Counterpart International is currently seeking an Inclusion Manager to support the Iraq Civil Society Activity (ICSA) project. The overall objective of ICSA is to increase citizen engagement in the public sphere, especially among women and youth, while supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) to connect to and empower citizens and one another, thereby enhancing CSO resilience, increasing its credibility and effectiveness. The expected result is a more active and inclusive civil society sector that effectively fosters change and contributes to a more equitable and democratic Iraq.

The Inclusion Manager will plays a critical role in ensuring that the organization is inclusive, diverse, and equitable in all aspects of its operations. This position involves designing and implementing strategies, policies, and initiatives to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the organization. The Inclusion Manager will report to MEL Director and work closely with various teams to foster a culture of belonging and ensure that our programs and services are accessible and equitable for all stakeholders.

Responsibilities

1. Develop and Implement Inclusion Strategies:

• Create and execute a comprehensive inclusion and diversity strategy aligned with the organization’s mission and values focusing primarily on women and youth and marginalized communities.
• Work with senior leadership to integrate DEI principles into all aspects of the organization.
• Champions Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Supports team cohesion, models inclusive development principles, and encourages a safe workplace environment that advances gender and social inclusion.

2. Training and Education:

• Design and deliver training programs to raise awareness and build understanding of inclusion and equity issues among staff and volunteers.

3. Community Engagement:

• Collaborate with local communities and stakeholders to ensure the program and services are accessible and culturally sensitive.
• Act as a liaison between the organization and marginalized or underrepresented groups to address their specific needs and concerns.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Establish metrics and data collection processes to measure progress in diversity and inclusion.
• Regularly assess and report on the impact of inclusion initiatives.
• Monitor key indicators for inclusion functionality, including volume of feedback received by channel, grade, and location, disaggregated by sex.
• Regularly collect and analyze data to track progress and identify areas for improvement.

5. Reporting and Engagement:

• Facilitate cooperation and integration between the inclusion team members and the program team to ensure seamless workstream integration.
• Collaborate with program managers to establish effective community feedback mechanisms before any activities commence. These mechanisms may include community committees, suggestion boxes, and other relevant tools. Additionally, ensure that these feedback channels are highly visible and accessible.
• Partner with the Research Director to ensure that feedback trends related to inclusion are utilized in informing adaptive program management decisions.

6. Conflict Resolution and Support:

• Provide guidance and support to resolve inclusion-related conflicts and incidents.
• Create a safe and confidential reporting mechanism for incidents.

7. Policy and Program Development:

• Collaborate with program managers to create and update policies, programs, and initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ensure that policies are aligned with best practices and legal requirements.

8. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders to promote DEI initiatives.
• Collaborate with community organizations, industry groups, and partners to enhance DEI efforts.

9. Recruitment and Retention:

• Collaborate with the HR team to implement inclusive recruitment and retention strategies. Ensure that ICSA attracts and retains a diverse talent pool.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., social work, human resources, sociology, or related disciplines).
• Minimum five years of experience in diversity and inclusion, preferably in the nonprofit or humanitarian sector.
• Strong knowledge of DEI best practices, inclusion policies, and legislation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation tools and data analysis.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Deep knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles, best practices, and legal requirements.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts in a clear and accessible manner.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Experience in designing and delivering DEI training programs.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to gather, analyze, and interpret data to inform DEI strategies.
• Ability to navigate sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and professionalism.
• Collaborative and team-oriented approach to work.

Language Skills:

• For this position, fluency in Arabic and working knowledge of English is required (oral and written).
• Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.