Community Wellbeing Initiative Learning Manager

Background:

Since March 2006, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been working in Ethiopia with refugees and service providers to reduce risks to, and minimize the consequences of, gender-based violence (GBV) and to support individuals who have experienced such violence. IRC Ethiopia’s Community Wellbeing Initiative (CWI) provides quality case management and psychosocial support services for survivors of violence and works with and supports community members and structures to build their capacities to respond to and prevent incidents of GBV.

The CWI’s services include: assessment and contextual analyses, counselling, support, referrals, and enhancing local capacities through awareness-raising, training, and coordination. The IRC CWI also implements programming for adolescent girls to increase their assets and resilience in order to more fully participate in refugee and local community contexts. The IRC’s adolescent girl programming includes a rigorous evaluation of the COMPASS adolescent girl program being implemented in the refugee camp context in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, as well as an adolescent girl project implemented in Bensa, SNNPR. The IRC strives to systematically learn throughout the project cycle in order to create and sustain quality programming.  

Scope:

The IRC is seeking a highly motivated and dynamic individual for the position of CWI Learning Manager. The CWI Learning Manager supports research, learning, and documentation initiatives throughout CWI programming. The ideal candidate has a background in program monitoring and evaluation, and concrete research and writing experience. This position will report to and work in close collaboration with the CWI Program Coordinator and supervise the CWI Research Manager. 

Responsibilities:

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Support to ongoing research projects

• Serve as the in-country focal point for academic partners and other research partners
• In collaboration with research team members, develop and implement work plans
• Operationalize research work plans in the field through communication with research academic partners, national program and operational (e.g. finance, supply chain, HR) staff, and regional and headquarters focal points
• Provide regular updates and written reports as required, and review reports as requested

Research, develop, and assess new programming strategies and tools

• Support teams in designing and conducting effective GBV assessments and evaluations of programming
• Assist with overview of GBVIMS data analysis and support quality response services
• Assist with the development of strategies and approaches to enhance program impact with populations with low literacy
• Assist with the research related to, and development and roll out of, new programming for women and girls wellness centers/safe spaces in accordance with women’s and girls’ needs
• Support the enhancement and utilization of participatory video as a monitoring and evaluation tool, including documentation of learning around this initiative

Collect and share best practices and lessons learned

• Build and maintain a deep understanding of all CWI activities including GBV prevention and response, safe space activities, adolescent girl programming, and related capacity building initiatives.
• Support monitoring and evaluation of CWI programming, ensuring plans for meeting indicators and targets are in place and assisting with learning, documentation (i.e. writing), and dissemination of best practices.
• Produce reports and facilitate other learning opportunities as applicable
• At the request of the CWI Coordinator take responsibility for miscellaneous tasks or projects not falling under responsibilities underlined in this job description.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in related field (public health, social work, research) with a minimum of three years of relevant work experience
• Experience with an NGO in a similar role preferred
• Experience with the provision of direct services to GBV survivors preferred
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• Excellent English written and oral communication skills are mandatory and among the most important qualifications sought for this position. Candidates will be asked to demonstrate English writing competency during the screening process.
• Knowledge of and practical experience in research and program assessment and evaluation methodologies
• Experience working with diverse teams
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel; database management and SPSS proficiency preferred

Personal specifications

• Ability to work under pressure and efficiently manage heavy workload
• Flexible and creative
• Ability to independently organize work and prioritize tasks.
• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.