GBV Officer

Organizational Profile 

Relief and Development for Vulnerable (RDV) is a non-governmental, non-profit making, non-political and non-religious Civil Society Organization (CSO), initiated by multidisciplinary pastoral background youth, committed to contribute to living condition of marginalized, vulnerable and fragile part of pastoral community.  RDV is registered under the Ethiopian civil society charity organization number 11/10/2016. RDV mission is to ensure that pastoral communities have sustainable livelihood, access to basic services, healthy and prosperous pastoral and agro pastoral societies in Somali region through provision of basic service, income generation and social empowerment, for all vulnerable groups (particularly women, children and disabled) living in the Somali Region of Ethiopia.

Somali region is highly vulnerable to climatic shocks and is one of the most drought-prone regions of Ethiopia, and the severe drought that began in late 2020 has continued into 2023 with the passing of five poor to failed rainy seasons. As per the recent Food Security Monitoring System (FSMS) assessment, an estimated 2.2 million people are targeted for humanitarian response in drought-affected areas (composed of severely food insecure and moderately food insecure people depending on food assistance as the main food source. RDV in partnership with International Solidarity Foundation (ISF) is implementing livelihood project integrated with GBV in Somali region and is actively seeking competent project officer for the implementation of planned activities.

 Job Purpose: –

Under close supervision of Project coordinator, the GBV officer will be responsible for the project activities planning and implementation at woreda level in accordance with the RDV and ISF strategies.

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

• Lead the day to day activity implementation of FGM/gender-based violence, community engagement and women empowerment program focusing the FGM activities in the assigned location based on established indicators, including the compilation and analysis of necessary data and information for reporting 

• Lead the Planning, implementing, monitoring, and reporting of gender-based violence (GBV) prevention activities at field level, including community mobilization activities, community conversation/consultations and dialogues at field level.

• Work with community structures including men, boys, women, girls, religious leader and elders and partners to identify causes and contributing factors to violence against women and girls in targeted woreda areas to develop participatory strategies and actions to prevent gender-based violence in the community. 

• Conduct service mapping and referral pathway while ensuring it is regularly updated and disseminated among staff, partners, government stakeholders and community structures for better linkage when cases are identified. 

• Contributes to the design and implementation of behavior change communication campaigns by providing inputs to and implementing specific and targeted IEC/BCC interventions on FGM and GBV and women’s empowerment issues for the prevention and response to GBV. 

• Develop referral forms and ensure translated referral forms are in place and feedbacks are collected and documented for follow-ups when needed , 

• Provide direct supervision and support to Community mobilisers, Social Workers by capacitating them through on job trainings, mentoring, coaching and supporting them to developing individual weekly, monthly and quarterly work plans

• Implement contextualized interventions, including awareness raising, training and support for community-based protection structures, to strengthen prevention and response to GBV

• Organize and conduct capacity assessment and buildings for the partners, government stakeholders, community structures, volunteers and RDV staff regarding GBV and specific FGM trainings 

• Ensure that all planned activities, training and awareness sessions take place in accordance with the project proposal, work plans, budget, timeline and standards.

• Ensure secure ethical collection and sharing of GBV data based on agreed procedures and protocols

• Conduct regular meetings with team and community members to assess progress toward goals, discuss issues, and assist in finding solutions to identified challenges 

• Ensure timely submission of activity reports on weekly, monthly and quarterly basis and ensure quality and timely submission of disaggregated by age/gender/vulnerability to inform programming 

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant stakeholders, including partners and community members at target locations

• Organize community events such as the 16 Days of Activism and International Women’s Day to raise awareness about preventing and responding to gender-based violence. 

• Monitor changing GBV needs and trends in target communities, conducting GBV and protection needs assessments in new program areas, and adjust programmatic priorities as needed.

• Document case studies, success stories and lessons learned, and share with the GBV coordinator 

• Ensure compliance to GBV guiding principles using a survivor-centered and do-no-harm approach, confidentiality, safety, do not harm and non-discrimination across the project duration

• Coordinate with other service providers to ensure comprehensive support for survivors, including engaging in strengthening appropriate community outreach and referral pathways

• Ensure the referral mechanism system is known by the teams, properly applied and monitored.

• Plan, attend and facilitate supportive oversight, review meetings, coordination meetings and other activities with partners, the community and other relevant and appropriate stakeholders; 

• Ensure accountability mechanisms such as complaints and response mechanisms are in place and managed in accordance with RDV and donor accountability procedures 

• Demonstrate the core principles of GBV programming including respect, non-discrimination, responsible use of power, non-violence and promotion of gender equality 

• Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within RDV and among beneficiaries of RDV services.

• Adhere to the Code of Conduct, uphold humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law.

• Avoid making unnecessary promises and commitments to beneficiaries and act in the best interests of the GBV project. 

• With collaboration with the MEAL department, ensure all project achievements are documented with evidence (photos and videos). lead and contribute to the lesson learning events at regional and national level

• Perform other tasks as requested by Line Manager.

Job Requirement
Required Minimum Qualifications, Experience and Skills:

• University degree in Gender Studies, Social Work, Gender, Social Sciences, health, or related field.

• At least 5 years’ experience in NGO, of which 3 years in the FGM prevention 

• Technical knowledge and experience on FGM prevention and with GBV case management principles, standards and procedures, psychosocial support, community-based protection, protection referral mechanisms;

• Understands and applies survivor-centered approach, and GBV Guiding Principles including: Safety; Confidentiality; Respect; Non-discrimination

• Experience in participatory techniques, community mobilization and behavior change approaches

• Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills;

• Commitment to and understanding of gender equality, child rights, GBV Guiding Principles, humanitarian standards such as the Sphere Charter and the IASC Guidelines, RDV code of conduct

• Previous experience or willingness/readiness to live in a hardship environment.

• Fluency in Somali and English languages

• Computer literacy, particularly in Word, Excel and PowerPoint;

How To Apply

How to apply

• Only Qualified applicants are invited to submit their updated CV and cover letter stating the position to hrm@rdveth.org with the subject line “GBV Officer”. 

• Please note that we will review applications on a rolling basis and the vacancy may be filled before this deadline. We encourage early applications. Please be advised that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

• Female candidates only are highly encouraged to apply.

• RDV is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of actual or perceived race, religion, Tribe, color, age, origin or disability