GENDER AND PROTECTION SECTOR LEAD

Job Summary

CARE Nigeria is seeking a Gender and Protection Sector Lead that will be responsible for establishing and leading CARE’s Gender and Protection portfolio in Northeast Nigeria. The role will provide strategic direction, technical leadership, program quality assurance, and representation with government, UN agencies, donors, and other partners. The position ensures that CARE’s Gender and Protection expertise is adapted to the context and results in high-quality, gender-sensitive, protection-focused interventions across all sectors. The incumbent will also support capacity building, policy influence, advocacy, and learning. The position is based in Maiduguri with frequent travel and reports to the Head of Humanitarian and DRR while working closely with sector specialists, program teams, and the Program Director Gender and Protection encompasses activities aimed at ensuring full respect for the rights of all individuals in line with international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law. This includes addressing gender inequalities, protection risks, and ensuring dignity and safety regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, or background. In crisis settings such as North-East Nigeria—affected by conflict, displacement, gender-based violence (GBV), weakened institutions, and disrupted community systems—CARE plays a critical role in supporting civilians through GBV prevention and response, child protection, and protection of internally displaced persons. CARE’s humanitarian mandate is to meet the immediate needs of crisis-affected populations in ways that also address underlying causes of vulnerability. In line with this, CARE prioritizes women and girls’ empowerment, gender equality, GBV prevention and response, and meaningful engagement of men and boys.

Job Details

SCOPE:

Employment Type: Contract - Full-Time 

Job Status: Nationals only.

Slots: 1

Location: Maiduguri, Borno State.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

Job Responsibility #1: Preparations, Orientation and Priorities Setting

• Compile background information on gender, social relations, GBV, and protection issues affecting the population.
• Gather and disseminate guidance and policies on GBV, protection, and SEA specific to NE Nigeria.
• Set priorities, deliverables, and timelines with senior CO leadership.
• Review CARE systems, structures, HR and administrative policies to ensure gender and protection sensitivity; recommend improvements as needed.
• Establish internal and external networks with staff, partners, coordination bodies, government ministries, local leaders, and GBV/Protection actors.
• Ensure assessments, registries and information systems adhere to GBV and protection principles.
• Review and ensure adherence to PSEA policies and conduct orientations for staff and partners.

Job Responsibility #2: Information, Assessments, Analysis and Monitoring

• Lead gender- and protection-sensitive assessments using sex- and age-disaggregated data (SADD).
• Enhance tools and methodologies to ensure protection mainstreaming in all assessments.
• Assess protection needs of diverse groups—especially women, girls, and vulnerable populations—to inform program design and strategies.

Job Responsibility #3: Program and Strategy Development Support

• Lead development of strategies and technical approaches for gender, protection, and GBV programming across the CO.
• Support proposal development and engage with sector leads, donors, and partners on protection priorities.
• Integrate GBV and protection prevention, mitigation, and response perspectives across all sectors in line with IASC GBV Guidelines and CARE standards.
• Support sectors in establishing mechanisms to monitor progress in protection mainstreaming.
• Provide guidance on establishing safe, confidential, and functional referral systems and feedback/complaints mechanisms.
• Ensure sensitive exploration of GBV/SEA issues and proper follow-up in line with global best practice.
• Review project plans and budgets to ensure adequate resourcing for gender equality and protection outcomes.

Job Responsibility #4: Partnership and Capacity-building

• Conduct orientations and refresher trainings on gender, protection, GBV, and PSEA for staff and partners.
• Deliver specialized technical briefings to teams as required.
• Build capacity of focal points across program, HR, and program support units through ongoing coaching and mentoring.
• Strengthen partnerships with UN Women, UNFPA, UNICEF, peer agencies, and relevant ministries.
• Maintain constructive relationships with donors; develop and share briefs, fact sheets, and updates on Gender/Protection.
• Represent CARE in national and subnational coordination platforms (Protection Sector, GBV Sub-Sector, etc.).
• Conduct capacity gap analyses and recommend actions for improvement.
• Support emergency response capacity strengthening for staff and partners. Provide emergency response related training modules and capacity building (where necessary) directly to staff and partners in Gender and Protection topics.

