Child Protection Assistant

1. Background

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organization with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees, displaced persons, and other forcibly uprooted people. In Cameroon, JRS implements education, livelihoods, psychosocial support, and protection programs for internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and vulnerable host communities.

In the Northwest Region, communities continue to face insecurity, forced displacement, and heightened protection risks. To respond, JRS seeks to strengthen its protection interventions through accompaniment, direct assistance, community engagement, and advocacy.

2. Purpose of the Position

The Protection Assistant will support the daily implementation of JRS’s protection activities. The role will focus on protection monitoring, community mobilization, case identification and referral, awareness-raising, and ensuring that the dignity and rights of affected people are respected. The Assistant will work under the direct supervision of the Project Director and in close collaboration with JRS’s psychosocial and education teams.

3. Key Responsibilities

Protection Monitoring and Casework

• Conduct regular community visits to identify protection risks, needs, and trends affecting IDPs, returnees, and host communities.
• Support the registration and follow-up of cases of individuals with specific needs, ensuring confidentiality and adherence to JRS safeguarding policies.
• Refer cases to appropriate service providers (health, legal, psychosocial, livelihoods) and follow up on referrals.
• Maintain accurate records of cases, services provided, and feedback received.

Community Engagement and Awareness

• Facilitate community dialogues, awareness-raising sessions, and focus group discussions on protection issues (child protection, GBV, rights awareness, etc.).
• Support the formation and strengthening of community protection groups and focal points.
• Encourage community-based mechanisms to prevent and respond to protection risks.

Coordination and Reporting

• Liaise with local leaders, government authorities, faith-based actors, and humanitarian partners to enhance protection responses.
• Contribute to weekly and monthly activity reports, highlighting key protection issues and trends.
• Participate in inter-agency coordination meetings as delegated.
• Uphold JRS values of accompaniment, service, and advocacy in all interactions with communities and partners.

4. Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, Law, Social Work, Psychology, Development Studies, or related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in humanitarian or development work, preferably in protection, GBV, child protection, or community mobilization.
• Strong knowledge of protection principles, referral pathways, and humanitarian standards.
• Familiarity with the Northwest Region context; fluency in English (written and spoken); knowledge of Pidgin English and/or local languages is an asset.
• Computer literacy (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, data entry tools).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, ability to work with diverse groups, and commitment to JRS’s mission and values.

5. Core Competencies

• Commitment to JRS values: Accompaniment, Service, and Advocacy.
• Respect for diversity and cultural sensitivity.
• Integrity and confidentiality in handling sensitive information.
• Teamwork and collaboration within multicultural teams.
• Strong facilitation and community mobilization skills.

6. Safeguarding and Ethical Standards

JRS has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse, exploitation, or harassment of any kind. The Protection Assistant must commit to safeguarding principles and uphold the rights and dignity of all beneficiaries, especially children and vulnerable adults.