WPE Coordinator

Mexico

Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
Location: Mexico
Grade: Mid level - Mid level
Occupational Groups:
- Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
- Gender-based violence
- Managerial positions
- Women Protection & Empowerment
Closing Date: Closed

Requisition ID: req8730

Job Title: WPE Coordinator

Sector: Women Protection & Empowerment

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: Yes

Location: Mexico

Job Description

The border between the U.S. and Mexico spans 1,969 miles and has more than 20 checkpoints along its route. The border fence between the two countries covers much of the area between Tijuana/San Diego in the east, and Juarez/El Paso in the center. The border fence has driven many people east towards the more porous border in Texas. All along the border, but particularly in the east, organized crime controls the majority of the border areas which are plagued by crime and violence including trafficking of drugs, weapons, money, and people. Recent changes in U.S. policy have resulted in long waiting times to present at a port-of-entry along the border, which are most extreme in Tijuana. This, coupled with the insecurity in the east, is resulting in a ‘funneling’ of more migrants and asylum-seekers into the central areas of the country, such as Nogales and Ciudad Juarez.

While waiting to cross the border, migrants and asylum-seekers stay in shelters, in rented rooms, or on the street. The services that are available to them are almost entirely from the civil society, and they vary dramatically in both quality and availability, and between locations and service providers. The one constant is that service providers are overwhelmed. Changes in US policy, under the Migrant Protection Protocol has had a significant impact on migrant and asylum-seeker population in Ciudad Juarez and service providers.

Since May 2019, the IRC has been providing financial and technical support to local civil society organizations and NGOs in Ciudad Juarez to implement GBV prevention and response services – facilitating the provision of life-saving case management services, psychosocial support activities, and information sessions to migrant, asylum seeker, and returnee women and girls. The IRC is fundraising to expand the WPE program to include deeper technical engagement around case management, strengthening referral pathways and case coordination, establishing women’s safe spaces for psychosocial support, and distribution of dignity kits; constantly aiming to expand its reach to new areas within Ciudad Juarez, to promote access to services for women and girls also living out of shelters.

SCOPE OF WORK: The Women’s Protection and Empowerment Coordinator will be the technical focal point for the implementation of WPE programming on the Northern Mexico border. The position will be based in Ciudad Juarez. The WPE Coordinator will report to the Mexico Head of Mission with close coordination with the technical unit. This position is responsible for programmatic development and build-up, and support to the overall strategic direction of the WPE program. In addition, the WPE Coordinator will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with all relevant stakeholders, including relevant Ministries and local autorities, UN agencies, local shelter networks and other NGOs in coordination with the Head of Mission. The WPE Coordinator will also be responsible for fulfilling IRC’s strategic objectives for the WPE sector.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Management and Development

In accordance with best practice and IRC policy, lead the implementation of the WPE programming, focused on support to migrant, asylum-seeker, and returnee women and girls at the Mexico-US border.
Manage partnerships with implementing local actors; ensuring that IRC technical support is provided to recipients of IRC funds during implementation, including quality and coordinated GBV case management, GBV referral pathways, and GBV prevention activities for migrant, asylum seeker, and returnee women and girls who need access to WPE services
Identify capacity building needs of implementing actors and provide technical support and training within the scope of the planned programming model
Lead in the management of M&E systems to support local actors as needed, including data collection and reporting tools
Play a lead role in technical project proposal and concept note development for new funding opportunities and provide input on any technical reports and briefings as needed
Represent the IRC WPE program in technical coordination forums, and develop productive working relationships with other actors to ensure an effective and coordinated response
Lead in conducting further assessments in other geographic locations to expand similar programming in scale and scope, and improve on the quality of IRC response

Design and oversee startup of new quality programs in other locations, including necessary recruitment and training

Budget, Administrative and Grants Management

Ensure all grants are implemented according to donor regulations and guidelines
Develop, manage and monitor spending on all WPE budgets to ensure quality and timely implementation of program activities
Review budget vs. actual reports, providing feedback and as necessary
Ensure the timely submission of donor reports

HR Management

Lead recruitment of WPE staff
Supervise and provide ongoing support and mentoring to WPE team
Ensure that WPE staff have regular performance evaluations and receive ongoing feedback
Identify capacity gaps and develop a capacity-building plan for WPE staff; actively seek out formal and informal training opportunities for them;
Ensure that staff and partners understand and respect the IRC Way.

Other duties

Support the IRC communication and advocacy team in developing material for donors and other stakeholders to influence policies in favor of women and girls who are migrants, asylum seekers, returnees
Consistently and proactively monitor/assess programmatic safety and security; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to the Head of Mission, and when liaising with other actors and/or beneficiary populations as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs

Qualifications

At least five years’ experience managing GBV response and prevention programming in humanitarian or development contexts;

Excellent understanding of gender dynamics, more particularly gender-based violence, and GBV in migration context;

Excellent understanding of human rights and protection programming;

Advanced degree in humanitarian affairs, gender studies, public health, or social work preferred;

Experience in project management and donor relations; experience working in close relationship with UNHCR preferred;

Demonstrated experience in supervising, mentoring and building capacity staff;

Demonstrated experience in project design and resource mobilization;

Strong communication, inter-personal and relationship-building skills;

Ability to speak, read and write Spanish and English to a high level;

Ability to live/work in a dynamic security environment and comply with security protocol

Operational Environment Notes
Ciudad Juarez is classified as a high risk area, and the WPE Coordinator will be required to adhere to security protocols in place

This opportunity is open to nationals and expatriates.

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This vacancy is now closed.
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