Protection & Inclusion Coordinator

HelpAge – delivering real impact for older people

HelpAge International works with partners and a diverse global network of more than 150 organizations across 85 countries, supporting millions of older people to live safe, dignified and healthy lives. Through our partnership and collaborations, we work to ensure the inclusion of older people across society and strive to deliver a just and fair world for everyone, whatever their age. Our work is driven by our desire to deliver real impact for older people, to be inclusive, to work in partnership and to learn from our shared experience.

HelpAge International (HAI) has been present in Ukraine since 2014 with a total workforce of +250 people including staff and volunteers/contractors.   As one of the few INGOs with an operational presence in Ukraine, we were able to respond quickly to the current Ukraine crisis with initial life-saving activities in the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions and are scaling up assistance in the Central and Western Regions of Ukraine.  Our response plan includes cash assistance, food distributions, NFI distribution/ health and dignity kits, WASH, Protection and Mental Health and Psychosocial First Aid. 

We are seeking passionate, talented candidates for several roles to further strengthen our country team.  

Key areas for impact/influence and responsibilities:

The Protection and Inclusion Coordinator, working closely with the Regional MHPSS and Protection Adviser, will implement the HAI protection program for the conflict-affected older people delivered through mainly protection-based interventions in the Eastern and Western Regions of Ukraine.  They will also be responsible for the protection programme scheduling, tracking of progress, overseeing the HelpAge Referral Case Management system and providing timely progress reports.

Protection and Inclusion (70%):

• Lead on and promote the inclusion of older people agenda with humanitarian agencies and other stakeholders in the local level.
• Facilitate the establishment of defined protection/inclusion activities in the supported project areas in coordination with the Project Officers and the Programme Lead, Area Manager. 
• Promote contextualization, development and dissemination of age and disability-sensitive tools and methodologies for humanitarian action at oblast level to relevant sectors and mechanisms.
• Support HelpAge staff capacity development to engage in evidence-based advocacy on Field level.
• Lead and provide capacity building and trainings of the HAI staff, Local and International NGOs, Governmental representatives etc. on the defined protection agenda of older people.
• With the Programme Lead and Area Manager develop and support the process and documentation of cases of main protection/inclusion related needs among the most vulnerable older people in the area of operations.
• Develop relevant local policy agenda in consultation/coordination with local social welfare departments, institutions and community based older people managed groups with support from Area Manager.
• Represent HelpAge International in any sector working groups like protection cluster meetings at field levels and other relevant clusters to ensure that vulnerable older people’s and those with disabilities situation and needs are raised and properly addressed.
• Gives Support to ADTWG Coordinator in providing regular ADTWG meetings.

 Referral Support (30%):

• Ensure that the HelpAge “Referral” mechanism is followed, and that both inward and outward referral support requests are monitored and reported on.
• Participate in inter-agency Referral meetings.
• Working closely with all programme staff navigate, compromise, and negotiate successful tracking and coordination of referrals.
• Conducting trainings on referral procedures for volunteers and Project Assistants. Providing all necessary technical support. 
• Assemble information concerning beneficiaries’ background and referral needs. Per referral guidelines, provide appropriate information to relevant outside specialists
• Contact review organizations to ensure prior approval requirements are met
• Review details and expectations about the referral with beneficiaries
• Assist beneficiaries in problem solving potential issues related to the health care system, financial or social barriers (e.g., request interpreters as appropriate, transportation services or prescription assistance).
• Identify and utilize cultural and community resources. Establish and maintain relationships with identified service providers. 
• Ensure that referrals are addressed in a timely manner. 
• Line manage and develop the Referral Officer

 Other

• Undertake any other duties assigned by line manager. 

Let's talk about you

You will be someone with:  

Essential

• Ability to develop and manage protection programmes at field level in an emergency context
• Knowledge and understanding of development and implementation of needs assessment, participatory tools and processes, research and data collection activities, including data analysis
• Knowledge and understanding of protection issues in emergency context, including the issues of social marginalisation of vulnerable people, and the willingness and ability to develop deeper understanding of these issues
• Proven ability to learn quickly and open to feedback
• Experience of community mobilization
• Ability to capacity build a range of actors including at senior level
• Excellent team working skills, able to work flexibly and adjust work plan and priorities in response to external opportunities
• Good facilitation and documentation skills
• Good analytical, negotiating and communication skills, able to influence effectively
• Computer skills, word processing, data management, including internet navigation and various office application
• Ability to distil large amounts of information for a variety of audiences
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish effective working relationships both within and outside the organization
• Good oral and written communication in English, Ukrainian and/or Russian
• Willingness to travel and work in remote field sites

Desirable

• University degree in social policy, social sciences, political science or development studies
• Experience or working knowledge of ageing, disability and the issues facing older people and other vulnerable groups, in particular persons with disability and older people in humanitarian crises.
• Experience of working with partners, especially partner capacity development
• Experience in training development
• Experience of working with humanitarian INGOs/NGOs and UN agencies
• Knowledge and understanding of the humanitarian coordination system, humanitarian principles, the Sphere Standards and humanitarian accountability frameworks

At HelpAge International, we believe in the importance of empowering our people to be change makers and leaders at all levels. We expect our people to embrace and live our values, challenging themselves every day to identify issues that are most important to older persons and their communities, and to make an impact that matters.

In addition, as an HelpAge employee you are expected to:

• Work collaboratively, building mutual trust and respect, with external organizations and partners to achieve our strategic aims and objectives; being accountable for the work you do together
• Adapt to new directions or opportunities arising within the organization and in your work area; being flexible in your role, constantly using the feedback to learn more and evolve further.
• Lead behavioral and cultural change through embracing a supportive, collaborative and highly inclusive environment where everybody feels supported, respected and engaged
• Extend HelpAge’s reach and impact, by creating and identifying new business development opportunities and building relationships with new partners.
• Lead and promote a culture of including the voices of older people across our support, convening and thought leadership roles, in a way that is transformative, empowering and highly inclusive of those marginalized by gender, economic status, disability and other factors of discrimination.

Safeguarding

HelpAge International is committed to safeguarding the communities with which we work, our partners, staff and any others who we come into contact with.

Therefore you will also be responsible for:

• Preventing harm and abuse from our people, operations and programmes, to anyone that encounters our work;
• Reporting all safeguarding incidents you see, hear, hear about or suspect, using our internal reporting mechanism;
• Complying with all safeguarding framework policies and practices
• Completing mandatory training courses relating to our safeguarding policy framework and complying with HR vetting procedures