Protection, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion Coordinator

Introduction:

Positive Action for Development (PAD) is one of the most vibrant, rapidly expanding, and results-driven civil society organizations in Ethiopia. Positive Action for Development (PAD) is currently scaling up its intervention to focus on humanitarian, NEXUS, and development activities. This includes expanding PAD intervention throughout the country, including Addis Abeba, Amhara, Oromia, Harari, Afar, Somali, Tigray, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Ethiopia’s southern regional states.

Vision and Mission of PAD

Vision: PAD strives to see a community of hope, humane, and social justice.

Mission: PAD brings people together to work in partnerships; Promotes hope, humanity, and social justice for every human, life in all its fullness; improves the livelihoods of the disadvantaged groups for Social and Inclusive Economic Growth through actively engaging in positive actions promoting responsive care and support, and fights the causes of poverty in Ethiopia”.

Job Summary:

The Protection, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion Coordinator will be responsible for adapting and implementing strong Gender, Protection and Safeguarding systems, standards, reporting, monitoring, and sharing learning that safeguards beneficiaries, partners, and the organization at large. This role often includes developing and implementing policies and procedures, providing training, and ensuring that all activities adhere to established safeguarding standards.

He/she leads and coordinates efforts to protect individuals, particularly vulnerable groups, from harm, abuse, and exploitation within a specific program or organization. The coordinator will work with HR to implement PSEA policy and procedures effectively and efficiently to make sure that all kinds of Safeguarding and PSEA Concerns are reported within 24 hours following the PAD Child Safeguarding and PSEA Policy and the Local Procedures. S/he will coordinate with all relevant departments to ensure safer programming is prioritized in program design and implementation.

Key responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the head of Programs, Legal and Compliance Advisor, the Protection, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion Coordinator will:

• Develop, update, implement, and monitor safeguarding policies, procedures, and reporting mechanisms to ensure the safety and well-being of program participants. Facilitate/support the integration of safeguarding frameworks, Protection & GBV across programs.
• Conducting training for staff, volunteers, and community members on safeguarding principles, gender and disability mainstreaming, reporting procedures, and prevention of harm. Support contextual adaptation, design, and roll-out of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials.
• Maintain records of staff, partners, and other parties trained in mandatory safeguarding training (PSEA, Child safeguarding, Fraud Awareness, Safety, Security, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion).
• Conduct protection risk assessment and compile findings reports. Receiving, managing, and investigating reported safeguarding concerns, ensuring proper documentation and follow-up. Ensure all staff members understand, abide by, and sign the PAD PSEA, CP Policy, and Code of Conduct, in collaboration with HR. Maintain and file all Safeguarding reports appropriately and submit regular progress reports.
• Support programs on establishing accessible, efficient, confidential, and safe feedback and complaints mechanisms. Tracking and reporting on the effectiveness of safeguarding measures, identifying areas for improvement, and ensuring accountability.
• Working with internal teams, external partners, and relevant stakeholders to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach to safeguarding. Ensure everyone associated with the organization responds to safeguarding issues.
• Provide technical advice, support, and guidance to HR on safeguarding topics, including safer recruitment, complaints mechanisms, and community engagement.
• Conduct supervision and monitoring visits to program implementation through field visits, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews with staff and beneficiaries, and explore safeguarding issues. Produce reports to demonstrate impact, progress against action plans, and inform ongoing and future program design.
• Identify opportunities for developing advocacy and communication materials on Safeguarding, GBV, and protection issues.
• Collect and promote good practices and lessons learned for Protection and GBV programming.
• Provide inputs for proposals & reports, plan & manage PAD and Safeguarding budgets and spending.
• Organize and conduct periodic project review meetings in coordination with MEAL.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

External coordination, representation, and communication in the Gender, Protection, and Safeguarding AOR

• Represent PAD and participate in regional and national-level protection, Gender sensitive and safeguarding task forces, Clusters, and coordination platforms to provide updates and receive guidance.
• Liaise and coordinate with other like-minded international and local partners to advocate for greater commitment to a multisectoral Gender, Protection and Safeguarding response and to enhance multi-agency and multi-sectoral cooperation and coordination.
• Support and facilitate donor field visits to the country office and project operational locations.
• Share minutes and summary of action points of relevant coordination and joint meetings attended.
• Update the online activity info.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Core Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of international standards on safeguarding, PSEA, and child protection.
• Experience in conducting training, capacity building, and mentoring on safeguarding, GBV, and gender inclusion.
• Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Amharic; knowledge of additional local languages is an asset.
• Strong computer skills (MS Office, Excel, and reporting tools).
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

Qualifications

• University degree or Master’s in Social Work, Psychology, Law, Human Rights, International Development, or a related field from an accredited academic institution. A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience, preferably with international NGOs. Professional certifications in Protection, Safeguarding, PSEA, or Gender-Based Violence (GBV) are an added advantage.

Experience

• Proven experience in child protection, gender-based violence prevention, or other related fields.
• In-depth knowledge of protection-sensitive operation/response guidance and tools.
• Practical experience and detailed knowledge of protection-sensitive response, with emphasis on acute/rapid onset and recovery programs, is essential.
• Thorough knowledge of data protection issues in emergency operations.
• Ability to adapt technical knowledge and expertise to specific projects or activities.
• Ability to work with colleagues from different cultural and professional backgrounds; flexibility to perform and deliver in difficult and rapidly changing situations is essential.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written).

Knowledge:

Strong understanding of gender, Protection and Safeguarding principles, relevant laws and policies, and best practices.

Skills:

Excellent communication, interpersonal, and training skills, as well as strong organizational and analytical abilities.

Core Competencies required

Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.

• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented, agreed-upon, and timely manner. Is action-oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge, and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring, and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies Required

Leadership: Provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example, and demonstrates the ability to carry out the Organization’s vision. Assists others to realize and develop their leadership and professional potential.

• Empowering others: Creates an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.
• Building Trust: Promotes shared values and creates an atmosphere of trust and honesty.
• Strategic thinking and vision: Works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.
• Humility: Leads with humility and shows openness to acknowledging own shortcomings.

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Values – all PAD staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent, and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected, and fairly treated.

Number required: 1 (One)

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Salary: As per the organization’s Salary Scale

Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply

Equal Employment Opportunity

• Positive Action for Development (PAD) promotes fairness, equity, and diversity in the workplace. We welcome applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, or other personal status. Hiring decisions are made based on skills, experience, and suitability for the role.
• We are committed to creating a respectful and inclusive environment where all staff can thrive, contribute meaningfully, and grow professionally.

Zero Tolerance for Misconduct

• PAD has zero tolerance for any form of abuse, harassment, exploitation, or misuse of power. We take safeguarding seriously and expect all staff, volunteers, and partners to follow our policies and uphold our values at all times. All successful candidates will go through background checks and be required to follow PAD’s code of conduct and safeguarding principles.

Recruitment Flexibility

• PAD reserves the right to recruit more than one candidate from this announcement or keep qualified applicants in our database for future similar roles.

Important Notice on Recruitment Fraud

• PAD does not request any payment at any stage of the recruitment process. If you receive any suspicious messages claiming to be from PAD, please report them to our office through official contact channels. www.padethiopia.org.