Job Responsibility #5: Coordination, Advocacy and Learning

• Build alliances with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen Gender and Protection programming.
• Provide technical support to advocacy and communication efforts on protection and GBV issues.
• Prepare and disseminate technical reports internally and externally.
• Represent CARE in technical forums, discussions, and working groups
• Identify, document and share good practices and lessons learned.
• Advise CO leadership on opportunities to expand protection expertise.

Job Responsibility #6: Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and reporting

• Provide technical guidance on MEAL for Gender/GBV and Protection programs.
• Support development of MEAL tools to ensure high-quality data collection, accountability, and learning.
• Support development of multi-sectoral GBV prevention and response guidelines, referral pathways, and reporting mechanisms.
• Conduct field monitoring visits to ensure program quality and operational excellence.
• Analyze and report on progress and outcomes using MEAL tools.
• Guide teams on technical standards for design, reporting, and evaluations (baseline, midline, endline, mid-term review).
• Ensure learning is consolidated and disseminated.

Resource Mobilization

• Contribute to CARE’s fundraising and resource mobilization efforts, including donor engagement and development of high-quality proposals.

Other Responsibilities:

• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Head of Humanitarian & DRR or senior leadership.

Requirements

QUALIFICATION/EXPERIENCE/TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Required

• Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Human Rights, Gender Studies, or International Humanitarian Law.
• 8-10 years of progressive experience leading Gender and Protection programs in humanitarian contexts.
• Proven expertise in strategic Gender/Protection interventions and mainstreaming across sectors.
• Prior experience with INGOs is a strong asset.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office).
• Demonstrated analytical skills in MEAL, data collection, and program evaluation.
• Minimum two years of experience in Protection/GBV programming in medium- to large-scale emergencies.
• Familiarity with humanitarian coordination systems.
• Experience mainstreaming GBV and protection in sectors such as WASH, Shelter, SRH, Livelihoods, or Food Security & Nutrition.
• Proven experience managing protection/GBV-specific projects.
• Experience in training delivery on GBV/protection-sensitive programming.
• Ability to work sensitively and effectively across cultures.
• Knowledge of Hausa, Kanuri, Shuwa, or other local languages (preferred).

Competencies:

• Approachability                                 
• Building Effective Teams
• Action Oriented
• Integrity and Trust
• Drive for Results
• Business Acumen
• Negotiating
• Organizational Agility

NOTE:

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
• CARE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CARE considers all applicants on the basis of merit without prejudice to race, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, colour, national origin, marital status, or veteran status.
• There are individuals who may use CARE’s name and trademark in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job seekers. Please note that CARE will not request for any monetary payments from applicants at any stage of the recruitment process.

Qualified Women and Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

About Company

CARE

https://www.carenigeria.org/

CARE is a global humanitarian and development leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. We are known everywhere for our unshakable commitment to the dignity of people. CARE vision is to seek a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live with dignity and security. Our Mission is to work around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. We put women and girls in the center of our work because we know that we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities. We are strongly inspired and guided by our Core Values of Transformation, Integrity, Excellence, Diversity and Equality. CARE Nigeria was established in Nigeria in April 2017 and has been predominantly operating in the conflict affected Northeast, and in the Northwest. CARE aims to support vulnerable people who are affected by conflict, natural disasters and poverty across four key programming areas: Food and Nutrition Security and Livelihoods, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, a Life Free from Violence (Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response) and Women’s Economic Empowerment through its Flagship ‘Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) approach. Our Commitment to Nigeria people goes beyond our current humanitarian work to exploring and initiating longer-term development programs that address underlying causes of poverty and vulnerability in Nigeria. In collaboration with other stakeholders, we will initiate and support equitable and sustainable development interventions by enabling the underprivileged to realize their potential, exercise their right and strengthen linkages with broader society.