Job Description
EngenderHealth is seeking expressions of interest from well qualified candidates for the Protection and Gender Officer positions (2) for UNICEF supported emergency project in Afar region for Abala and Berehale zones.
COMPANY SUMMARY
EngenderHealth envisions a gender-equal world where all people achieve their sexual and reproductive health and rights. We believe this is essential for ensuring all people can achieve their full potentials. To achieve this vision, we implement high-quality, gender-equitable programs that advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.
JOB SUMMARY
Under the supervision of the Protection and Gender Program Manager, the Protection and Gender Officer will be responsible for assisting in the implementation of EngenderHealth’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Integrated Gender Based Violence (GBV) project activities as well as design strategies and mobilize the community to respond gender issues affecting especially women and girls of the area. This will include activities of providing support to some of the most vulnerable members of the community, particularly children, adolescent girls, and women, supporting training and capacity building, advocacy, communicating key messages and increasing awareness, working with the community and local services to increase capacity through community dialogue, outreach campaigns and share with actors for appropriate actions of services related to protection, gender-based violence, and mental health, provide basic psychosocial support and case management, conduct assessments, and provide monitoring information. The Protection officer will work closely with EngenderHealth’s Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) team, UN agencies, Woreda WCAO (Women and Children Affairs Office), Woreda Health Office, and other implementing partners in supporting and assisting GBV survivors and vulnerable women and girls. The position holder will be also responsible to identify the gaps and areas of support for the above-mentioned local government offices and report to Protection and Gender Program Manager.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
a) Project Activity Implementation
- Provides individual and group Psychosocial Support and counselling to child and adult beneficiaries/survivors either directly or through supporting health/social workers.
- Supports the process of referring cases of vulnerable people internally, through government primary care services and specialist partners or UN agencies.
- Works with EngenderHealth’s program team, community structures, and partners to identify causes and contributing factors for violence against women and girls in the targeted woreda.
- Supports the delivery of awareness raising and engages community members and structures including Men, boys, women, and girls to design participatory strategies through Community Dialogues and actions to prevent GBV in the community.
- Mobilize and engage community members, structures, and partners in prevention and response events in targeted woreda including facilitation of community events such as 16 days of activism, March-8, etc.
- Works closely with woreda administrative and WCAO (Women and Children Affairs Office) office to map and find safe spaces for women and girls.
- Provides psychosocial support for GBV survivors and other vulnerable women and girls in WGSS after equipped with the necessary material.
- Develops GBV referral pathway with collaboration of other implementing partners.
- In collaboration with women and children affairs office support the provision of dignity kits for vulnerable women and girl
b) Capacity Building
- Supports the delivery of formal and on-the-job training and coaching for health and social workers, and other key stakeholders on protection principles, gender and MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support)
- Supports the delivery of formal training for associations and community groups, teachers, and other key influencers to increase awareness, capacity, and support.
- Collects information and contributes to the production of locally adapted IEC/BCC material.
- Provide technical support for the WACO office on Case management.
- Develops TOR and facilitate training on adapted case management for the WACO office to respond to Case management.
c) Reporting
- Ensures that activities are recorded, and activity reports are provided to the line manager by the agreed deadline and are of high quality.
d) Human Resource
- Participates in the hiring of community volunteers/mobilizers with the EngenderHealth HR team.
- Capacitates project community volunteers/mobilizers through on-the-job training, coaching, and mentoring sessions.
e) Coordination/Representation
- Advocates for the rights of vulnerable people and targeted beneficiaries through contact with local authorities, government officials, community leaders, elders, humanitarian partners, and other relevant actors.
- Participates in joint rapid needs assessments (including protection, gender analysis, and psychosocial support) through field visits in villages, camps, and other informal settlements with persons of concern within the community and identifies individuals at risk and humanitarian needs.
- Provides support to other agencies and local authorities in order to map services, collect data and provide monitoring reports.
f) Support the PSEA intervention
- Incorporates key messages of Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) in all awareness-raising and psychoeducation IEC materials and activities delivered at the community and or institutional level where Engender Health is operating humanitarian services.
- Closely works with community structures and forums to ensure Community Based Complaint Mechanism (CBCM) is functional, and up to the standard.
- Supports survivors of SEA to get the appropriate and comprehensive services through facilitating referral services.
REQUIREMENTS
- BA Degree in Psychology and Social work and other related disciplines.
- Relevant work-related field experience in humanitarian response, minimum 2 years for BA related to Protection, Gender Based-Violence, or Mental Health/Psychosocial Support.
ESSENTIAL SOFT SKILLS
- Committed to EngenderHealth’s core organizational values of reflection, inclusion, integrity, respect, and transformation.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work within a team structure.
- Excellent communication skills including the ability to gain trust and build relationships with new communities.
PREFERRED SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND FUNCTIONS
- Good understanding of protection principles, human rights, and case management.
- Previous humanitarian experience preferred- particularly in providing Psychosocial Support for GBV survivors in Women’s and Girl’s Safe Spaces and Community outreach settings.
- Experience in regular report writing.
- Language – high level of written and spoken English.
- Good knowledge of local customs and language-Afarigna
- Basic Computer skills.
Gender Equality Commitments
- Foster an environment that supports the values of women and men, and equal access to information.
- Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
- Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, and children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, race, colour, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
- Value and respect all cultures.
Physical Demands
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions.
- Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Working Conditions, Travel, and Environment
- The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
- While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high-security risks and/or very basic living conditions.
Disclaimer
The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person(s) assigned to this job. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities as needed and assigned.
EngenderHealth provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, creed, ancestry, citizenship, religion, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, political belief, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a victim of domestic violence, marital status, disability or any other protected characteristic or status under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
EngenderHealth complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in Ethiopia in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
EngenderHealth is committed to safeguarding all people, particularly children, vulnerable adults, and beneficiaries of assistance from any harm that may be caused due to contact with EngenderHealth. This includes harm arising from the conduct of staff, associates, and partners, and the design and implementation of programs and activities.