GBV/Protection Coordinator

POSITION TITLE: Gender-based Violence & Protection Coordinator
DATE:  April 2014
COUNTRY PROGRAM: Somalia
RESPONSIBLE TO:  Emergency Coordinator
STATUS (Full time, Part time, Temporary):  Full Time
SUPERVISORY CAPACITY: GBV & Protection program staff
 
 
DEPARTMENT/COUNTRY PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/MISSION
The overall objective of the American Refugee Committee (ARC) Somalia program is to contribute to the realization of the aspirations of Somali youth, the rehabilitation of good governance and basic public services, and the peaceful recovery of Somalia. More specifically, the ARC Somalia Gender-based Violence (GBV) prevention and response program seeks to strengthen the quality and accessibility of services for survivors of GBV and reduce incidence of GBV through evidence-informed, constituent-driven prevention and risk reduction interventions. Operational in Somalia since 2011, ARC implements a multi-sector program that includes water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, primary and reproductive health care, and GBV prevention and response interventions.  ARC has program activities in South Central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland.
 
PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The Gender-based Violence & Protection (GBV/Protection) Sector Specialist is responsible for the design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of ARC’s Gender-based Violence & Protection program in Somalia, working under the supervision of the Emergency Coordinator and in collaboration with the HQ GBV & Protection Technical Advisor.  The Specialist ensures well-planned prevention, response, and coordination efforts, with an emphasis on capacity-strengthening of national staff, local partners and service providers for sustainable, quality interventions.  The Specialist will provide managerial oversight, technical support, and leadership within the ARC Protection team and the Protection Cluster as well as provide managerial oversight to designated field operations units (as appropriate). The Specialist is based in Mogadishu and Kismayo.
 
PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES                                                                                                                     % OF TIME
Program Development and Management (40%)

• In collaboration with the ARC protection team and local actors, provide technical leadership related to project design and development, planning, implementation, and overall project management of the GBV/Protection program

• Ensure the availability of essential, life-saving GBV response interventions, including comprehensive case management, psychosocial support/mental health services, legal assistance (if applicable), and capacity-strengthening of local service providers, in line with international standards
• Promote good standards among and oversight  to case management teams to ensure client-centered case management and psychosocial support services as well as the safe and ethical collection, storage, analysis, and sharing of data through the GBVIMS and information sharing protocols
• Collaborate closely with ARC, government, and other NGO health staff to ensure clinical care for sexual assault survivors and the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) in line with international protocols
• Promote evidence-informed, community-driven GBV prevention and risk reduction strategies, including evidence-based community mobilization strategies, community-based protection mechanisms, economic and educational opportunities, and protection and gender mainstreaming across other sectors
• Prioritize the development of formal partnerships with local women’s groups, CBOs, and government social workers to strengthen technical and organizational capacity
• Meaningfully engage local partners and community members, particularly women and girls, in all aspects of design, implementation, and monitoring in order to maintain inclusive programs, contextual relevance,  and sustainability
• Identify, monitor, and analyze gaps in access to and quality of multi-sector services
• Promote evidence-based practice and increase ARC’s contribution to the field of GBV prevention and response by developing and researching innovative approaches, building on known good practices
• Advocate the meaningful integration of protection, gender, age, and special needs considerations within ARC country projects to promote safe, dignified, and equitable access to resources and services
• Develop technically sound work plans and activities consistent with program goals and objectives in coordination with protection staff, the senior management team, and ARC HQ

• Develop project concept notes, proposals, and monitoring and evaluation plans and strategies and ensure timely and high quality implementation of the work plan in coordination with field teams

 
Capacity Strengthening (20%)

• Provide ongoing oversight, training, and guidance to staff and volunteers to ensure GBV programming meets best practicestandards and prioritizes the safety and security of beneficiaries and staff

• Provide ongoing technical support and mentorship for the GBV Officer to develop professional and technical competency

• Facilitate trainings and discussions with staff and local partners as well as ‘training of trainers’ workshops on process and content issues related to the program
• Support field teams to participate in and provide leadership within state-level working groups

