Mercy Corps saves and improves lives in the world’s toughest places.
Since 1979, we have been helping people in the world’s toughest places survive the crises they confront and turn them into opportunities to thrive.
Our staff — 95 percent of whom are local — work in failing states like Somalia and Zimbabwe. Conflict zones like Afghanistan, Congo and Iraq. And countries that have endured natural disasters like Indonesia, Pakistan and Haiti.
In these places, a child’s life is often at risk. A women’s education is usually ignored. A family’s livelihood is never a sure thing. We respond immediately to emergencies and stick around to build food security, resilience and new economic opportunities as communities rebuild.
In these important and imperiled places, we listen to locals and prioritize their most urgent needs. We take the long-term view and commit to innovative solutions that drive true change. We think big, start small and take responsible risks to benefit the greatest number of people around the world.
Job Title: Protection and GBV Technical Advisor (219742-927)
Mercy Corps – Gombe, NG
This position is contingent on funding.
Duration is 3 months with possible extension up to 5 months.
Program/ Department Summary
Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on women’s empowerment, economic development and conflict mitigation. With the insurgency spilling over from the north east of Nigeria and causing displacement of thousands of individuals, Mercy Corps has decided to address the rising humanitarian needs among displaced households and vulnerable host communities by starting its humanitarian program. With current funding from OFDA, FFP and CERF and ongoing opportunities from other donors, all Mercy Corps interventions in the North East are implemented with plans for scale-up.
The current funding opportunity’s goal is to support economic opportunities and food security among conflict-affected populations in Gombe State, and to strengthen the capacity of humanitarian agencies and the quality of information gathering in Nigeria.
General Position Summary
The Protection and GBV Coordinator will be responsible for providing strategic direction and vision in protection programming to Mercy Corps in Nigeria specifically in its OFDA funded intervention. In particular the focus would be on strengthening community-based prevention and response mechanisms for addressing protection risks, with a specific focus on gender-based violence mitigation. S/he will be responsible for the detailed design, quality and implementation of protection projects in north-east Nigeria. S/he will work extensively with other sectors to ensure that protection principles, particularly those relating to the reduction of gender based violence, are being incorporated into the humanitarian intervention programs.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Provide technical oversight and lead on the start-up of the protection component of the OFDA grant in north-east Nigeria.
Develop program work plan and produce SOPs for project staff and activities.
Advise on overall design and implementation of the protection component and provide guidance to ensure stated goals and objectives are met and can be monitored.
Design and implement data gathering process on GBV and other protection issues, analysis of protection and GBV risks, map points of service for survivors of GBV and vulnerable individuals and identify support structures / services.
Develop, conduct, and supervise trainings on key GBV concepts and risk analysis, basic counseling skills for GBV Survivors and mapping services and referral pathways.
Identify local actors engaged in protection and GBV and potentially recruit national protection staff to support MC and its partners through ongoing mentorship to ensure programming meets GBV best practices and guiding principles.
Coordinate with active stakeholders to seek assurance of the quality of the referral pathways already developed in the areas of intervention.
Coordinate with Nigerian and International institutions on protection in particular through the Protection Sector Working Group.
Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve – we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Protection Officers
ACCOUNTABILITY: Country Director
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Director of Humanitarian Programs
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program Coordinator
Knowledge And Experience
Relevant qualifications in social work, IHL (international humanitarian law), protection or other related field.
Minimum of 3-5 years professional experience in designing and managing protection projects and experience in protection mainstreaming as well as 3 years in GBV (gender based violence) program design and implementation including experience in GBV program management and protection/GBV coordination.
Proven experience in effectively training, coaching and mentoring staff on GBV.
Demonstrated ability to work with and build the capacity of local stakeholders such as local NGOs, government officials and service providers.
Familiarity with standards and guidelines for gender and GBV programming and coordination as well as guidance on protection from SEA (sexual exploitation and abuse).
Prior experience working within humanitarian settings is preferred.
Success Factors
Ability to adapt experience and knowledge in protection and GBV to the humanitarian context within northeast Nigeria as well as ensure transfer of that knowledge to relevant stakeholders including staff.
As well as ability to implement successfully job responsibilities within the limited timeframe for the program implementation whilst being flexible to integrate the approach to different programs.
Living Conditions/Environmental Conditions
The position is based in the field location (Gombe state) with frequent trips to Abuja, Nigeria.
Considering the frequent travel from/to different field locations, this position will require flexibility in terms of accommodation and logistics.
Housing in Abuja will be in shared accommodation while housing in the field will be in hotels or guesthouse.
Abuja is relatively safe, while the field locations require additional vigilance and accessibility will be reassessed continuously.
Access to medical services, phone communication, internet, electricity and water in Abuja is secured, while in the field locations this is not guaranteed.
The position is unaccompanied as it is short term and is not eligible for hardship and/or R&R benefits due to the nature of Abuja.
Given the nature of the humanitarian response, working hours require flexibility and working through weekends/evenings might be necessary.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
How to Apply
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