Women Empowerment Action (WE-Action) is a feminist women's rights organization that has been operating across various regions in Ethiopia, including Amhara, Oromia, Southern Ethiopia, Central Ethiopia, and Tigray, for the past 30 years. WE-Action has four strategic goals: combating gender inequality, promoting gender-equitable and sustainable livelihoods, ensuring protection and lifesaving support, and achieving organizational excellence.

WE-Action is currently seeking to hire a competent, qualified and interested candidate for the position of Protection Officer who will be responsible for the implementation of “Women at the Center: Enhancing SGBV Response in Crisis-Affected Communities (South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Burkina Faso and Chad)” projects which is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) through Oxfam.

Reports to: Project Coordinator

Salary: As per the organization’s scale

Number of positions: One (1)

Duration: One year with possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funds

Sex: Female is preferred

General Duties and Responsibilities

• The position holder will be responsible for all protection activities of the project ensuring the quality and effectiveness of plans within his/her designated project area including handling manpower and budgetary aspects of the projects. 

Managerial Responsibilities

•   Support the project team’s (WGSS Facilitators) adherence to internal polices and project management standards.

•   Coach, mentor, and supervise project WGSS Facilitators for smooth implementation of planned project activities as per international and national protocols and standard operating procedures.

•   Make close follow up in target kebeles.

Project Activity Coordination and Implementation:

•   Ensure projects under coordination are implemented within time frame and quality through providing technical support and regularly follow up of case workers.

•   Work closely with project coordinator, protection coordinator, in planning, budgeting and follow up of proper utilization of budget.

•   Make a strong and continuous follow up of project implementation by setting weekly, monthly & quarterly action plans.

•   Represent WE-Action’s interests in project implementation woreda. 

•   Make sure that project implementation is as per the sustainability plan and exist strategy manual of the organization particularly for early independency of group establishment and graduation.

•   Ensure proper documentation (in soft and hard copy) of project under coordination.

•   Facilitating training on protection topics for community members and stakeholders.

•   Follow up and support government protection service providers to assess their capacity building needs.

•   Facilitate the establishment /strengthen of a functional, safe, appropriate, and functioning feedback and complaints handling mechanisms for local community.

Protection Mainstreaming:

•   Assist the project coordinator in ensuring the integration of protection measures into project implementation.

•   Advocate for the protection of vulnerable populations, raising awareness about their rights and needs among relevant stakeholders.

•   Advocate for survivor centered protection/GBV service delivery for survivors of violence

•  Facilitate the establishment /strengthen of a functional, safe, appropriate, and functioning feedback and complaints handling mechanisms for local community.

•  Collaborate with other sectors within the organization and external partners to mainstream protection principles into other project activities.

Program Development

•   Develop annual and quarter operational plans with quality for projects, timely submit to the respective project coordinator.

•   Work with protection /GBV service providers (organizations) in developing and adapting standard Operating procedure, referral pathway, guideline, Information, Education and Communication materials.  

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting: 

•   In collaboration with project coordinator, timely follow and implement project mid and end term evaluations to be conducted by government signatories.

•   Follow day to day implementation of activities vs budget.

•   Collect and update project target data timely.

•   Collect and prepare best practices, lessons learned and most significant changes and share with project coordinator.

•   Organize and participate project visit for government and funding partners.

•   Collect, compile and submit quality monthly, quarterly and annual project reports to the Protection Coordinator. 

•   When requested prepare presentations or any announcement regarding, WE-Action’s activities for government and other organizations in consultation with the Protection Coordinator. 

•   Assist the Protection Coordinator to codify lessons learned and best practices, etc

•   Capture project woreda evidences/pictures.

Compliance and Performance 

•   Read, understand and strictly respect donors and government compliances 

•   Strictly follow and adhere to organizational policy and standardization manuals.

Gender and Social Inclusion and Accountability 

•    Participate and contribute for organization gender and accountability work.

•    Plan, implement and report gender equality, social inclusions and accountability activities in respective project.

Accountability and transparency

•   Ensure that communications and products of WE-Action are visible in project Kebeles area

•   Adhere to the organization accountability framework

•   Implement WE-Action compliances to Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and develop communities’ capacity accordingly.

•   Participate in external verification process of WE- Action Core Humanitarian Standards.•   Conduct routine monitoring and reporting any issues related to Safeguarding 

•  Create awareness to community, target groups and peers on safeguarding during weekly, monthly, and quarterly dialogue sessions
•   Create awareness to community, target groups and peers on WE-Actions compliant Handling Mechanisms during weekly, monthly, and quarterly dialogue sessions
•   Participate in organizational conversations to discuss on cross cutting issues such as gender, HIV, safeguarding, social inclusion etc…

•   Gather feedback and complaints on any concerns of the project implementation and organization and formally document and report back to field offices with a confidential and secure manner    

•   Respond in a timely manner to safeguarding concerns to ensure participants are kept safe from harm

Safeguarding
•    Able to seek appropriate advice and report concerns, and feel confident that they have been understood

•    Understands local safeguarding structures and arrangements

•    Practices in a manner that seeks to reduce the risk of abuse, harm or neglect

•    Identifies and refers to appropriate services any other associated persons including careers, family members and children at risk

Accountability and transparency 

• Implement WE- Action compliances to Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and develop communities’ capacity accordingly.

• Gather feedback and complaints on any concerns of the safe space and formally document and report back to field offices with a confidential and secure manner   

Job Requirements

•   Master of Public Health /BSc in Environment Health Science, Public Heath, Health Officer, or related fields that can added value to the post.

• At least Five years of post-qualification experience in community-based Public Health Promotion projects.

• Proven hands-on expertise in various techniques of hygiene promotion and AWD (Acute Watery Diarrhea) preparedness/response.

• Experience in developing training materials and strong training skills. Knowledge of and experience with community-based interventions using participatory methodologies 

  Key skills and competency required

• Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to engage effectively with survivors, colleagues, stakeholders, and community 

  members. Ability to build rapport, maintain confidentiality, and work collaboratively in a team environment.

• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and organizational practices, and ensure that own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.

• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain relationships with partners and stakeholders.

• Self- Management: Is self-directed, eager to meet and exceed objectives, and excited to take on more responsibility.

• Gender Sensitive: Understands gender equality and demonstrate gender sensitive and responsive behaviors.

• Data Management and Reporting Skills: Ability to collect, analyze, and report on public health data, including monitoring and evaluation of program impact.

• Project Management Skills: Experience in planning, executing, and managing public health projects, including managing resources and timelines effectively.

• Advocacy and Outreach Skills: Ability to advocate for public health issues and engage communities through effective outreach and communication strategies.

• Health Education Knowledge: Understanding of health education principles and techniques to effectively educate and motivate communities.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can submit their non-returnable application letter and updated CV through vacancy@we-actionethiopia.org.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

Name of the position you have applied for

Summary of your qualifications and experience

Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

Please include at least 3 references from current and former supervisors.