Background of IRC:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. The IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. We began work in Ethiopia since 2000 and currently 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 minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as 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.

Job Overview

The Safe Programming officer is responsible to ensure the implementation of safe programming principles which includes meaningful access to services, priority safety and dignity, accountability, participation and empowerment across IRC sectors and support the implementation of IRC internal initiatives gender equality, Women at Work (W@W) groups and safeguarding. These may include protection risk analysis and Safe Programming assessments using Protection Mainstreaming Monitoring and Evaluation System (ProMMS) tools and IRC’s Gender Analysis toolkit and global protection cluster guidance; including through safety audits, community dialogues, FGDs, KIIs and household visits while documenting the outcomes. The safe programming officer is also responsible to provide training on safe programming, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) guideline and gender mainstreaming.

Major Responsibilities: 

• Deliver high-quality support to all Field Offices and partner staff in terms of training, capacity building, and implementation. 

• Ensure that children, youth, women, men, older persons and person with disabilities are integrated in IRC and partners interventions.

• Conduct protection mainstreaming assessments, including conducting Gender Audits.

• Be informed about best practices in Protection Mainstreaming in order to develop IRC’s internal knowledge database and disseminate these lessons learned. 

• Ensure to invest in your own knowledge and skills in order to train others and build their capacity, supported by IRC, training institutes and other organizations that might serve as resources.   

• Be aware of and practice the content of relevant IRC Global guidelines to provide overall technical guidance and tools on protection mainstreaming. 

• Advocate for gender and protection mainstreaming and coordinate with other stakeholders while sharing concerns, within and outside the organization. 

• Plan, implement and follow up on gender-related activities and provide support to IRC, partners and grantees on mainstreaming gender in their programs and activities, including design and implementation of trainings on gender-related topics 

• Attend coordination meetings concerning Protection Mainstreaming, PSEA and other related topics. 

• Work with other sectors to ensure Safe Programming across IRC Ethiopia.

• Any other task that might be delegated by the Safe Programming Manager. 

Internal initiatives

• The Safe Programming officer will support the implementation of safeguarding guidelines/procedures.

• Support the development and implementation of country-level Gender Equality Action Plans.

• Support the development and implementation of Gender Equality Champions (GEC), including coordinating the annual selection/reselection of GECs, providing GECs with relevant training and support required for them to deliver on their commitments, coordinating the development of the annual GEC activity plan, responsibility for securing SMT endorsement of the GEC activity plan and associated budget. 

• Provide support to Women at Work (W@W) groups, including facilitating meetings of the national level W@W group and meetings/communication with field-level W@W teams.

Other 

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor. 

Safeguarding Responsibilities: - 

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

• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies

Job Requirements

Educational Requirements: 

• Minimum of 2 years for BSc/BA in Social Work, Sociology, Public Health, or Gender Studies, or a related field and 1 year for post-graduates.

Preferred experience & skills: 

• A minimum of 2 years of work experience in gender mainstreaming, protection or GBV prevention and response.

• Previous experience in developing and conducting training on related topics

• Experience in participatory techniques and community mobilization

• Previous experience facilitating focus group discussions and establishing effective monitoring systems.

• Possess interest in and commitment to human rights and gender equality.

• 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 a proactive and positive manner. 

Language Skills: 

• Fluency in English (written and spoken), and knowing local language is advantageous.

How To Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through THIS LINK

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information. 

• Name of the position you have applied for 

• Date of application 

• Summary of  your qualifications and experience 

• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

• Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address 

• Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees. 

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