Operating in Somalia since 1981, CARE currently works through three main programs: the Rural Women’s Program supports poor rural women and girls in addressing long term underlying causes of poverty and vulnerability, addressing social, economical, cultural and political obstacles to positive change. We help women and girls improve their economic status, access education and support them to play a greater role in local leadership and conflict resolution. The Urban Youth Program, focuses on job creation and livelihood opportunities for poor youth through e.g. education, vocational training, small business development, and microfinance. Our Emergency Program provides direct humanitarian relief to victims of drought and conflict in Somalia/Somaliland
Under the general direction and guidance of the Program Quality Senior Advisor, the Protection, Gender and Accountability Advisor will be the Country Office’s primary focal point for ensuring that protection and gender equity objectives are mainstreamed and that relevant capacities are built to enable gender sensitivity and gender transformative practice. S/he will be responsible for advancing innovation and learning in the field of protection and gender in line with technical resources and strategic priorities. S/he will support program development (emergency and development), providing technical inputs to proposals, research/study ToRs and reports to ensure child protection, protection from GBV and gender issues are adequately mainstreamed.
S/he will be responsible for capacity building and technical support of staff and partners and will work with the Program Quality unit in developing and operationalizing accountability mechanisms, including child protection and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse PSEA policies and an effective feedback system in an attempt to spearhead the efforts of the organization to develop and refine methodologies related to the protection of women and children and accountability to project participants. This position will also support the mainstreaming of protection, gender and accountability standards and best practices in CARE’s M&E systems.
Furthermore, with the objective to strengthen the integration of gender and diversity in all CARE Somalia programs, processes and structures, the Advisor will promote social and gender equity throughout CARE as well as support partners in mainstreaming gender issues in on-going projects/programmes at all stages including targeting, prioritization, participation and monitoring.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
R1: Protection
- Provide technical support, oversight and leadership on Child Protection requirements of Somali Girls Education Promotion Project (SOMGEP) and other education projects;
- Train and support partner child protection focal points on developing and operationalizing child protection policies and related monitoring and complaints mechanisms;
- Work closely with the emergency protection team to implement GBV response and protection activities
- Ensure proper and confidential handling of GBV/child abuse cases, through the use of GBVIMS and the development of proper data-bases;
- Contribute to the drafting of protection inputs for monthly and quarterly reports;
- Represent CARE in relevant protection forums in Somalia/Nairobi and ensure coordination with other protection actors
- Lead the design and implementation of key protection mechanisms within the Country Office;
- Conduct/support on protection assessments and research products as requested;
****R2: Gender****
- Provide quality, efficient support to the country programs and help further innovation and learning in the field in line with gender technical resources and strategic priorities.
- Lead the development and implementation of prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) policy
- Mainstream gender throughout the CO programs, especially those related to education, by participating in strategy development, program review meetings and M&E forums.
- Conduct/facilitate gender analysis/assessments for programming purposes.
- Provide technical inputs to proposals, research/study ToRs and review study/report to ensure protection and gender issues are adequately addressed.
- Liaise with CARE gender experts and participate in relevant gender working groups to ensure CO programs incorporate latest gender guidance.
- Support the institutionalization of the culture of trust, learning and accountability which are key in strengthening the organizational culture of respect for equity and diversity (through GED trainings and awareness raising activities)
- Support MEAL group to promote gender analysis skills of M&E staff
- Ensure collaboration and integration with other technical units where relevant, promoting this at both the field and Headquarters levels.
R3: Accountability
- Lead in the operationalization of a standardized beneficiary complaints/feedback mechanism for CARE Somalia
- Ensure that each project has a strong accountability system in place (that extends to partners), that is compliant with CARE policies and systems, and manages the risk of child abuse, sexual exploitation and abuse, fraud and leakage of benefits of the project to those not entitled.
- Flag to Program management areas of concern in accountability management.
- Within the accountability framework, conduct regular and periodic trend analysis on sectors of concern to provide evidential information for use during project development, implementation and for decision making
- Support the refinement of remote monitoring protocols (as and where necessary) in collaboration with the partnership unit and relevant program team, ensure tracking system is in place and monitor their use.
- Assist the PQU in mainstreaming and standardizing accountability mechanisms in projects and programs, and in capturing and analyzing data in MIS and monitoring reports to ensure effectiveness.
****R4: Capacity Building****
- Identify training needs and conduct training for CARE staff and partners on child protection, GBV, gender and accountability both in Nairobi and in the field in coordination with the partnership and learning coordinator.
- Lead on the development of tools/resources/ training materials for child protection, GBV, gender and accountability in line with “best practice” and CARE and donor guidelines.
- Support staff to document best practices, lessons learnt, case studies and human interest stories from their programs
- Compile and share relevant best practices and lessons from other CARE COs (and other agencies) with Somalia program and partner staff
****R5: General Responsibilities****
- Contribute to the design of new projects/programs providing technical inputs in the proposal development processes;
- Ensure a protection, gender and diversity lens is applied in all program analyses undertaken during design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and in donor reporting.
- Promote linkages and technical consistency in development and emergency programming by coordinating closely with protection, M&E (MEAL group) and project staff across all programs.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS REQUIREMENTS
- Master Degree in International Relations/Development, Human Rights, Gender studies, Social Work, Conflict transformation, or related discipline. A bachelor’s degree will be acceptable only if the candidate can demonstrate sufficient experience in gender and protection programming in conflict settings.
- At least four years of proven international management level experience working in child protection and/or gender in humanitarian context.
- Sound working knowledge of protection and gender frameworks and International Humanitarian, Human Rights and Refugee Law, advanced working knowledge on international, regional and national protection/gender standards and principles
- Ability to work under pressure, independently and with limited supervision to meet tight deadlines
- Facilitation and training experience
- Ability and willingness to work and live under difficult circumstances and to travel regularly
- Experience in working in complex emergencies and natural disasters.
- Commitment to CARE’s core values and principles.
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English
- Interpersonal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
- Somali language skills are highly desirable.
HOW TO APPLY:
How to Apply:
Interested candidates who meet the criteria above are encouraged to send their application letters and detailed CVs to recruit@som.care.org by ****21st September 2015****. Please indicate ****‘Protection, Gender & Accountability’**** as the subject line.
*Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.*
****CARE is an Equal Opportunity Employer promoting gender, equity and diversity. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.****
