Program Officer

I. Position Information

• Position Title: Program Officer
• Work Unit: Program Department
• Reports To: Program Coordinator
• Duty Station: Addis Ababa
• Closing Date: February 24, 2026

About NEWA

NEWA is a pioneer, national coalition of women associations that share the goal of advancing women’s rights, gender equality, women’s empowerment and the fight against GBV. NEWA is strategically positioned to advocate for the rights of women, to respect and promotion of women’s rights, and ensure the proper implementation of gender- sensitive policies, laws and programs at national and regional levels. NEWA has 50 member associations and organizations that strives to ensure the interests of women is factored in the national plans and policies and to see women’s social, economic, political and legal entitlements realized at all levels as enshrined in the national and international instruments.

II. Job Summary

The Program Officer is a senior position, responsible for leading the design, implementation, and monitoring projects focusing on Women Empowerment and GBV/Harmful Traditional Practice /HTP/, that will be implemented in different part of Ethiopia. The aim is to execute, facilitate and exercise effective day-to-day coordination and management of the projects according to the Network’s and Donor, general standards and institutional culture. The Program Officer supports the operations efforts to fulfil NEWA’s mandate and associated obligations on women empowerment and GBV/HTP prevention, risk mitigation and response at national level, based on policy and guidance. S/he collaborates closely with the NEWA head office staffs and the field Program team and strengthens working relations with donors, partners, members and stakeholders involved in GBV/HPT prevention, risk mitigation and response. All NEWA staffs are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description.

The Program Officer contributes to ensuring UNICEF and Strong Her projects meet the mission and objectives of NEWA as a national agency for GE, WE, and the fight against GBV/VAWG. The incumbent makes sure effectiveness, efficiency and meeting quality standards by working in a team, closely monitoring project and budget and organizing logistics. The Program Officer support the UNICEF and Strong Her projects in managing the day-to-day project activities, facilitating trainings, facilitate advocacy initiatives, manage sub grantees, and monitoring the overall field level project management. The Program Officer closely works with the head office Program Coordinator, Program Manager, Finance & Administration Dept, and the M&E unit, the communication and IT section.

As senior staff, the expected qualities include being diligent, organized, details oriented and comfortable working with diverse teams as well as skilled with program development. The position holder needs to be dedicated and passionate for the causes of NEWA, hardworking, professional and with excellent organizational skills.

III. Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage the day-to-day operations of the GBV/HTP and Women Empowerment projects
• In charge of the implementation of UNICEF and Strong Her Projects, coordinate different activities and events
• Execute, facilitate and exercise effective coordination and management of staffs working under the projects
• Prepare and submit periodic reports, ensure quality (monthly, quarterly, biannual and annually as required), and submits to the immediate supervisor for review and approval
• Maintain, monitor and measure the projects implementation and contribute to effective information management.
• Actively participate in National Alliance and other platforms as needed
• Closely work with NEWA’s member, different stakeholders, like minded partners in collaboration and coordination to enhance the GBV Response and women empowerment
• Participate in the design of project activities, monitoring systems and capacity building activities for partners, community member and children.
• Assist GBV activities in the development and testing of Behavior Change Communication (BCC) materials on GBV and violence prevention
• Oversee awareness raising activities and support the development of messaging.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationship with relevant stakeholders including partner agencies, community leaders, CBO and local NGOs and service providers.
• Work in coordination and in collaboration with field staffs and other NEWA program, M & E, Finance and IT staffs and sections
• Confirm project implementations are in the right track to achieve and registered expected results, contribute to the national outcomes and donor’s programs, impacts and sustainability of the results,
• Ensures the compliance of donor contracts (projects and budgets), that programs/ projects are implemented on time and meet expected deadlines.
• Produce timely/periodic quality reports to the donors and NEWA
• Represent NEWA in different platforms that you are assigned for by your immediate supervisor
• Follow up and the identify best practices for learning, publications and promotion and work closely with communication department,
• Contribute to the exchange of information and provide inputs to the development of knowledge products internally and externally of the program.
• Coordinate the organization of major advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products that are related with GBV/HTP.
• Closely follow up the quality conduct of outsourced consultancy services, including the preparation of ToR, selection process, inception and final reports that focused on GBV/HTP.
• Maintain budget and track expenditures or transactions are as per the respective approved project budgets,
• Contribute to contents for website, social media and IEC materials (magazines, brochures, leaflets, t-shirts, etc.) for promotional purpose and information sharing,
• Ensure project documents, reports, essential communications and event minutes and proceedings, print materials are well documented, secured for reference and future use,
• Attend periodic program staff meetings, discuss on concerns and issues and take informed and timely decisions,
• Make sure of smooth relationships and mutual respect with donor partners,
• Respect NEWA’s values. principles and policies,
• Perform related duties as required

Documentation and Knowledge Management:

• Develop IEC materials, toolkits, reports, and best practices to enhance the awareness of the service providers and leaders.
• Ensure GBV/HTP/CM integrated into learning agendas and collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) approaches.
• Document and disseminate success stories, case studies, and lessons learned from technical assistance provision and other sources.

ACCOUNTABILITY

• Supervision: Work independently in with authority from Executive Director, Program Manager, and Program Coordinator with strategy and policy guidelines.
• Responsibilities over data or information: Has access and generating to information within NEWA program coordination and operations, for and is responsible for program data generation and management

JOB SPECIFICATION/ REQUIREMENTS

Required	Minimal	Desirable
Professional/ Qualifications	BA degree in the field of social science (gender studies/sociology/anthropology/social studies/ Public Health specializing in the field of women and development, or closely related field)	Masters’ Degree in the field of social sciences (gender studies/sociology/anthropology/social studies/Public Health specializing in the field of women and development, or closely related field)
Relevant Experience	GBV Program/Project coordination and including design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and reporting Prior experience on MHPSS, Economic Empowerment Experience in coordination and managing gender, related projects Experience CSO network, advocacy, movement building Fluent speaker of Afan Oromo	Experience in GBV program operations,
Experience	6 years of proven experience in program coordination and operations	4 years in program coordination and operations
Key skills	Strong team player Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Proposal writing and resource mobilization/ fundraising Excellent networking skills Strong organizational skills