Role overview
What you'll be stepping into
Protection and Referral Specialist Job at International Rescue Committee (IRC), Uganda
Organisation: International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Job Title: Protection and Referral Specialist
Location: Adjumani, Uganda
Employment Type: Full-time
Job Category: Humanitarian Aid, Protection and Social Services
Application Deadline: Not specified in the provided vacancy details
About the International Rescue Committee (IRC)
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to humanitarian crises worldwide, helping people affected by conflict and disasters restore their health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and dignity.
Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, IRC operates in more than 40 countries and 29 cities across the United States. Its work focuses on restoring safety, dignity, and hope while helping crisis-affected communities rebuild their lives and strengthen their resilience.
In Uganda, IRC and its consortium partners have been selected by the British High Commission (BHC) Kampala to implement the Refugee Support, Empowerment and Transformation (ReSET) Programme. The programme aims to strengthen Uganda’s refugee response through lifesaving assistance, protection, local ownership, and support for self-reliance.
IRC leads Pillar 1, which focuses on lifesaving assistance for vulnerable refugees and host communities. Its consortium partners include the Refugee-Led Organisations Network (RELON), Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation (TPO) Uganda, and the Uganda Network on Law, Ethics and HIV/AIDS (UGANET).
The Protection and Referral Specialist will provide technical leadership for the protection component of ReSET Pillar 1 and oversee referral systems connecting cash assistance, protection services, essential services, and longer-term self-reliance opportunities.
The successful candidate will ensure the quality and safety of protection screening, case management, gender-based violence (GBV) response, child protection, mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS), legal assistance referrals, and community-based protection.
Based in Adjumani, the Specialist will supervise Protection Officers in Nakivale, Yumbe, and Kiryandongo, lead protection activities in Adjumani and the wider West Nile area, and provide technical oversight to consortium partners.
The role also involves strengthening local partner capacity, supporting government-led referral systems, promoting accountability, and ensuring that protection services meet national and international standards.
Key Responsibilities
1. Technical Leadership and Programme Quality
Lead the design, implementation, and quality assurance of protection and referral activities across ReSET target settlements.
Provide technical guidance and supervision to Protection Officers and partner protection teams.
Develop, validate, and implement protection tools, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and training materials.
Ensure protection principles are integrated into beneficiary targeting, multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA), accountability, and programme adaptation.
Identify emerging protection risks and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.
Contribute to programme proposals, donor reports, and learning initiatives.
2. Protection Screening, Targeting and Cash Assistance
Lead the design of integrated protection screening and referral pathways under the programme’s “no wrong door” approach.
Participate in multidisciplinary targeting panels and contribute to the review of beneficiary selection criteria.
Ensure protection case management continues independently and alongside cash assistance where required.
Work with the Cash and Voucher Assistance Specialist to integrate protection risk monitoring into cash programming.
Support safe, accessible, and confidential appeals processes, ensuring urgent protection-related cases are prioritised.
How to apply