About DRC
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental and non-profit organization, founded in 1956, that works in more than 35 countries around the world. DRC is one of the largest protection actors in Kenya, actively coordinating and advocating for improving the protective environment for refugees and host communities. DRC implements Protection monitoring, Child Protection and GBV prevention and response programmes in its areas of operation to address protection issues faced by displaced and non-displaced at-risk groups and individuals. The programme also aims to identify and build synergies with DRC´s Economic Recovery sector to facilitate durable solutions and Humanitarian Disarmament & Peace Building activities to enhance to respond to the needs of communities affected by acute crisis as well as those in protracted displacement situations.
Overall purpose of the role:
The Protection Coordinator is technically responsible for ensuring quality protection programming and is the overall country level technical lead within the protection sector. The Protection Coordinator has the overall responsibility for providing technical and programmatic support for DRC and partners protection activities in the DRC areas of operations in Kenya. The role will include leading country level protection analysis, strategy development and implementation, providing protection sectoral technical instructon and support, technical line supervision responsibilities for protection staff and interventions that contain protection, throughout the programme / project cycle; ensure quality protection sectoral programming and compliance with protection sector standards, including leading monitoring and evaluation efforts, staff capacity building and training, development of protection tools, and development of protection related advocacy messages using evidence. The role will also support in the localization processes and strategy.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Protection sectoral technical responsibility
- Lead protection analysis efforts, the development and implementation of the country level protection strategy.
- Technically responsible for the overall protection portfolio and ensuring AGDM in protection activities.
- Oversee and lead the development, harmonisation and rollout of internal protection related tools, Standard Operating Procedures, policies, and guidelines related to DRC’s protection interventions.
- Act as a reference point for other sectors’ colleagues for Protection Mainstreaming
Technical Supervision
- Technically supervise protection managers and team leaders and provide technical advice and guidance to protection staff.
- Responsible for participating in human resource processes including the recruitment of protection sectoral technical staff in country and setting performance objectives and performance appraisals for protection managers and team leaders.
- Responsible for identifying protection sectoral technical gaps and establishing capacity building plans for protection sectoral staff.
- Work closely with relevant protection staff in the development and delivery of capacity building efforts.
- Provide regular technical support and guidance to protection teams and other relevant staff in both a structured and on a case-by-case basis.
Protection programme development, quality assurance and oversight
- Maintain oversight of overall protection programme implementation, including budgets and indicators, in close collaboration with Head of Program, Area managers, Protection Team Leads and Project Managers.
- Participate in programme / project review meetings, including grant opening, grant review and close out meetings.
- Review and update of technical approaches, protection SOPs.
- In collaboration with the PIM/Advocacy specialist develop protection monitoring reports, and review protection monitoring tools on an annual basis or as needed.
- Lead the revision of tools and SOPs for the current case management system.
- Support program teams to review current referral mechanisms to link beneficiaries, particularly vulnerable individuals and groups, to services, through service mapping, referral workshops, and SOPs;
- Provide regular technical trainings and capacity building to protection staff, partners, and on key DRC protection concerns and product solutions.
- Coordinate with other sectors to move towards integration of protection programs wherever possible or mainstreaming of protection within other sectors where integration is not available.
- Ensure protection mainstreaming including review of all programming approaches, SOPs and tools, and staff capacity development.
- Organize and facilitate regular Protection team meetings across subsectors and field offices for knowledge sharing, peer support and quality improvement.
- Coordinate with MEAL to support the development of MEAL tools, and accountability systems, including incorporation of feedback mechanisms for staff and beneficiaries, into program;
- Oversee compilation of project related internal and external reports and communication
Coordination and Advocacy
- Regular coordination and liaison with UNHCR Protection unit and/or other Protection partners and government authorities at country level.
- Collaborate with relevant internal and external technical experts on issues related to relevant sector.
- Represent DRC at relevant protection coordination meetings.
- Actively participate in internal coordination meetings.
- Along with Advocacy/PIM specialist, develop monthly protection monitoring reports for external circulation. With clear and targeted recommendations for different audiences. for
- Support training on protection advocacy for local civil society and other local stakeholders.
- Lead the development of protection advocacy strategies and plans.
Project development
- Contribute to and coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of Protection related programming to secure follow on or expansion funding for the protection portfolio as per identified needs and in a standardized manner across programmes.
- Lead on proposal design, including activity design and budgeting, along with protection leads, where needed. Sign-off on all project proposals and budgets (related to protection activities)
- Perform any other relevant tasks as requested by Line Manager.
Experience and Technical Competence
- Significant knowledge of International Human Rights Law, particularly with Refugee Law and of Durable Solutions.
- Minimum 7 years’ experience implementing and developing Protection programs in displacement contexts
- Experience of Protection as well as Child Protection and GBV programming, Case Management and Gender.
- Experience in Protection Information Management systems and tools
- Experience in international humanitarian work, advocacy and policy development at national level, and of high level representation.
- Experience of preparing a protection programming strategies and advocacy strategies for a complex programme covering multiple sites.
- Experience in coordinating and standardizing approaches across a multi-site programme.
- Experience of integrating protection with other sectors’ programming.
- Experience providing remote technical guidance and developing training to suit a variety of audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct trainings on protection and human rights topics, including staff training.
- Experience with MEAL tools.
Education
- Master’s degree in social science, Law or humanitarian aid
Key stakeholders:
- UN Agencies, coordination bodies
- Government authorities and institutions
- Partners
- Persons of Concern
- DRC Staff
- Donors
About you:
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:
- Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
- Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
- Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
- Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
- Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.
Conditions
- Contract: One-year contract with possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance. Salary and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment.
- Availability: April 2026
- Duty station: DRC Country Office, Nairobi
How to apply
Application and CV:
- Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered.
- DRC only accepts applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. Please remember to upload both a letter of application and your CV and do not attach any written recommendations.
- Please submit your application and CV in English on our website no later than 1st April, 2026
Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In light of this**, Female candidates and those from minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply.**
Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, color, race, marital status or other protected characteristics.
DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process. Visit drc.ngo to read more about what we do to secure robust safeguarding mechanisms.
If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport.
More Information
- Job City Kenya
