Background of IRC:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. IRC leads the way from harm to home. Began work in Ethiopia, 1999 in response to severe drought that happened in Ethiopia’s Somali region. Currently, providing assistance in ten different regions 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.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from ethnic minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

About the project:

The Project Manager will be responsible for planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the BHA funded project to improve the safety of women, girls and children. Managed by Child Protection and Education (CPE) and Women’s Protection and Empowerment sectors within the Violence Prevention and Response Unit in HQ, the project aims to Enhanced protection and wellbeing of drought and flood affected women, and children through prevention and response services including provision of case management and PSS by ensuring meaningful engagement of actors, incl. Legal services. Focus is on empowering children and caregivers through curriculum-based approaches to equip them with vital skills to develop positive coping strategies.

Job Overview/Summary: 

The WPE-CP Manager will be responsible to provide program/technical and operational support to the emergency program activities for GBV/CP response under Melkadida office, Dolobay and Hargelle Woredas of Somali Region. The post reports directly to the Field Manager and technically to the WPE-CP technical teams in Addis (Child Protection and Education Manager and the Women’s Protection and Empowerment Manager), who will provide technical oversight, guidance, and performance review.

The incumbent should have a solid understanding and work experience in humanitarian contexts/refugee responses in country or in the region, ideally with a particular focus on vulnerable and marginalized women children and adolescents. Strong skills in protection (emergency + development contexts), community engagement, client responsiveness and training are an asset. The post holder will be always guided by the IRC’s child safeguarding protocols. The position holder will be responsible for initiation, implementation, regular progress updates and reporting and closure of the afore-mentioned project. The postholder will liaise with senior management and programme colleagues to ensure uptake and ensure cross sector engagement, especially between the CP and WPE teams.

Major Responsibilities:

Project management:

·        Monitor the emergency situations in Somali and alert Addis WPE and CPE team to identify intervention areas.

·        Lead the CP/WPE team including day to day management (resolving where and when to go).

·        Provide technical support to staff to initiate the emergency project activities in Somali region.

·        Conduct regular field visits to targeted IDP sites and initiate discussions with the relevant government actors and community leaders on the selection criteria of clients and strategies for distribution.

·        Conduct needs assessment and or collaborate with women and children to resolve their most urgent needs and identify whether we may be able to meet these needs.

·        Lead the overall start-up of CP/WPE project activities and conduct regular monitoring to ensure project activities are implemented timely and effectively.

·        Support in CP/WPE capacity building training to IRC and partner staff.

·        Support the overall budget management including budget planning and budget utilization using IRC tools.

·        Actively participate in protection coordination meetings and raise protection concerns of women and children at the field level.

·        Participate in the write-up of the project report and post-distribution assessments.

·        Ensure a coordinated and broad approach to address issues concerning vulnerable and at-risk children including Unaccompanied/Separated children living in the IDP sites.

·        In collaboration with the staff hold community awareness-raising campaigns and training on child protection and GBV concerns.

·        Support the team in ensuring the availability of accurate, complete, and up-to-date information required for advocacy, effective Child Protection GBV program design, implementation, lesson learned, monitoring and evaluation.

·        Support in the facilitation of IRC Ethiopia's, government, and donor monitoring visits and project evaluations.

·        Take deployment assignments and organize and lead emergency operations assessment in new locations, assist in hiring field staff, locating warehouse and office, and set up the emergency response in new/intervention areas in the Somali region.

·        Assist in the preparation of IRC direct intervention proposals and signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), project agreement with relevant regional government Bureaus.

·        Shall take any additional responsibilities as requested by supervisors.

·        Facilitate/conduct case management and psychosocial support (PSS) training to IRC staff and relevant government staff in the intervention areas (Women, Children, and Youth Affairs staff at zonal and woreda levels).

·        Lead/organize events in International Events like African Child Day, Child Labor Day, 16 Days of Activism, March 8, and use these forums for mass awareness-raising on GBV and CP concerns.

·        Establish alternative care arrangements for UASC through the identification of extended family/and foster families.

