Protection and Inclusion Officer

IR/INT/EXT/VN/047.22
May 26, 2022

Post title:               Protection and Inclusion Officer

Report to:                PDQA Manager

Duty Station:         Country Office, Addis Ababa

Required:               One

Salary:                    As per the organization scale

Duration:               One year with possible extension

IntroductionIslamic Relief is an international relief and development charity founded in 1984 with its headquarters in Birmingham, UK. As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities – regardless of race, religion or gender. The office officially started operation in Ethiopia in 2004. Islamic Relief Ethiopia (IRE) is operational in the Somali Regional State with a base office in Jigjiga, Hargelle, Elkere, Bare, GG and Dekasuftu, Afar Regional State; Ewa, Awra and Gulina; Oromia regional State, West Harergeye, Chiro and Meayso Woredas and an additional operational office in Addis Ababa. For more information please visit our website: http://www.islamic-relief.org/work-with-us

Job Purpose

The Protection and Inclusion Officer works towards achieving “Leave no one behind” and “Do no harm” agendas to be integrated into all Islamic Relief Ethiopia programs, and ensures commitments towards Core Humanitarian Standards and inclusion Charter. The candidate must have the ability to forge strong partnerships with key stakeholders to meet objectives.

Key working Relationship

·         Work closely with thematic sector coordinators and field staff in all IRE operational regions/areas.

·         Follow issues, communications and enquires coming from HQ technical advisors (Gender, Child Protection, Age and Disability) are addressed timely to ensure mainstreaming of inclusion and protection into IR programmes.

·         Work closely with M&E unit in CO and follow CHS commitments and accountability components are addressed in IR programmes.

·         Channel key recommendations and messaging to IR Advocacy initiatives, as necessary, to influence policy and practice on inclusion and protection.

·         Work with key stakeholders within country to build their capacity on protection and inclusion, which includes child protection, prevention of GBV, inclusion of all ages and disabilities and accountable systems.

·         Work closely with national and sub-national relevant clusters.

Key Responsibilities

•        Support the development and delivery of inclusive, sensitive and accountable programmes under protection mainstreaming umbrella.

•        Plan and implement activities to ensure that IR’s Inclusive approach to programming is consistently applied through community-based protection methods.

•        Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based protection programming through a consultative process with sector and/or cluster partners.

•        Strengthen active partnerships with relevant government agencies and specialized NGOs/ CSOs partners, and strengthen referral systems in areas of Child protection and GBV;

•        Network with key external stakeholders to find areas of collaboration, best practice, innovation, knowledge sharing and partnerships.

•        Identify training needs and build the capacity of IR local staff on inclusion, protection and CHS accountability components.

•        Work with HR team to ensure staff are aware of their responsibilities around safeguarding through the design and delivery of safeguarding inductions and periodic safeguarding trainings

•        Ensure data collection mechanisms are in place and data is collected and analyzed periodically

•        Conduct conflict sensitivity analysis exercise with relevant stakeholders and ensure IR programmes “Do no harm” in their communities.

•        Ensure gender, age and diversity analysis is done and updated regularly to respond to beneficiaries needs

•        Provide technical support on inclusion and protection for new bids and proposals to ensure it is weaved into planning phase.

•        Support the different teams to conduct safeguarding related due diligence on local partners identified by IR for partnership

•        Prepare and maintain an updated organizational safeguarding implementation plan and oversee its implementation both at the field and Country Office level

•        Follow up and provide technical guidance during implementation phase and document accordingly.

•        Promote and ensure that safe, confidential and appropriate channels are in place for rights holders, staff and other relevant stakeholders to raise safeguarding and related concerns and provide timely feedback as per the organizational procedure

•        Proactively exchange learning and synergy with all involved stakeholders.

•        Drafts relevant sections of reports required for donors, management, annual reports.

•        Work closely with relevant clusters by attending meetings, sharing updates and other relevant documents.

•        Collaborate with Monitoring and Evaluation personnel for timely evaluation of projects;

•        Participate and influence external platforms on protection and inclusivity.

•        Assess internal safeguarding prevention, report and response measures and readiness; coordinate periodic audits of safeguarding practice across key programme activities of the organization.

Required Qualification and Experience

Education and experience

·         University degree in one of the relevant areas- International Law, Human Rights, or other related Social Science

·         Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience or Master’s degree and preferably 3 years of relevant professional work experience in human rights issues, inclusivity, protection and/or child protection, and GBV. Working in emergency or conflict situations in developing countries is an asset.

·         Fluency in English, and knowledge on local languages of IR operational areas is an advantage.

Required Skills/Competencies

·         Planning and organizing

·         Communication skills

·         Ability to work in a multicultural environment

·         Good interpersonal skills

·         Good advocacy, analytical skills

·         Teamwork/working with people

·         Drive for results Learning Elements

·         Be familiar with IR overall programming in unstable situations;

·         Articulate methodology of programme and project management;

·         Articulate rights based and results based programming in IR;

·         Demonstrate a good understanding of IR policies and strategy to address child protection and GBV issues;

Knowledge

·         Demonstrate enhanced knowledge of inclusive programming approach to child protection and GBV issues.

·         Good understanding of GBV and guidelines in preventing in humanitarian action.

·         Good understanding of CHS Commitments, SPHERE, minimum standards of age and disability inclusion

·         Good understanding of minimum standards on child protection

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunity

Islamic Relief and Islamic Relief staff considers the welfare and protection of children, young people and people at risk to be paramount to the organization. And must adhere the principle of ‘do no harm and leave no one behind.’ It is critical we do not expose communities or staff we work with to the risk of harm through our interventions.  With a zero tolerance approach Islamic Relief have a number of related policies which also describe standards in behavior expected from the organization, its staff and representatives towards each other and those we serve. Islamic Relief is committed to responding swiftly, appropriately and constructively to any and all information children, young people and people at risk have disclosed.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. We participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and child abuse during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment before signing the contract agreement.

Islamic Relief believes everyone has the right to be safe, respected and valued regardless of who they are or their circumstances, and an equal employment opportunity  to all candidates and qualified applicants, we do not discriminate on the base of age, sex, race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability status and diversity.