About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger-USA is a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. We save the lives of malnourished children and we enable entire communities to be free from hunger. With more than 8,000 staff in over 50 countries, our programs reached 17 million people in 2019.

About the Country Program in Ethiopia

Action Against Hunger has been operational in Ethiopia since 1984 responding to both chronic and acute needs through a multi-sectoral strategy where nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support activities are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience.

Action Against Hunger currently operates in 5 different regions (Oromia, Somali, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, and Gambella) with a portfolio of 20m USD/year of emergency, resilience building, research, and innovation programs. We have a country team of around 600 staff in 17 regional and satellite offices. Our main donors in Ethiopia in 2020/2021 are BHA, ECHO, Europaid, UNHCR, UNICEF, GFFO, BPRM, SIDA, EHF, WFP, CIAA, and others.

Summary of position

• Under the supervision of the Roving Protection and Gender Program Manager or similar, the Protection and Gender officer will be responsible for assisting in the implementation of the project activities. This will include working with other sectors, NGOs, UN agencies and government services, on providing support to some of the most vulnerable members of the community. Activities will include supporting training and capacity building, advocacy, communicating key messages and increasing awareness, working with the community and local services to increase capacity of services related to protection, provide basic psychosocial support, conduct assessments and provide monitoring information.
• The Roving Protection and Gender Officer will assist in the implementation of emergency protection activities for the humanitarian response in the Ethiopia different regions, under EHF-SWAN funded project. The ideal candidate will have experience of delivering protection activities within a humanitarian response, including working with other sectors (such as Health, Nutrition, WASH, FSL and Cash), is flexible and able to advocate for the needs of women, men, and children affected by the humanitarian crisis situation.
• The position is Addis based, but you will be expected to be travelling to the field bases very regularly (around 80%+ of your time) and spend time delivering protection activities for targeted beneficiaries and supporting the health workers & social workers of WOCYAO, BOLSA and Health Office to be able to provide quality protection service.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advocate for the rights of vulnerable people and targeted beneficiaries through contact with local authorities, government officials, community leaders and elders, humanitarian partners and other relevant actors
• Support the delivery of formal and on-the-job training and coaching for health and social workers, and other key stakeholders on protection principles, gender and MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support)
• Participate in rapid needs assessments (including protection, gender analysis and psychosocial support) through field visits in villages, camps and other informal settlements with persons of concern within the community and identify individuals at risk and humanitarian needs
• Provide support to other agencies and local authorities in order to map services, collect data and provide monitoring reports.
• Monitor, assess, observe and report on key protection concerns and rights violations in the field
• Support the delivery of awareness raising and training for associations and community groups, teachers and other key influencers to increase awareness, capacity and support.
• Provide support to other sectors (for instance WASH, NUT, Health and FSL) as needed to deliver the program and mainstreaming activities.
• Ensure that activities are recorded and activity reports are provided to the line manager by the agreed deadline and are of high quality.
• Provide individual and group Psychosocial Support and counselling to child and adult beneficiaries/survivors either directly or thought supporting health/social workers
• Support the process of referring cases of vulnerable people internally, through government primary care services and specialist partners or UN agencies.
• Participate in the assessment, monitoring and auditing of mainstreaming activities

Gender Equality Commitments  

• Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, colour, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status. 
• Value and respect all cultures. 

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
• While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases. 

Job Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• BA Degree or Diploma in Psychology, Sociology, Social work, Gender, Public Health or related field
• Relevant work-related field experience in humanitarian response, minimum 2 years for BA and 4 years for Diploma related to Protection, Gender or Mental Health/Psychosocial Support

Required Skill and Competencies 

• Excellent understanding of protection principles, human rights and case management
• Excellent communication skills including ability to gain trust and build relationships with new communities
• Previous humanitarian experience preferred
• Good understanding of humanitarian principles
• Experience in regular report writing
• Language – High level of written and spoken English
• Good knowledge of local customs and language (at least two of the following language: Amharic, Somali and Oromiffa)

How to Apply

If you are interested, please send your application composed of none returnable CV, a Covering Letter with “Protection and Gender Officer Roving (SWAN)” written in the subject line, and three references, applicants to the following addresses:

Through www.ethiojobs.net 

Deadline: 01 July 2021 before 5:00 PM

NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be communicated and the selection process includes a technical test and an interview.