Front Line Defenders
Protection Coordinator – East and Southern Africa
Location: Remote (Based in the East and Southern Africa region)
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week)
Reporting To: Head of Africa
Salary: €52,962 – €72,886 per year (commensurate with experience and qualifications)
About the Role
Front Line Defenders is seeking a Protection Coordinator to lead the organisation’s protection response for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) across East and Southern Africa.
The successful candidate will build and maintain strong relationships with human rights defenders, coordinate rapid protection responses, provide strategic analysis on emerging risks, contribute to advocacy and protection programmes, and support the development of regional strategies. The role requires close collaboration with internal teams, partners, donors, and international stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
Protection Programming
- Build and maintain secure communication with human rights defenders at risk using an intersectional approach.
- Provide rapid responses to urgent protection cases, including through the urgent appeal system.
- Strengthen the capacity of human rights defenders to manage security risks and develop mitigation plans.
- Maintain accurate records of protection activities within Front Line Defenders’ database.
- Prepare timely reports following missions, meetings, and related activities.
- Support the Grants Team with grant verification, follow-up, and coordination.
- Liaise with human rights organisations to coordinate referrals and collaborative protection work.
- Provide practical support and solidarity to human rights defenders.
- Conduct security assessments and deliver rapid security training where required.
Strategic Leadership
- Contribute strategic expertise to advocacy, visibility, capacity-building, and protection grant programmes.
- Support outreach to women and non-binary human rights defenders and contribute gender-responsive analysis.
- Advise on regional strategic priorities affecting human rights defenders.
- Recommend inclusive approaches that strengthen support for underrepresented defender groups.
- Provide advice on regional safety and security for organisational missions.
- Contribute to the planning of Front Line Defenders events involving participants from East and Southern Africa.
Research and Advocacy
- Conduct or contribute to research on protection-related issues.
- Produce country analyses, briefing papers, and reports on threats facing human rights defenders.
External Representation
- Develop and maintain relationships with regional and international organisations.
- Represent Front Line Defenders with governments, embassies, international organisations, donors, the media, and other stakeholders where appropriate.
Internal Collaboration
- Work closely with regional colleagues across multiple Front Line Defenders teams.
- Coordinate annual regional activity planning.
- Contribute to funding proposals.
- Collaborate with the Communications and Events Team to increase visibility for human rights defenders in the region.
- Maintain regular communication with the Global Advocacy Office in Brussels.
- Provide language support where required for programme implementation.
Essential Requirements
Applicants should have:
- At least 5 years’ experience working with a diverse range of human rights defenders.
- Experience supporting women human rights defenders and LGBTIQ+ defenders, with an understanding of the specific risks they face.
- Experience conducting research, drafting reports, and producing analytical written materials.
- Experience working within diverse teams, particularly in emergency or high-pressure environments.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Strong analytical and objective writing skills.
- In-depth knowledge of human rights issues and trends affecting East and Southern Africa.
- Understanding of resilience and well-being approaches for human rights defenders.
- Basic knowledge of digital security tools and online safety issues.
- Ability to build relationships across cultures with empathy and professionalism.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
Preference will be given to candidates with:
- Experience providing holistic protection support, including digital, physical, and well-being protection.
- Experience developing gender-responsive and intersectional protection strategies.
- Experience managing collaborative projects involving multiple organisations.
- Proficiency in one or more languages spoken in East and Southern Africa.
Benefits
The successful candidate will receive:
- 26 days annual leave.
- Pension scheme.
- Health insurance.
- Income protection.
- Life assurance.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
- Monthly wellbeing allowance.
- Laptop.
- Mobile phone.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their Curriculum Vitae (CV) through the Apply Now option available on the Front Line Defenders vacancies page.
Recruitment Timeline
- Closing Date: 6 August 2026 at 4:00 p.m. (Irish local time).
- Interviews are expected to take place during August–September 2026.
- The successful candidate is expected to commence employment in October 2026.
Important Information
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- Front Line Defenders is an Equal Opportunities Employer.