Women Protection and Empowerment Coordinator

A lead responder in Iraq since 2003, the IRC is providing robust programming across 5 governorates through women’s protection and empowerment, child protection, protection and rule of law, cash and livelihood, and integrated early childhood development programming. Our work spans the spectrum from emergency response to long-term programming supporting our clients to rebuild their lives.

Scope of work

The Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Coordinator is responsible for overall leadership, coordination and providing technical oversight and support to the WPE portfolio in Iraq. The portfolio includes both direct delivery and collaboration with and mentoring of local partners in the implementation of 1) case management; psychosocial support; referrals; and empowerment activities to GBV survivors and vulnerable women and girls; 2) Community GBV prevention activities, including engaging men and boys; 3) capacity building activities with National and local government entities, as well as NGO actors, to improve their knowledge on GBV prevention and response; 4) women’s right, women empowerment and advocacy work. The WPE Coordinator will also be responsible for business development and strategic positioning of the WPE programming in Iraq. The position is based in Erbil, with frequent travel throughout the country The position reports to the IRC Iraq Deputy Director for Programs (DDP) and coordinate closely with the regional WPE technical advisor (TA) and other members of the Violence Prevention and Response technical unit.

Major Responsibilities

1. Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy

• Coordinate and manage the Iraq WPE program, providing strategic direction, leadership and overall technical and management support in line with the Strategy Action Plan (SAP);

• Provide clear technical support, supervisory guidance, training and mentoring to WPE and partners’ teams to ensure consistent, harmonized and quality program design and implementation;

• Coordinate closely and liaise regularly with DDP, Field Coordinators, Grants Coordinator, and Partnership Unit to ensure quality implementation, management and compliance with donor requirements and women and girls’ needs;

• Undertake regular field monitoring visits to assess progress and identify technical quality issues and/or other implementation issues, provide solutions and implement modifications as required.

• Ensure smooth management and integration of project work plans and budgets (budget forecasting, development of spending plans, budget follow-up), procurement plans, timely recruitment, and accurate reporting in accordance with IRC and donor regulations;

• Be ultimately responsible for all reporting and ensure quality data management is implemented. Ensure data protection and confidentiality policies are understood and implemented by the team appropriately.

• Regularly liaise with Technical Advisor (TA) to support quality program design, ensure relevant support, tools, and resources are being provided and integrated into programming, and program implementation aligns to technical standards;

• Ensure IRC and its partners adhere to WPE/GBV best-practices, professional standards, and principles through technical support and mentoring;

• Remain abreast of ongoing trends in Iraq as related to WPE programming and provide regular updates on these trends and how they affect programming to the Senior Management Team.

2. Program Development

• Proactively support continued growth of the Iraq WPE portfolio through development of concept notes and proposals to existing and new donors, maintaining a coherent strategy across IRC’s areas of intervention in Iraq;

• Leading program design and development processes ensuring new programming is in line with the SAP and focused on maximizing quality, efficiencies, impact and integrated approaches, where appropriate;

• Support the identification of opportunities for WPE programming initiatives in support of service delivery and/or thought leadership in collaboration with country program senior management, business development staff and TA. Collaborate with partners on the identification of business development opportunities, and the design of new interventions;

• Lead the development of business development skills and responsibility among the WPE team, with a particular focus on program managers;

• Identify gaps in the WPE programs and work with the team and the WPE technical advisor to develop innovative approaches and mechanisms to address them;

• Actively identify, build and promote partnerships with INGOs, UN agencies, local and national women’s groups, organizations and networks working on violence against women and girls and WPE issues;

• Proactively work with other IRC programs and technical units in protection, education, and economic recovery and development, to identify synergies and develop referral pathways.

3. Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of WPE team members in relevant technical and management competencies;

• Support collaborative partner relationships focused on mutual learning and capacity building as well as technical guidance in areas of IRC expertise, including training/mentoring support and performance management that fully reflects the skills and attitudes required to work effectively in partnership;

• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of the team in Iraq;

• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews;

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions;

• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.

4. Representation, coordination and advocacy

• Coordinate with DDP/CD to forge connections with key government counterparts at the ministerial level, UN, I/NGOs, human rights actors, municipal and other sub-national government actors. Take part to government engagement work along with other relevant team members.

• Represent the IRC in high level and strategic meetings involving protection actors such as protection working group meetings, inter-agency coordination meetings, and bi-lateral meetings.

• Regularly coordinate with internal program and operational stakeholders, the Protection/Rule of Law Technical Advisors, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Children’s Protection, Economic recovery and Development, Education and other IRC colleagues.

• In collaboration with the DDP/CD and regional advocacy team, ensure that the WPE program delivers on advocacy goals as articulated in the countrywide advocacy strategy.

Key working relationships:

Line management: Deputy Director for Programs

Direct reports: Senior WPE Manager – Quality Assurance, 3 WPE Managers

Internal: senior management team members, grants staff, program coordinators, field coordinators, regional Measurement Coordinator, regional ICT4P coordinator

External Donors, government, other INGOs, local NGOs and other partners

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, international law, human rights law, international relations, social sciences or other related field;

• Minimum 5 years’ experience working in the field of GBV prevention and response programming in conflict-affected areas; INGO experience required.

• Thorough understanding of best practices and evidence-based strategies in GBV response (case management, psychosocial support, legal support; medical support) and GBV secondary and tertiary prevention and risk reduction;

• Demonstrated coordination and capacity building skills with key partners ; case management for survivors of GBV / VAWG;

• Demonstrated experience in facilitating practical workshops and educating others on issues including violence against women and girls, GBV, adolescent girls protection and empowerment, GBV response and service provision, women’s networking and movement building, leadership, advocacy, psychosocial support;

• Strong experience, knowledge and skills in participatory methods, community development and partnership.

• Excellent project management skills;

• Demonstrated experience in successfully leading, building and strengthening a team of staff in a dynamic, remote and changing context;

• Strong ability to respect differences of culture, opinion and lived experiences while upholding rights-based principles and women’s protection and empowerment;

• Excellent interpersonal skills, positive and professional attitude, ability to lead and work well in a team setting and with multiple partners;

• Strengths in listening, empathy, flexibility, and creativity. Self-reflective, collegial; and open to feedback;

• Professional fluency in spoken and written English is required. Arabic a plus.

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

• Ability to Travel: 30 – 50% within Iraq for program oversight

Note: List of responsibilities, professional and personal skills are considered indicative and not exhaustive; actual duties may differ or change depending on office and agency priorities at the time.

Working Environment: The position is based in Erbil where the security situation is stable. Staff is free to move and there is currently no curfew. Travel to field sites is currently open though movements may be restricted at times due to access or other issues. Accommodation is on private apartments and IRC provides a housing allowance.

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,Equality 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.