Duty Station: One of the following intervention woredas: Mai(t)sebri, Dima, Sheraro, Tahtay-Adyabo, Irob, Gulo-Mekeda, Sanja, Dabat, and Debark

Number of Positions: 9 (one per intervention woreda)

Duration: 12 months

Report To: Project Coordinator

Organization: New Millennium Women Empowerment Organization (NMWEO)

Organizational Profile
1.1 General Information

New Millennium Women Empowerment Organization (NMWEO) is an indigenous, non-governmental, non-profit humanitarian organization established in 2007 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The organization was previously registered at the Ministry of Justice under registration number 3018 and later registered and licensed by the Federal Charities and Societies Agency as an Ethiopian resident’s charity by the Charities and Societal Proclamation No. 621/2009 by registration No. 0539. NMWEO has been re-registered according to the Civil Society Organizations Proclamation No.113/2019 with registration No. 0539.

Vision 

We envision a country in which women and girls have equal opportunity, claim their rights and free from any violence, and become effective social change agents.

Mission

Our mission is to empower Ethiopian women, girls, and youth in economic, political, and social dimensions, and help them unlock their potential in decision-making through capacity building, advocacy, leadership development, and humanitarian intervention programs.

Core Values and Belief

·       Humanity

·       Gender sensitive

·       Accountability

·       Equity

·       Teamwork and Excellence

·       Partnership and networking

Job Purpose

The Protection Officer is responsible for the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of protection activities at woreda level. The Officer will lead the implementation of community-based protection interventions, strengthen community protection committees, facilitate consultations on child and early marriage, support the implementation of community action plans, and oversee the rehabilitation and functioning of the existing Women and Girls Safe Space (WGSS), where applicable.

The Protection Officer will work closely with the Social Worker, community structures, religious leaders, local authorities, and relevant service providers to ensure that protection activities are inclusive, community-led, safe, accountable, and consistent with protection, safeguarding, PSEA, child protection, gender, disability inclusion, and Do No Harm principles.

Key Responsibilities

A.   Protection Programme Coordination

• Lead the day-to-day implementation of protection activities in the assigned woreda.

• Translate project plans and objectives into practical woreda-level implementation plans.

• Ensure activities are implemented according to approved plans, budgets, quality standards, and timelines.

• Coordinate closely with the Project Coordinator on progress, priorities, challenges, and required actions.

• Provide technical supervision and guidance to the Social Worker.

• Maintain effective coordination with relevant government offices, community structures, religious leaders, and other stakeholders.

• Represent the project in relevant woreda-level coordination forums and meetings.

• Identify protection risks, operational challenges, and emerging needs and recommend appropriate responses.

B.   Community-Based Protection and Stakeholder Engagement

• Strengthen community ownership and participation in protection programming.

• Support the establishment, capacity, functionality, and sustainability of community-based protection mechanisms.

• Facilitate meaningful engagement of community leaders, religious leaders, local authorities, women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other relevant groups.

• Promote community-led identification and prioritization of protection concerns and solutions.

• Strengthen collaboration between community structures and formal protection and social service systems.

• Promote locally appropriate prevention and response mechanisms for protection concerns.

C.   Protection Risk Identification and Referral

• Monitor protection risks and trends within the assigned woreda.

• Ensure appropriate identification and referral of individuals requiring specialized protection and other essential services.

• Maintain knowledge of available services and functional referral pathways.

• Promote safe, confidential, informed, and survivor-/person-centered referral practices.

• Coordinate with relevant service providers and government structures to strengthen access to services.

• Ensure urgent protection concerns are appropriately escalated through established mechanisms.

D.   Community Engagement and Prevention

• Lead community engagement approaches aimed at preventing protection risks and harmful practices.

• Facilitate dialogue and collaboration among communities, leaders, authorities, and service providers.

• Promote positive social and behavioral change related to protection, safety, dignity, and rights.

• Support communities to develop and implement locally owned solutions to identified protection concerns.

• Ensure community engagement approaches are conflict-sensitive, inclusive, and culturally appropriate.

E.   Women and Girls Safe Space Oversight

• Provide technical oversight to ensure the existing WGSS is safe, accessible, functional, and responsive to the needs of women and girls.

• Ensure appropriate linkages between WGSS services and relevant protection, health, psychosocial, legal, and other services.

• Monitor the quality and accessibility of services provided through the WGSS.

• Promote confidentiality, dignity, safety, and informed choice for women and girls accessing services.

• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders to address operational and protection concerns affecting the WGSS.

F.    Monitoring, Quality Assurance and Reporting

• Monitor implementation against project objectives, indicators, targets, and quality standards.

• Ensure accurate and timely collection and documentation of project information.

• Work closely with MEAL staff on monitoring, data quality, accountability, feedback, and learning.

• Prepare regular activity and progress reports for the Project Coordinator.

• Document lessons learned, good practices, challenges, and recommendations.

• Ensure protection information is managed securely and confidentially.

G.  Safeguarding, Inclusion and Accountability

• Ensure compliance with organizational policies and humanitarian protection standards.

• Promote gender equality, disability inclusion, child safeguarding, and meaningful participation of vulnerable groups.

• Ensure activities do not expose beneficiaries or communities to additional risks.

• Promote awareness and use of feedback, complaint, and reporting mechanisms.

• Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.

• Immediately report safeguarding, PSEA, and serious protection concerns through established organizational procedures.

H.  Financial and Resource Management

• Support efficient use of project resources at woreda level.

• Ensure activities are implemented within approved budgets and procedures.

• Provide timely information on resource requirements and operational gaps.

• Support proper documentation and accountability for project resources.

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Sociology, Psychology, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Human Rights, Protection, or a related field. A master’s degree is an advantage.

• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in protection, humanitarian programming, child protection, GBV, community-based protection, or related areas.

• Demonstrated experience in community engagement and protection programming.

• Experience working with government authorities, community structures, religious leaders, and service providers.

• Experience in humanitarian or conflict-affected settings is highly desirable.

• Knowledge of protection principles, safeguarding, PSEA, child protection, referral mechanisms, gender equality, disability inclusion, and Do No Harm.

• Strong coordination, facilitation, communication, reporting, and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work independently and effectively in field-based and challenging environments.

Key Expected Results

• The Protection Officer is expected to contribute to:

• Stronger and more functional community-based protection mechanisms.

• Improved community capacity to identify, prevent, and address protection risks.

• Increased engagement of local authorities, community leaders, and religious leaders in protection and prevention.

• Improved access to appropriate protection and referral services.

• Safe, functional, accessible, and responsive WGSS services.

• Meaningful participation of women, girls, children, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

• Timely, quality, and accountable implementation of the project.

• Effective documentation, monitoring, reporting, and learning.

• Compliance with protection, safeguarding, PSEA, and organizational standards.

NMWEO’s Commitment to PSEA
NMWEO has a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. All employees are expected to adhere to high ethical standards and uphold our safeguarding principles.

How To Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV and a cover letter through Ethio jobs no later than August 18, 2026.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Job Requirements The successful candidate should possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Human Rights, Protection, or a related field from a recognized institution. A Master’s Degree in a relevant field is an added advantage. A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in protection, humanitarian programming, child protection, GBV, community-based protection, or related areas is required. How to Apply Apply using the provided link below.