WORK CONTEXT: CESVI is an independent Italian humanitarian organisation, founded in Bergamo in 1985. It works in Italy and around the world to support the most vulnerable people, promoting human rights and helping to build pathways to sustainable development. CESVI implements integrated protection programs in Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.
JOB DESCRIPTION: Reporting to CESVI Global Protection Advisor, the Protection Specialist provides technical and managerial support, quality assurance, mentoring, and assistance with the supervision of protection programs. The collaboration will start in September 2026. The position, based at HQ or working remotely, supports General Protection, Child Protection, and Gender-Based Violence programs, with a particular focus on case management, Cash for Protection, psychosocial support, Psychological First Aid, community-based protection, and referral pathways. This is a multi-country role covering Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe, involving frequent field missions – at least 30% of the time – to provide technical support to country teams and partners, particularly women-led organizations.
Key Responsibilities: Support the design and implementation of integrated General Protection, Child Protection, and GBV programs, including prevention of and response to violence against children, PSS, referrals, and GBV risk mitigation; support country Protection Managers in applying global guidelines and tools for case management, ensuring compliance with SOPs, confidentiality, informed consent, ethical standards, and secure data management; develop and adapt guidelines, SOPs, and tools to ensure safe and high-quality protection activities; strengthen quality standards for Cash for Protection processes, including eligibility criteria, documentation, risk analysis, and follow-up; provide training, coaching, and mentoring to country teams; support needs assessments and protection risk analyses; promote protection mainstreaming and integration with Health, Shelter/NFI, WASH, Livelihoods, and Climate Change; coordinate with the Protection Manager, Protection Officer, and IM team and participate in technical groups and coordination forums; support proposals, monitoring tools, workplans, and M&E plans, and contribute to meeting minutes, donor reports, dashboards, and thematic reports; comply with CESVI policies on Safeguarding and PSEAH as well as specific standards for GBV and Child Protection.
Essential Requirements: Bachelor's or master's degree in social sciences, law, international development, gender studies, or a related field; at least 3 years of professional experience in the protection sector; at least 3 years of experience with international NGOs or the UN in contexts involving displacement, refugees, and/or complex emergencies, in a mid-level position; demonstrated experience in case management related to GBV, child protection, or protection in humanitarian contexts; experience coordinating with and supporting national/local authorities and humanitarian coordination forums; experience in capacity building and facilitating training sessions and workshops; excellent analytical and reporting skills; ability to work under pressure, independently, and with minimal supervision; excellent interpersonal and communication skills; excellent written and spoken English and Spanish. Desirable: experience in emergency settings; working knowledge of other official UN languages.
Contract duration: 6 months, renewable. Salary range: € 2.400 - € 2.600 gross per month. Insurance coverage provided. Job code: 29_PROT SPECIALIST.
SAFEGUARDING: CESVI has a zero-tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a child or a vulnerable adult by any of our staff, related persons or partners. Safeguarding checks, including criminal record checks, are part of the selection process. CESVI also carries out a health suitability assessment by its Occupational Doctor before departure on mission.
Closing date: 23/08/2026
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply online via the CESVI vacancy page (job code 29_PROT SPECIALIST). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, therefore early applications are strongly encouraged. Due to the high volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates contacted for an initial interview will be updated on the status of their application.
https://cesvi.org/jobs/protection-specialist/