, establishing IRC as one of the leaders in protection.

Major Challenges/Difficulties of this Role:

• Minimum two (2) years of professional experience working ideally in protection or a related field
• Previous experience working with an NGO or INGO required, experience with protection programming preferred
• Good English communication skills both verbal and written
• People who have sound knowledge of Chittagonian dialect and culture will get preference
• Strong understanding of humanitarian protection principles and standards
• Demonstrated organizational, management and reporting skills
• Ability to understand and respond to contextual gender dynamics
• Ability to work well both within a team and independently, strong communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure with competing priorities and deadlines
• Strong problem-solving skills and leadership with ability to be flexible, adaptable, and creative in a challenging and fast-moving multicultural environment
• High standards in written and spoken English and Bangla and Chittagonian is required
• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint

• Bachelor’s degree in related field

• N/A