South Sudan: Women Protection and Empowerment Manager

BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the largest humanitarian agencies in the world, providing relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of oppression and violent conflict. IRC has worked for over seven decades and today is involved in over 42 countries worldwide. We address both the immediate, life saving needs of conflict affected people in an emergency and the reconstruction needs in post conflict societies. IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and thorough accountability to those we serve.

In early 2012, the IRC launched a response to the increasing influx of Sudanese refugees from the Nuba mountains/South Kordofan into northern Unity State. Through a holistic women and girls' wellness program strategy, the IRC provides essential services in the reproductive health and gender-based violence sectors for refugees in Ajuong Thok camp.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Women's Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Program Manager is responsible for ensuring smooth implementation of daily project activities in Ajuong Thok refugee camp and to ensure that the goals and objectives of the program are met. S/He will provide supervision and direction to the WPE project team, with an emphasis on ensuring GBV survivors' access to safe and appropriate health and psychosocial services, including clinical care for sexual assault survivors, safe and confidential GBV case referrals, quality psychosocial initiatives, case management, one-on-one counseling, and group support activities in line with the IRC's GBV programming strategy and international best practices for GBV interventions. Additionally, the WPE Manager will be responsible for leading GBV assessments, programming design, implementation, building national staff capacity to provide direct support to women and girls and GBV survivors, mentor, supervise and monitor team activities, and ensure financial and logistical controls are implemented according to IRC protocols. She/he will provide technical support and ongoing coaching and mentoring to the Yida based National Program Manager.

The WPE Program Manager will be based in Ajuong Thok refugee camp, Unity State, and reports to the Field Coordinator with technical support provided by the WPE Coordinator who is based in Juba.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Management, Implementation and Technical Quality

• Provide technical guidance, oversight and support to Women Protection and Empowerment interventions in Ajuong Thok refugee camp to improve the provision of quality case management and psychosocial support services to meet the needs of women and girls.
• Oversee the implementation of GBV prevention and response activities in Ajuong Thok refugee camp to ensure the program is implemented according to schedule and budgets, international standards, and that WPE program objectives are met
  
• Provide technical guidance, mentoring and support to health actors to ensure compliance with minimum standards for clinical care for sexual assault survivors

• Provide technical support and guidance to WPE staff to develop mechanisms for information dissemination and awareness raising to improve knowledge on GBV and available services

  · Lead the development, conducting, and supervise trainings on key GBV principles, procedures, tools, basic counseling, Clinical Care of Sexual Assault Survivors, and GBV resources for partners, community members, and service providers to ensure programming meets standard GBV best practices

  · Collect, analyze and disseminate project data and information through regular assessments with women and girls for problem analysis, planning and advocacy with other stakeholders and to inform current and future WPE programming in Ajuong Thok refugee camp.

  · Lead GBV assessments to identify patterns and risks of GBV and assess gaps to inform responses and promote the safety of women and girls in transit and in the refugee camp through risk monitoring, mitigation, and advocacy

  · Lead in the development of quality psychosocial interventions at the safe spaces that promote coping, resilience and strengthen supportive networks among women and girls

  · Support in the implementation of a robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system for all objectives, indicators and activities that is consistent across locations and feeds into evidence-based programming.

Staff Management, Supervision and Development

·     Recruit national staff in conjunction with the Human Resources Department. 

  ·     Maintain updated job descriptions, conduct interviews, orient new staff to the IRC and the WPE program.

• Supervise WPE senior staff directly, providing ongoing leadership to the project team and overseeing implementation and coordination of activity plans to ensure targets are met.
  

• Provide ongoing supervision, leadership, training and technical support and guidance to WPE staff, and ensure all WPE staff adheres to best-practice principles in all aspects of program implementation.

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.

• Ensure training and ongoing capacity building opportunities for staff on technical and project management skills. Recommend and implement a capacity building/development plan for project staff based on documented capacity needs assessments exercise. Regularly review performance of WPE Deputy Manager against agreed targets and develop action plans to address any gaps in technical skills, coordination, programme development or management.

· Ensure Performance Management System documentation for all staff is in place and followed up regularly.

· Build staff capacity in work plan development and reporting to ensure accurate monitoring and documentation of activities.

· Ensure WPE staff understands and follows IRC and donor Policies and Procedures.

Grants Management, Program Development and Reporting

· Manage and oversee all WPE Ajuong Thok grants; develop and maintain work, spending and procurement plans for all projects.

