BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The Ukraine crisis could become the worst humanitarian crisis Europe has seen in decades. More than 5.3 million people have fled across borders to seek safety in the 1st month since the escalation of conflict in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and over 6.5 million people are reported to be displaced. Reports indicate almost all arrivals in Poland are women and children, including those that are unaccompanied and separated, as well as older persons.

Between February 7-23, 2022, an IRC team undertook a scoping mission covering Poland and Ukraine to better understand the context, humanitarian and civil society landscape, and anticipated service gaps in the event of an escalation of conflict in Ukraine and consequent displacement into neighboring Poland. As of February 24th, the IRC has pivoted to emergency response, and has identified partner agencies in Ukraine and Poland to facilitate immediate assistance that can be used where it is most needed. Simultaneously, the IRC has established operations across Ukraine and Poland offering a robust humanitarian response to complement partner response services either in breadth or scale.

Poland is hosting the largest number of refugees from Ukraine; more than 1.5 mil. have registered for Temporary Protection (70% females and 40% children)1. In the second year of the crisis, more refugees are expected in Poland as the frontlines change and Russia intensifies attacks. The new arrivals are expected to be more vulnerable with increased protection concerns and basic needs. As the needs continue to evolve, the IRC proactively adapts its programming to the context to ensure efficient delivery of assistance. The IRC Poland currently provides Protection, cash, education, and livelihood support to the affected population in Poland.

Job Overview/Summary: The GBV (Gender-Based Violence) caseworker will support the successful implementation of psychosocial activities and will be responsible for the provision of quality case management including direct counseling to GBV survivors.

Specific Responsibilities:

GBV Case Management

• Provide professional and confidential services to survivors of GBV, grounded in the IRC’s holistic survivor-centered case management approach.
• Document client information through accurate filling of intake forms and ensure confidential and safe storage.
• Support the maintenance of the IRC’s case management system by maintaining client confidentiality.
• Ensure the GBVIMS (Gender-Based Violence Information Management System) is accurately updated on a regular basis.
• Ethically and confidentially collect and store GBV data.
• Participate in interpretation of the analyzed data on trends and work with the WPE Coordinator, Manager and wider team to disseminate information to all relevant stakeholders.
• Participate in the development of case management monitoring systems.
• Participate in preparation of all relevant reports regarding the IRC’s psychosocial activities.
• Follow GBV guiding principles of respect, confidentiality, and safety/security and non- discrimination while providing services to women and adolescent girls.
• Monitor how the GBV referral pathway is working through making direct follow-ups with other organizations that are providing services to survivors.

Women and Girl Safe Space (WGSS) Engagements

• Facilitate or support in the facilitation of information sessions on GBV with regards to available services to women and girls and positive messaging to address the stigma preventing women and girls from accessing support and services.
• Facilitate or support in the facilitation of sessions to increase awareness on the consequences of GBV, promote available services to women and girls and address stigma preventing access to services at the women centers.

Coordination:

• Collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure fruitful and smooth field-level coordination.
• Identify strategic collaboration and implement activities in collaboration with other service providers.
• Closely coordinate with WPE and Child Protection (CP) team on trends, community dynamics, community acceptance, to modify activities and material accordingly.

Other duties:

• Active participation in the implementation of WPE Integrated Protection Outreach Strategy as part of an overall Integrated Protection Outreach Strategy
• Active participation in Service Mapping, including collecting and updating information on a regular basis.
• Assess gaps on how the referral pathway is functioning through direct follow ups with service providers and make suggestions for improvement to the supervisor.
• Ensure supplies/resources for counseling spaces and other program activities are requested in a timely manner and are efficiently utilized.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programmes.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Integrated Protection Manager
• Other Internal and/or external contacts:

  Internal: Regular relationships with IRC WPE, Child Protection, Protection Monitoring, and Livelihoods teams.

  External: Collaboration with IRC partners and donors including other non-governmental organizations, and inter-agency groups.

Requirements – Education:

• Diploma in social work, counseling and/or psychology. A Social Science or related degree is preferred.

Requirements – Previous experience:

• 1-2 years’ experience in Case Management.
• Experience working with survivors of gender-based violence preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with refugees who are survivors of GBV and can demonstrate understanding of a survivor-centered approach.
• Counseling and training experience, including experience working with women and girls preferred.

Requirements – Skills, knowledge, and interests:

• In-depth knowledge on GBV and responding to GBV in emergency settings.
• Excellent listening and observation skills, including ability to create trust, support, respect and interact with survivors of all ages, background and diversity.
• Demonstrated commitment to women’s empowerment.
• Ability to facilitate trainings and sessions, including group support activities with women and girls.
• Positive and professional attitude, able to organize, maintain composure and prioritize work under pressure, work overtime when necessary and be able to coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.
• Demonstrates ability and commitment toward diversity and inclusion.
• Commitment toward a healthy and supportive working environment.
• Personal qualities: good listener, team player, flexible, network-builder, able to handle pressure well and work in cross-cultural setting.
• Communication skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural and sensitive issues.

Requirements – Language skills:

• Fluency in Ukrainian and English. Polish and Russian language skills are an asset.

Requirements – Compliance:

• Strict adherence to humanitarian, protection and GBV principles and standards, as well as organizational policies including Code of Conduct and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients at all times is essential.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

IRC will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.