Program Manager for Protection and MHPSS in Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe

Location: Kyiv, with travels to partner offices and project locations in Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Romania

Period:           1 years, extendable

Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) is a German non-government organization (NGO) that renders humanitarian aid in 31 countries with 13 offices across the world. DKH supports people who are affected by crisis related to natural hazards, war, and displacement and focuses on locally-led responses by working in collaboration with a global network of partner organizations. Fostering localized humanitarian action and a long-term equal partnership approach lies at the very core of our work.

Continuously striving to facilitate mutual learning and capacity exchange, DKH aims to identify innovative and customized programmatic approaches and cooperation models. The organization actively seeks to shift power to local partners and communities through the transfer of decision-making opportunities to directly address their own priorities. DKH is part of the Protestant Agency for Diakonie and Development (EWDE) based in Berlin, Germany.—this statement is the most crucial as it not only outlines the unit/ department where the position is situated and how its objectives and deliverables align with the organization's mission, but also provides a concise overview of the job's role in contributing to and supporting that mission, referencing the expected grade level and key attributes of the employee needed for successful execution of responsibilities.

DKH Ukraine Country Office has been established towards the middle of 2023. Currently DKH Ukraine has seven partner organizations (PO) in Ukraine and seven PO in neighboring countries. While DKH Ukraine is not planning to direct implement humanitarian projects, it wants to ensure that the partner organisations in Ukraine and the neighboring countries have the administrative and technical capacities to implement their projects and programs according to highest quality standards possible. DKH wants to ensure that the humanitarian response in Ukraine and the neighboring countries is meeting expectations in all relevant aspects, that DKH can fully rely on the partner organizations, and an added value becomes visible through the own presence on the ground. 

DKH`s Ukraine working fields are Basic Needs, Shelter, Winterization, Protection/MHPSS, Livelihood, Humanitarian Demining

 DUTIES & RESPONSABILITIES

Setting up Protection Operations 

• Analyzing the current social protection (including MHPSS, child protection, GBV, information dissemination, IPA/referrals) in each country to design the best mechanism for partner’s protection interventions.
• Studying in-country protection risks and related gaps.
• Developing a Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) for protection activities that can be adopted to each country.
• Setting up vulnerability criteria and beneficiary identification system to be contextualized for each country.
• Setting up a data collection, analysis and storage system (using ODK, Kobo or other).
• Integratingdata protection measures into all protection operations.
• Support to Project Coordinators and partners in drafting protection logframes and budgets.
• Depending on program strategy and the needs of partners, planning the protection roll out.
• Providing orientation, customized trainings, and one-on-one mentoring to partner staff on all aspects of planning and running protection operations. 
• Developing a robust monitoring and evaluation system for all protection operations.

 Protection and MHPSS Strategy Planning

• Developing Protection and MHPSS Strategy for the Ukraine crisis region.
• Overseeing that country operations are run in line with the Protection and MHPSS Strategy.
• Following the evolving context, humanitarian needs, and gaps in the region and planning for the longer term of protection and MHPSS programming in the region.
• Represent DKH in Protection cluster and others relevant Working Groups meetings.

Supervision of Protection Operations 

• By working in close collaboration with Project Coordinators and partners, ensuring the Protection and MHPSS Strategy is adapted to the specific context, risks and needs of each country.
• Technically lead Protection and MHPSS needs assessments and identify risks and vulnerabilities, including those related to gender, age, and diversity.
• Supporting Project Coordinators and partners in their management and implementation of protection operations.
• Setting up a system for following the overall progress of protection operations in each country.
• Conducting monitoring visits to countries as needed.
• Providing support in protection related reports, upon request.

 Partner Capacity Support

• In close collaboration with the Сapacity Sharing Coordinator developing a regional partner capacity support program for protection. 
• Monitoring the improvement of partner capacities in protection. 
• Support partners to mainstream protection in their activities through the provision of training.
• Provide MHPSS-related trainings to partner staff and their sub-partners. 
• Coordinating with Project Coordinators, and Сapacity Sharing Coordinator  and partners in identifying the need for additional support for more specialized capacity strengthening of the partner in protection area.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS REQUIRED:

• University degree in social science, law, psychology, or another related field; MA/S or other related advanced degree preferred.
• Understanding of humanitarian principles and practices.
• In-depth knowledge of international protection programming standards in humanitarian contexts, particularly Gender Based Violence, Psychosocial Support, Protection mainstreaming including familiarity with sector standards and best practice approaches.
• Strong technical skills and knowledge about the broad spectrum of methodologies and approaches to MHPSS programmes. 
• Understanding of safeguarding and do-no-harm principles, and how these interact with protection mainstreaming programming and risk mitigation strategies in humanitarian settings.
• Strong interpersonal skills and display evidence of good leadership and influencing skills.
• Ability to interact professionally with culturally and linguistically diverse staff and clients.
• Ukraine, English fluency required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and be comfortable participating both as an effective contributor and a listener in-group setting which include senior staff.
• Well-organized, resourceful, effective, and efficient at coordinating multiple resources to get things done and must have proven track record of successfully working on multiple tasks at once and foresees and plan around obstacles.
• Demonstrated sensitivity in diverse, cross-cultural settings.

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with colleagues, partners, and donors.
• Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner.
• Proactively working with excellent problem-solving skills.
• Excellent coaching and mentoring skills, ability to listen, to organize and to present information, views and concepts in a concise, understandable and interesting way for a variety of audiences, both written and oral.
• Good at facilitation and training skills.
• Experience in communicating in a professional way with donors and other stakeholders in a politically and culturally sensitive environment.
• Team player with outstanding personal attitude: especially sense of responsibility, diplomacy, concern for quality, result orientation. 
• Outstanding personal values: integrity, commitment, respect for diversity, patience, and sense of humour. 

DKH has a zero-tolerance policy on corruption, fraud, and related malpractices. The Program manager in Protection and MHPSS is expected to hold DKH and partners to account, report any suspected case, identify potential risks and ensure required accountability processes are in-place; 

 DKH reserves the right to alter the responsibilities according to programmatic demands and needs in line with the objectives of the country programme.

To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three professional references to  [email protected]. Please indicate "Program Manager for Protection and MHPSS" in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until 23 of August, 2024.

DKH Ukraine is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.