Gender Based Violence Regional Technical Advisor, West Africa

Description:

Location: Sierra Leone
Job Code: 4918
# of openings: 1

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the largest humanitarian agencies in the world, providing relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of oppression and violent conflict. IRC has worked for over seven decades and today is involved in over 25 conflict zones in the world. We address both the immediate, life saving needs of conflict affected people in an emergency and the reconstruction needs in post conflict societies.

IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and thorough accountability to those we serve. The IRC is an international agency with offices in London, New York, and Geneva.

Background:

The International Rescue Committee is considered a leader in gender-based violence (GBV) programming and implemented its first GBV program in 1996. Today it implements GBV programs in 13 countries and collaborates with other IRC Technical Units and organizations to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls in all its manifestations.

The IRC is launching a Regional Project to address violence against women and girls in Ivory Coast, Liberia and Sierra Leone. As part of IRC’s Global GBV Strategy a GBV Technical Assistance Team has been put in place to provide technical support in the implementation and best practice development of GBV programming. In addition to striving to implement quality GBV interventions IRC has identified seven priority areas as it operationalizes its GBV Global strategy. These priorities include: Data & Information Management, Program Effectiveness, Research, Advocacy, HIV/AIDS, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Girls and Young Women.

Scope of Work:

The Regional GBV Technical Advisor (GBVTA) is responsible for ensuring quality implementation of the 5 strategic objectives outlined in the Women and Girls Rebuilding Nations project. The TA will also be providing technical support to country programs, as and when required in their programming on preventing and responding to violence against women and girls in West Africa, including reviewing proposals to potential donors and donor reports.

1. Increase the capacity of local communities, civil society organizations, and the government to combat violence against women
2. Increase access to services for survivors of, and women and girls vulnerable to, sexual assault or physical violence
3. Improve access to and control over resources and leadership opportunities for women and girls
4. Foster and strengthen local, national, and international advocacy efforts that address the empowerment of women and girls who have survived conflict
5. Contribute research and knowledge to the field of programming that relates to adressing violence against women.

The GBVTA will provide on-site and remote technical assistance in the areas of Design, Implementation & Monitoring, Evaluation, Staffing and Representation. This includes developing long-term strategies to guide GBV Programming in each of the three countries as well as supporting country programs to ensure competitive proposals for continued funding.

The GBVTA will work closely with the Health, CYPD and Protection teams in order to meet the safety, health, psychosocial, and justice needs of women and girls who are survivors of gender-based violence and empower communities to lead efforts that challenge beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate or condone violence against women. Specific coordination and collaboration will take place between the Legacy and Women Rebuilding Nations initiatives.

Essential Job Functions:

DESIGN

The GBVTA will be responsible for ensuring country programs have technically sound project designs for the implementation of the 5 strategic objectives in the Women and girls project. This will be accomplished by:

• Working with country programs to develop sector specific strategies
• Working country programs to design technically sound log frames that guide implementation of the above strategy
• Ensure the IRC’s Global GBV strategy is operationalized
• Assist with incorporation of the Program Framework into GBV programming and ensure collaborative/integrated approach with other technical units where appropriate
• Assist with needs assessments: methodology, provision of tools, technical advice, and identification of qualified consultants.

IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING

The GBVTA will be responsible for ensuring country programs implement programs in a manner that demonstrates timely progress towards benchmarks established for each of the strategic objectives. This will be accomplished by:

• Working with country programs to develop realistic work plans.
• Monitor progress across work plans by reviewing monthly reports and program data on a monthly basis.
• Assist country programs in identifying qualified staff and assisting in developing capacity building and mentoring plans for key program staff.
• Respond to technical queries/concerns in a timely manner
• Review and comment on reports, proposals and other documents as needed (internal program reports and donor reports)
• Develop and disseminate tools, new resources and other information relevant to effective programming and staff growth.
• Facilitate coordination with other technical units.

EVALUATION

The GBVTA will act as the liaison between the research partner and the three country programs in order to establish conditions necessary to evaluate program impact.

• Participate or provide technical guidance to ensure grant mandated evaluations are done in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Liaise with the Research and Learning team on Institutional evaluations to ensure appropriate methodology and staffing.
• Contribute to the analysis and documentation of lessons learned for the programs for which she is responsible.

STAFFING

• Assist with recruitment – program staff, interns, and consultants
• Assist with staff development – training, competency benchmarks, mentoring, identifying development opportunities
• Performance management – contribute to performance evaluations of sectoral coordinators
• Assist with retention by contributing to the development of field staff through training, mentoring, and assisting with professional advancement.

REPRESENTATION

The GBVTA will be responsible for providing timely, quality information in order to enhanced relationship with NoVo and increases chances of continued and diversified funding. This will be accomplished by:

• Writing a quarterly report on the Women Rebuilding Nations project.
• Working with country programs to develop web-based material highlighting the accomplishments of the GBV programs in West Africa
• Provide technical guidance in collaboration with the Country team and DC Advocacy Office on government policy, NGO Working groups, UN agencies and working groups and other issues as needed to strengthen programming on preventing and responding to violence against women and girls in West Africa.

Requirements:

• MA/S or equivalent in health (MPH), social work, humanities or other related degree; or equivalent programming experience.
• 5 years program management experience, including at least 3 years implementing GBV programs in emergency and post-conflict contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in assessment, management, project planning, and proposal development.
• Experience working to integrate prevention and response to VAW into health and legal justice systems.
• Demonstrated understanding of a survivor centered approach to GBV programming.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated competency in Windows, MS office programs, and databases.
• Fluency in French highly desirable.
• Experience working in insecure and difficult locations.

To Apply:

Please apply online at: http://tbe.taleo.net/NA2/ats/careers/apply.jsp?org=IRC&cws=1

IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. IRC is an equal opportunity employer.

For more information, please visit: http://www.theirc.org/jobs or http://tbe.taleo.net/NA2/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=IRC&cws=1&rid=4918