Protection Project Officer

Background:

CARE International has worked in Iraq since the beginning of the humanitarian crisis in 1991. CARE International reopened its programming in Iraq in 2014 after a military offensive in Ninewa, which displaced hundreds of thousands of people into the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Together with local partners, CARE delivered humanitarian and development assistance to the most vulnerable populations.

CARE is registered with both the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi Federal Government.

Operating in Basra, Ninewa, Duhok, Salahaddin, and Anbar, CARE collaborates with local organizations to strengthen their capacities and implement transformative programs. These efforts align with CARE’s global theory of change, which emphasizes building individual agency, reshaping relationships, and transforming structures to create sustainable and inclusive development outcomes. Through this approach, CARE ensures that its interventions address root causes, empower communities, and promote systemic change for long-term stability and resilience.

Job Summary:

The Project Officer – PSS and Engagement of Men and Boys will support the implementation of CARE Iraq’s protection activities of Stronger Together  project funded by GIZ in Mosul, with a focus on Psychosocial Support (PSS) and transformative engagement of men and boys. The role aims to strengthen community-based protection mechanisms, promote positive masculinity, reduce gender-based violence (GBV), take action to transform oppressive gender norms, and promote gender equality and support affected populations through structured PSS interventions.

The Project Officer will ensure quality, timely, and safe delivery of activities, working closely with communities, local partners, and internal teams. The position requires strong field engagement, facilitation skills,  understanding of protection principles and local context

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

1. PSS and Engagement of Men and Boys Activities

• Plan and implement Psychosocial Support (PSS) and engagement activities for men and boys in line with CARE methodologies and protection standards.

• Provide technical support for the development of PSS materials for men and women mixed group sessions.
• Facilitate group sessions combining PSS and behavior change approaches, including stress management, emotional regulation, positive coping strategies, and dialogue on gender norms.
• Facilitate GBV and Safeguarding training session to the mentees and mentors as apart of mentorship program.
• Provide Phycological first aid (PFA) and basic PSS support to individuals when needed.

• Identify cases requiring specialized interventions and ensure safe and confidential referrals through established pathways.

• Facilitate reflection sessions on power dynamics, gender relations and expectations men and boys face (masculinities)

• Promote positive masculinity by engaging men and boys in discussions on gender equality, non-violence, shared responsibilities, and respectful relationships.

• Deliver structured awareness sessions addressing mental health, GBV prevention, and harmful social norms.
• Support the formation and follow-up of peer groups, male champions, and community influencers to sustain behavior change.
• Implement EMB campaigns, social events, tea gatherings to promote peer solidarity and positive masculinity.
• Support the facilitation of capacity building sessions for stakeholders and local actors related to GBV case management, prevention and relevant topics.
• Ensure all activities are safe, inclusive, culturally appropriate, and accessible to at-risk groupsgroup.
• Other responsibilities and tasks to be assigned by line manager.

2. Community Mobilization and Outreach

• Build and maintain relationships with community leaders, men’s groups, youth networks, and volunteers.
• Conduct outreach activities to increase participation in PSS and engagement sessions.
• Support community-based protection and social cohesion initiatives.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

• Collect and report data on participation, outcomes, and impact of integrated activities.
• Gather participants feedback and support accountability mechanisms.
• Document lessons learned, challenges and success stories related to PSS and behavior change.

4. Coordination and Reporting

• Coordinate closely with other programs, and MEAL teams to ensure integrated programming.

• Coordinate with the local authorities and other service providers in Mosul.

• Prepare timely activity and progress reports.
• Participate in internal and external coordination meetings.

Key contacts and collaborators:
Internal: Protection Coordinator, senior Technical advisers, head of programs. MEAL Team, Field Officers and Community Mobilizers , Security Team, Operations (Logistics, Finance, HR)

External: The lotus flower, Local community leaders and committees , Men and boys’ groups and volunteers , Local NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs) , Government stakeholders (e.g., DoLSA, health/social services) , Service providers (mental health, legal, protection actors) , UN agencies and coordination clusters (e.g., Protection/GBV Sub-Cluster)

Staff Risk Management Responsibilities

CARE believes that personal risk management is crucial for staff; however, the risk management cannot be achieved unless each staff member fulfills the following responsibilities. Failure to do so can not only endanger their own safety but also compromise the entire team and organization.

• Maintain Situational Awareness:
• Staff must maintain a high level of situational awareness at all times. This includes being vigilant about their surroundings, recognizing potential threats, and understanding the local context and culture.

• Stay Informed:
• Staff must stay informed about the security situation in their area of operation and avoid complacency. They should promptly read and understand information shared by the organization in relevant communication channels.
• Comply with Protocols:
• Staff must strictly adhere to the risk protocols and guidelines established by their organization. This includes following travel advisories, checking in regularly with designated security contacts, and complying with curfews or movement restrictions.
• Emergency Preparedness:
• Staff must be well-prepared for emergencies by knowing the location and contact details of local emergency services, the nearest hospital, and their organization’s security focal point. They should carry essential emergency supplies, such as first aid kits, communication devices, and personal identification, and participate in regular safety drills and training sessions.
• Maintain Reliable Communication:
• Staff must ensure they have reliable means of communication at all times and keep their phones charged and operational. They should keep the team informed of their whereabouts, especially when traveling or working in the field, and establish check-in routines to confirm their safety regularly.
• Respect Local Norms:
• Staff must understand and respect local customs, traditions, and social norms to avoid unnecessary risks and foster good relations with local communities.

