Latest Job Vacancy at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for a Gender and Protection Mainstreaming Advisor

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international Non-Governmental organization supporting Relief and Development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs. Therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to our approach in every country in which CRS operates. We are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Gender and Protection Mainstreaming Advisor Requisition Number:     I3546 Location: Maiduguri Background

• Northeast Nigeria is amongst the world’s most neglected humanitarian crisis, amid which Borno State has been the worst affected with 1.4 million people displaced due to the militant insurgency. Significant gaps in assistance remain, both around the Maiduguri area where the number of IDPs is fluctuating daily, as well as in other local government areas (LGAs) that are just now becoming accessible (including Jere and Kaga LGAs).
• Based on CRS’s initial rapid assessment, thousands of people affected by the conflict have not been reached with any humanitarian support. These communities are in immediate need of food, WASH, emergency shelter, and NFIs to save lives and restore dignity.  CRS also identified agriculture and livelihoods as a key need and gap in the ongoing humanitarian response.
• To respond to the crisis, CRS’ NE emergency and early recovery program provides a holistic support package including food assistance, nutrition, NFI, WASH, shelter, agriculture, livelihoods, and social cohesion for both IDPs and host families. Where possible, CRS seeks to maximize project impact, efficiency and effectiveness by adopting market based approaches through e-vouchers and empowering targeted communities through participatory approaches.

• As part of CRS’s Global Gender Strategy and given the scope of SGBV protection risks reported in NE Nigeria, in January 2017 a CAFOD/CRS gender and protection consultant conducted a rapid gender assessment in CRS’ areas of intervention in Borno state.
• The assessment identified massive protection needs amongst the conflict-affected population, including grave human rights violations and human rights abuses, forced displacement, forced recruitment, and attacks on civilians.
• Displaced women and girls are at high risk for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) including rape, sexual exploitation, sexual violence, domestic violence, forced marriage, sexual harassment, and survival sex to meet their families' needs.  Lack of adequate referral or reporting mechanisms for victims, and the stigma and fear of further victimisation, make it difficult for victims to seek redress and treatment where available.
• Considering the high vulnerabilities of CRS’ targeted populations, CRS is recruiting a Gender and Protection Mainstreaming Advisor to lead the development and implementation of strategies to address gender and protection issues through CRS and partners’ programming in NE Nigeria.

• Provide training to CRS and partner staff on gender integration and analysis
• Provide protection mainstreaming training to CRS staff and partners
• Train daily workers, vendors, and other key stakeholders on CRS Code of Conduct
• Carry out capacity building of outreach workers and peer educators for safe and responsible response to SGBV disclosures and first level SGBV screening, aligned with international standards

• Ensure gender integration throughout CRS and partner program interventions in line with CRS’ Global Gender strategy, USAID Gender Equality and Women‘s Empowerment policy and outcomes of ongoing gender analysis as well as the IASC guidelines for SGBV integration into Humanitarian Action
• Strengthen CRS and partners’ use of GBV referral systems, contribution to GBV MIS or links and case management with service providers (health clinics, counselling services, shelter homes, etc.), signing of MOU, and follow up
• Identify potential physical and social obstacles to receiving assistance through consultation with beneficiaries; propose and support the adoption of mitigating measures, ensuring safe and secure access to assistance
• Mainstream protection in line with CRS’s Protection Mainstreaming Framework
• Develop beneficiary feedback mechanisms drawing on the successes and lessons learnt from existing structures
• Engage key community stakeholders including protection committees, youth, women, men and host communities in gender and protection awareness events, meetings, and trainings
• Develop sensitization messages on key program activities linked to the reporting of abuse, and ensure a clear understanding of protocols and responsibilities of beneficiary families/key stakeholders
• Support CRS and partner program staff to identify vulnerable beneficiaries including the elderly, disabled and child headed households

• Compile and submit timely activity and progress reports
• Advise CRS and partner management about relevant gender, protection, and accountability issues to improve project implementation and future project developments
• Elaborate, compile and maintain database of referrals- contributing to the GBV MIS, if possible
• Elaborate, compile and maintain key protection and gender resources library

• Coordinate and network with other actors in the protection sector.
• Enhance networking and collaboration with local partners (government and humanitarian actors) through participation in inter-agency protection /child protection working groups at County and state levels;

• Undertake additional gender analysis and assessment as needed to reinforce CRS’s understanding of men, women, boys’ and girls’ different needs and gender dynamics within HHs and settlements to inform and influence programming and accountability approaches.
• Undertake gender and protection analysis at the community level to identify gender and protection gaps, barriers and opportunities
• Formulate recommendations to improve gender integration and protection mainstreaming, including the inclusion of specific protection and gender indicators
• Identify and record best practices, lessons learned and success stories in protection mainstreaming and gender integration
• Ensure that questions linked to gender and protection mainstreaming are included in all M&E exercises

• Internal:  CRS County Representative, Nigeria Gender Focal Point Person, Emergency Director, Emergency Coordinators (Yobe and Damaturu), Head of Operations, Security Manager, Senior Business Development Manager and other senior CRS programming and operational staff in Nigeria and CRS HQ and regional staff and technical advisors including CRS Humanitarian Response Department (including shared Protection Mainstreaming Coordinator), CARO Gender RTA, as well as key CRS partner staff including CAFOD, Caritas Nigeria, and the Maiduguri  Justice, Development, and Peace Commission (covering Borno State, Yobe State and northern Adamawa).
• External: Appropriate cluster leads, UN-OCHA, state and local government offices, local and international NGOs, UN agencies, NGO partners, donors, community members and beneficiaries

• 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.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

• Each CRS staff member working in emergencies is expected to have the following competencies to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results:
  • Communicates strategically under pressure
  • Manages stress and complexity
  • Actively promotes safety and security
  • Manages and implements high-quality emergency programs

• Master’s degree or at least a first degree in Social Work, Public Health, or similar field
• At least 3 years full time experience in a Gender, Protection or Community Mobilizer role, preferably with an international NGO.
• Demonstrated skills in training and capacity building through technical assistance and mentoring.
• Demonstrated quantitative skills, including Microsoft Excel and skills in analyzing, interpreting and communicating information to a variety of stakeholders
• Good interpersonal skills including ability to work cross-culturally with multiple stakeholders successfully.
• Knowledge of and commitment to global emergency standards frameworks
• Demonstrated commitment to and application of gender responsive programming
• Excellent organizational, analytical, oral and written communication skills.
• Team-oriented and strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to organize and prioritize a variety of initiatives

• Fluent English. Hausa or Kanuri or Shua a plus.

• Travel up to 30% of the time to the NE states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa as needed. NE Nigeria is determined by CRS to be at security level III.

• This position is based in Maiduguri, Borno State and is to support CRS’ NE teams in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa
• CRS will provide accommodation in a guest house or approved hotel