About CRS 

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

The Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP) is an emergency food assistance program targeting transitory food insecure households through a project participant targeting process led by the Government of Ethiopia’s (GoE) Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC). JEOP provides emergency assistance to protect their lives and livelihood where recurrent drought affected in significant harvest loss, livestock death and price increase of essentials. The consortium is led by CRS and includes consortium partners, CARE, Food for the Hungry, Relief Society of Tigray (REST), World Vision and Organization for Relief and Development in Amhara (ORDA). CRS also works thorough local implementing partners Hararghe and Meki Catholic Secretariat (HCS and MCS).

As part of CRS family, you will join the more than 5000 strong and vibrant individuals working globally to accomplish the mission of CRS. CRS/Ethiopia invites you, the qualified candidate, to apply for the following position.

Job Title:                        Technical Advisor II - Gender, Protection & Safeguarding 

Band:                              10

Required number:        One

Department:                 JEOP Program Quality

Employment Term:      Definite Term (i.e. till August 31, 2027)

Reports To:                   JEOP Deputy Chief of Party - Program Quality

Country/Location:       CRS Ethiopia/Addis Ababa

Deadline:                        March 16, 2024

Job Summary:  

As the technical lead for gender, protection and safeguarding, you will introduce initiatives which ensure safe and dignified programming throughout the consortium. You will provide advice and support to a range of program design and implementation issues in gender integration and protection principles in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to CRS and JEOP consortium members to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your advice, knowledge, and support will contribute to the mainstreaming of protection and gender, thereby improving the safety, access and dignity of our humanitarian programming across Ethiopia.

Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead the development and implementation of consortium-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in gender, protection and safeguarding which effectively engage partners, donors and governments. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach to safe and dignified emergency programming.

• Ensure a cross-sectoral approach to safe and dignified programming.

• Conduct various gender, protection and safeguarding assessments, ensure the JEOP has the most effective referral pathway and mitigation measures.

• Lead the development of, and maintenance of tools and guidance, as well as ensure appropriate use of tools, on gender and protection mainstreaming, (including protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) in coordination with CRS Ethiopia gender and protection units, East Africa Regional Office (EARO) technical leads, Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) team members and JEOP partner counterparts.

•  Provide technical solutions to the consortium, and the Country Program, remotely and on-site, for strategic planning and how to best apply program design and implementation standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E, ensuring high-quality implementation.

• Contribute to regional and CP efforts to pre-position JEOP for growth opportunities in safe and dignified programming (gender, protection and safeguarding).

• Carry out technical review and participatory revision of donor facing reports, Pipeline and Resource Estimate Proposal (PREP), concept notes and new project proposals. Provide feedback in line with CRS guidance on gender and protection mainstreaming, and industry best practices. Utilize the gender marker in the redesign of activities and include gender sensitive indicator and mainstreaming plan.

• Support capacity strengthening initiatives in gender and protection mainstreaming in humanitarian programming for staff and partner through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and coaching. Design and develop tailored trainings on protection mainstreaming to address contextual challenges and make use of local capacity. Support active signposting to external training and awareness opportunities.

• Collect and analyze program data, particularly regarding the JEOP gender action plan, capture, and share lessons learned and best practices for specific projects to facilitate improvements in decision-making and contribute to protection mainstreaming learning and good practice.

• Lead the consortium gender Technical Working Group and ensure quality implementation by partners.

• Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating strategic projects, assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports.

• Establish and maintain relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions. Participate in forums in the area of gender, protection and safeguarding to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.

Job Requirements

Basic Qualifications 

• Master's Degree in Gender Studies, International Development, Social Work, or other related fields.

• At least Five years of experience, including three years of relevant field-based experience in development or humanitarian response settings, preferably in a conflict setting. 

•  Experience with and knowledge of mainstreaming protection in food assistance, gender integration, and gender-based violence (GBV) mainstreaming 

•  Experience with participatory approaches to protection mainstreaming and/or gender mainstreaming.

• Good knowledge of concepts, approaches, and application of gender marker, safeguarding policies and best practices in gender integration and protection mainstreaming. 

•  Demonstrated understanding of international protection and gender standards. 

•  Demonstrated ability to conduct assessments and studies, including gender audits and protection risk analyses.

• Experience with capacity strengthening and partnership building. 

• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems. 

•  Demonstrated commitment to accountability to affected populations, and experience working with and meaningfully engaging diverse populations, including pregnant and lactating mothers, persons with disabilities, older adults, and IDPs 

•  Demonstrated commitment to and application of gender responsive programming and positive action measures towards gender equality, including the participation and leadership of women

• Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to safeguarding, including the protection of program participants, community members and staff from all forms of abuse and harm 

•  Experience applying survivor-centered approaches and the identification and mitigation of gender-based violence (GBV) risks.

 Required Languages - English and Amharic. Additional Ethiopian languages a plus. 

 Travel - 10-25% by road and air across Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR, Sidama, Dire Dawa City Administration and Tigray (subject to need and flexible to family commitments). 

 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.

• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment.

• Strong written and oral communication skills

• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills

• Proactive, resourceful and results oriented.

• MEAL skills and experience is advantageous.

• Knowledge of USAID policies around gender and protection.

• Prior technical experience on USAID funded programs; knowledge of Title II policies and procedures preferred.

 Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results. 

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.

• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.

• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.

• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.

• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

 Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.

• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.

• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities. 

 Key Working Relationships:  

Internal: JEOP sector leads. JEOP Chief of Party, JEOP Deputy Chief of Parties (4), CRS Ethiopia country program gender, safeguarding and protection units, CRS regional technical advisors.

 External: JEOP consortium partners, USAID/BHA gender, protection and safeguarding team, relevant government ministries, Ethiopia Food Cluster, Technical Working Groups.

 Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.  

How to Apply

You should fill the application form through this link: You should fill the application form through this link: CLICK HERE and attach your up-to-date CV on / before the application deadline March 16, 2024. You will be contacted only if selected for written exam/interview. Phone solicitations will not be accepted. These job opportunities are open to Ethiopian nationals only.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.   

What we offer: 

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world. 

CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. 

** Qualified women & persons with disability are highly encouraged to apply**

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer