Link Community Development Safeguarding, Gender and Inclusion Coordinator Jobs in Ethiopia

Link Community Development Safeguarding, Gender and Inclusion Coordinator Jobs in Ethiopia

Closing date: 09 Sep 2019

Job Purpose

The Safeguarding, Gender and Social Inclusion (SGESI) Coordinator will support the delivery of Link Community Development Ethiopia’s Girls’ Education Challenge project – ‘Supporting Transition of Adolescent Girls through Enhanced Systems’ (STAGES) in Ethiopia.

About the Project

Supporting Transition of Adolescent Girls through Enhanced Systems (STAGES) is an ambitious eight-year project which aims to improve girls’ learning and transition in 128 rural elementary schools and up to 17 secondary schools - 13 existing schools and 4 new ‘deep rural’ schools.

Over the remaining six years, working in all schools in four marginalised, densely populated districts of Wolaita, STAGES will:

Reach 63,571 disadvantaged girls and support their transition to general secondary
Support older girls’ transition from general secondary to preparatory school, (Technical Vocational Education Training TVET), College of Teachers’ Education CTE) or work.


Include activities to embed support for girls’ education at regional level and develop sustainable models owned by the education system which can be maintained and replicated by zonal authorities in 12 additional districts and other regional authorities.

Improve girls’ literacy and numeracy outcomes.
Critically intervene in several key areas: lack of accurate data about girls’ performance; capacities to plan for and monitor girls’ education at all levels; access to safe, local secondary schools; quality of teaching and tutorial/ extracurricular support; socio-cultural beliefs and attitudes of community members, teachers and school managers; school construction and sanitation facilities; self-esteem and financial barriers to secondary education; community mobilisation in school improvement; and inclusive education practices.


Support the changing of entrenched attitudes and behaviour over this eight-year period
STAGES will build on Link’s successful and innovative DFID-funded Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) interventions, working with existing GEC girls, streamlining interventions with the greatest impact and introducing new and adapted inclusive interventions targeting secondary school learners, as well as boys and men as ‘agents of change’.

Job Requirement

Key Areas of Responsibilities

In close coordination and support of Technical Advisor and Program Manager, the SGESI Coordinator is responsible for the following tasks:

Support the in-depth SGESI Assessment in intervention areas and develop/refine STAGES SGESI action plan based on assessment results, ensuring proper implementation of the action plan at all levels;

Support and coordinate with all team members – Program, MERL, Operations and Finance including government partners - to promote equity and inclusion integration into program interventions through identifying power imbalances and understanding marginalized groups’ vulnerabilities, interests and needs;

Provide guidance to STAGES team on integrating SGESI specific requirements in designing, planning and implementing strategic approach in specific interventions;

Support integration of SGESI aspects into the MERL system and processes, working together with the MERL team to ensure that gender and inclusivity are reflected in output, outcome and impact level indicators and monitoring tools;

Make frequent field visits to project areas to monitor implementation of safeguarding/ child and vulnerable adult protection activities, identify opportunities and constraints and any adjustments needed including additional staffing or staff training;

Document community concerns and recommendations on how to best overcome identified challenges like engaging men, women, boys and girls from diverse ethnic groups;

Explore and recommend meaningful methods to include men, women, boys and girls from diverse ethnic groups into program activities through regular interaction with program participants and representatives of donors and governments as well;

Facilitate Community Outreach Campaigns and communication processes to engage women;

Coordinate SGESI related capacity building initiatives as needed to integrate gender equality, safeguarding and social inclusion programmatically and institutionally;

Support development and review of SGESI responsive training curriculum and materials;

Facilitate regular community consultations, group meetings, events, roundtable discussions and training sessions to ensure programming remains gender sensitive, safe and inclusive and are on-track with the local government partners;

Develop and deliver key trainings on SGESI to all team, including government partners;

Ensure that activity design maximizes participant engagement from the beginning of the

program while managing and mitigating risks of cultural disrespect and gender-based violence;

Take action as necessary on revisions to safeguarding guidance and due diligence from the GEC-T Fund Manager; respond to Fund Manager requests for information and updates on Link Ethiopia’s safeguarding policies and procedures;

Work with Link International’s safeguarding focal person to strengthen safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with Ethiopian legislation and donor compliance;

Ensure a robust Case Management system is in place and fit for purpose, including reporting, referrals and victim support;

Ensure the Risk Management system is updated and shared with appropriate team members;

Conduct a thorough service mapping of victim support services in Wolaita Zone and the SNNPR Region;

Ensure all staff, consultants, partners, contractors and visitors adopt and follow the Link Ethiopia Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct;

Work closely with Link Ethiopia programme team members to ensure that safeguarding is considered in all programme activities;

Work closely with the program team in all activities to safeguard girls (and boys) who are particularly vulnerable to abuse, such as children with disabilities;

Strengthen Link Ethiopia safeguarding training module and ensure it follows best practice;

Ensure that girls (and boys) in project schools understand safeguarding and protection, and that they participate in the development of school level policies or guidelines which seek to protect them from harm, violence or abuse;

Strengthen GEC-T programming to ensure the active participation of girls (considering particularly marginalised girls including girls with disability) in the design, implementation and evaluation of project activities;

Take part and/or support with implementation of all other STAGES programme activities at all levels;

Perform other related tasks as required by immediate supervisor.

Person Specification

Experience and Qualifications

Essential

Commitment to Link Community Development values and Safeguarding Policy.

An understanding of inclusive education, safeguarding and gender programming.

4 years of relevant experience preferable in INGO context working on Child Protection, Safeguarding, Gender, Social Inclusion and Education Projects.

Knowledge of Government development plans and policies on Safeguarding and Child Protection.

Technical knowledge of safeguarding and child protection in the international NGO arena.

Strong knowledge and understanding of Ethiopian Education System.

B.ED/B.A in Gender Studies, Sociology, Law, Education, other Social Science or related area.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Amharic.

Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching.

Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mind-sets.

Female applicants are appreciated.

Desirable

A postgraduate degree in a relevant field (Gender studies, Education, Social Science, International Development or related areas).

Experience in delivering projects for marginalised beneficiaries.

Knowledge of the local statutory child protection network, including contact details for the local police and women’s and children’s affairs bureau, and awareness of local inter-agency child protection procedure.

Developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Knowledge of development education and NGO sector in Ethiopia.

Skills & Attributes

Ability to think and plan strategically.

Ability to self-manage a demanding workload.

Ability to meet tight deadlines.

The ability to communicate complex information for a range of audiences, both in written reports and through presentations.

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter and Application Form to Link at Link@lcd.org.uk and lcd@lcdethiopia.org with the subject line “Safeguarding, Gender and Inclusion (SGESI) Coordinator, Link Community Development Ethiopia”

Your cover letter should detail how you meet the required criteria

It should also include your available start date and salary expectations

The closing date for applications is 18:00 GMT on September 9, 2019

We will acknowledge receipt of your application. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview. Unsuccessful applicants well not be notified.

If asked for interview, candidates should bring documentation with them to show that they are fit for the role.

This may include evidence from prior roles, evidence of police checks, or relevant certificates. Please be aware that we will undertake independent verification of this documentation.