Safeguarding, Gender equality and Inclusion Coordinator

Background/IRC Summary:

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria – more than half of the country's population – need humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes, and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Safeguarding and Inclusion Coordinator will support the country program efforts to ensure safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion in both programs and operations, with a strong focus on gender equality, based on a strong commitment to put safeguarding policies into practice across our recruitment, programming, communication, advocacy, and office culture.

The position will advocate for and represent the IRC in his/her area of expertise and at relevant coordination forums. Regularly supports and collaborates with:

– GE/GEDI Champions

– Work at Work (W@W) network leads

– Safeguarding focal points

– Senior Management Team (SMT)

– Programs Leads

– Partnerships

In addition, the role will collaborate with diverse external actors, as needs and opportunities arise. These may include other national and international humanitarian organizations, women-led organizations, government authorities, multilateral and bilateral organizations, local partners, and donors.

Major Responsibilities:

Safeguarding and Inclusion in operations:

• Lead the rolling out of the GEDI Action Plan in accordance with the global and regional frameworks and agreed country-level priorities.
• Collaborates with the HR and other relevant departments and program teams on ensuring greater gender balance, inclusion, and representatives on the staff, including by conducting gender/GEDI analyses of HR data and policies, ensuring recruitment and career support processes are aligned with GEDI values and principles, and delivering anti-bias training to HR staff and hiring managers.
• Support the capacity-building, empowerment and active functioning of the W@W network and their focal points, GE/GEDI Champions, and other relevant roles, e.g., Safeguarding focal point, IRC Way Day ambassadors on GEDI related matters. Collaborate with HR and other relevant colleagues on the socialization and implementation of anti-harassment/ anti-sexual harassment, respect at work, and safeguarding policies (against sexual abuse and exploitation of adult and child clients, against harassment and bullying among staff, against sexual harassment of staff)
• Collaborate with the Safety Security and Access Coordinator to conduct gender-sensitive and inclusive Security Risk Assessment (SRAs) and develop effective Security Management Plans (SMPs)
• Foster organizational culture transformation by rolling out different initiatives/training, awareness-raising, and training for staff, and building the capacity-building of managers and leaders to foster an inclusive and gender-sensitive culture and lead by example.
• Ensure strong safeguarding policies and effective SOPs are in place and oversee the regular awareness-raising and upskilling of staff to strengthen the safeguarding environment across all IRC and partner operations and programs.
• Lead on the identification of safeguarding risks and establishment of mitigation practices through IRC’s risk register and regular reviews.
• Work with HR to ensure coordinated, well-tracked system to track orientation of newly hired staff, enumerators, incentive workers, etc., to IRC polices, reporting pathways, and basic survivor referral and support options.
• Work with HR talent acquisition team to ensure that basic information on IRC safeguarding policies and expected behaviors is part of all IRC job postings.

Safeguarding and Inclusion in Programs:

• Collaborate with DCDP, PIQD, Technical Coordinators and relevant program teams to conduct intersectional gender analyses and build the capacity of program staff to conduct intersectional analyses.
• Provide technical assistance for the development and implementation of GEDI-aligned transformative programs, informed by the findings of the intersectional analyses.
• Support quality control, monitoring and evaluation of programs with a GEDI lens, including, if necessary, a gender/GEDI review of programs, development of a GEDI-integration plan, spot checks and field visits to program locations
• Incorporate gender considerations into the Performance Monitoring Plan, with an emphasis on designing indicators that will drive high-value program activities.
• Collaborate with program teams to ensure gender equality, diversity and inclusion considerations and goals are incorporated into proposals and data related to gender equality indicators are collected.
• Oversee the establishment and strengthening of safeguarding systems across the country program to ensure quality safeguarding practices are delivered across all sectors and promotion of a strong safeguarding culture within the country program.
• Lead on monitoring the application of safeguarding policies, processes and practices to ensure a contextualized and coordinated approach to safeguarding, reporting and response.
• Support IRC Protection team to establish referral and response protocols for survivors of exploitation and abuse, in collaboration with relevant partners and in coordination with inter-agency efforts.
• Work with program coordinators, MEAL and IRC partners to identify gaps in client feedback mechanisms, and to identify both short- and long-term solutions to ensure that all partners have access to or are able to develop internal PSEA/safeguarding reporting channels and protocols.
• Build network of safeguarding focal points within program teams in the field, ensuring strong orientation to and ability to apply and lead learning on IRC safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Orient especially staff who work on programs that engage directly with clients on IRC’s approach to safeguarding and relevant policies.

Safeguarding and Inclusion with Partners:

• Integrate safeguarding and inclusion into partnership agreements and conversations; make plans as needed to support partners to reinforce their own safeguarding policies and practices.

• Promote two-way learning and dialogue on safeguarding, and shared learning across the IRC network of partners.
• Work with IRC program and partnership teams to establish priorities for partner support action and investments.
• Design and deliver the most immediate partner support needs, including staff training, development of codes of conduct and reporting and response procedures.
• Deliver direct support to partners where requested, to reinforce their own PSEA/safeguarding policies and practices.

Advocacy, Communication and Networking:

• Be the PSEA focal person of IRC for both internal and external purposes.
• Produce and disseminate GEDI-related materials, including information about the country’s programs efforts and good practices.
• Meet with other agencies safeguarding focal points to understand existing systems and inter-agency processes (e.g., PSEA network), and to ensure that IRC reporting channels are integrated into inter-agency efforts.
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

Qualifications

Required Experience/qualification/Skills:

• 8 to 10 years of relevant experience with at least two (5) years of experience in a similar role, e.g. fostering gender equality at work place and in programs; experience working closely with structurally excluded groups is a plus
• Previous experience in an emergency or conflict-afflicted setting is required.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development.
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop and a sense of humor is a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

• English is required, while Arabic is a strong asset.
• Travel: 40% to field sites in all the locations of Syria CP operations.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Human Resources Director (HRD) with matrix reporting to Deputy country director for programs (DCDP)

Position directly supervises: NA

Indirect Reporting (If applicable): NA
Key Internal Contacts: work closely with SMT, SMT+, ESMT and all the heads of department.

Key External Contacts:

• Receives technical guidance and support from: Regional GEDI Director
• Receives technical support for safeguarding related matters from: Regional Safeguarding Advisor/Director

The deadline will be the 15th of July 2023.

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen 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, the Middle East Region 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. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

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 parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.

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