Senior Social Protection Officer

Background/IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee’s mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded over 90 years ago, the IRC is a leading humanitarian and development organization with presence in more than 40 countries. Across contexts, the IRC is committed to delivering innovative, high-impact programs tailored to the needs of communities affected by crisis.

The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting refugees, vulnerable host communities, and various institutions in the country notably the government, community-based organizations, civil society, and the private sector. Currently, the IRC in Uganda has a presence across five sub-regions and six refugee settlements, implementing programming in the sectors of health, protection and rule of law (PRoL), women’s protection and empowerment (WPE), economic recovery and development (ERD), and education. IRC Uganda also implements cross-cutting programming focused on systems strengthening and accountability to affected persons.

Program Overview

IRC led consortium has been awarded a four-year PROSPECT SRHR project for West Nile region by the Embassy of the kingdom of Netherlands (EKN). The PROSPECT SRHR aims at improving the sexual reproductive health and social wellbeing of adolescents, youth, and women in West Nile by reducing maternal mortality, number of teenage pregnancies, instances of SSGBV and child marriages, and rates of new HIV infections. The project will be implemented in 6 districts with three cluster offices in Yumbe, Adjumani and Terego. IRC as the lead, will work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of education and Sports, and the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social development, and district local governments. More coordination and collaboration efforts will focus across development and Implementing partners especially in the region including USG and non-USG partners especially those implementing Regional Health Integration to Enhanced Services.

Job Overview/Summary:

This position conducts direct implementation of SGBV Prevention and Response activities in Yumbe while giving oversite support across Koboko, Terego, Maracha, Adjumani and Moyo refugee settlements and district coverage. The staff will provide supervision, mentorship and on ground capacity building to the Social Protection Officers, support reporting and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, enhance SGBV collaboration and relationships among partners, and lead in key response and prevention interventions to ensure the goals and objectives of the program are met. The Senior Officer will report to the Project Coordinator.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Support for capacity development of the Social Protection team, conduct regular field visits to do supervision, provide support and ensure a sustainable transfer of skills in adhere to SGBV and protection principles when working with survivors.
2. Work to ensure the linkage between prevention and response strategies are strengthened with evidence from project results, promoting synergies between strategies EMAP, Girl shine, Women Rise and SASA! Together.

1. In collaboration with the Project Coordinator and SOCIAL PROTECTION Deputy Coordinator, Develop, reprint and distribute IEC materials on behavioral change and awareness aspects.
2. Closely, work with the Project Coordinator to ensure that the project undertakes continuous monitoring of response and Prevention interventions so that activities are appropriate and based on a clear understanding of the problems, causes, contributing factors, and issues in the different zones.
3. In collaboration with the Social Protection Officers, lead/conduct periodic SGBV assessments, listening sessions and other assessments as need arises and lead in the regular follow up on the recommendations and action plan, and in promoting of community resources and solution.
4. Lead case review meetings and case conferencing where needed and ensure support to the team on follow-up actions agreed.

1. Supervise, Support and or facilitate trainings on case management training, EMAP, Girls shine, EA$E, Women Rise, SASA, SGBV basics, PSEA, GEDI and key SGBV core concepts, guiding principles for partners, community structures/ members, and service providers with consultation of the Project Coordinator and SOCIAL PROTECTION Deputy Coordinator.
2. Ensure the teams are using model designated tools for reporting sessions in the respective models of Girl shine, EMAP, SASA! Together and Women Rise.
3. Ensure functionality of all women and girl centers including fostering active participation of women and girls in life skills activities and other programs.
4. Continuously assess and identify capacity gaps of the Social Protection teams and come up with formal and informal capacity building plans and delivery.

Other responsibilities

1. Lead the development of interventions workplan, spending plan, procurement plan, attend grant opening meeting, BvA meeting and other meeting as needed.
2. Ensure that social protection structures are identified, properly trained, continuously mentored and equipped to do their jobs in your duty station (Yumbe)
3. Oversee awareness raising activities and support the development of messaging to suit the context in Yumbe, while supporting rollout across other locations.
4. Assign tasks & duties to Social Protection community structures regarding monthly work plans in Yumbe and ensure similar processes are ongoing across other districts of implementation.
5. Ensure to maintain documentation of training, mentoring sessions and monitoring visits to staff and other stakeholders to store evidence of support, including good practices to support learning
6. Ensure each staff has an operational individual plan reflecting the deliverables in the project and in line with SGBV guidelines; IASC and the minimum standards of SGBV and Carry out performance management evaluation (PME) ensuring PME documentation for direct reports is in place and followed up regularly
7. Lead in the development and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders, including community leaders and other implementing partners/or operational partners, ensuring we are working within all the circles of the Ecological framework.
8. Provide support in mapping existing services to address SGBV in the various affected areas, including identifying community capacities and structures for potential partnership.
9. Monitor monthly expenditures and track budgets to ensure that all spending is in line with approved budgets and timelines, including developing and utilization of procurement plans, monthly program spending plan, and cash forecasts.
10. Directly support data collection, quality on reporting, program documentation and timely submission including assisting in donor/grant report, proposal writing with high quality as needed.
11. Support safe and ethical data collection, documentation and storage of all survivor information in collaboration with the SGBVIMS custodian to ensure data protection and privacy.
12. Work with the consortium to recognize the risks that exist for women and girls as well as enhance their protection and empowerment through multi-sectoral approaches/referrals for timely, safe and appropriate services.
13. Ensure Social Protection staff understand and follow IRC and donor Policies and Procedures.

Minimum Qualifications:

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• University degree in Social Sciences: Social Work, Gender/Women Studies, Public Health, with master’s as an added advantage.
• At least 4 – 6 years’ experience in the field of Gender-based violence prevention and response, SRHR with Development and Humanitarian Nexus.
• Excellent communication and analytical skills and ability to present ideas effectively, in both oral and written form.
• Emotional maturity and stability to resolve conflicts in a non-violent way and maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Good interpersonal skills including ability to gain trust and build relationships.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks; proven self-initiative and problem-solving abilities.
• High standard of spoken and written English.
• Good computer skills including Microsoft Excel, Access, Word, Outlook, and Power Point.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity

We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity in our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with 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 reasonable accommodation.

Professional Standards

IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality.  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, and Anti-Retaliation.

NB:This advert will close on 28^th November 2024.