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 or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 26 US cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In early 2014, IRC opened a field office in Mubi town of Adamawa state in NE Nigeria followed by offices in Yola (Adamawa state) in November 2014 and Maiduguri (Borno state) in October 2015. IRC has ECHO, OFDA, and Gates funds to respond to health, nutrition, GBV, and WASH activities. In late 2014 and early 2015, IRC received additional funds from SV, SIDA, USAID, and UNICEF to carry out education, child protection, general protection, emergency food distributions, shelter support, and NFI distributions to newly displaced IDPs. In late 2015 into early 2016, IRC received Swiss and UNHCR funds for additional emergency response humanitarian-focused programming in NE Nigeria. Since 2015 when the IRC began interventions in Northeast Nigeria, the IRC with funding BHA, ECHO, FCDO, GAC and SIDA has implemented Gender Based Violence (GBV) Prevention and Response interventions while actively participating in the activities of the GBV Sub Sector across the three BAY states.
Job Overview/Summary :
The IRC is implementing a GBV program featuring case management, psychosocial support, information sharing, referral services/linkages, capacity building and community-based preventive activities. The WPE Coordinator will be responsible for the development and implementation of WPE programming in all three states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) States where the IRC has humanitarian presence. He/she will lead the design of protection monitoring methodology, M&E systems, and training materials for WPE information project staff, set up and scale up of WPE interventions and Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) regarding the sharing of data with other actors. The WPE Coordinator will ensure the quality of data collection and analysis and ensure that succinct and accurate protection reports are utilized to inform programming and advocacy both internally and externally and how they are stored and used. The WPE Coordinator will also be responsible in contributing to increasing the IRC’s presence and potential leadership role in the GBV sub-sector by attending relevant working group meetings, networking with state and NGO actors in the sub-sector and identifying potential partners for future programming. The WPE Coordinator will directly supervise various WPE managers, M&E officer and information management officer who will also support the program.
The WPE Coordinator will work extensively with other sectors, to ensure that WPE principles are being incorporated into the Nigeria sector programs, and in particular with the Protection & Rule of Law Coordinator, the Child Protection Coordinator to strengthen the integrated nature of IRC’s WPE programs in Nigeria. He/she will also work with other sectors to realize IRC Nigeria’s Strategy Action Plan commitment to integration, gender, partnership and cash programming.
Major Responsibilities :
Program Development and Design:
Lead and/or contribute to project design processes for new or adapted WPE programming, including the development of budgets, proposal narratives, log frames, and other supporting documents
Utilize the IRC’s Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF) and related theories of change in project design and promote understanding of OEF tools among WPE staffs Coordinate closely and liaise regularly with the SPC, Deputy Director of Programs, and Grants Unit to ensure quality grant management.
Support the technical project team to produce high-quality reports and ensure timely submission.
Coordinate with the M&E unit to produce a robust M&E system for the sector.
Ensure that key learnings are extracted from WPE implementation and incorporate them in program and staff development processes.
Coordinate WPE program activities with other IRC sectors to ensure program integration.
Program Implementation and Management :
- Work closely with WPE staff across IRC Nigeria Field sites on proposal development and develop work plans to guide implementation of approved WPE grants. Support the field teams in the implementation and monitoring of the work plans, ensuring that activities reflect the commitments IRC made to the donor and the community.
- In collaboration with WPE program staff, the Technical Advisor, SPC and the Deputy Director – Programs, oversee WPE programming in Nigeria through regular monitoring and evaluation
- Ensure that ethical and sound data collection and information management systems are in place with associated information sharing protocols for GBV analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy
- Ensure effective team communication and support between team members based in Maiduguri and the other field sites, including opportunities for debriefing and staff care
- Provide guidance and technical support to sector-specific design and implementation through regular field visits.
