Violence Prevention and Response in Emergencies Specialist At International Rescue Committee

The IRC has been working for nearly 30 years on programming focused on preventing and responding to violence against the most vulnerable groups in humanitarian contexts. Violence Prevention and Response (VPR) programs are implemented in over 30 countries. IRC VPR programs worldwide are implemented in partnership with non-governmental organizations and/or Ministries focused on serving women, children and other diverse populations. IRC is also engaged in direct provision of child protection, women’s protection and empowerment and Protection and Rule of Law support to beneficiaries where needed. In 2019, IRC supported 165,700 women, girls and boys with safe space programming; 700,000 people were provided with violence prevention programming and 46,500 people were trained on gender-based violence and child protection services.

Job Overview/Summary:

Violence Prevention and Response (VPR) programming in emergencies is a program area at the IRC that sits jointly within the VPR Unit and the Emergency and Humanitarian Action Unit. With few predictable and effective VPR service providers in emergencies, there are major gaps in scale and scope to provide effective VPR interventions in emergencies to affected populations. With child protection, GBV and protection comprising priority interventions in emergencies, IRC plans to fill a niche in this field, branding itself as a fast, predictable and effective provider of critical VPR services in emergencies, aligned with IRC’s emergency strategy action plan.

The Violence Prevention and Response in Emergencies Program Specialist will support the development of IRC’s Emergency VPR Strategy for a coordinated Emergency VPR response to ongoing and new emergencies. Working in close collaboration with key staff in the Quality in Emergencies section, VPR Unit, other relevant Technical and Operational Units, and regional and country teams, the Program Specialist would conduct analyses around approaches for delivery of the emergency VPR interventions, the required resources and systems to achieve scale, speed and efficiency. The position would also support emergency VPR preparedness, including any related tools, and support the STA for VPRiE in ensuring a coordinated Emergency VPR Response.

Major Responsibilities

• Contribute to developing a catalogue of signature emergency VPR interventions, add-ons and approaches by context, and a phase 1 Emergency VPR Strategy and plan, including sequencing of interventions and finding opportunities for integrated programming with other sectors such as health, cash and education. Analyze systems requirements and challenges – operations, logistics, supplies, HR – for the catalogue, including considerations around speed and scale.

• Update and maintain VPR emergency response resources including STEP, emergency rapid needs assessment tools, technical tools and libraries/dashboards with ERT support/coordination.

• Contribute to the work plan and budget for the Emergency VPR Strategy in support of the EHAU SAP.

• In collaboration with VPRiE Coordinators conduct an analysis of emergency responses covered with VPR programming.

• Complete a biannual report of VPR in emergencies learning from post deployment survey and annual statistics.

• Assist country VPR programs to document and share lessons learned and best practices around emergency VPR programming and usability of emergency response resources.

• Collaborate across EHAU sections for coordinated strategies around emergency preparedness work for VPRiE and in close alignment with VPRU technical TAs and regional focal points.

• Support protection analysis across emergencies and as requested for regional and country programs engaged with emergency response and preparedness activities. Work closely with Global Crisis Analysis Lead to support COVID letter as well as other crisis analysis assignments for deeper VPR analysis and understanding, using the Protection Analysis Framework for emergencies.

• Support the operationalization of the newly developed Protection Analysis Framework (PAF) for use in emergency settings and crisis response.

• Ensure coordination with and share learning around the implementation of PAF with the ‘Protection Information Management and Information and Analysis Working Group under the Global Protection Cluster (GPC).

• Support the coordination of the Risk Communication & Community Engagement (RCCE) Taskforce and ongoing maintenance of RCCE tools and resources in coordination with the RCCE implementation team. Organize a quarterly learning series for RCCE.

• Represent the Emergency VPR Program, the VPRU, the EHAU, and the IRC, in donor meetings, inter-agency working groups, and various global/regional forums as assigned by the supervisor.

• Identify relevant business development opportunities for VPR in emergencies.

Job Requirements

Work Experience: Demonstrated experience of program strategy development and implementation at country and global level in child protection, GBV, protection related humanitarian programs, 5 years preferred.

Field Experience: At least one-two year’s field experience in humanitarian settings

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Proven expertise in child protection, GBV, protection or other strategic planning

• Experience in child protection, GBV, protection project design, proposal development, and fundraising

• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven track record to prioritize and deliver on time;

• Effectiveness in bridging conceptual frameworks and practical guidance

• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to develop positive relationships with global, local and remote team members.

• Experience in managing qualitative and quantitative data sets and in conducting protection analysis, skills in conveying complex information for use in programmatic decision making.

• Ability to work with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams

• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.

• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional team structure

• Structured thinking, excellence in oral and written communication skills

Language Skills: excellent written and verbal English; French or Spanish language a plus

Working Environment: Standard office work environment, up to 30% travel as needed

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

IRC et les employés de IRC doivent adhérer aux valeurs et principes contenus dans le IRC WAY (normes de conduite professionnelle). Ce sont l’Intégrité, le Service, l’égalité et la Responsabilité. En conformité avec ces valeurs, IRC opère et fait respecter les politiques sur la protection des bénéficiaires contre l’exploitation et les abus, la protection de l’enfant, le harcèlement sur les lieux de travail, l’intégrité financière, et les représailles.