Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Coordinator

IRC has been working in Myanmar since May 2008, initially supporting emergency response and early recovery interventions for communities affected by Cyclone Nargis. Since then, IRC has responded to natural emergencies, such as floods and Cyclone Giri as well as conflict. Over the years, IRC has broadened its portfolio to include health, water, sanitation, and hygiene, women’s protection and empowerment (WPE), and protection rule of law programs and aims to employ a holistic, integrated approach to programming. IRC is committed to a long-term presence in-country with the aim of improving the well-being of vulnerable populations living in the most hard-to-reach areas. IRC primarily focuses on the most marginalized areas of the country, including in the States of Chin, Rakhine, Kayah, Kachin, Northern Shan, and Kayin States.

The IRC’s WPE program was established in Myanmar in 2014, and currently operates in Rakhine, Northern Shan, Kachin and Kayah States. The IRC implements core activities to respond to gender-based violence (GBV) through case management and psychosocial support services; and to address the root causes of GBV through prevention-focused activities engaging women, girls, men and boys. The IRC strives to promote and support women’s and girls’ social and economic empowerment, as well as integrate WPE and GBV prevention and response with other sectors for multi-sector, holistic interventions that are responsive to target communities’ needs.

Scope of work

The IRC is seeking a highly motivated, dynamic individual for the position of WPE Coordinator. The WPE Coordinator is responsible for providing overall technical leadership, coordination, and management of all of the IRC’s WPE programming throughout Myanmar. The WPE Coordinator provides regular technical and program management oversight, guidance, and monitoring, both on-site and through continuous remote support, to ensure that all program interventions are context-specific, technically sound, and appropriate in meeting the needs of target beneficiaries. With an emphasis on integrated outcomes with other IRC sectors under the IRC’s organizational outcomes framework, she/he collaborates with other key staff to achieve and manage growth of IRC’s WPE programming, including in the development of strategies and funding proposals for the country program. The WPE Coordinator contributes to external coordination efforts and represents the IRC in various internal and external forums. The position requires a personal commitment to advancing women’s issues and to contributing to collective efforts, internally and externally, to address gender inequality. The WPE Coordinator reports to the Deputy Director for Programs (DDP), and directly supervises WPE program staff.

Duties and responsibilities

1. Program Technical Quality

• Provide technical oversight and support across WPE programs, and relevant integrated programming, for IRC program staff and partners.

• In addition to maintaining technical quality of GBV prevention and response work, lead the development, piloting, and/or scale up of context adapted interventions, e.g. mobile case management, targeted adolescent girls programming, economic empowerment interventions.

• Ensure measures are in place and followed up on with regard to technical training and capacity building for IRC staff and partner organizations’ staff as per assessed capacity building needs.

• Ensure IRC’s participation and coordination in GBV IMS and reporting and relevant standard operating procedures and information sharing protocols; ensure that ethical and sound data collection and information management systems are in place for analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy.

• Ensure sufficient monitoring, evaluation, and learning capacities are addressed and supported across WPE programs in coordination with core MEAL staff.

• Conduct regular field monitoring visits, and provide guidance and technical support to IRC teams as well as key national organization partners.

• Oversee and support Senior Managers to effectively carry out budget and grants management.

• In line with the Project Cycle Management (PCM) approach, act as and designate other WPE program staff to act as the Project Lead for relevant programs.

• Develop and oversee program budgets to ensure an appropriate and efficient use of resources, and that WPE projects comply with internal and external requirements.

• Coordinate with Emergency Preparedness & Response Coordinator and other relevant staff in planning for and responding to crises as they arise requiring WPE interventions.

• Provide timely, quality inputs to, and lead WPE’s role in delivering, strategic action planning.

2. Program Development

• Liaise regularly with HQ- and regionally-based Technical Unit staff in the design, delivery, and monitoring of WPE-related programming; coordinate with technical leads and senior management teams in developing and implementing regional cross-border strategies.

• Actively contribute to broader strategic planning processes in Myanmar, ensuring that WPE interventions and related initiatives are taken into account.

• Participate in emergency assessments and response, providing guidance and recommendations for new programs and initiatives that maximize safety for women and girls.

• In coordination with the DDP, Grants Unit, and WPE Technical Advisor, participate in proposal development through planning, program design and technical writing with relevant field-based staff.

3. Staff Management and Development

• Provide ongoing support, capacity development, and mentoring to Senior WPE Managers and Roving Specialist, supporting them to do the same with the national WPE staff in the wider teams.

• Ensure training and ongoing capacity building of staff on WPE-related and project management skills with a specific focus on building the capacity of local staff.

• Support WPE team members to act as the PCM Project Lead for designated programs.

• When required, lead on the recruitment and management of new WPE program staff, consultants or other external support, in coordination with HR.

4. Coordination and Representation

• In coordination with the DDP, actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders in Myanmar including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors, maintaining IRC as a key contributor to addressing VAWG and WPE issues in Myanmar.

• Develop strategic partnerships with local organizations, wherever possible.

• Actively participate in national level coordination meetings and working groups

• Represent the WPE program through meetings with external stakeholders and facilitating field visits for stakeholders interested in WPE programming in Myanmar.

• Coordinate with the DDP and field coordinators/managers to ensure field concerns and challenges are brought to relevant stakeholders to push for standards that systematize how WPE programming is implemented and coordinated at the field level.

• Coordinate with other sectors within IRC in designing and delivering integrated and multi-sector programs and ensuring multi-sector, multi-site project/grant management is effectively carried out.

Requirements

• Degree in social sciences, health, humanities or other related field with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience;

• Experience must include at least 3 years senior level management experience in GBV programming

• At least 2 years of experience in direct service provision for survivors of sexual violence, preferred.

• Substantial experience in project management in conflict or post-conflict situations, preferably in emergency contexts. International/oversees experience is a plus.

• Demonstrated experience in successfully leading and strengthening program teams in a dynamic, challenging and changing context, including experience with remote management.

• Strong program/technical and budget management skills, and experience in grant management and proposal writing.

• Demonstrated leadership skills, with strong coordination and networking skills.

• Demonstrated experience in staff capacity building and mentoring.

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

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

• Ability to work calmly under pressure and efficiently manage heavy workload

• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual.

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

• Excellent written and oral English skills are mandatory.

• Excellent computer skills in programs such as: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

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