Senior Project Officer – GBV Research (Ref.:2022/005) At Catholic Relief Services

Department: Country Programming

Grade: 8

Reports To: Emergency Coordinator

Country/Location: Somalia/Mogadishu

Length of Contract: 7 months**

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS has a long history of supporting local civil-society organizations in Somalia and has implemented development, early recovery, and emergency programming in multiple sectors, primarily supported by United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). CRS’ programs in Somalia are currently focused on South Central Somalia, supporting integrated health, nutrition, protection, and WASH interventions for over 414,000 IDPs and other vulnerable populations under the BHA- funded SHARPEN III. CRS is also providing WASH and multiple purpose cash assistance to 4,400 drought-affected households in the Banadir region. As part of its health portfolio, CRS is also supporting the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine in Gedo Region. As an Agency, CRS is committed to building local capacity for transformational change. This includes cash readiness of CRS and our local partners.

About the project

CRS Somalia and Save Somalia Women and Children (SSWC) are implementing an Operational Research Project to explore the barriers and enablers to accessing formal justice systems for gender-based violence (GBV) survivors, especially at community and programmatic levels. The project aims to provide actionable recommendations for NGOs, donors, Community Based Organizations, Government and civil society to improve the access and provision of legal aid in the country to enhance safe and survivor-centered resolutions of cases.

Job Summary:

As a lead for the ‘Improving Access to Legal Aid for Gender-Based Violence Survivors in South Central Somalia’ project team, you will lead the achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting on all project activities and providing technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your understanding of research initiatives and GBV in Somalia, as well as your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the project for which you are responsible applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

· Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.

· Coordinate and oversee working relationships with local partner, the research partner and all other local stakeholders involved in or relevant to the GBV research.

· Supervise and perform ad-hoc visits during data collection to ensure timely activities implementation and adherence to established research and process standards and procedures.

· Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partners.

· Support and coordinate technical support from relevant Regional Technical Advisors at each key step of the project especially inception report, data collection/analysis, and reporting, in order to ensure high-quality products, as per research methodology and standards.

· Coordinate provision of any logistical and administrative support to staff and partners during implementation.

· Lead monthly coordination meetings with implementing partners and chair the Research Steering Committee.

· Check the work of the implementation partners and report any concerns to Line Manager.

· Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.

· Ensure the project (approaches, activities, engagement with community members, etc.) meets standards for protection, including safety and risk mitigation, as well as justice and legal aid standards.

· Ensure adherence to safeguarding policies and procedures by CRS and partners through close oversight, support, information sharing and training.

· Ensure strict adherence to WHO ethical and safety recommendations for researching sexual violence (and other relevant guidelines and standards)

· Ensure project documentation for assigned activities is complete with all required documents and is filed per agency requirements.

Basic Qualifications

· Bachelor’s Degree required.

· Minimum of 4 years of work experience in project support, ideally in Gender Based Violence programming.

· Additional experience may substitute for some education.

· Experience contributing to or leading research initiatives is a plus.

· Understanding of the justice system in Somalia a plus.

Required Languages – English and Somali required.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 30%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities **

· Strong coordination skills.

· Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment

· Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners

• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities

· Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality**

• Demonstrated commitment to and experience with mainstreaming protection and GBV
• High degree of gender awareness and sensitivity, Including in research
• Demonstrated experience applying survivor-centered approaches in programming (and research preferably)
• Strong understanding of and experience applying gender and protection-related standards and guidelines
• Ability to strictly adhere to the highest standards for safeguarding and all related policies and procedures

Required Qualifications

· Experience working with partners.

· Experience in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning. Understanding of research processes, including tools and methodologies for data collection.

· Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Supervisory Responsibilities (none)

Key Working Relationships:

Internal – CRS Somalia Head Of Office, CRS Somalia Emergency Coordinator (Line Manager), CRS Somalia MEAL Manager, CRS Somalia Protection Manager, CRS EARO MEAL TA, CRS EARO Gender and Protection TA.

External – SSWC, research partner, Protection Cluster AOR and Cluster members, as well as relevant GBV service providers.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

What we offer:

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

CRS’ emphasis on family values supports benefits, including maternity and paternity leave, policies that promote exclusive breastfeeding, the availability of a baby room at the office, and flexible working hours where possible.

We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS Somalia strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and do their best.

CRS provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition and any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, CRS will recruit, hire, train and promote persons solely on their qualifications and abilities. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.