Case Management Mobile Assistant - Women Protection Empowerment

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The IRC started operations in Cameroon in 2016 to respond to the increasing concerns for people affected by violence linked to Boko Haram, in the Far North of the country.  Assistance to displaced populations extends across the Far North, notably Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga and Logone & Chari, delivering lifesaving programming to increase access to water and improving hygiene practices in vulnerable displaced and host communities, cash programming to enable poor families to meet basic needs and improve food security, and protection programming, including meeting specific needs of women and girls.  The Coordination office is located in Maroua, with a field base in Kousseri and a representation office in Yaounde.

Following the increasing crisis in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon, the IRC expanded its operations into the South West region in August 2018. The IRC is delivering lifesaving humanitarian assistance to internally displaced populations, with a field base in Buea.

IRC Cameroon is committed in its 2020 Strategic Action Plan, to continue to provide essential humanitarian services, with a focus on safety in communities and ensuring affected populations can meet their basic needs, whilst also building the resilience of beneficiaries, especially women and girls. IRC Cameroon is funded by European and American donors

OBJECTIVE

The psychosocial assistant, in charge of monitoring the psychosocial care of survivors of GBV, works mainly in the context of the emergency response to gender-based violence in the IDP and / or returned areas and the function is to strengthen the skills of WEP partners who manage psychosocial support activities, including individual counseling and case management. This also includes assistance to partners, who have not developed these skills, to initiate them in the future, if appropriate, within their projects to maximize the psychosocial recovery of most participants and ensure their reintegration within their community, family and / or community.

BASICS RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide a survivor-centered case management service with emotional support and help the survivor regain control of their lives.
• Provide age-appropriate case management, including assessment of client needs; basic, crisis counseling (and in some contexts further individual counseling); development of action plans with clients; support to clients in pursuing services and support.
• Provide services to child and adolescent survivors of GBV, including case management as well as best interest determination, age appropriate engagement and decision-making by survivors, and Do No Harm analysis.
• Lead age-appropriate and specialized group emotional services to be provided to vulnerable women and girls through identified or established safe spaces.

Technical Quality

• Adhere to the GBV guiding principles throughout all GBV case management and psychosocial interventions. This includes ensuring confidentiality of survivors, and respect for their wishes and decisions.
• Provide age-appropriate case management, including assessment of client needs; basic, crisis counseling (and in some contexts further individual counseling); development of action plans with clients; support to clients in pursuing services and support.
• Provide services to child and adolescent survivors of GBV, including case management as well as best interest determination, age appropriate engagement and decision-making by survivors, and Do No Harm analysis.
• Lead age-appropriate and specialized group emotional services to be provided to vulnerable women and girls through identified or established safe spaces.
• Work with WPE Community Outreach teams to exchange information and ensure that IRC programs are responding to the evolving needs of communities.
• Identify concerns related to and support adherence to GBV referral protocols and GBV guiding principles, and bring these concerns to the WPE Response Officer.
• Maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders including community leaders and other implementing partners.
• Complete monthly activity reports, according to guidance provided by the WPE Response Officer.

Monitoring

• Maintaining detailed and confidential case files in line with recognized best practices;
• Contributing towards monthly reports.

• Bachelor of Arts or Science in Social Science, Public Health, Humanities or other related field, desirable;

Skills and abilities

• Experience in counseling, social work or other related field;
• To be of Cameroon nationality;
• Clear understanding of and interest in the well being of women and girls, and supporting their healing after the experience of violence;
• Strong ability to maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, and work in a difficult environment;
• Fluency in English and/or (other languages) preferred or required ;
• Clear understanding of gender, human rights, and issues surrounding violence against women and girls;
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients;
• Knowledge and experience with community outreach and mobilization;
• Positive and professional attitude, including ability to lead and work well in a team setting;
• Strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail