Position Title: Protection Officer

Duty Station: Burao, Somaliland.

Closing Date: 6th November 2026

Established in 1949, SOS Children’s Villages International is the umbrella organization to which all SOS Children’s Villages operate, including SOS Children’s Villages in Somaliland. SOS Children's Villages is a social development international organization working above 135 countries globally and committed to the welfare of children, often throughout the whole of their childhood, and to strengthening families and communities as a preventive measure in the fight against abandonment and social neglect. With the SOS Children’s Village concept, the organization pioneered a family approach to the long-term care of orphaned and abandoned children. 

SOS Children’s Villages in Somaliland seeks to fill the following position, based in Burao. We seek to recruit a Female Protection Officer for SOS Children’s Villages in Somaliland. She should be able to facilitate the provision and supervision of Protection activities under the emergency program in Somaliland. Key emergency interventions to be supported and supervised by the protection officer include: the Child Friendly Space (CFS), Case Management, GBV services, distribution of dignity kits, capacity building, and Awareness campaigns for target communities.

Priority tasks & responsibilities

Protection: 

v  Support and facilitate protection and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response interventions in drought-affected project sites across Togdheer region and Sool regions.

v  Establish, strengthen, and monitor community-based protection committees in target villages and internally displaced person (IDP) sites.

v  Provide psychosocial support, guidance, counselling, and family support services to vulnerable children, caregivers, and families in need.

v  Conduct regular monitoring and follow-up visits for at-risk children and families to assess their well-being, identify protection concerns, and ensure appropriate support.

v  Facilitate community-based training and awareness-raising sessions on child protection, GBV prevention and response, child rights, advocacy, basic human rights, and safeguarding.

v  Plan and implement needs-based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities for children, caregivers, and communities in target locations.

v  Establish, manage, and facilitate Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) to provide safe, inclusive, and child-centred environments for structured recreational, psychosocial, and developmental activities.

v  Support the identification, registration, assessment, and case management of vulnerable children, GBV survivors, unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), and other individuals at risk, in accordance with established protection standards and confidentiality principles.

v  Develop, strengthen, and maintain protection referral pathways in coordination with relevant government authorities, health facilities, psychosocial service providers, legal aid services, GBV response actors, and other protection partners.

v  Facilitate safe, timely, and confidential referrals for individuals requiring specialized protection, medical, legal, psychosocial, and other essential services, ensuring informed consent and a survivor-centred approach.

v   Conduct protection risk assessments and community-level protection monitoring to identify emerging risks, service gaps, and barriers to accessing essential services in drought-affected communities and IDP sites.

v  Develop information, education, and communication (IEC) materials to support behaviour change communication (BCC), child protection messaging, GBV prevention, and community awareness initiatives.

v  Implement integrated emergency protection activities in target communities and locations in line with project objectives, approved workplans, donor requirements, and established humanitarian protection standards.

v  Organize capacity-building training for community protection committees, community volunteers, caregivers, frontline workers, and other project stakeholders, ensuring training quality and practical application.

v  Promote child participation and community engagement in identifying protection concerns, designing appropriate interventions, and strengthening community-based protection mechanisms.

v  Support family tracing, reunification, and alternative care referrals for unaccompanied and separated children in coordination with relevant authorities and specialized service providers.

v  Promote the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), child safeguarding, and accountability to affected populations across all project activities.

v   Ensure that protection interventions are inclusive and accessible to children, women, persons with disabilities, older persons, and other vulnerable groups.

v  Coordinate with government line ministries, local authorities, community leaders, protection clusters, and humanitarian partners to strengthen service delivery and avoid duplication of assistance.

v  Maintain accurate, confidential, and up-to-date records of protection activities, case management services, referrals, training sessions, and community outreach interventions.

v  Prepare regular activity reports, case management updates, referral tracking reports, and progress reports, highlighting achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations.

v  Support monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) activities, including the collection of protection-related data, feedback from affected communities, and documentation of project results.

v  Identify emerging protection needs and recommend appropriate response measures, including emergency interventions for children and families affected by drought, displacement, and other humanitarian crises.

v  Ensure that all protection and GBV interventions adhere to the principles of do no harm, confidentiality, informed consent, non-discrimination, survivor-centred care, and the best interests of the child

Others

Ü  Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Job Profile

Job title / Position:

Protection Officer (based in Burao)

Must criteria

Ü  A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in any of the following disciplines: Social Work and Social Administration, Social Sciences, Sociology, and Public Health.

Ü  Knowledge of child protection and gender-based violence in emergencies are critical roles.

Ü  Technical Training qualifications in Protection in emergencies are an added advantage for this role

Ü  Knowledge of community-based protection approaches.

Ü  Knowledge of MHPSS.

Ü  3-5 years of experience or more in a related protection job is desirable.

Competencies – knowledge, skills, abilities

Ü  Communication and interpersonal skills.

Ü  Leadership and report writing skills

Ü  Monitoring and evaluation skills

Ü  Good English language skills.

Ü  Keen interest and enthusiasm in working for and with children

Ü  Ability to work with and engage with parents

Ü  Willingness to learn and collaborate with other stakeholders (parents, IDPs, children, child protection committees, other organizations, and local government

Ü  Comply with SOS Children’s Villages in Somaliland child protection policy and code of conduct as well as the inter-agency standards.

Ü  Willingness to move and monitor activities in the different Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) in the respective districts/towns

To apply, indicate the title of the job being applied for in the subject of the e-mail.

Interested applicants should send their applications with a cover letter and scanned copies of academic and professional certificates, indicating telephone numbers and three referees, to: [email protected]. The closing date is 6th November 2026. SOS is an equal employer; only female candidates are encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Safeguarding

Our organization has zero tolerance for abuse, neglect, exploitation, sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), harassment, discrimination, and misconduct. Safeguarding is a mandatory requirement for all staff, consultants, contractors, suppliers, partners, and service providers. All successful applicants and contracted parties must comply with our Child and Youth Safeguarding Policy, PSHEA standards, and Code of Conduct and are subject to appropriate safeguarding, screening, and due diligence. Any safeguarding violation or misconduct may result in withdrawal of an offer or termination of the contract, in accordance with applicable policies and laws.