The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. 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. The IRC leads the way from harm to home**.**
The International Rescue Committee has been working in Somalia since 2006, providing essential services to conflict and disaster affected communities. The IRC has been operational in Central Somalia (Galmudug, Puntland and Southwest regions) and Banadir implementing interventions in the areas of livelihood, WASH, Governance, and peacebuilding, GBV, Nutrition, education and health reaching out to more than 200,000 conflict and drought affected people.
SCOPE OF WORK:
The WPE Prevention Officer will be responsible for all WPE particularly gender-based violence (GBV) prevention- related activities, including capacity building, outreach and awareness-raising activities with community members and local partners, development and dissemination of communication materials(Information, Education and Communication -IEC or Behavior Change Communication- BCC and community mobilization strategies to promote community participation and engagements. The Prevention Officer will oversee GBV risk identification and mitigation activities, train and supervise Community Volunteers and incentive Workers, local partners and GBV WG members to increase women’s and girls’ access to information about GBV risks, services, and women center/safe space activities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The responsibilities of the GBV Prevention Officer include but are not limited to the following:
MAIN DUTIES:
Implementation
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Support WPE Manager in program development and relations with local partners, community workers/volunteers and GBV stakeholders.
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Develop appropriate-specific GBV/services information materials and activities to different group identified i.e. local partners, GBV stakeholders, Community Leaders, Women’s Group, community in collaboration with WPE team and ensure messages are appropriate for the community and tested before dissemination.
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Conduct safety audits and other risks assessments activities to identify risks and compile findings/reports submitted to supervisor for final compilation to inform advocacy on identified risks affecting women and girls.
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Provide technical direct support and supervision to local partner, community volunteers and incentive workers, and lead in the development and implementation of outreach strategy that is in line with program log frame and work plans including.
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Development and implementation of outreach plan based on GBV incident trends and needs of women and girls in collaboration with the response team
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Development and implementation of community mobilization and information dissemination strategies, including conducting house to house visits, group discussion sessions on GBV issues; and information dissemination sessions in the community to promote and encourage access and referrals to available GBV services to women and girls, immediate health-related consequences.
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Ensure monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems, including tracking progress of prevention program objectives, indicators and activities are being followed, organized, and documented.
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Mobilize community members to create a protective environment for women and girls and promote their safety and dignity to mitigate GBV risks.
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Engage and motivate community members and influential people in the community through ongoing dialogues and discussions to take action that will decrease GBV that occur in the community.
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Organize and implement campaigns on GBV in collaboration with local partner, IRC staff, community members, community volunteers/incentive workers and other NGOs/UN Agencies to improve information and awareness on GBV issues and encourage communities to take action to create change and reduce GBV incidents.
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Together with Response Officer and partner staff, conduct quarterly listening sessions with community members (women and girls, men, and boys respectively).
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Follow GBV guiding principles of respect, confidentiality, and safety/security and non- discrimination while implementing program activities.
Training and Mentorship
- Develop and conduct trainings and capacity building on GBV prevention related topics targeting various audiences, including but not limited to local partners, staff from other IRC sectors, GBV WG members, community leaders, community volunteers/Incentive workers and Women’s groups to improve knowledge and awareness on GBV and improve referrals and access to services and reduce risks to women and girls.
- Provide ongoing mentorship, capacity building and support supervision to local partner, community Volunteers/incentive workers to improve skills and capacity to implement GBV prevention and risks mitigation activities.
Coordination, Relationship building and Advocacy
- Support adherence to GBV referral protocols and guiding principles for working with survivors and facilitate referrals of GBV survivors who need support to the response team for support.
- Together with local partner, assess gaps in GBV prevention and risk mitigation activities, make recommendations/suggestions for improvements to the supervisor and develop, in consultation with the team and Manager, strategies to address the gaps.
- Develop and maintain positive coordination and relationships with local partners, GBV stakeholders, Community volunteers/incentive workers, community members and promote inter sectoral collaboration with other IRC sector staff do address GBV.
- Facilitate and/or participate in GBV related meetings and community meetings to improve service provision to survivors and strengthen response by different actors and sectors to prevent and mitigate risks of GBV to women and girls.
- Participate in GBV related assessments; including any inter agency assessments where necessary.
- Contribute to a positive team spirit among all IRC staff.
- Represent the IRC WPE in community meeting as required and maintain positive relationship with Community leaders, Local community structures and groups at various levels.
- Maintain positive coordination and relationships with partner and other IRC sector staff.
Monitoring & Reporting
- Prepare and submit reports as required and incorporate supervisor’s feedback in a timely manner.
- Participate in the development of procurement and spending plans and work plans to ensure the successful implementation of programs
- Ensure supplies/resources for GBV prevention activities and other program activities are requested on a timely manner for timely implementation of program activities.
- Monitor and track utilization of program supplies and resources to ensure efficient use of available resources.
- Ensure tracking of key program indicators and progress through utilization of the M&E data collection and indicator tracking tools are being followed by community workers with sufficient copies available on site..
Human Resources, Logistics & Finance
- Adhere to IRC Somalia Country Program policies and procedures
- Ensure that all relevant financial documentation is completed accurately as required by IRC finance policy.
- Ensure logistics for trainings and other program activities are organized in accordance with IRC logistics policy and requirements
- Ensure that all relevant financial documentation is completed accurately as required by IRC finance policy and requirements.
- Adherence to the IRC code of conduct (IRC WAY) that ensures transparency, services and accountability to beneficiaries and reports any abuse of beneficiaries by other IRC staff, including sexual exploitation and abuse in accordance with the IRC reporting procedures.
- Perform any other duties as required by the supervisor from time to time
- Adherence to the IRC Security Policy.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Diploma/Certificate or Degree in Social Work/Social Sciences/Community Development/ international relations, international development, or another related field preferred.
- Master’s degree in similar fields would be an added advantage.
Skills and Experience:
- Community mobilization and training experience with a reputable organization/civil society organization.
- Clear understanding, including demonstrated positive attitudes on gender inequality, and issues surrounding violence against women and girls STRONGLY preferred.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of issues affecting women and girls, including gender-based violence.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients always is essential.
- Ability to lead, train, supervise, facilitate, and motivate local partner, community volunteers/incentive 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 overtime when necessary and be able to coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.
- Ability to work as a member of a team essential.
- Ability to communicate in English and local dialects spoken in Mogadishu/Somalia is needed and Ability to draft high quality donor report will be an added advantage.
- Ability to write clear and concise reports in English would be an added advantage.
- Basic knowledge of computer skills is helpful (word, excel, email etc) and a plus