WPE Officer – Prevention

Program Brief

Founded in 1933, International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure and wishing to advance on a path of development. RC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017 and obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018. Since the IRC obtained registration in March 2018, it has moved quickly to expand its integrated emergency health and protection response through both direct and partner-based programming focused on primary healthcare, Women’s protection and Empowerment (WPE), Sexual and Reproductive health (SRH), Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Child Protection (CP). Recently IRC has also introduced two new programs: Protection Rule of Law (PROL) and Education. Through 2018, the IRC’s response strategy will primarily target Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, while meeting the significant needs of both refugee and host populations, as already existing vulnerabilities are compounded by cyclical monsoon and cyclone seasons that impose additional threats to the lives and protection of those refugees as well as vulnerable host populations. IRC will grow over time its geographic coverage within Cox’s Bazar and to other parts of the country, thus, expanding its networks and partnerships around emergency preparedness and response work, reaching beyond the Rohingya refugees, and targeting the vulnerable host groups all over Bangladesh.

Purpose of this Role

The Prevention Officer provides support to implement SASA! Together methodology, which is the community mobilization approach which engages communities to prevent IPV and promote gender equity. The role’s responsibility is to ensure support in all aspects of the SASA! Together methodology for community leaders and local activists. They will ensure that all activities conducted as part of the WGSS center and WPE Activity follow the guiding principles and the survivor-centered approach to adhere to standard methodologies. They will receive on-the-job mentoring and training to fulfill their role.

Highlights of Key Responsibilities

• Adhere to and dedicatedly promote the women-, girl- and survivor-centered support approach, and the GBV guiding principles.
• Ensure successful implementation of the SASA! Together methodology through support in baseline assessments, and appropriate activity adaption and implementation.
• Consult and work with the community to identify their needs, interests, and priorities, and what’s important to them, and where possible, adapt activities according to these to ensure activities offered are culturally appropriate and meet the needs of adolescent girls and women.
• Provide Psychosocial First Aid and non-judgmental support and services to adolescent girls and women.
• Assist with dignity kit distributions, appropriate messaging, and feedback from women and girls on dignity kits and other discretionary items provided.
• Conduct an introduction to SASA! Together training with community leaders and local activists.
• Identify local activists and community leaders, mentor, and support activists in developing and implementing activity plans.
• Build community activist skills in providing referrals and basic responses.
• Conduct deeper discussion groups with community activists and organize twice monthly-meeting.
• Conduct L&A feedback sessions with community leaders and local activists every quarterly and complete day-to-day community change trackers.
• Support in international day observation and event activities as needed.
• Report to the Senior Women’s Protection and Empowerment Officer weekly.

Outreach and Community Mobilization:

• Build positive, productive, trusting connections with women and girls and their communities, ensuring to always maintain professional boundaries and humanitarian ethics.
• In collaboration with the WGSS team, conduct community outreach and engagement activities to build community support and buy-in for the Centers in a safe and appropriate manner, and awareness activities on GBV and its health consequences, promote available services to women and girls, and listen to them on barriers to accessing services.

Deliverables/KPI

• Referral Pathway.
• Community Engagement and outreach.
• Provide SASA! Together training.
• Support community leaders and local activists.

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience (Including sector/industry)

• At least 2-3 years of experience needed in the field of Gender and GBV prevention.

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies (5 to 8 not more than that)

• Ability to demonstrate a clear and genuine willingness to work and learn quickly and be committed to developing professionally in the field of GBV, in particular – supporting adolescent girls’ protection and women’s empowerment – essential.
• Clear understanding of SASA! Together methodology.
• Understanding of the impact and dynamics of men’s violence against women and girls, and a strong interest in working on women’s protection and empowerment.
• Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills.
• Ability to keep records and write simple and basic reports of activities would be an added advantage.
• Excellent listening and observation skills, including the ability to create trust, support, respect and interact with survivors of all ages, backgrounds and diversity.
• Language spoken by population in need – essential; Good working knowledge of English – preferable, not essential.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and respect in Centers always is essential.
• People who are familiar with the local dialect and local language will get preference.

Specific Educational Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in gender, anthropology, social work, political science, statistics, human rights and international law or other related degree, or equivalent programming experience.