· Work closely and coordinate with IRC Operations, Finance and Grant departments to ensure compliance with grant requirements.

· Participate in Grants Opening, Mid-Term and Closing meetings.

· Prepare internal and external reports within agreed deadlines using IRC and donor formats, as required on activities, indicators and achievements , ensuring reports are of high-quality.

· Develop and maintain effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control and reporting systems and processes.

· Lead in the development and design of new grants for follow up funding that respond to needs identified in all locations.

· Manage the project budget; oversee all budget expenditures and ensure they are allowable and allocable according to IRC and donor regulations; review monthly Budget vs. Actual and expenditure sheets and collaborate with the Finance department to ensure accurate expenditures and reporting.

· Oversee program implementation and ensure adherence to grant work plans, spending plans and monitoring and evaluation plans.

· Participate in the development of proposals, budgets and concept notes in coordination with the Field Coordinator, WPE Coordinator, DDP, Grants team, and HQ Technical Unit.

Representation, Coordination and Inter Sectoral Collaboration

· In collaboration with the Field Coordinator, represent the WPE program in Ajuong Thok with donors and other key stakeholders in collaboration with the DDP and WPE Coordinator.

· Establish networks and build relationships with partners, government, other NGOs and UN agencies to promote technical capacity and establish/strengthen appropriate GBV referral systems to ensure survivors access services in a timely and confidential manner and enhance multi-agency and multi-sectoral cooperation and coordination.

· Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders - including community leaders, NGOs, UN agencies, community based organisations and other IRC sectors to enhance cooperation and coordination. Ensure that information from coordination meetings is shared internally and with other sectors, as appropriate.

· Liaise with other GBV agencies to plan and provide joint trainings, support development of a GBV South Sudan Strategy, and undertake relevant advocacy.

· Coordinate and lead advocacy efforts with other actors and sectors, particularly WASH, Food and Nutrition, Shelter, Camp Management, Livelihoods, Health; and ensure specific measures are put in place to mitigate risks of GBV among women and girls by these sectors in line with the provision in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guideline for response and prevention of GBV in humanitarian settings.

· Work closely with IRC's protection and Environmental Health teams in Ajuong Thok to implement to mitigate risks and meet the diverse and unique needs of women and girls.

Technical Support, coaching and mentoring of the Yida based National Program Manager

• Upon request, support training and ongoing mentoring and coaching to the Yida National Program Manager on technical and project management skills.
• Support the Program Coordinator to review the performance of the National WPE Manager against agreed targets and develop action plans to address any gaps in technical skills, coordination, programme development or management.
  

Support the WPE Coordinator in carrying out a review of technical competencies of the National WPE Manager and development of a capacity strengthening plan to ensure key skills, knowledge and technical expertise are supported to enable National WPE Manager perform his roles and responsibilities effectively.

Other

· Undertake other relevant tasks as requested by the Field Coordinator

Contribute to the development of the Country Sector Strategy for the South Sudan WPE Program.

Professional Standards

• All IRC staff are required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.

REQUIRED:

• Master's degree in Social Sciences, gender studies, Public health, social work, humanities or other related discipline.
• 3 years of relevant overseas programme management experience, with at least 2 years of GBV programme management in humanitarian contexts.
  
• Demonstrate clear understanding of gender, human rights, and issues surrounding violence against women and girls.
  
• Experience facilitating trainings and workshops on responding to and preventing GBV.
  
• Familiar with refugee contexts/ issues and previous experience leading teams on GBV response and risk mitigation strategies in refugee settings.
• Strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.
  
• Knowledge, skills and experience in participatory methods of community development and mobilization.
  
• Comfortable attending and facilitating meetings and representing GBV issues.
  
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, creativity and flexibility.
  
• Ability to maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

South Sudan Security level: orange. The situation overall remains calm but unpredictable; concerns include criminality, presence of armed troops, communal violence, and looting. There is still active conflict in many parts of the country and a possibility for further expansion of the conflict and violence into other areas and possibly other states. Ajuong Thok Security level yellow - standard precautions apply. Concerns include common criminality, presence of armed troops, and tribal violence.

Housing and Living conditions:

The position will be based in Ajuong Thok Refugee Camp, Unity State, and South Sudan. Sleeping accommodation is a tukul with common latrines and showers. All IRC sites have electricity and internet at least several hours per day. Food is the individual's responsibility.

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.

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