• Additionally, all staff members must:

• Take Reasonable Care:
• Staff must take reasonable care for their personal health, safety, and security and ensure that their actions do not harm other staff members.
• Comply with Instructions and Policies:
• Staff must comply with the orders/instructions of the Risk focal points as required, and adhere to any workplace policy/procedure aimed at increasing the safety of all staff, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as laid out in the Risk Management Plan.
• Ensure Equipment Readiness:
• Staff must ensure that all radios, Track24 units, Satphones, helmets, body armour, trauma/first aid equipment, and any other personal protective equipment and items used in field operations and elsewhere are in a safe and serviceable condition and used in accordance with their operating instructions. All damages must be paid for personally.
• Supervise and Train:
• Supervisors of other staff have a Duty of Care to ensure that their staff are not put at risk and are adequately supervised while performing their work. Managers, supervisors, and staff must ensure that before they, or their staff, work in field-based locations, they receive adequate training in security, field health and safety, and risk management.
• Report Incidents Promptly:
• Staff must promptly notify the Risk focal point of any field/operational Risk, health, safety, and security incidents that occur.

Representation of CARE Mission and Values:

• Actively communicate and promote CARE’s mission, values, and goals to all stakeholders, partners, and the public.
• Utilize CARE’s logo and branding materials appropriately in all professional activities, ensuring donor acknowledgment and visibility.
• Wear the official CARE identification material such as vest, badge and/or pin at all business settings including meetings and events to clearly represent the organization.
• Employees are expected to engage in business related video/photo shoots, interviews, or audio recordings to promote CARE and its projects, enhancing organizational visibility.
• Employees are encouraged to re-share CARE’s social media posts and follow official CARE channels on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to help amplify the organization’s message.
• Ensure the organization’s logo and online presence are used professionally, with misuse potentially leading to disciplinary action.

Promoting Equality, Justice, and Climate Responsibility

Employees at CARE Iraq are expected to embody the organization's core values of equality, justice, and climate responsibility. This includes fostering equity between men and women, promoting climate justice, and embedding these principles into the organizational activities and work culture overall. A key focus internally and externally is on empowering women through leadership opportunities, professional growth, and meaningful participation in decision-making, while addressing workforce imbalances and amplifying women's voices to drive transformative change.

Equally, all employees of CARE Iraq are expected to prioritizes climate responsibility by encouraging sustainable practices, reducing ecological foot print, drive positive environmental impact, and supporting climate-affected communities. Integrating resilience and sustainability into all operations and actions will ensures a just and equitable future.

These principles are central to CARE Iraq’s vision for justice, fairness, and environmental stewardship.

Safeguarding and Ethics:

 At CARE, we recognize our responsibility to promote human dignity and social justice within our organization. At the heart of CARE’s efforts to impact poverty and social justice is our engagement with marginalized communities. We place human dignity at the center of our work. We are aware of the importance of organizational culture and accountability in enabling a safe and supportive environment for programme participants, the communities where we work, our staff, related personnel and our partners.

At CARE, we believe all people have a right to safety and to live their lives free from harm. The Safeguarding Policy is a response to CARE’s commitment and recognition of our responsibilities to protect and safeguard people we work with, and who work for CARE, from any form of abuse, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and child abuse. To find further details about our Safeguarding Policy commitments, please click on this link CARE International Safeguarding Policy - October 2023_EN.pdf

• Languages: Arabic and English.
• Gender: Male candidates are required for this position
• Experience:.Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in protection, PSS, MHPSS, GBV prevention, community mobilization, or engagement of men and boys, preferably with an INGO or local NGO in Iraq, minimum 4 years of extensive experience working in Mosul and Nineveh in general with the communities most affected by crises and marginalized.
• Technical Skills: Good understanding of protection principles, GBV guiding principles, PFA, basic PSS, safe referral pathways, do-no-harm, community engagement, and facilitation of group sessions. Experience in developing or adapting awareness and training materials is desirable , Engaging Men and Boys/EMAP.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work,  or a related field. A relevant diploma or equivalent experience may be considered
•  Computer skills: Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and online communication tools.
• Personal competencies: Respectful, organized, accountable, culturally sensitive, able to maintain confidentiality, and committed to gender equality, safeguarding, and CARE’s values.

If you're interested in this role, kindly apply via Protection Project Officer | Jobs at CARE International in Iraq by 19th June 2026 at the latest. Regrettably, applications received after this date will not be considered.

Notes:

-Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

-Due to the urgent nature of this role, CARE may review applications and initiate recruitment prior to the application deadline.

-For any inquiries regarding this position, please contact CARE Iraq HR Manager through nmirza@care.de