The posting
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
BACKGROUND:
The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation, and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.
BRIDGE (Building Resilience, Inclusion, and Durable Growth for Empowerment of women, youth, and other shock-affected communities in East Hararghe and Gambella) is a three-year IRC project addressing climate shocks, displacement, and protection risks, including gender-based violence (GBV), in East Hararghe Zone (Oromia Region) and Gambella Region. The project strengthens community and government systems for GBV prevention and response, working towards a gradual transition of responsibilities to the Bureau of Women and Social Affairs (BoWCA), community structures, and local actors by the project's end in late 2029. This position sits under Outcome 3, through which women, girls and other at-risk groups have increased access to quality survivor-centred protection services, and community and woreda systems are better able to reduce their exposure to violence, exploitation and harmful practices.
Job Overview:
The WPE Officer will lead the delivery of GBV prevention, response, and empowerment activities under the BRIDGE project in Lare and Itang woredas, Gambella, serving both refugee (Itang) and host-community (Lare) populations. This includes establishing a new Women and Girls Safe Space (WGSS) in Lare and renovating the existing WGSS in Itang, which will serve as the foundational protection service delivery points for an area where no functioning safe space, survivor service, or referral pathway currently operates.
The WPE Officer will build the Bureau of Women and Social Affairs' (BoWCA) basic case-management function from the ground up, including simple documented protocols for reaching survivors in kebeles separated by seasonal flooding of the Baro River, and will support refugee-led associations to progressively become first-line community responders for GBV concerns. The role also involves replacing the current ad hoc, letter-based referral system with standardized multi-sectoral SoPs, facilitating EMAP sessions, and coordinating with government, refugee-community, and humanitarian coordination structures, with a focus on building sustainable local capacity ahead of the project's end in late 2029.
Major Responsibilities:
- Lead direct implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of WPE/GBV activities in Lare and Itang, ensuring the programme is delivered in line with the IASC GBV Guidelines and Ethiopia's national GBV frameworks and SoPs.
- Support the establishment of a new WGSS in Lare and the renovation of the existing WGSS in Itang, applying IRC's safety, accessibility, privacy, and referral-proximity site criteria, and securing community buy-in from both host and refugee communities.
- Pair the regular WGSS activities with periodic mobile/outreach sessions to maintain access for communities cut off by seasonal flooding, and support planning for the progressive, readiness-based transition of the WGSS to community ownership.
- Provide or co-deliver confidential, survivor-centered GBV case management and MHPSS, including case action planning, informed consent, and referrals, following IRC and national survivor-centered standards.
- Establish and build the capacity of refugee-led associations in GBV identification, safe referral, and protection principles, supporting their progressive transition (from Year 2) into first-line community responders with clear linkages to formal referral systems.
- Support the establishment and regular update of standardized, multi-sectoral referral SoPs, and ensure referral information reaches communities with low literacy and limited access.
- Ensure safe and accurate documentation of GBV incidents using GBVIMS-consistent case intake, action plan, follow-up, and client satisfaction tools strictly following data protection and information-sharing protocols; share quality data monthly with the Protection Information Management manager.
- Facilitate and/or coordinate training for BoWCA case workers and referral focal points from health, police, and legal services on survivor-centred response, safe disclosure, confidentiality, and their role-specific responsibilities.
- Facilitate EMAP (Engaging Men through Accountable Practice) sessions with men and boys on gender norms and GBV prevention, adapting materials to Anuak and Nuer as relevant.
- Organize or support , International Women's Day, and other community awareness campaigns, adapting materials to Anuak and Nuer languages as relevant.
- Support the Gambela Signpost scalability and efficiency as an information channel for women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.
- Support disability-inclusive service delivery across WGSS, case management, and community outreach activities.
- Actively participate in camp-level, woreda and GBV sub-cluster coordination meetings and GBV safety audits and other assessments as requested.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with BoWCA, health, justice, and police offices, refugee community structures, and other implementing partners; represent the WPE programme in relevant coordination meetings.
- Develop quarterly, monthly and weekly work plans and outreach plans informed by case-trend analysis, with attention to women and girls who are more isolated, have specific needs, or face access barriers due to flooding.
- Work with the WPE manager on timely budget utilization, BvA, M&E, and supply/logistics needs, in line with IRC policies.
- Identify opportunities to integrate WPE activities with other sectors (ERD, WASH, health, Education and child protection) to improve women's and girls' inclusion and participation.
- Compile periodic reports(weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports) and share with WPE Manager.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the direct and technical supervisors
Job Requirements:
Educational Requirements:
- First degree with 2 years of experience in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Public Health, Nursing, Mental Health, Women’s Studies, or any other social science related field.
- 1 year of relevant experience plus post graduate degree.
Preferred experience & skills:
- Familiarity working with refugees and host communities in Gambella, including experience operating in flood-affected or hard-to-reach areas, is an advantage NGO experience is a plus.
- Related work and field experiences in counseling or social service provision with women and adolescent girls.
- Demonstrated confidence in discussing intimate gender and sexuality issues.
- Able to always maintain GBV and protection principles – including knowledge and practical application of the GBV Guiding Principles and PSEA.
- Familiarity working in the region is an advantage.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications
- Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time
- Strong analytic problem-solving skills
- Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure
- Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels
- Ability to manage and work through change in and positive manner.
Language Skills:
- English language is mandatory
- Anuak and/or Nuer are preferred; knowledge of other local languages is an advantage.
Certificates or Licenses:
IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.
Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.
Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.
Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
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