Duty Station:             Kigoma Region, Tanzania

Department:               Programmes

Responsible to:         Head of Programmes

Responsible for:       Humanitarian Programme Staff

INTRODUCTION

HelpAge Tanzania (HAT) is a national non-governmental organisation registered in Tanzania Mainland under the Non-Governmental Organisations Act of 2022 and compliant in Zanzibar under the Business Entities Registration Act No. 12 of 2012.

HAT envisions a society of equal opportunities where older people and persons with disabilities are empowered, healthy, informed, and protected. HAT works in partnership with Older People’s Forums, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), government institutions, UN agencies, humanitarian and development partners, academic and faith-based institutions across Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.

In the humanitarian context, Tanzania hosts over 209,000 refugees from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, mainly in Nduta and Nyarugusu refugee camps in Kigoma Region. A significant proportion are older people and Persons with Specific Needs (PSNs). Since 2015, HAT has implemented inclusive humanitarian programmes in refugee camps and host communities, focusing on protection, assistance, and dignity for older people and people with disabilities.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Senior Protection and Inclusion Officer (SPIO) is responsible for the design, planning, implementation, management, and administration of HelpAge Tanzania’s inclusive humanitarian and protection programmes in refugee camps and host communities in Kigoma Region.

The post holder will provide strategic leadership on protection and inclusion of People with Specific Needs (PSNs), particularly older people and persons with disabilities, and will actively engage national and international humanitarian actors to strengthen inclusive humanitarian responses. The SPIO will also build the capacity of national staff and local implementing partners to ensure sustainability of inclusive humanitarian programming.

The SPIO is a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and will participate actively in management, strategic planning, and organisational decision-making processes.

SCOPE OF THE ROLE

The position is based in Kigoma Region and has overall responsibility for managing the HAT field office and overseeing the Inclusive Humanitarian Programme implemented in refugee camps and host communities.

The post holder will:

• Lead the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring of humanitarian and protection projects
• Provide timely and high-quality donor and internal reports in line with HAT standards
• Provide strategic analysis and information to the Head of Programmes and Executive Director to inform advocacy, lobbying, and resource mobilisation
• Represent HAT in humanitarian coordination, protection, and inclusion platforms at regional and national levels

SPECIFIC JOB RESPONSIBILITIES AND KEY TASKS

Strategic Leadership and Coordination

• Provide strategic leadership for inclusive humanitarian and protection programming in line with international humanitarian principles and standards
• Ensure all programmes are aligned with national refugee response frameworks and coordinated with government authorities, UN agencies (e.g. UNHCR, WFP), and humanitarian actors
• Represent HAT in humanitarian coordination forums, protection working groups, and inter-agency meetings
• Lead advocacy efforts to promote inclusion of older people and people with disabilities in humanitarian policies and programmes

Programme Design, Implementation and Quality Assurance

• Lead the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of inclusive humanitarian and protection programmes in refugee camps and host communities
• Ensure integration of protection, inclusion, gender, accountability, resilience, DRR, and community-based approaches across all programmes
• Develop and oversee programme work plans, budgets, implementation schedules, and monitoring systems
• Ensure compliance with HAT policies, donor requirements, and humanitarian standards
• Lead programme reviews and ensure learning and corrective actions are applied

Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Actively contributes to emergency preparedness, contingency planning, and rapid response initiatives
• Support inter-agency emergency assessments and response planning with a strong focus on the needs of older people and PSNs
• Ensure humanitarian programming is integrated across the emergency response cycle and linked to resilience and recovery

Proposal Development and Resource Mobilisation

• Identify humanitarian funding opportunities and support development of high-quality concept notes, proposals, and budgets
• Lead identification of funding gaps and contribute to fundraising strategies for humanitarian and protection programming
• Ensure learning from evaluations and monitoring informs future programme design

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

• Ensure effective MEAL systems are in place for humanitarian and protection programmes
• Promote accountability to affected populations through feedback and complaints mechanisms
• Ensure programme learning is documented, shared, and used to improve quality and advocacy

Staff Management and Capacity Development

• Manage and supervise humanitarian programme staff in Kigoma, ensuring clear roles, performance management, and staff development
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance to strengthen staff and partner capacity on protection and inclusion
• Ensure compliance with HAT HR policies, staff safety, and duty of care standards

Safeguarding and Protection Standards

The post holder is responsible for:

• Ensuring safeguarding and protection principles are fully embedded across humanitarian programmes
• Preventing harm, abuse, and exploitation by staff, partners, and programmes
• Reporting safeguarding concerns through HAT’s internal mechanisms
• Promoting community participation in programme design and complaints response mechanisms

HAT KEY POLICIES

The post holder will comply with and sign all HAT policies, including but not limited to:

1. Financial Policy and Procedures
2. Code of Conduct
3. Safety and Security Policy
4. Serious Incident Reporting Policy
5. Human Resources Policy

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Education / Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social sciences, Humanitarian Studies, Disaster/Conflict Management, or related field

Experience (Essential)

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in managing humanitarian or protection programmes
• Strong experience in refugee or displacement contexts
• Proven leadership in staff management and partner capacity development
• Experience working with UN agencies, government, and humanitarian coordination mechanisms
• Demonstrated experience in proposal development, donor reporting, and budget management

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong understanding of humanitarian principles, protection, inclusion, and accountability
• Excellent communication, representation, and advocacy skills
• Ability to work in complex and challenging environments
• Strong analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills
• Willingness to travel frequently and at short notice

Desirable

• Experience working with older people and persons with disabilities
• Knowledge of refugee protection frameworks
• Ability to speak Kirundi and/or French