Protection Coordinator

JOB OPPORTUNITY: PROTECTION COORDINATOR (INT11739). One person in three in the world lives in poverty. Oxfam is determined to change that world by mobilizing the power of people against poverty. Around the world, Oxfam works to find practical, innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. We save lives and help rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes. And we campaign so that the voices of the poor influence the local and global decisions that affect them. In all we do, Oxfam works with partner organizations and alongside vulnerable women and men to end the injustices that cause poverty. As a confederation, our values are Accountability, Empowerment, and Inclusiveness. Empowerment: Everyone, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can be a catalyst for change. Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and may be subject to appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Background of Oxfam: Oxfam started working in Southern Africa in the 1980s. Since then, we have implemented both development and humanitarian programmes to support practical and innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty. We work with local stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the root causes which keep people in poverty. Oxfam is currently collaborating with the Government, international and local CSOs, UN Agencies and other stakeholders. Oxfam envisions Southern African countries to be free of extreme inequality and injustice; a society where citizens and particularly women across all age groups claim and exercise their rights and responsibilities and can influence decisions that affect their lives. Our regional program aims to promote women’s rights, good governance and accountability, resilient livelihoods, as well as enhance preparedness, reduce vulnerability to disaster and ensure an effective response to humanitarian crises. Job Summary: The Protection Coordinator provides advanced technical leadership, strategic coordination, and partner-facing support to strengthen protection mainstreaming, safe programming, safeguarding integration, and accountability systems across humanitarian responses in the Southern Africa (SAF) Cluster. The role is responsible for ensuring that protection principles are systematically embedded across programme design, implementation, emergency preparedness, response, partner systems, and adaptive learning frameworks. It ensures that humanitarian interventions are safe, inclusive, protection-sensitive, and responsive to the rights and needs of vulnerable, marginalised, and at-risk populations, while strengthening Oxfam’s broader humanitarian quality and accountability architecture. Working under the Humanitarian Action Programme Manager, the role supports country teams, partners, and programme functions to operationalise international protection standards, safeguarding commitments, accountability to affected populations (AAP), and inclusive programming principles. It serves as the Cluster’s principal technical focal point for protection and safe programming, ensuring that protection standards inform programme adaptation, quality assurance, emergency responses, and broader humanitarian strategy. The role also contributes to strengthening nexus programming by ensuring that protection principles are integrated across food security, WASH, gender justice, and broader humanitarian portfolios. Through strong technical expertise, facilitation, systems thinking, and strategic influence, the Protection Coordinator strengthens Oxfam’s capacity to deliver principled, locally led, and protection sensitive humanitarian action across Southern Africa. Operating without direct line management responsibility, the role requires high professional autonomy, strong technical and analytical capability, and the ability to coordinate across complex multi-country, partner-led systems. Through this function, Oxfam significantly strengthens programme safety, safeguarding integrity, inclusion, and accountability while reinforcing long-term resilience and systems change objectives. The role requires a high level of technical expertise, analytical capability, and the ability to operate with autonomy in a complex, multi-country, partner-led environment. EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & COMPETENCIES Essential Master’s degree in social work, Human Rights, Development Studies, Social Sciences or related discipline. 5 years of relevant experience in protection, safeguarding, humanitarian programming, including experience working with partners. Proven experience in multi-country or regional systems, protection mainstreaming, partner support and technical coordination. Strong technical expertise and ability to integrate programme design with influencing and policy work. Strong communication, analytical, and decision-making skills. Ability to build strong, credible relationships with internal and external individuals and organisations. A high level of self-awareness, personal energy, stamina and flexibility. Proven experience as a team worker and demonstrably cooperative with members of other teams Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible. Desirable Portuguese language capability. Southern Africa regional experience. Experience with emergency preparedness and response Knowledge of policy influencing systems. Commitment to Oxfam’s overall aims and policies and experience of promoting gender equity. and diversity and the interests of marginalized people in all aspects of Oxfam’s work. Ability and willingness to travel regularly, at times at short notice, locally and regionally. Excellent personal communication skills, in written and verbal English and ideally Portuguese. Ability and willingness to travel regularly, at times at short notice, locally and regionally. Contract Type: Fixed Term, 1 year, renewal subject to availability of funding. Salary: National terms and conditions, competitive and negotiable within the salary ranges depending on experience, skills and competencies. This role offers scope for immense personal fulfilment – as well as outstanding opportunities to develop your career. Location: Lusaka, Zambia. To apply and view the full job profiles, skills, knowledge and experience required for this role, please go to http://www.oxfam.org.uk use INT11739 Closing date: Thursday 13th August 2026 Only short-listed candidates will be invited for interviews. Oxfam is an equal opportunities employer; we are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization. JOB OPPORTUNITY: PROTECTION COORDINATOR (INT11739).JOB OPPORTUNITY: PROTECTION COORDINATOR (INT11739).PROTECTION COORDINATOR (INT11739).One person in three in the world lives in poverty. Oxfam is determined to change that world by mobilizing the power of people against poverty. Around the world, Oxfam works to find practical, innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. We save lives and help rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes. And we campaign so that the voices of the poor influence the local and global decisions that affect them. In all we do, Oxfam works with partner organizations and alongside vulnerable women and men to end the injustices that cause poverty.One person in three in the world lives in poverty. Oxfam is determined to change that world by mobilizing the power of people against poverty. Around the world, Oxfam works to find practical, innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. We save lives and help rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes. And we campaign so that the voices of the poor influence the local and global decisions that affect them. In all we do, Oxfam works with partner organizations and alongside vulnerable women and men to end the injustices that cause poverty.As a confederation, our values are Accountability, Empowerment, and Inclusiveness.As a confederation, our values are Accountability, Empowerment, and Inclusiveness.Empowerment: Everyone, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can be a catalyst for change.Empowerment: Everyone, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can be a catalyst for change.Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and may be subject to appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Background of Oxfam:Oxfam started working in Southern Africa in the 1980s. Since then, we have implemented both development and humanitarian programmes to support practical and innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty. We work with local stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the root causes which keep people in poverty. Oxfam is currently collaborating with the Government, international and local CSOs, UN Agencies and other stakeholders.Oxfam envisions Southern African countries to be free of extreme inequality and injustice; a society where citizens and particularly women across all age groups claim and exercise their rights and responsibilities and can influence decisions that affect their lives. Our regional program aims to promote women’s rights, good governance and accountability, resilient livelihoods, as well as enhance preparedness, reduce vulnerability to disaster and ensure an effective response to humanitarian crises.Job Summary:The Protection Coordinator provides advanced technical leadership, strategic coordination, and partner-facing support to strengthen protection mainstreaming, safe programming, safeguarding integration, and accountability systems across humanitarian responses in the Southern Africa (SAF) Cluster. The role is responsible for ensuring that protection principles are systematically embedded across programme design, implementation, emergency preparedness, response, partner systems, and adaptive learning frameworks. It ensures that humanitarian interventions are safe, inclusive, protection-sensitive, and responsive to the rights and needs of vulnerable, marginalised, and at-risk populations, while strengthening Oxfam’s broader humanitarian quality and accountability architecture. Working under the Humanitarian Action Programme Manager, the role supports country teams, partners, and programme functions to operationalise international protection standards, safeguarding commitments, accountability to affected populations (AAP), and inclusive programming principles. It serves as the Cluster’s principal technical focal point for protection and safe programming, ensuring that protection standards inform programme adaptation, quality assurance, emergency responses, and broader humanitarian strategy. The role also contributes to strengthening nexus programming by ensuring that protection principles are integrated across food security, WASH, gender justice, and broader humanitarian portfolios.Through strong technical expertise, facilitation, systems thinking, and strategic influence, theProtection Coordinator strengthens Oxfam’s capacity to deliver principled, locally led, and protection sensitive humanitarian action across Southern Africa. Operating without direct line management responsibility, the role requires high professional autonomy, strong technical and analytical capability, and the ability to coordinate across complex multi-country, partner-led systems. Through this function, Oxfam significantly strengthens programme safety, safeguarding integrity, inclusion, and accountability while reinforcing long-term resilience and systems change objectives.The role requires a high level of technical expertise, analytical capability, and the ability tooperate with autonomy in a complex, multi-country, partner-led environment.EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & COMPETENCIESEssentialMaster’s degree in social work, Human Rights, Development Studies, Social Sciences or related discipline.Master’s degree in social work, Human Rights, Development Studies, Social Sciences or related discipline.Master’s degree in social work, Human Rights, Development Studies, Social Sciences or related discipline.5 years of relevant experience in protection, safeguarding, humanitarian programming, including experience working with partners.5 years of relevant experience in protection, safeguarding, humanitarian programming, including experience working with partners.5 years of relevant experience in protection, safeguarding, humanitarian programming, including experience working with partners.Proven experience in multi-country or regional systems, protection mainstreaming, partner support and technical coordination.Proven experience in multi-country or regional systems, protection mainstreaming, partner support and technical coordination.Proven experience in multi-country or regional systems, protection mainstreaming, partner support and technical coordination.Strong technical expertise and ability to integrate programme design with influencing and policy work.Strong technical expertise and ability to integrate programme design with influencing and policy work.Strong technical expertise and ability to integrate programme design with influencing and policy work.Strong communication, analytical, and decision-making skills.Ability to build strong, credible relationships with internal and external individuals and organisations.Ability to build strong, credible relationships with internal and external individuals and organisations.Ability to build strong, credible relationships with internal and external individuals and organisations.A high level of self-awareness, personal energy, stamina and flexibility.Proven experience as a team worker and demonstrably cooperative with members of other teamsProven experience as a team worker and demonstrably cooperative with members of other teamsProven experience as a team worker and demonstrably cooperative with members of other teamsCommitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.DesirablePortuguese language capability.Portuguese language capability.Southern Africa regional experience.Southern Africa regional experience.Experience with emergency preparedness and responseKnowledge of policy influencing systems.Knowledge of policy influencing systems.Commitment to Oxfam’s overall aims and policies and experience of promoting gender equity.Commitment to Oxfam’s overall aims and policies and experience of promoting gender equity.and diversity and the interests of marginalized people in all aspects of Oxfam’s work.and diversity and the interests of marginalized people in all aspects of Oxfam’s work.Ability and willingness to travel regularly, at times at short notice, locally and regionally.Excellent personal communication skills, in written and verbal English and ideally Portuguese.Excellent personal communication skills, in written and verbal English and ideally Portuguese.Ability and willingness to travel regularly, at times at short notice, locally and regionally.Contract Type: Fixed Term, 1 year, renewal subject to availability of funding.Salary: National terms and conditions, competitive and negotiable within the salary ranges depending on experience, skills and competencies. This role offers scope for immense personal fulfilment – as well as outstanding opportunities to develop your career.his role offers scope for immense personal fulfilment – as well as outstanding opportunities to develop your careerLocation: Lusaka, Zambia.To apply and view the full job profiles, skills, knowledge and experience required for this role, please go to http://www.oxfam.org.uk use INT11739http://www.oxfam.org.ukINT11739Closing date: Thursday 13th August 2026Thursday 13th August 2026Only short-listed candidates will be invited for interviews.Oxfam is an equal opportunities employer; we are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization.Oxfam is an equal opportunities employer; we are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization.