The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 50 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Overview

The Safe Programming officer is responsible to ensure the implementation of safe programming principles which includes meaningful access to services, priority safety and dignity, accountability, participation and empowerment across IRC sectors and support the implementation of IRC internal initiatives gender equality, Women at Work (W@W) groups and safeguarding. These may include protection risk analysis and Safe Programming assessments using Protection Mainstreaming Monitoring and Evaluation System (ProMMS) tools and IRC’s Gender Analysis toolkit and global protection cluster guidance; including through safety audits, community dialogues, FGDs, KIIs and household visits while documenting the outcomes. The safe programming officer is also responsible to provide training on safe programming, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) guideline and gender mainstreaming.

Major Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality support to all Field Offices and partner staff in terms of training, capacity building, and implementation. 
• Ensure that children, youth, women, men, older persons and person with disabilities are integrated in IRC and partners interventions.
• Conduct protection mainstreaming assessments, including conducting Gender Audits.
• Be informed about best practices in Protection Mainstreaming in order to develop IRC’s internal knowledge database and disseminate these lessons learned.
• Ensure to invest in your own knowledge and skills in order to train others and build their capacity, supported by IRC, training institutes and other organizations that might serve as resources.  
• Be aware of and practice the content of relevant IRC Global guidelines to provide overall technical guidance and tools on protection mainstreaming.
• Advocate for gender and protection mainstreaming and coordinate with other stakeholders while sharing concerns, within and outside the organization.
• Plan, implement and follow up on gender-related activities and provide support to IRC, partners and grantees on mainstreaming gender in their programs and activities, including design and implementation of trainings on gender-related topics
• Attend coordination meetings concerning Protection Mainstreaming, PSEA and other related topics.
• Work with other sectors to ensure Safe Programming across IRC Ethiopia.
• Any other task that might be delegated by the Safe Programming Manager.

Internal initiatives

•  The Safe Programming officer will support the implementation of safeguarding guidelines/procedures.
• Support the development and implementation of country-level Gender Equality Action Plans.
• Support the development and implementation of Gender Equality Champions (GEC), including coordinating the annual selection/reselection of GECs, providing GECs with relevant training and support required for them to deliver on their commitments, coordinating the development of the annual GEC activity plan, responsibility for securing SMT endorsement of the GEC activity plan and associated budget.
• Provide support to Women at Work (W@W) groups, including facilitating meetings of the national level W@W group and meetings/communication with field-level W@W teams.

 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

Job Requirements

Educational Requirements:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience  for BSc/BA in Social Work, Sociology, Public Health, or Gender Studies, or a related field or 1 year for post-graduates.

Preferred experience & skills:

• A minimum  of two years of work experience in gender mainstreaming, protection or GBV prevention and response.
• Previous experience in developing and conducting training on related topics
• Experience in participatory techniques and community mobilization
• Previous experience facilitating focus group discussions and establishing effective monitoring systems.
• Possess interest in and commitment to human rights and gender equality.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as, an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time
• Strong analytic problem-solving skills
• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.

Language Skills: 

• Fluency in English (written and spoken), and knowing local language is advantageous