Social Protection Officer

BACKGROUND:

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

The Social Protection Officer will implement and oversee SGBV prevention and response project activities across the district working with community structures formed to prevent SGBV while creating access for SSGBV/SRHR services in collaboration with other stakeholders to ensure successful implementation and monitoring of the project. S/he will work closely with District and Sub County Community Development Officers, and other project consortium technical teams to ensure integration of services where appropriate.

Roles and responsibilities.

• Ensure that social protection structures are identified, properly trained, continuously mentored and equipped to do their jobs.
• Supervise SGBV field activities under the directions of Supervisor, with technical direction from WPE DC.
• Oversee awareness raising activities and support the development of messaging to suite the context.
• Assign tasks & duties to Social Protection community structures regarding monthly work plans
• Manage implementation of work plans of SGBV activities (Prevention and Response) in coordination with the Supervisor
• Collect reports, data and figures from and compile and submit weekly, monthly quarterly and annual reports of activities to the Supervisor.
• Ensure proper documentation of Social Protection activities.
• Maintain records and supply chain to community structures (EMAP, Girl shine, SASA! Together) including the Women and Girls safe spaces.
• Attend any meeting / training / workshop / conference as suggested by the WPE DC, after validation of the Supervisor
• Contribute practically by bringing new ideas for improvement of service delivery at field level.
• Ensure functionality of the referral pathway working in close coordination with the consortium field team and relevant stakeholders promote for wholistic redress of the needs of project clients.
• Maintain, monitor and measure SGBV project implementation and contribute to effective information management on SGBV survivors using IRC Primero.
• Ensure that all implementation meets international standards and principles in SGBV prevention and response delivery including survivor centered interventions.
• Ensure all training aligns with and are up-to-date National guidelines, IASC and WHO guidelines as needed.
• Contribute to establishment and/or strengthening of new strategic and innovative partnerships for SGBV both with community-based, women-led, local, national, and international organizations.
• Provide support in mapping existing services to address SGBV in the various affected areas, including identifying community capacities and structures for potential partnership.
• Prepare weekly reports on SGBV/Protection activities and contribute to IRC donor reports
• Conduct Field Visits on a weekly basis as agreed with the supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications:

Basic qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social sciences, development studies or related field.
• 3 years’ extensive hands-on experience in the field of reproductive health, family planning, SGBV and HIV.
• Training of Trainer skills are essential for this role.

Demonstrated Skills and Proficiencies:

• Knowledge of the local government healthcare, education and social protection systems.
• Highly organized self-starter with proven success prioritizing multiple tasks, making critical decisions, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.
• Good community mobilization skills
• Possesses initiative, patience, tact, and able to work with minimum supervision
• Able to work under pressure
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility in all aspects of working.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and support others in their work.
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, internet etc.
• Fluency in English and any of the local languages.
• Familiarity with the political, social, economic and cultural context of working in the district.

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.