·        Support positive parenting skill, SAFE (Support adolescent and their families in emergency), Girl Shine, EMAP, SASA, Women Rise Toolkit training based on protection training package.

·        Compile accurate data and document lessons learned for continuous improvement.

·        Collaborate with finance team to monitor financial performance and identify saving options and manage financial risks (under/overspending).

·        Adhere to the project plan to complete the project activities.

·        Conduct regular project review meetings, provide updates to stakeholders and address any concerns.

Representation, Coordination and Advocacy

·        Develop and maintain effective coordination and long-term relationships with protection partners, representing IRC positions, promoting long-term strategy in the intervention areas.

·        Represent IRC in external coordination meetings with UN/ NGOs, donors, partners, and government in the field.

·        Develop and maintain internal and external relationships, and network to promote program linkages. This would include working with the IRC sectors support staff, participation in the protection cluster, GBV sub-cluster, CCCM sub-cluster, and GBV Working Group and sector coordination meetings to chip in to regional coordination efforts and communication on program developments with local/ regional authorities.

·        Actively liaise with relevant ministries, and GBV sub cluster to ensure harmonized and proactive programming.

·        Generate GBV data to be used by the country management team and GBV cluster and other relevant staff to influence donor policies with the purpose of generating more funding.

·        Build good relationships with authorities, partners, international and national organizations, authorities in the region.

·        Keep the local authorities and other project stakeholders well informed of the progress of the program when/if needed.

Financial management

·        Lead the development of realistic budgets for the program both in the short-term and the long-term and identify the areas which require fundraising.

·        Effectively manage program budget and staff. This includes among others, regular monitoring of the program finance to avoid major under-spending or over-spending using budget versus achievement analysis system (BvA); updating and sharing salary mapping templates; supporting the development and review of sector Operating Budget and maintaining monthly and quarterly spending levels as per the plans.

Program monitoring (M&E)

·        Lead the process of development of M&E systems and assessment for the WPE/CP sectors in the region. Including submission of timely monthly and quarterly grant reports; weekly updates; and establishment of baseline data through surveys and other relevant mechanisms; and documentation and sharing of case studies within the organization.

·        Monitor program implementation against work plans and overall project objectives, documenting progress and achievements, providing analysis based on monitoring and evaluation activities and adapt program strategy and implementation accordingly.

·        Ensure that all project activities are implemented in a timely manner and all related objectives achieved.

Working relationships

·        Maintain open and professional relationships with team members: Promote a strong team spirit and provide regular office wide communication periodic reports, updates to the HQ, inputs to donor reports and other communication as required; participate in scheduled and ad hoc meetings online and onsite.

·        Support technical and operational capacity of partner organizations including child/ youth led organizations.

·        Ensure awareness raising, visibility and advocacy for the project.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

·        Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office].

·        Cultivate ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Job Requirements

Educational Requirements:

·        MA/MSc or equivalent in psychology, Gender studies Mental health, public health, psychiatry nursing, Social Science, Humanities or other related social/health science field of study with 3 years of relevant experience. 4 years of relevant experience with a first-degree BA. With significant psychosocial support and counseling experience and training considered

Preferred Experience & skills:

·        Proven experience in implementing child protection and GBV initiatives, field-based assessments and working with local organizations in humanitarian/early recovery contexts.

·        Demonstrated understanding of working with children in line with principles of do no harm.

·        Personal qualities: Team player, ability to connect with a wide range of audiences, flexible, able to handle pressure well.

·        A very high degree of autonomy, an ability to organize work and work well with a team with varied strengths.

·        Use of computer tools (outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

·        Ability to communicate and develop good relationships with communities and community organization, using a participatory approach.

·        Physical and psychological ability to work under pressure,

·        The employee must be flexible and able to respond to the requirements and instructions of their supervisor for the needs of the department.

·        Willingness to travel to IRC project areas.

·        Creative, solution oriented and adaptable

·        Strong analytical, presentation, organizational and problem-solving skills.

·        Able to handle pressure well and work independently with initiative as well as with a team.

Language Skills:

·        Fluency in English is mandatory and Somali language is Advantageous.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can apply online using THIS LINK

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.

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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