The 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.

The IRC has been working in Sudan since 2008 and is committed to implementing quality programming to improve the wellbeing of the most vulnerable populations in the areas of livelihoods, water and sanitation, health, and social development. IRC programming reflects a commitment to sustainable solutions and believes this is achieved through participatory approaches such as community driven development, community disaster risk reduction, and capacity building of local partners.

The IRC values the diversity of our staff and recognizes that our work is best accomplished through the true collaboration of individuals from many cultures with a great variety of skills and perspectives. In support of this core value, the IRC maintains and enforces policies to foster relationships that respect the dignity and worth of everyone.

IRC upholds its policies in accordance with principles of international law and codes of good conduct and affirm that all IRC staff members are responsible for promoting fundamental human rights, social justice, human dignity and the equality of men, women and children. IRC staff must treat every person without distinction based on his or her race, gender, religion, colour, national or ethnic origin, marital status, sexual orientation, age or disability.

The Women’s Protection & Empowerment (WPE) program works to improve the health and safety of, and support social and economic empowerment among, vulnerable women and girls through activities aimed at preventing gender-based violence (GBV), responding to the case management and psychosocial support needs of GBV survivors, building skills and assets, and addressing the specific needs of adolescent girls. Women and girls face increased risk of GBV in settings affected by natural disaster, conflict and displacement, including sexual abuse and exploitation, intimate partner violence as well as economic and emotional abuse. 

In Sudan, the IRC is working directly and in partnership to protect and empower women and girls throughout the most crisis-affected areas of the country. As one of the most established specialized GBV service providers in the country, the IRC is working to meet the immediate and long-term needs of women and girls who have experienced GBV in acute and protracted emergency contexts, reduce the risk of violence, and foster respect for women’s rights and gender equality in the home and within and among communities. 

Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) will establish a safe space for the IDPs, and refugee women and girls living in River Nile. Within the safe space, the WPE Program aims at increasing access of women and girls to psychosocial and Gender based violence (GBV) case management services and enable communities to identify and mitigate safety and security risks faced by women and girls. All programming is implemented using survivor-centred approaches that prioritize confidentiality, dignity, safety, and respect. In response to the recent explosion in Beirut, as part of the IRC Emergency Response, WPE will be providing direct response to women and girls through the deployment of Rapid Response Teams.

The WPE Prevention Officer will oversee GBV prevention, community engagement and risk reduction activities. These activities will focus on targeting communities on issues relating to GBV to using a variety of context appropriate methods - information dissemination through discussion sessions and info boards, creative events and conducting regular safety audits and community mapping, and risk identification and mitigation. Messages developed by the WPE Prevention Officer, with supervision and collaboration from the WPE Manager, will cover the types of services available to women and girl GBV survivors, where these services are available, how communities can support survivors to access services, and the consequences of GBV and the benefits of seeking care and support.

Program implementation and quality

• Be proactive in creating and developing safe space and community engagement activities, ensuring that best practice, WPE guidelines and approaches are being followed; and – 
• Seeking technical guidance and support from the WPE Manager on activity development, implementation and available resources
• Reinforce adherence to the GBV guiding principles throughout all WPE activities, and ensuring confidentiality of survivors, informed consent and respect for their wishes and decisions
• Train and support other IRC sectors (including Health, WASH, Child Protection) in risk reduction and the identification of concrete actions they can take to increase women and girls’ participation, and mitigate risks they face in the community.

Community engagement –

• Build and maintain relationships the communities, including local leaders, groups and organizations and actors in the camp; and –
• Provide training to organizations and actors in the camp on GBV and risk reduction
• Identify, train and supervise volunteer male and female community mobilizers for awareness raising and prevention
• Carry out monthly safety audits and community consultations to identify and discuss safety and risks faced by women and girls, develop concrete actions for IRC, other actors and the community to address, and ensure follow-up and follow-through on these actions
• Develop messages on the types of services available to survivors of GBV, where these services are available, how communities can support survivors to access services, and the consequences of GBV and the benefits of seeking care and support, using a variety of context-appropriate methods
• Conduct a variety of community outreach and mobilization activities aimed at violence prevention and building supportive and protective communities towards women and girls.
• Support distributions of risk reduction and dignity kits items and follow-on monitoring.                                     

Administration and Reporting

• Prepare and submit weekly activity work plans in a timely manner to agreed-upon deadlines
• Prepare brief daily report on activities conducted and submit weekly to the WPE Manager
• Complete all relevant M&E tools for activities conducted, including attendance sheets
• Contribute to monthly reports, including information on community engagement activities, and analysis of regular safety audits, community consultations, and progress made

Collaboration & Representation

• Engage with organizations and actors in the camp on identifying concerns and strategies that reduce risks faced by women and girls, including issues related to camp/community layout, safety and security, water and sanitation access, etc.; and collaboratively develop actions to address concerns.
• Where requested by the supervisor, actively take part in camp coordination meetings relevant to WPE.

Other 

• Ensure all activities are carried out in accordance with IRC Operational policies.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

• Demonstrated experience with community work, community mobilization and engagement, and working with women and girls affected by conflict. 
• Demonstrable 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 empowerment.
• Studies in psychology, gender or women’s studies, social work or other relevant/related studies, and /or professional experience in counselling and implementing activities for women and girls or proven engagement in women’s rights/groups – desirable, not essential.
• Clear understanding of and interest in the well-being of adolescent girls and women.
• Excellent communication skills and confident interpersonal interaction, and abilities to engage with a wide variety of stakeholders and community members.
• Excellent listening and observation skills, including ability to create trust, support, respect and interact with survivors of all ages, background and diversity.
• The ability to keep records and write simple and basic reports of activities would be an added advantage.
• Ability to discuss sensitive issues with respect and empathy.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and respect at all times is essential.
• Comfortable speaking about sensitive topics in an honest, professional, and thoughtful manner.
• Basic computer skills and familiarity with Word/Excel.
• Language - Fluency in Arabic mandatory. English preferred.

Standard of Professional Conduct

IRC and IRC employees are required to abide by the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct which are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons, and several others.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity

We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous 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. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Ensuring the non-disclosure of any information whatsoever relating to the practices and business of IRC acquired in the course of duty, to any other person or organization without authority, except in the normal execution of duty.