INTRODUCTION

‘WHEI’, the acronym for our new intervention entitled ‘Women’s Healing & Empowerment Initiative’, funded by the Embassy of France (PISCCA Fund), is to be implemented in the Gamo zone over a period of 15 months starting from September 2021. The project’s general objective is “to prevent and respond to gender-based violence [GBV] in Arba Minch city and surrounding areas through holistic services to survivors, the promotion of enabling environments and enhanced coordination mechanisms”. The action targets: 1/girls and mothers victims of GBV in need of a ‘Safe Home’ in order to get rehabilitated from their trauma and reintegrated in the society in acceptable conditions; 2/ pupils and students in public schools of Arba Minch city, as well as local leaders and caretakers in rural areas and radio listeners for various prevention and awareness activities; and 3/ organizations such as local/international NGOs and public institutions (hospitals / health centres, police and justice departments, etc.) to strengthen referral pathways and networks of GBV stakeholders, set up a coordinated strategy against sexual abuse, etc.

JOB PROFILE

A GBV Coordinator will be hired as the key staff to manage WHEI in all its components and activities as per the donor-approved work plan and budget. In close communication with our Programme Manager and supported by a team of Nurses / Safe Home ‘Mothers’ and Psycho-Social Workers, the GBV Coordinator will notably have the following responsibilities:

1. Coordinating our action in favour of GBV victims (around 60% of the time), including: ensuring the Safe Home is operational, well staffed and maintained; assessing the logistical needs (e.g. dignity kits, childcare and other supplies); overseeing the comprehensive delivery of services to all ‘Residents’ and weekly case review meetings; providing continuous technical support, guidance and coaching to the team in order to adhere to protocols, standards and best practices in matters of case management, work with adolescent girls and other female survivors; contributing to trainings on the clinical response of rape, sexual and reproductive health and other appropriate topics; making sure at all times that the survivors are safe, respected, cared for and their sensitive information are safeguarded and kept confidential within the team; compiling timely periodic reports with accurate, qualitative and protected data.

2. Planning and implementing all outreach and prevention activities (30%), including: sensitizing school clubs in urban areas on gender equality, harmful norms and other GBVrelated issues, and supporting or referring at-risk girls; organizing public meetings in rural areas to mobilize community members, create nurturing and protective environments as a way to promote their safety, dignity and prevent violence in its different forms (including female genital mutilation – FGM, inherited marriage, girls married by abduction and related issues); contributing to the design of a SMS campaign and GBV hotline in Gamogna language for victims or witnesses of violence, including rape, sexual abuse and assault; and coordinating mass awareness raising events such as radio shows on critical topics such as Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs) or child early / forced marriage (CEFM), ensuring a wide coverage and dissemination in the targeted areas.

3. Contributing to strengthening networks of NGOs, Government offices / public agencies and other GBV actors (10%) through the organization of regional workshops aiming to: map all active stakeholders and consolidate the referral pathways, including through community-based mechanisms, so as to work smoothly with each other and care for survivors, providing them with all the required support; discuss the establishment of a systemic, integrated data management and monitoring system through existing regional gender forums with the objective to easily access statistics of abuse (at zonal, district or sub-division levels) and better act upon; and set up a joint, long-term strategy and annual action plans / campaigns for the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), including the prevention of recidivist cases. This will involve participating in working groups and developing close relationships with all.

Employment Duration: 12 months (with a probability of contract extension)

• Required: BA degree in social work, public health, psychology or other relevant fields;
• Preferred: MA degree in gender studies, child protection or other relevant fields.

Professional experience:

• Required: Minimum 2 years in GBV, child protection, case management or related areas;
• Preferred: In a ‘safe house’ setting, working with / counselling / assessing the psychosocial well-being of GBV survivors, training girls and women on various issues, etc.

Competences and skills:

• Required: thorough understanding of GBV theory and core principles for prevention and response; written and spoken proficiency in both Amharic and English; computer proficiency (MS Word); ability to work in a team environment; stress tolerance.
• Preferred: extensive knowledge of topics such as PSEA, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRH), the prevention of domestic violence, CEFM, FGM and other HTPs; good command of Gamogna; computer proficiency (MS Excel and PowerPoint).