JOB DESCRIPTION

Context

Mali continues to face a deeply complex and multi-dimensional humanitarian crisis. Widespread insecurity, climate-related shocks, displacement, and pockets of food insecurity continue to undermine the resilience of communities and their ability to access basic services. Humanitarian needs remain high. In 2025, 6.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. More than 402,167 people were internally displaced and over 191,000 refugees and asylum seekers had fled to Mali from neighboring countries, marking a significant regional spillover of the Sahel crisis. Despite the scale of the crisis, funding remains low highlighting Mali’s position among the most neglected displacement crises globally.

NRC has been operational in Mali since 2013. With offices in Gao, Menaka, Mopti, and Tombouctou, NRC implements programmes in education, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), Protection from Violence, Information Counseling legal and assistance (ICLA). NRC also leads rapid humanitarian responses to shocks through the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM).

NRC continues to pursue a principled humanitarian approach, strong operational presence, and play a key role in coordination and advocacy on displacement, protection, and humanitarian access. As a principled humanitarian actor that values the role of coordination, NRC will be co-coordinating the Protection Cluster in Mali alongside UNHCR.

Find out more about NRC https://www.nrc.no/  and Watch this short video to see NRC in action https://vimeo.com/736782633

What we are looking for

We are seeking for Protection Cluster Co-Coordinator to join us in Mali and work hand in hand with the UNHCR Coordinator in ensuring coordination of the National Protection Cluster.

In this role, you will be partnering with the Cluster team and protection actors, representing the cluster in key fora, and shaping country-level strategies and humanitarian funding processes such as the Protection Cluster strategy, HNO/HNRP, CERF, and the HCT Centrality of Protection Strategy.

You will ensure strong Protection Information Management systems are in place, foster effective information sharing for analysis, coordination, and advocacy, and provide guidance to field humanitarian actors and partners on response coordination and technical issues.

During the humanitarian reset phase, you will play a pivotal role in galvanizing stakeholders’ strategic involvement to design a coordination architecture that remains visibly anchored on the centrality of protection and promote proactive protection

What you will do

• Facilitate and contribute to Mali’s Protection Cluster needs assessment and analysis, reporting and development/review of strategic, contingency, and response plans, ensuring that these are in line with and contribute to cluster objectives.
• Ensure adequate monitoring and reporting mechanisms are in place to review the progress and outcomes of Protection Cluster activities.
• Ensure that cluster analysis and priorities are adequately reflected in humanitarian country strategies and plans.
• Ensure effective cluster participation and fundraising for priority needs in pooled funding processes
• Develop internal strategic action plan for the Protection Cluster to operationalize Cluster and HNRP strategic objectives, and ensure effective implementation in consultation with partners, sub-clusters, and field clusters.
• Support the development and implementation of a HCT Centrality of Protection Strategy
• Conduct field missions where relevant to strengthen links between national and field level clusters
• Enhance monitoring, tracking, documentation and information exchange on protection concerns between sub-national levels with the national cluster.
• Develop, adapt, and/or contribute to, and disseminate/promote protection tools and guidance among protection partners and across clusters.
• Support the establishment of Protection Information Management (PIM) systems to identify and address field-based protection concerns through state-level clusters and partner organisations.
• Identify key advocacy concerns and consolidate policy positions amongst protection partners
• Liaise with donors to mobilize resources for the joint protection response and update donors onprotection cluster priorities and needs.
• Encourage and promote NGO participation, particularly national partners, in cluster decision- makingthrough protection cluster meetings, Strategic Advisory Group SAG) or Steering Committee, or any other technical working group.
• Implement Effectively the grant (s) funding the Co-coordination function (in accordance with NRC mandatory PCM steps and tools including grant opening, grants review and grant closure)

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position Job Description_ Mali Protection Cluster Co-Coordinator

What you will bring

1. Professional competencies

• Post graduate degree in international law, political sciences, or related field
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience working on protection related issues in humanitarian emergencies,
• including inter-agency work and provision of technical advice to field teams
• Previous experience of working in the protection sector and a clear demonstration of active involvement in the coordination architecture of the protection cluster
• Excellent understanding of protection issues in emergency and displacement situations, detailed knowledge of humanitarian principles, guidelines for humanitarian assistance, and relevant international legal frameworks
• Sound understanding of humanitarian coordination, funding, and leadership mechanisms, as well as experience in working with protection cluster coordination
• Strong leadership, coordination and inter-personal skills, working well both in teams and independently
• Strong analytical, planning and drafting skills
• Excellent advocacy and representation skills including the ability to develop strong interpersonal relationships to facilitate communication within the cluster
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills in French and English

Context/Specific skills, knowledge and experience:

• Previous experience in Mali is an advantage
• Proven ability to live and work in hardship duty stations within a sometimes unstable and stressful local
• environment
• Highly reliable, mature and able to work independently as well as in a team
• Proven communication, interpersonal, representation, and negotiation skills
• Culturally sensitive, with the ability to work within different cultural contexts
• Flexible, creative and co-operative, and a sense of humor is an asset
• Previous experience in Cluster coordination is highly desirable

2. Behavioral competencies

• Planning and delivering results
• Working with people
• Analyzing
• Communicating with impact and respect
• Strategic thinking
• Empowering and building trust
• Managing performance and development
• Influencing
• Transparent and accountable

What we offer

• Duty station:Bamako, Mali
• Contract: 12 months renewable on funding availability
• Salary & benefits: grade 8 on NRC’s salary scale
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.
• Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC https://www.nrc.no/career/what-we-offer/
• Kindly send any questions about the application process to: [email protected]. Applications sent via email will not be accepted. Please check your application status on your NRC application profile.

About Norwegian Refugee Council

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world”s most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.

At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:

• treat everyone with respect and dignity

• contribute to building a safe environment for all

• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)

• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH