Women Protection And Empowerment (WPE) Officer at International Rescue Committee - IRC

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Women Protection And Empowerment (WPE) Officer

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Employer: International Rescue Committee - IRC

Employment: Full-Time | Contract

Place of Work: Jijiga - Ethiopia

Posted date: 22 hours ago

Deadline: July, 17/2025 (13 days left)

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Job Overview:

The Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Officer will play a key role in strengthening the capacity and leadership of Local Women-Led Organizations (LWLOs) by providing tailored technical support, ongoing mentoring, and coordination of project activities. The Officer will support LWLOs in assessing their organizational needs, delivering targeted training, and implementing effective gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response initiatives. They will also supervise GBV case management services to ensure they are survivor-centered, confidential, and follow global and national standards. Through peer learning, coaching, and continuous technical guidance, the Officer will help ensure quality service delivery and empower LWLOs to lead protection efforts within their communities.

In addition to supporting LWLOs, the WPE Officer will work closely with government stakeholders, INGOs, local NGOs, and community leaders to strengthen partnerships, referral pathways, and coordinated GBV responses. The Officer will play a key role in facilitating

collaboration across actors, advocating for women and girls’ protection, and ensuring the project aligns with both donor expectations and IRC’s WPE strategy. This position is essential for promoting inclusive, safe, and sustainable protection services for women and girls across the target areas.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Planning and Implementation

• Support and coordinate the initial mapping and profiling of Local Women-Led Organizations (LWLOs).
• Facilitate and support capacity assessment and development planning workshops for LWLOs.
• Provide ongoing technical support and mentorship to LWLOs based on their identified capacity gaps.
• Coordinate and deliver thematic training on women’s protection and empowerment, GBV case management, and referral mechanisms.
• Organize and lead regular peer learning exchanges between LWLOs to enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Facilitate joint community outreach activities with LWLOs to increase awareness on women’s rights and GBV prevention.
• Support the development and implementation of safeguarding and protection mainstreaming practices within LWLOs.
• Assist in organizing and participating in project monitoring visits, learning sessions, and review meetings with stakeholders.
• Conduct and oversee GBV case management, ensuring adherence to survivor-centered approaches and confidentiality standards.
• Strengthen and maintain effective referral pathways in collaboration with local service providers and community structures.
• Deliver technical support on GBV prevention and response, including capacity-building for local actors and community-based structures.
• Provide coaching and on-the-job mentoring to LWLO staff and community facilitators to strengthen their technical capacity in GBV programming and protection principles.
• Support in developing and reviewing case management tools, guidelines, and training materials based on global and national standards.
• Promote safe, inclusive, and dignified access to services for women and girls, while integrating safeguarding and Do No Harm principles across all activities.

Coordination

• Facilitate stakeholder engagement meetings with government actors, community leaders, and partner organizations to support coordination and advocacy efforts.
• Lead coordination of WPE project activities with Local Women-Led Organizations (LWLOs), ensuring timely and quality implementation.
• Organize and facilitate peer learning forums and review workshops for continuous learning and knowledge sharing among LWLOs

Monitoring & Reporting

• Prepare and submit reports as required and incorporate the supervisor’s feedback promptly.
• Participate in the development of procurement and spending plans and work plans to ensure the successful implementation of programs
• Monitor and track utilization of program supplies and resources to ensure efficient use of available resources.
• Ensure tracking of key program indicators and progress through utilization of the M&E data collection and indicator tracking tools are being followed by community workers with sufficient copies available on site.

Human Resources, Logistics & Finance

• Adhere to IRC Country Program policies and procedures
• Ensure that all relevant financial documentation is completed accurately as required by IRC finance policy.
• Ensure logistics for training and other program activities are organized under IRC logistics policy and requirements
• Ensure that all relevant financial documentation is completed accurately as required by IRC finance policy and requirements.
• Adherence to the IRC code of conduct (IRC WAY) that ensures transparency, services, and accountability to beneficiaries and reports any abuse of beneficiaries by other IRC staff, including sexual exploitation and abuse, under the IRC reporting procedures.
• Perform any other duties as required by the supervisor from time to time
• Adherence to the IRC Security Policy.

Safeguarding Responsibilities: -

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies

Educational Requirement:

• BA/BSc degree in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Nursing, Women’s Studies, or related social science fields
• Diploma of social work, psychology, PH, and women's studies.

Work Experience and Skills:

• 5 years of experience for diploma holders, 2 years of experience for degree holders and 1 year of relevant experience for masters.
• Related work and field experiences in counseling or social service provision with women and adolescent girls.
• Demonstrated confidence in discussing intimate gender and sexuality issues.
• Able to always maintain GBV and protection principles – including knowledge and practical application of the GBV Guiding Principles and PSEA.

• Strong organizational, interpersonal, coordination, and diplomatic skills are required.
• Able to organize, maintain composure, and prioritize work under pressure, able to coordinate multiple tasks, and maintain attention to detail.
• Willing to travel to potentially insecure sites with an IRC vehicle or rental vehicle, with security assessment and travel approval by the field coordinator.
• Familiarity with working in the Somali region.
• Ability to use MS Office, Word, Excel, and Outlook email applications very well.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as, an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time
• Strong analytic problem-solving skills
• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure
• Highly proficient in the Microsoft Office suite
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels

• Ability to manage and work through change proactively and positively.

Language Skills:

• Proficiency in English, both written and spoken, is essential. Speaking the local language, Somali, is a plus

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