- Work with the program teams to ensure that field experiences are documented and used to advocate on behalf of the communities with which we work
- Support partnerships on GBV programming with other INGOs, government, Local Non-Governmental Organizations and women led organizations
Technical Quality :
- Ensure that all projects are implemented in accordance with global technical guidelines and best practices in the WPE sector.
- Liaise with WPE Technical Advisors regularly and proactively, and pursue technical guidance as needed.
- Stay abreast of developments in the IRC WPE Technical Unit and global working groups related to new tools and guidelines.
- Identify, monitor, and report on unmet needs and make informed recommendations to senior management on the capacity of the IRC to address identified needs
- Provide technical assistance including supportive supervision to IRC WPE staff.
- Contribute to the technical interpretation of M&E data and apply output and outcome indicator findings to improve program quality
- Support the development and maintenance of a coherent WPE strategy across IRC’s areas of intervention in Nigeria
HR & Team Management :
- Supervise and provide technical support to WPE Managers, and other WPE staffs to implement IRC WPE programs to a high-quality standard
- Ensure timely recruitment, comprehensive on-boarding, and the general growth and well-being of team members
- Maintain open and professional relations with colleagues, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to perform in their positions successfully
- Ensure team members are aware of job expectations and have clear performance objectives; regularly review performance and initiate corrective action as needed
- Identify training needs and develop specific capacity building plans for WPE staff to promote progressive levels of management responsibility
- Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures
Coordination :
- Regularly attend technical working group meetings and other relevant coordination structures to ensure harmonized implementation approaches.
- Represent IRC in relevant forums/clusters, including with national authorities and donors
Coordinate with the SPC, Deputy Director of Field Management (DDFM) and Deputy Director for Programs (DDP) to ensure field concerns and challenges are brought to relevant stakeholders for the development of improved standards and procedures - Proactively collaborate with other sector technical leads to promote program integration and an outcome-based approach.
- play an active role in the execution of the country Strategic Action Plan.
Key Working Relationships :
Position Reports to: Senior Program Coordinator (SPC) and will have access to technical guidance from the IRC Violence Prevention and Response Unit-Specifically Women’s Protection and Empowerment sector.Position directly supervises: WPE Program Managers
Indirect Reporting: M&E Officer/Manager
Other Internal and/or external contacts:
Internal: Protection & Rule of Law, Child Protection Coordinators and other IRC Technical Coordinators, Grants, Finance, Supply Chain, Logistics and Security Teams.
External: Protection Sector, Other Protection Partners, Government Partners
Qualifications
- Degree in Gender and Development, health (MPH), social science, humanities or other related degree
- At least 2 years’ experience in direct service provision for survivors of sexual violence and domestic violence
- At least 5 years of previous experience supervising and managing a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting
- At least 3 years previous experience in emergency preparedness and response, is preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in capacity building and mentoring of national staff and community structures
- Knowledge, skills and experience in participatory methods, community development and partnership
- Demonstrated leadership, communication, and facilitation skills
- Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills
- Good coordination and networking skills
Demonstrated Skills and Competencies :
- Strong strategic thinking and proposal writing skills
- Strong leadership, staff and budget management and capacity building skills.
- Excellent communication skills, cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, team player.
- Ability to live and productively work under stress and in insecure and harsh environments while maintaining a sense of humor.
- Experience in grant management and proposal writing
- Excellent computer skills in programs such as: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Language Skills: Fluency in English
Working Environment :
The WPE Coordinator will be based in Maiduguri, Nigeria with travel throughout the country. The security situation in Nigeria continues to be volatile in the NE with the security level at 3 (orange). The candidate should be prepared to implement programming in insecure environments.
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, 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, and Anti-Retaliation.
IRC and IRC employees must adhere to the values and principles contained in the IRC WAY (Standards of Professional Conduct). These are Integrity, Service, and Responsibility. Consistent with these values, IRC operates and enforces policies on beneficiary protection from exploitation and abuse, child protection, workplace harassment, financial integrity, and retaliation.
