: International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Deadline: 11 June 2021

Location-Chipinge and Beitbridge

About the IRC

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, assisting people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving assistance to refugees required to flee from war or disaster. Today IRC works in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC began programming in Zimbabwe in 2008 to support the cholera emergency response and has since been a key player in health, governance, markets development, and disaster risk reduction.

Scope of work

The Women Protection and Empowerment Assistant (WPE Assistants) takes the lead on the implementation and the provision of psychosocial support through Women and Girls Safe Space (WGSS) to women and girls who are survivors or at risk of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Chipinge and Beit Bridge. The WPE Assistant coordinates, and supervises all WGSS activities and services, including case management and psychosocial services, and ensures women and girls who are survivors of GBV receive quality services that are needed and desired. The Assistant is also responsible for coordinating and conducting Safety Audits, training, and supervising community volunteers responsible for WGSS, Girl Shine and Engaging Man in Accountable Practices (EMAP) programmes, coordinating with humanitarian partners in the field and other IRC programs, and for ensuring accurate utilization of the referral pathway. The WPE Assistants will ensure that all direct service staff employ a survivor-centered approach to ensure that the clients’ wishes are respected, and their safety and confidentiality are always preserved through the case management process.

Key Responsibilities

The WPE Assistants will function as hands-on supervisor for daily case management and psychosocial activities, assist in crafting a work plan for clients, and refer clients accordingly. The Assistants will ensure that an engagement approach to working with volunteers, communities and the local authorities, other partners is employed, and all activities are carried out in a way that is essential to community needs and promotes the full and equal participation of women, men, children, and youth.

Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Program-Working with the WPE Manager, participate in the development of the case management and Psychosocial Support (PSS) tools and resources, GBV information materials, and PSS activities for women and girls in target communities and support their implementation ;Monitor field work and WGCC volunteers to identify and implement timely, survivor-centered, and age-appropriate case management services and psychosocial support to all clients reached by the WPE team and in the WGCC ensuring strict adherence to the GBV guiding principles.; Ensure the setting up and maintaining of client files and ensure all required documentation in individual case files is completed in a timely manner and according to confidentiality guidelines, GBV guiding principles and IRC standards; Coordinate and work with Girl shine and EMAP Volunteers to implement program activities; Working closely with WPE Manager, conducts safety audits; Maintain accurate records of all field and program activities undertaken; Initiate, lead all aspects of and ensure accurate use of the referral pathway in the provision of case management services; Lead weekly case review meetings with Volunteers in WGCCs and case conferencing meetings on as needed to troubleshoot more knowledgeable cases and ensure the best support for the client; Complete monthly weekly and activity reports and develop and maintain work plans to achieve activities.

Capacity Strengthening-Working with the WPE Manager, support capacity building and coordination activities in host communities, including delivering training sessions to volunteers on case management principles, PSS, GBV core concepts and guiding principles, EMAP and Girl Shine concepts.

Coordination and Teamwork-Maintain collaborative relationships with all NGOs, UN, and government agencies and the GBV Working Group to facilitate effective referral pathways and joint activities; Participate and represent WPE program in relevant committees, clusters, and work groups as needed; Promote awareness of WPE programs and services offered by IRC; Coordinate closely with IRC logistics, finance, and grant staff to ensure timely and compliant program activities and expenditures.

Other-Any other tasks which may be assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications, Experience & Proficiencies

University degree in social sciences (Social Work, Counselling, Sociology, psychology, Gender Studies, Human rights, etc.); At least 2 years of experience working with GBV survivors, preferably women and girls; Minimum of 2 years meaningful work experience Confirmed experience in implementing psychosocial programs, providing psychosocial support or case management, and/or working on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and women’s empowerment; Deep understanding of protection, working with case management and PSS programming; Knowledgeable about GBV, crisis intervention, counseling skills and techniques; Excellent communication and analytical skills and ability to present ideas efficiently, in both oral and written form; Ability to communicate sensitively and without judgment, good diplomatic and persuasion skills; Ability to prioritise multiple tasks, validated self-initiative and problem-solving abilities; Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Power point