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

Under the direct supervision of the Camp Manager and technical supervision of the Program Manager, the WPE Prevention Officer will supervise the Gender Based Violation (GBV) prevention activities in Ura refugee settlement. The WPE Prevention Officer will train and supervise refugee community workers and community activists to respond to GBV issues in the camps. This includes providing ongoing training and mentorship for community workers, community activists, developing a quarterly work plan, and using monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure high-quality services. The WPE prevention Officer will encourage smooth communication, teamwork, and coordination among partners from the protection, health, legal, and psychosocial sectors committed to reducing the incidence of violence against women. Conduct workshops, training, and disseminating information to all relevant stakeholders and conduct prevention-related training for service providers to promote quality services. 

Duties & Responsibilities

• Direct support of the WPE prevention activities, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the program in the refugee camp. The position holder ensures that the WPE program is implemented according to the work plan and spending plan and that the project objectives and committed indicators are met.

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant partners including government and other agencies, other implementing partners, community leaders, organizations, and informal structures, and represent the WPE program in all partner meetings.

• Facilitate training and workshops on GBV related issues for health care providers, WPE Staff, implementing partners, education providers, local authorities, women’s groups, refugee community leaders, religious leaders, youth groups, NGO workers, and any other identified groups.

• Develop a quarterly work plan, monthly work plan, and monitoring plan and provide for community workers and/or community activists in the camp for awareness-raising activities; and provide training when needed.

• Identify community workers and/or community activist focal points in the camp. The PO provides regular communication check-in, specific team leader tasks, and shares the communication/task plan with the Response Officer, WPE Manager, and Senior Officer.

• Assist in prevention-related IEC and BCC materials, in collaboration with the GBV team ensuring messages are appropriate for the community and conducting pre-testing before dissemination. 

• Develop a Quarterly outreach plan, based on case trends analysis according to the GBVIMS. An ongoing need for women and girls, including strategies to reach women and girls who are more isolated/have special needs, can contribute by the Response Officer for each camp. 

• In support of the WPE Assosa team, ensure the success of SASA! Implementation and EMAP, including updated training materials, an adaptation of materials. The activities include SASA! Recruiting and supervising community activists, implementing monitoring and evaluation plans, implementing four SASA! Strategies, and ensuring appropriate GBV messages are given to the refugee communities.

• Assist in and /capacity building to community workers to be able to support GBV safety audit activity as needed.

• Monitor prevention supply and logistical needs, raise procurement requests of prevention activity on a quarterly basis in advance, and ensure adherence to all relevant IRC logistic policies.

• Compile prevention monthly report and submit it to WPE Program Manager, in collaboration with the WPE Response Officer, by the 26th of every month. 

• Support Response Officer participation in coordination meeting with UNHCR, RRS, police, legal justice, community leaders

• Collect prevention qualitative and quantitative data, analyze, supervise and evaluate the result-based prevention activities. Share project data and information for problem analysis, planning, and evaluation along with the WPE Senior Officer and Manager.

• Promote the participation of women, adolescent girls, and girl children in all matters affecting their life through the establishment of different clubs in school and through the organization of different outreach programs

• Any other duties and responsibilities that can be given by immediate and technical supervisors.

Key Working Relationships:

• The position holder will directly report to the Camp Manager with technical oversight from the WPE manager based in Assosa.

Safeguarding Responsibilities:

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

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

Job Requirements

Educational Requirements:

• MSC or B.Sc. degree in Psychology, and any other related field from a recognized University

Preferred Experience and skill

• 2 years of relevant experience plus a first degree

• 1 year of relevant experience plus a post graduate degree

• 5 years of relevant experience with the diploma degree

• NGO experience is a plus.

• Clear understanding of gender, power abuse, and issues surrounding violence against women.

• Able to always maintain GBV and protection principle.

• Experience in participatory techniques and community mobilization includes facilitating the training.

• Ability to lead, train, supervise, facilitate, and motivate other WPE field workers in their respective tasks in a professional, respectful, and supportive manner.

• Positive and professional attitude, able to organize, maintain composure and prioritize work under pressure, work over-time when needed and able to coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.

• Able to organize, maintain composure and prioritize work under pressure, able to coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to details.

• Related work and field experiences in social service provision with women and girls.

• Ability to use MS Office, Excel, Email and PowerPoint applications very well.

• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

Language Skills: 

• Proficient in English writing and speaking skills and the ability to speak the 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