Women Protection and Empowerment Manager

BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, provides relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict support to victims of oppression and violent conflict in 42 countries. IRC is committed to bold leadership, innovation and creative partnerships.

South Sudan, an independent nation since 9 July 2011, is emerging from decades of brutal civil war rooted in disputes over religion, ethnicity, resources, governance and self-determination. The security situation remains fragile and testing operational challenges abound. IRC has been in South Sudan since 1989 and currently operates in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes, Unity, Jonglei, Central Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria states.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Manager is responsible for a smooth implementation of daily project activities and ensures that overall program goals and objectives are met. S/he will provide supervision and guidance to the WPE project team, with an emphasis on coaching and mentoring national staff to build their capacity. S/he will also work closely  with key staff in the IRC’s Health and Protection sectors, and, together with the Senior WPE Manager and WPE Program Coordinator, work to achieve managed growth of the IRC’s WPE program in South Sudan.

The position will be based in Malualkon with frequent travel within Aweil East and Aweil Centre. The position reports to the Field Coordinator and receives technical support from the Senior WPE Manager based in Juba.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Program management and development
• Oversee the implementation of IRC’s existing Women’s Protection and Empowerment program activities in NBG to ensure the program is implemented according to schedule and budgets, and that program objectives are met.
• Build relationships with partners, government, other NGOs and UN agencies to establish/strengthen appropriate referral systems to ensure survivors can access services in a timely and confidential manner.
• Provide technical guidance, oversight and support to the response team in provision of quality case management services to ensure the needs of women and girls who experience violence are met on a timely and consistent manner.
• Develop, conduct, and supervise trainings on key GBV tools, basic counseling, Clinical Care for Sexual Assault Survivors, and GBV resources for partners, community members, and service providers to ensure programming meets GBV best practices.
• Oversee the implementation of economic and social empowerment programming and ensure the intended objectives of the program are being met in line with the required standards and guidelines.
• Oversee the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of adolescent girl programming in NBG to ensure the unique need of girls are being met and that program activities meets the required quality and standards.
• Lead training of new IRC WPE team and service providers in case management, psychosocial support, clinical management of rape survivors and economic and social empowerment approaches.
• Support IRC team and partners through ongoing mentorship to ensure programming meets GBV best practices and guiding principles that prioritize the security of beneficiaries and staff.
• Oversee start up of the women’s safe space and work to achieve sustainable and community-owned management by developing sound partnerships among IRC, RSS ministries and local organizations.
• Liaise with the IRC Health sector to support integration of Clinical Care for Sexual Assault Survivors’ services within existing County Health Department (CHD) primary health care units in closed collaboration with key IRC health personnel and County Health Department officials.
• Support the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the women’s leadership program to promote their leadership, participation in decision making and advocacy role in, GBV prevention and response and, security and development in their community
• Oversee implementation and coordination of activities to ensure targets are met.
• Ensure monitoring and evaluation systems are in place which can be used to demonstrate project impact and inform ongoing program design.
• Collect, analyze and disseminate project data and information through regular assessments with women and girls for problem analysis, planning and advocacy with other stakeholders and to inform WPE future programming in NBG.

Staff management

• Recruit staff in conjunction with Human Resources Department and Field Manager. Maintain updated job descriptions, conduct interviews, orient new staff to the IRC and the WPE program.
• Supervise WPE staff and volunteers directly, as well as interns and consultants as needed.
• Ensure Performance Management System documentation is in place and followed up regularly.
• Recommend and implement a capacity building plan for WPE staff based on documented capacity needs assessment exercise.
• Ensure WPE staff understand and follow IRC and donor Policies and Procedures.
• Supervise WPE senior staff directly, providing ongoing leadership to the project team and overseeing implementation and coordination of activity plans to ensure targets are met.
• Build staff capacity in work plan development and reporting to ensure accurate monitoring and documentation of activities.

Grant Management and Reporting

• Build staff capacity in writing activity and monthly reports to ensure accurate monitoring and documentation of activities.
• Manage and oversee all NBG WPE grants; develop and maintain work, spending and procurement plans for multiple projects. Participate in all grant opening, mid-term and closing meetings.
• Prepare internal and external reports within agreed deadlines using IRC and donor formats, as required.
• Oversee all budget expenditures and ensure they are allowable according to IRC and donor regulations; review monthly Budget vs. Actual and expenditure sheets and feed corrections back to Finance through the Field Coordinator.
• In coordination with the WPE Program Coordinator, contribute to proposal development and the elaboration of concept notes to expand IRC’s WPE portfolio in South Sudan.

Representation and Coordination

• Coordinate the IRC WPE activities with the NBG GBV working group.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders, including community leaders, NGOs, UN agencies, community based organizations and other IRC sectors to enhance multi-agency and multi-sectoral cooperation and coordination.
• Liaise with other GBV agencies in NBG to plan and provide joint trainings, support implementation of NBG GBV Prevention and Response Standard Operating Procedures and work plan, and undertake relevant advocacy.
• Represent the WPE program in NBG with donors and other key stakeholders as requested by the DDP and WPE Coordinator.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

• Position Reports to:  Field Coordinator
• Position directly supervises:  national WPE team
• Indirect Reporting: this position has a dotted support line to the Senior WPE Manager
• Other Internal contacts: WPE Coordinator, other Program Managers and Program Coordinators, DDO, heads of departments  
• Other external contacts: Relevant other stakeholders e.g. UN bodies, local and national authorities  

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Master’s degree in gender studies, health, social work, humanities or other related discipline.
• 3+ years of relevant overseas program management experience, with at least 2 year of GBV program management experience preferably within a humanitarian or post-conflict environment.
• Experience in adolescent girls and economic and social empowerment programming strongly preferred.
• Community education/training experience, particularly with low-literate beneficiaries.
• Familiarity with WHO Clinical Management of Rape (CMR) guidelines or IRC Clinical Care of Sexual Assault Survivors (CCSAS) guidelines
• Good interpersonal and team building skills and knowledge of participatory approaches.
• Demonstrated skill in staff management in a cross- cultural environment
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and computer skills.
• Ability to live and work in a very remote environment
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Security level yellow - standard precautions apply. Concerns include common criminality, presence of armed troops, and tribal violence.

The position is based in Malualkon, Aweil East County. Sleeping accommodation is a tukul with common latrines and showers. All IRC sites have electricity and internet at least several hours per day. Food is the individual’s responsibility.