Protection and Referral Specialist

About the role

The IRC is leading the ReSET Programme (Pillar 1, Lifesaving Assistance) in Uganda, which supports the most vulnerable refugees and host communities through cash-first, protection-linked assistance. The Protection and Referral Specialist provides technical leadership for the integrated protection component of ReSET Pillar One and for the referral system connecting cash, protection, essential services and Pillar Two. Based in Adjumani, the specialist lines Protection Officers in Nakivale, Yumbe and Kiryandongo, leads IRC's protection work in Adjumani and the wider West Nile area, and oversees consortium partners (TPO Uganda, UGANET and RELON).

Key responsibilities

• Lead the design, delivery and quality of protection and referral activities across all target settlements, and supervise Protection Officers and partner teams.
• Ensure protection screening, case management (GBV, child protection, general protection), MHPSS and legal assistance referrals meet global and national standards and ReSET SOPs.
• Lead the dual-entry client journey: a protection-sensitive vulnerability assessment for the cash pathway and protection screening for the protection pathway, with protection on the targeting panel.
• Provide technical leadership for survivor-centred GBV case management, child protection (including unaccompanied and separated children) and access to community-based MHPSS and legal assistance.
• Lead the design and maintenance of the referral system and the transition pathways to self-reliance opportunities.
• Manage protection risks and feed into adaptive management, and contribute to proposals, donor reporting and programme learning.