WPE Adolescent Girls (AG) Officer - Anbar / Ramadi

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The IRC established programmes in Iraq in 2003 to address the overwhelming needs of displaced people in Iraq and the neighboring countries. Since re-establishing its presence in Iraq in November 2007, the IRC has been assisting thousands of internally displaced families in the northern, central and southern governorates in the sectors of protection, gender-based violence (GBV), shelter, education, and emergency humanitarian assistance. Working in coordination with the humanitarian community in Iraq, the IRC's assistance and emergency programmes address the needs of war-affected Iraqi internally displaced persons (IDPs) and Syrian refugees from several operational bases in the country, and include both camp-based and urban-based assistance. IRC operates throughout Iraq, with the main office in Erbil and field offices in Najaf, Karbala, Baghdad, Tikrit, Sulimaniyah, Dohuk and Mosul. The IRC has WPE programming in seven governorates and provides both direct service provision (through women’s and girls’ centers and mobile teams) and technical support to local partner organizations to implement safe spaces and deliver services to women and girls as well as longer term capacity building of local NGOs, government service providers, and other protection actors on GBV related topics.

SCOPE OF WORK

The WPE Adolescent Girls Officer will be responsible for establishing and developing adolescent girls programming within the Women and Girls Community Centers (WGCCs). The program will allow girls to build supportive friendships and solidarity, providing a space where girls are encouraged to think, imagine, create and act and where they can develop confidence and voice. Building their social, health and economic assets will enable girls to process their experiences and be empowered to make informed choices about their life, and enhance their safety and security.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program implementation and quality

• Reinforce adherence to the GBV guiding principles throughout all WPE activities, and ensuring confidentiality of survivors, informed consent and respect for their wishes and decisions
• Perform day-to-day tasks associated with the implementation of the AG program in the WGCC
• Work on the start-up and implementation of the girls-only groups and activities, ensuring groups are formed in a safe, comfortable, and confidential manner and environment, in line with IRC Adolescent Girls programming standards
• Positively engage with the gatekeepers/significant adults/parents/caregivers/men and boys in the girls’ lives, to gain their support of the groups and the girls’ participation in the groups
• Support the development of girls’ group resources (including themes and content) that will inform and guide girls’ groups and sessions, in line with key IRC AG programming resources (including My Safety My Wellbeing, Girl Shine). Themes could include friendship, self-expression, independent thinking, ‘knowing our body’, GBV, rights, life skills to build social and human capital. The sessions content will be guided by girls themselves and based on their interests, needs and priorities, and will be age-appropriate and inclusive.
• Ensure that the resources developed for adolescent girls, and any activities and programming have a psychosocial and well-being component, and that girls in the program are provided with strong and regular psychosocial support
• Ensure that proposed activities focus on the development of adolescent girls’ leadership skills, and promote their engagement at the community level
• In collaboration with WPE PSS Officer, carry out monthly safety audits and community consultations to identify and discuss safety and risks faced by women and girls, develop concrete actions for IRC, other actors and the community to address, and ensure follow-up on these actions
• Closely work with female community mobilizers for outreach and awareness raising at community-level, and get their support in the facilitation of relevant activities
• Seek technical guidance and support from the WPE Snr Officer on activity development, implementation and available resources

Monitoring and reporting

• Provide the WPE Snr Officer with regular updates on your work (daily/ weekly)
• Ensure that participatory monitoring and evaluation is conducted for all adolescent girls activities
• Provide timely and accurate information to the WPE Snr Officer for weekly/monthly WPE program reports; contribute to writing reports against indicators relevant to the position

Collaboration & Representation

• Work with WPE PSS Officer and WPE Case Worker to exchange non-confidential information and ensure that WPE programs are responding to the evolving needs of women and girls
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders including community members and other humanitarian partners and service providers.

Other

• Ensure all activities are carried out in accordance with IRC Operational policies
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position Reports to: WPE Senior Officer

Position directly supervises: None

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: WPE Case Workers, IRC Iraq team including other programmes (ERD, Child Protection, and Protection/Rule of Law), Grants Department, Supply Chain, HR and Finance Departments

External: Close collaboration with other humanitarian actors, local NGOs, UN agencies, government service providers.

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field (Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Gender Studies, etc.).
• Proven practical work experience with adolescent girls on issues related to their empowerment, GBV and gender issues
• Proven experience and skills working with/engaging communities, especially adolescent girls/young women, using highly participatory, creative/innovative, inclusive and sustainable approaches
• Demonstrated ability to motivate, mobilize, energize, and inspire others, especially young people
• Excellent practical individual and group facilitation skills, that respect professional boundaries, with diverse individuals and groups
• Clear understanding of and interest in the wellbeing of women and girls, and supporting their healing after the experience of violence; human rights, gender
• Understanding of case management, psychosocial support and life skills programming to promote
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for beneficiaries.
• Excellent listening and effective communication skills
• Computer literate, particularly in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Fluency in Arabic required, knowledge of English would be an asset.

Standards of Professional Conduct: 

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.

Gender Equality

IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including maternity leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Attention Returning National Candidates:

IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs. We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, IRC has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.