About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, academic institutions, private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Ethiopia has reached more than five million Ethiopians with interventions to save lives and build secure livelihoods. Our programs emphasize market-driven solutions, reinforce social bonds, and help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Currently in six regional states – Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR), and in Dire Dawa Administration and the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa – Mercy Corps Ethiopia is driven by the mission to contribute the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic directions focus in promoting inclusive and dynamic markets; promoting peace and social cohesion through strengthening formal/informal governance structures and citizen engagement; improved natural resource governance; and integrated humanitarian response.[1] 

 Position Title:  Protection Officer

Duty Station: West Guji zone, Melka Soda woreda

Open Position:  1

Duration: - One Year

Position Status: Contingent

The position holder shall be in charge of technical quality implementation and delivery of the standalone Child Protection and GBV related activities and mainstreaming of Gender and protection in all focus area of the EHF multisectoral project in the assigned Woreda. The position holder will mainly responsible the daily implementation of the GBV and CP interventions; and work with government agencies, humanitarian actors and community members to identify Children, GBV and protection risks. In addition, the position holder is also responsible to provide capacity building trainings on different protection topics together with the Protection Specialist, trainings including basic protection principles, GBV and CP case management, prevention, and response mechanisms, PSEA and safeguarding to government line bureaus, community representatives, community volunteers, and other humanitarian actors. S/He will be responsible for day-to-day activity implementation in the Women and Girls Safe Spaces and Child friendly Spaces and community-based and home-to -home sensitizations. S/He will also be responsible for documentation of GBV and Child Protection related activities, compile weekly reports, proper utilizations of different safe space tools, well as represent Mercy Corps in protection and GBV related coordination forums such as Zonal and Woreda levels protection, CP/GBV cluster, PSEA Network and so on.

Essential Job Responsibilities

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

·       Oversee Safe space and community based program startup and ongoing program implementation in the assigned  field locations. 

·       Ensure that all the GBV and Child Protection implementations are responsive to communities and partners and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan.

·       Ensure that Clients are effectively targeted specially for Dignity kit and UASC material support and work together with respective government offices at woreda and kebele level to established vulnerability criteria.

·       Make sure community approaches by integrating with Child protection and, gender sensitivity and capacity building are integrated in all activities as appropriate.

·       Ensure program implementation at ground level is on time, target and within budget, using effective M&E tools in both Child protection and GBV areas to reach desired impacts with quality.

·       Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

·       Coordinate and implement GBV and Child Protection related activities of the project.

·       Mentor and  capacitate the Women and Social Affairs office and other protection frontliner service providers on CP, GBV and psychosocial support interventions

·       Conduct Safety Audit, Market Assessment, and protection risk assessment to better understand protection risk factors.

·       Conduct GBV and CP service mapping and coordinate with service providers to strengthen service provision and to support vulnerable children and GBV survivors to have timely and multi- sector response services as required.

·       Participate in GBV and CP coordination platforms in the area. 

·       Lead the community level awareness raising sessions on GBV, CP and protection related issues together with community volunteer workers and social workers.

·       Provide awareness to community members on basic protection principles, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) trainings, Mercy Corps safeguarding principles and reporting mechanism

·       Lead and organize review meetings and other periodic meetings with community members, government representatives and other humanitarian actors on the GBV, CP and protection concerns in relation to the project.  

·       Ensure that the GBV and CP referral and psychosocial support related activities are properly implemented with all protection frontliner service providers at the kebele and woreda  level in collaboration with women and social affairs office.

·       Provide on job training and mentoring session  for the safe space facilitators, and community volunteers in GBV, CP and protection related activities.

·       lead the process of WGSS and CFS activities in the selected areas together with the community volunteers and social workers.

·       Cascade trainings and provide the unstructured and structured safe space interventions, like positive parental sessions, Adolescent girls programing, information dissemination, skill building and other sessions.

·       Participate in capacity building trainings and workshops which focuses on gender, CP, GBV and protection issues. 

Influence & Representation

•           Represent Mercy Corps in different GBV, CP and protection related platforms (Kebele and Wereda) levels and communicate what Mercy Corps is doing regarding GBV, CP and protection and share lesson from other agencies as well. 

•           Provide timely training and orientation to safe space facilitators and community volunteers and make sure that they convey messages clearly to the community

•           Coordinate with safe space facilitators, community volunteers and other community structures in the area to provide information to community member on available services for GBV, CP survivors and other protection issues.

•           Upholds the image and values of Mercy Corps at all times,Security

·       Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

·       Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

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 toward accountability, specifically  to our program participants 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.

·       Mercy Corps team members are expected to implement community accountability reporting Mechanism (CARM) effectively 

·       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.

Supervisory Responsibility

The GBV and Protection Specialist is responsible to provide technical support to all project team members to be able to properly integrate protection principles during day-to-day activity implementation; as well as responsible to provide a capacity building trainings.   

 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. 

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

 Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. 

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

 GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Understand and aware GDI related priorities of the country office and contribute for the

realization of priorities (continually work to understand and be aware of the gender diversity and inclusion priorities of the country office and contribute in the execution)

• Promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with a team member, partners and program participants.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

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.

Safeguarding & Ethics

·       Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Job Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

·       BA degree in Gender and social development, Sociology, Psychology, Social work, or other similar social science field of studies

·       Minimum two years’ work experience in GBV, Child Protection and Protection related roles (Experience working in NGO is an advantage)

How to Apply

All applications submitted to the Mercy Corps office or electronically include a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents. Applications will not be returned and will not be retained for future recruitment efforts.  To ensure fairness to all applicant’s personal inquiries are not permitted.

 Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

 “Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and    diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”

 DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 09 March 2023/ 4:00 PM

Register using this LINK