GBV Officer

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war and disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

IRC has been working in Pakistan for approximately 40 years, managing and delivering large, complex programs to meet the needs in health, education, safeguarding, environmental health and livelihoods for displaced, poor and disaster affected communities. IRC works in partnership with local government and non-governmental organizations and is currently working across the country.

About the Project:

International Rescue Committee, in partnership with UNICEF, is implementing a project that seeks to provide support and protection to the flood-affected communities in Baluchistan and Sind province. The proposed project will contribute to strengthening and scaling up the existing Child Protection (CP) & GBV mechanisms. In addition, the scope will be extended to prevention and response activities for the flood affected communities and refugees (where concentrated). It is about protecting women, girls, and boys, including marginalized individuals or groups at risks from harm and ensuring that women, girls and boys who are exposed to protection risks are immediately referred to relevant specialized services of case management and psychosocial support through a multi-sectoral referral pathway developed. Existing capacities of the service providers will be enhanced through provision of capacity building trainings and technical assistance.

Job Summary

The GBV Officer is in charge of ensuring accurate, proper, timely, and high-quality implementation of project Child Protection and GBV response in flood affected districts of Baluchistan and Sindh. S/he has a major responsibility for the project's steering and outcomes.

Major Responsibilities:

• Support and facilitate protection activities ensuring appropriate coordination with relevant stakeholders.

• Provide technical support by visiting field locations on a regular basis, ensuring that activities are implemented in an agreed manner.

• Establish and oversee the referral mechanism (Identification, registration, referral, and case closure) for effective support to the survivors/children at risk.

• Enhance/develop capacities of the project staff in working with children and women including people with special needs to develop new, creative activities as appropriate.

• Ensures that safeguarding standards are understood, met and ensures a safe and protective environment throughout the project.

• Understands Case Management SoPs for CP and GBV and regularly coordinates with project leads to support in capacity development exercises with relevant government departments and CSOs.

• Develop and strengthen strong relationships with relevant government departments and stakeholders.

• Contribute in awareness-raising campaigns for sensitization of communities and stakeholders on protection issues of children and women.

• Undertake regular field monitoring visits to assess progress and identify technical quality issues and/or other implementation issues, provide solutions and implement modifications as required.

• Support field team in building capacities of project staff, conducting parents’ and community meetings.

• Document success stories and lessons, where possible.

• Ensures that all protection related incidents are properly documented.

• Ensures that equipment inventories are up to date and that replacement needs are highlighted.

• Support preparation of requisitions for appropriate project needs in line with approved budget from time to time.

• Ensure that all interventions are in line with the IRC strategy, and CP/GBV Minimum Standards.

• Perform any other project related tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to: GBV Field Manager, and technically report to Integrated Protection Coordinator.

• Other Internal and/or external contacts: o Internal: Finance, Supply Chain, Human Rescue Health Services Section, Health Information System Section, Community Mobilization Section. o External: Government Service Providers, relevant departments, partners/CSOs.

Job Requirements

a. Education

Graduate/master’s degree in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law or other social science field is required.

b. Work Experience

Minimum of 3 years field experience in GBV, child protection, protection, and case management programming preferably in emergencies/refugee response.

Skills and Competencies

• Applied experience in GBV, child protection and protection-specific prevention and response in emergencies.

• Demonstrated knowledge of and implementation of multi-sectorial GBV, child protection prevention and response programming.

• Demonstrated coordination and consensus-building skills to manage multiple stakeholder consultation processes.

• Experience managing protection case management programs, including implementation of best interests procedures.

• Demonstrated understanding of critical issues around protection data and knowledge of safe and ethical data collection analysis and conducting assessments.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Flexible attitude towards receiving feedback

• Strong networking skills with relevant stakeholders

• Sound presentation skills

Language Skills:

Fluent, professional level speaking, reading and writing in English and Urdu. Knowledge of local languages will be an advantage.

The IRC Core Values and Commitments.

• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

• IRC is committed to ensuring that IRC staff is suitable to work with children and have the knowledge s/he needs to uphold and abide by the IRC’s Child Safeguarding Policy.

• Level of interaction with children: Less frequent direct contact with children

• IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of our organizational mission. As such, IRC is committed to the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures and actions demonstrate this commitment.

Women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.