Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Officer

Background of IRC:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. IRC leads the way from harm to home. Began work in Ethiopia, 1999 in response to severe drought that happened in Ethiopia’s Somali region. Currently, providing assistance in ten different regions implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview/Summary: 

BRIDGE (Building Resilience, Inclusion, and Durable Growth for Empowerment of women, youth, and other shock-affected communities in East Hararghe and Gambella) is a three-year IRC project addressing climate shocks, displacement, and protection risks, including gender-based violence (GBV), in East Hararghe Zone (Oromia Region) and Gambella Region. The project strengthens community and government systems for GBV prevention and response, working towards a gradual transition of responsibilities to the Bureau of Women and Social Affairs (BoWCA), community structures, and local actors by the project's end in late 2029. This position sits under Outcome 3, through which women, girls and other at-risk groups have increased access to quality survivor-centred protection services, and community and woreda systems are better able to reduce their exposure to violence, exploitation and harmful practices.

The WPE Officer will lead the delivery of GBV prevention, response, and empowerment activities under the BRIDGE project in Lare and Itang woredas, Gambella, serving both refugee (Itang) and host-community (Lare) populations. This includes establishing a new Women and Girls Safe Space (WGSS) in Lare and renovating the existing WGSS in Itang, which will serve as the foundational protection service delivery points for an area where no functioning safe space, survivor service, or referral pathway currently operates.

The WPE Officer will build the Bureau of Women and Social Affairs' (BoWCA) basic case-management function from the ground up, including simple documented protocols for reaching survivors in kebeles separated by seasonal flooding of the Baro River, and will support refugee-led associations to progressively become first-line community responders for GBV concerns. The role also involves replacing the current ad hoc, letter-based referral system with standardized multi-sectoral SoPs, facilitating EMAP sessions, and coordinating with government, refugee-community, and humanitarian coordination structures, with a focus on building sustainable local capacity ahead of the project's end in late 2029.

Major responsibilities include:

• Lead direct implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of WPE/GBV activities in Lare and Itang, ensuring the programme is delivered in line with the IASC GBV Guidelines and Ethiopia's national GBV frameworks and SoPs.
• Support the establishment of a new WGSS in Lare and the renovation of the existing WGSS in Itang, applying IRC's safety, accessibility, privacy, and referral-proximity site criteria, and securing community buy-in from both host and refugee communities.
• Pair the regular WGSS activities with periodic mobile/outreach sessions to maintain access for communities cut off by seasonal flooding, and support planning for the progressive, readiness-based transition of the WGSS to community ownership.
• Provide or co-deliver confidential, survivor-centered GBV case management and MHPSS, including case action planning, informed consent, and referrals, following IRC and national survivor-centered standards.
• Establish and build the capacity of refugee-led associations in GBV identification, safe referral, and protection principles, supporting their progressive transition (from Year 2) into first-line community responders with clear linkages to formal referral systems.
• Support the establishment and regular update of standardized, multi-sectoral referral SoPs, and ensure referral information reaches communities with low literacy and limited access.
• Ensure safe and accurate documentation of GBV incidents using GBVIMS-consistent case intake, action plan, follow-up, and client satisfaction tools strictly following data protection and information-sharing protocols; share quality data monthly with the Protection Information Management manager.
• Facilitate and/or coordinate training for BoWCA case workers and referral focal points from health, police, and legal services on survivor-centred response, safe disclosure, confidentiality, and their role-specific responsibilities.
• Facilitate EMAP (Engaging Men through Accountable Practice) sessions with men and boys on gender norms and GBV prevention, adapting materials to Anuak and Nuer as relevant.
• Organize or support , International Women's Day, and other community awareness campaigns, adapting materials to Anuak and Nuer languages as relevant.
• Support the Gambela Signpost scalability and efficiency as an information channel for women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.
• Support disability-inclusive service delivery across WGSS, case management, and community outreach activities.
• Actively participate in camp-level, woreda and GBV sub-cluster coordination meetings and GBV safety audits and other assessments as requested.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with BoWCA, health, justice, and police offices, refugee community structures, and other implementing partners; represent the WPE programme in relevant coordination meetings.
• Develop quarterly, monthly and weekly work plans and outreach plans informed by case-trend analysis, with attention to women and girls who are more isolated, have specific needs, or face access barriers due to flooding.
• Work with the WPE manager on timely budget utilization, BvA, M&E, and supply/logistics needs, in line with IRC policies.
• Identify opportunities to integrate WPE activities with other sectors (ERD, WASH, health, Education and child protection) to improve women's and girls' inclusion and participation.
• Compile periodic reports(weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports) and share with WPE Manager.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the direct and technical supervisors

Safeguarding Responsibilities: -

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies