Protection Coordinator

Job Description

Generic Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to colleagues with protection responsibilities and develop relevant protection training, including coaching and mentoring protection staff to ensure they meet NRC’s protection standards. Contribute to the induction of new staff with responsibilities related to protection programming.
• Support the ICLA/Protection Technical Specialist in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of NRC’s Protection Core Competency strategy, approaches, tools, and guidance.
• Provide technical oversight and quality assurance for the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of protection programmes, ensuring alignment with NRC strategies, policies, and humanitarian standards.
• Lead protection monitoring, protection risk analysis, and evidence generation processes to inform programme adaptation, advocacy priorities, and strategic decision-making.
• Strengthen protection mainstreaming and the integration of protection principles across NRC programmes to ensure safe, inclusive, and accountable programming.
• Support the development and rollout of protection methodologies, tools, standard operating procedures, and quality standards to improve programme effectiveness and consistency.
• Represent NRC in relevant protection coordination mechanisms, technical working groups, and external forums, and contribute to inter-agency collaboration, learning, and advocacy initiatives.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with government authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen protection outcomes and coordinated responses.
• Contribute technical inputs to programme development, proposal design, budgeting, donor reporting, assessments, evaluations, and resource mobilization efforts related to protection programming.
• Ensure protection programmes comply with NRC policies, safeguarding and PSEA standards, donor requirements, accountability commitments, and relevant national and international legal and protection frameworks
• Ensure protection programmes comply with NRC policies, safeguarding and PSEA standards, donor requirements, accountability commitments, and relevant national and international legal and protection framework
• Compliance and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures, (if a function role) and a specific responsibility for the functions policies and procedures

Specific responsibilities:

• Support the Protection Technical Specialist in the strategic development, positioning, and growth of NRC’s Protection Core Competency, ensuring alignment with NRC strategies, global guidance, and contextual needs.
• Provide technical guidance, quality assurance, and advisory support to area and programme teams implementing protection activities, ensuring adherence to NRC standards, protection principles, and best practices.
• Lead technical reviews of programme design, implementation approaches, tools, methodologies, and outputs to strengthen programme quality, consistency, and impact.
• Coordinate protection analysis, protection monitoring findings, assessments, research, and learning initiatives to inform programme development, advocacy priorities, and strategic decision-making.
• Support the identification of emerging protection trends, risks, opportunities, and funding priorities, and provide recommendations to strengthen NRC’s protection portfolio and strategic positioning.
• Contribute technical expertise to proposal development, programme design, donor engagement, budgeting processes, and resource mobilization efforts to support the expansion and sustainability of the Protection Core Competency.
• Develop and facilitate capacity-strengthening initiatives, technical trainings, coaching, mentoring, and learning opportunities for NRC staff and partners working on protection-related programming.
• Promote the integration and mainstreaming of protection principles across NRC Core Competencies and support cross-functional collaboration to enhance programme quality and accountability.
• Represent NRC in protection coordination forums, technical working groups, inter-agency platforms, and stakeholder engagements, and contribute to sector-wide learning, policy discussions, and advocacy initiatives.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with government institutions, UN agencies, donors, academic institutions, NGOs, and other stakeholders to strengthen technical collaboration and influence protection outcomes.
• Support the development of technical guidance, standards, tools, position papers, advocacy products, and knowledge-management resources that contribute to the strengthening of NRC’s protection programming.
• Ensure that protection programming is informed by safeguarding, PSEA, accountability to affected populations, gender, age, diversity, and inclusion considerations, in line with NRC policies and commitments.
• Support emergency preparedness, surge responses, and strategic protection initiatives requiring technical expertise and coordination support.
• Any other tasks as delegated by the line manager.
• Undertake additional technical and strategic priorities identified within the Protection Core Competency to support programme quality, innovation, growth, and organizational objectives.
• Any other tasks as delegated by the line managers

Please download the JD – Protection Coordinator Kampala NRC Job Description Generic Template Protection.docx to learn more about the position

Critical interfaces

The Protection Coordinator operates within a highly collaborative environment and maintains regular interfaces with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure quality programme delivery, compliance, and strategic alignment. Internally, the position works closely with the Technical Specialist, MCC Manager, Protection teams, Monitoring and Evaluation, Finance, Human Resources, Logistics, Security, and Grants units to support effective planning, implementation, reporting, budgeting, procurement, staffing, and risk management. The coordinator also collaborates with other NRC Core Competencies, including Protection from Violence, Education, Livelihoods and Food Security, Shelter and Settlements, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, to ensure integrated and holistic responses that address the multiple needs of refugees and vulnerable host communities.

Externally, the role interfaces with government institutions such as the Office of the Prime Minister, Uganda Registration Services Bureau, National Identification and Registration Authority, Uganda Revenue Authority, the Judiciary, Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service, district local governments, and other relevant ministries and agencies. The Coordinator also engages with UN agencies, legal aid providers, refugee-led organizations, civil society partners, donors, and coordination mechanisms, including protection and access to justice working groups. These interfaces are essential to ensuring that Protection programming remains aligned with NRC global strategies, protection standards, legal and policy frameworks, donor requirements, and national response priorities, while strengthening advocacy efforts and expanding access to rights and services for affected populations.

Professional competencies

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Law, Human Rights, Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relations, Refugee and Migration Studies, Social Work, or another relevant field. A postgraduate qualification in a related discipline is an added advantage.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in protection programming within humanitarian, development, or displacement contexts, including experience in a coordination or supervisory role.
• Demonstrated experience in protection programme design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
• Strong understanding of international human rights law, international refugee law, international humanitarian law, protection principles, and accountability to affected populations.
• Experience managing and developing multidisciplinary teams, including performance management, coaching, and capacity strengthening.
• Experience engaging with government institutions, UN agencies, NGOs, community-based organizations, and donor representatives.
• Proven experience in project cycle management, budgeting, grants management, and donor compliance.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent report writing, proposal development, and presentation skills.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.
• Experience working with data management systems and monitoring tools, including case management and programme tracking systems.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work under pressure, and meet deadlines in complex and dynamic operational environments.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and digital collaboration platforms.

Context Related Skills, Knowledge And Experience

• Demonstrated knowledge of the Ugandan refugee response framework, protection architecture, and relevant national legal and policy frameworks.
• Experience coordinating protection interventions, including case management, community-based protection, protection monitoring, protection mainstreaming, referrals, and advocacy.
• Knowledge of protection risks affecting refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, and vulnerable host communities, including women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, and survivors of violence.
• Experience working with community structures, refugee-led organizations, and local authorities to strengthen protection outcomes.
• Ability to analyse protection trends and translate findings into programme improvements, advocacy initiatives, and strategic recommendations.
• Experience representing organizations in protection coordination mechanisms, technical working groups, and inter-agency forums.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and safe programming principles.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and data management systems.
• Ability to work effectively in complex, multicultural, and rapidly changing operational environments while maintaining high professional standards and ethical conduct.

Behavioural competencies

• Handling insecure environment
• Planning and delivering results
• Working with people
• Analysing
• Communication with impact and respect
• Coping with change

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important Information About The Application Process

• Internal candidates only: To apply, log in with your official NRC email address or click on Opportunity Marketplace
• Application is online only; Qualified Ugandan Nationals only.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• We receive many applications for each vacant position, as a result only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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