• Provide technical support to ARC’s Senior Management Team to ensure country program strategies highlight protection and empowerment strategies and interventions, focusing on women and girls
• Provide technical feedback on monthly narrative reports received from GBV Program Officers, ensuring that established program targets and objectives are being met

 
Coordination & Advocacy  (20%)

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with all stakeholders – including women’s groups, community leaders, government stakeholders, NGOs, UN agencies, and CBOs to enhance multi-agency and multi-sectoral cooperation and coordination
• Strengthen the operationalization of National and State GBV Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by engaging relevant stakeholders in review and update processes
• Build partnerships with Government Ministries of Gender, Child, & Social Welfare, Health, and Justice to appropriately address women’s issues and GBV in national policies, laws and guidelines
• Improve ARC’s implementation of the GBV Information Management System (GBVIMS) in all sites, including careful discernment between client confidentiality and the safe and ethical transmission of information, use of standard forms and database, monitoring adherence to inter-agency information sharing protocols, and compilation and submission of monthly data to UNFPA focal point and donors
• Utilizing IASC GBV Guidelines, collaborate with all clusters to ensure coordinated prevention and risk reduction interventions are integrated within each cluster’s strategy and activities
• Strengthen coordination among the prevention and response aspects of ARCs GBV program, ensuring cohesive, comprehensive ARC GBV interventions
• Engage key stakeholders in the roll out of the national Clinical Management of Rape guidelines
• Ensure close monitoring of psychosocial, health, security, and judicial referral trends and collaboratively develop strategies to support more trustworthy, gender- and child-sensitive services

 
Grants Management and Human Resources (20%)

• Ensure all internal and external narrative reports are of good quality and completed on time,  promoting good understanding about projects with donors, other sectors, partners, and communities
• Manage multi-grant budgets in order to maintain program expenditure within budget parameters, ensuring adherence to ARC financial procedures and donor requirements
• Support GBV Program teams to utilize financial planning tools, such as spending plans, procurement plans, and work plans based on activities and budgets
• Participate in the recruitment and mentorship of GBV Program Officers and other staff
• Create staff development plans in collaboration with staff
• Monitor and provide objective feedback related to staff performance, including completing staff performance evaluations to promote growth and professional development

 
EDUCATION, TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED
•      Master of Social Work, Public Health, International Human Rights, or other related field (e.g., gender studies, women’s studies, psychology)
•      Minimum 5 years international experience and at least 1 year managing GBV prevention and response programs in emergency and post conflict environments
•      Thorough awareness and knowledge of reproductive health and gender issues as well as GBV and demonstrated commitment to gender equality
•      Strong knowledge of GBV-related best practices and tools, including IASC GBV Guidelines, GBVIMS, SOPs, GBV Coordinator’s Handbook, Caring for Survivors/Working with Survivors Training Tools, WHO Recommendations, etc.
•      Thorough understanding of counseling and psychosocial support principles and skills and ability to adapt psychosocial skills to cultural context; counseling experience preferred
•      Strong grant management in post conflict/transitional settings
•      Experience in participatory methods for community education and mobilization
•      Diplomacy and assertiveness; the ability to confront and discuss sensitive issues with respect
•      Excellent communication skills, with good spoken and written English
•      Excellent report writing, research, documentation, and presentation skills
•      Demonstrated experience related to monitoring and evaluating projects
•      Experience coordinating with and strengthening capacity of civil society actors and organizations
•      Knowledge of Somali language preferred
 
KEY BEHAVIORS & ABILITIES

• Ability to live and productively work in insecure, unstable and/or harsh environments
• Ability to work remotely in coordinating GBV interventions across multiple sites
• Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player with proven supervisory skills
• Additional qualities: flexibility, cultural and environmental sensitivity, and abilities to multitask, handle pressure well, and improvise
• Familiar with the issues and cultures in Somalia, and ability to interact with people at all levels, individually and/or in groups
• Willingness to live in shared accommodation
• Willingness to travel