City: Buea Posted: 13-Apr-2026
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
Context / Introduction to the IRC
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a non-political, non-profit, non-religious humanitarian organization serving refugees worldwide. The IRC implements programs to promote sustainable solutions for displaced persons, refugees, and host communities through health, sanitation, shelter, rehabilitation, and education projects. IRC has been serving refugees since 1933 and is present in 40 countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as through a resettlement support program in the United States. IRC is an organization committed to freedom, human dignity, and self-reliance. This commitment translates into well-planned resettlement assistance, global emergency aid, rehabilitation, and advocacy for refugees.
IRC began operations in Cameroon in 2016 to respond to the growing concerns of people affected by Boko Haram-related violence in the Far North region of the country. Assistance to displaced populations extends throughout the Far North, particularly in Diamaré, Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga, and Logone & Chari through the field office in Maroua. IRC implements programs to increase access to water and improve hygiene practices in vulnerable displaced and host communities, as well as cash transfer programs to enable economically disadvantaged families to meet basic needs and improve food security. This includes both education and child protection services to address children's learning and safety needs and priorities. IRC also offers protection programs to combat gender-based violence against women and girls and to support victims of human rights violations.
Following the escalating crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, IRC expanded its operations in the South-West region in 2018 and in the North-West in 2019. IRC provides vital humanitarian assistance to internally displaced populations, with field bases in Mamfe and Bamenda.
Job Overview / Summary
Under the supervision of the protection project manager, the Protection Officer is responsible for overseeing and supervising the effective and high-quality implementation of protection interventions (GBV, PRoL and child protection) in the targeted sites in response to the current humanitarian crisis.
He/she will oversee the proper implementation of protection activities (child protection, PRoL and GBV) in collaboration with the implementing partner and ensure that people in difficult situations (displaced persons, returnees, and vulnerable indigenous populations) in the intervention zones have equitable access to protection services, and that community protection structures receive adequate training to ensure continuity and adherence to the principle of protection through the implementing partner.
He/she is responsible for ensuring/establishing the local relationships essential to enable acceptance and understanding of the intervention by the community and local authorities. The position will be based in Mamfe and requires a high level of dedication given the security context.
Main responsibilities
1. Planning and implementation of protection activities including child and women protection activities in collaboration with IRC partners.
In collaboration with implementing partners, ensure the planning of activities on a weekly and monthly basis;
Actively participate in conducting protection needs assessments and identifying risks related to the protection of children and women;
Implement psychosocial activities for children and adults in the various locations identified for the project;
Conduct training and provide technical support to local actors in the field of protection (child and women's protection);
Actively participate in identifying the technical needs of each sector for each partner.
Develop a capacity-building plan for partners and monitor its implementation.
Design and/or deliver formal training modules and/or provide support to trainers in different sectors.
Be responsible for documentation and the effective distribution of documents produced at the end of training courses.
Provide technical support to partners in the implementation of all project approaches (psychosocial support for children and adults, SAFE, Parenting, CBO, Girlshine, IDTR approaches, etc.).
Ensure the distribution of dignity kits for vulnerable women and adolescents
Support local actors in setting up mechanisms to prevent and respond to violence and abuse against children and women
Provide training for local structures, including (CBO, protection committees, community leaders, and local chiefs, on topics covered by the project
Ensure that community structures (CBO, protection committees, community leaders) carry out their tasks in relation to the project
Organize workshops on the development of protection risk plans for women and children and support them
Train community facilitators and partners on the SAFE, Girlshine, and Parenting approaches
Monitor the implementation of SAFE, Girlshine, and Parenting sessions by partners.
Establish referral mechanisms to meet the needs of children and women.
Lead community mobilization activities by raising awareness among the various actors involved in the protection of children and women.
Ensure seamless collaboration with local authorities and community leaders to establish a community protection strategy
Ensure regular quantitative and qualitative monitoring of activities implemented under the program.
Ensure seamless collaboration with local authorities and community leaders to implement a community protection strategy
Ensure regular quantitative and qualitative monitoring of activities implemented under the program;
Ensure that the Minimum Standards on GBV and Child Protection in Humanitarian Action and any other standards relevant to the sector of intervention are respected, in particular standards relating to separated or unaccompanied children and children associated with armed groups and forces;
Ensure that children and all beneficiaries are involved in all activities, including consulting them regularly and proactively in the field, and ensure the quality of interventions.
2. Reporting, monitoring, integrated approach
Plan and conduct field visits to monitor the quality of protection activities within projects and support partners;
Produce periodic reports (weekly, monthly, etc.) and ensure that they are sent regularly and on time to the project manager;
Contribute to the collection of monitoring and evaluation data to support the development of project proposals in the child protection sector;
Produce activity reports (weekly, monthly, etc.) presenting the results achieved, best practices, and lessons learned from the intervention.
Ensure the timely collection of quality protection monitoring data necessary for protection risk analysis.
Support communities in an effective community action plan process for protection.
3. Representation and Communication
Actively participate, and sometimes in a leadership role, in meetings, report writing, minutes, and responding to external requests for information;
Actively participate in protection coordination forums (CP AoR, GBV AoR, Protection Cluster, etc.);
Organize meetings with other organizations and international agencies working in the field of protection (GBV and child protection) to ensure the provision of holistic services to survivors.
Directly or by supervising other staff, draft and, if necessary, distribute minutes of meetings, whether internal to the program, the IRC, or external. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
Conduct regular field visits to monitor, coach, and supervise teams.
Ensure the timely collection, analysis, and transmission of required qualitative and quantitative data, in collaboration with the MEAL team.
Verify and validate contractual deliverables from implementing partners prior to any payment.
4. Integration and Development within the team
Maintain positive and professional relationships with team members;
