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Bangladesh: Womens Protection and Empowerment Coordinator

May 15, 2023 | International Rescue Committee
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Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, IRC works to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure, and wishing to advance on a path of development.

The IRC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017 and obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018. Since the IRC obtained registration in March 2018, it has moved quickly to expand its integrated emergency health and protection response through both direct and partner-based programming focused on primary healthcare, women’s protection and empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and child protection. Recently IRC has also introduced two new programs: Protection Rule of Law (PROL) and Education. IRC will continue working in both the camps and host community, while meeting the significant needs in both refugee and host populations, as already existing vulnerabilities are compounded with cyclical monsoon and cyclone seasons that impose additional threats to the lives and protection of those refugees as well as vulnerable host populations. IRC will grow over time its geographic coverage within Cox bazar and to other parts of the country, thus expand its networks and partnerships around emergency preparedness and response work, reach beyond the Rohingya refugees, also targeting the vulnerable host groups in Cox Bazar and other parts of Bangladesh. 

Purpose of the Role

The WPE Coordinator will contribute to and provide technical leadership, operational, and oversight across all WPE programming in IRC Bangladesh; lead the process to develop program guidelines, proposals,  concept notes and budgets, produce analytical reports for WPE projects, and regular technical visits to WPE teams working in all program areas to ensure that interventions are technically sound, in-line with international standard, methodologies, and are appropriately meeting the needs and priorities of women and girls, and female survivors in target communities. The coordinator is responsible for strengthening and building new partnerships as well as strengthening the capacity of key staff to enable them to take greater responsibility for overall management of the WPE portfolio.

Highlights of Key Responsibilities 

Program quality and implementation

  • Responsible for the overarching coordination of WPE projects in Bangladesh in line with the Country Strategic Action Plan, GBV sector priorities, frameworks, and policies.
  • Lead Project Cycle Meetings, including inception meeting, lesson learnt meetings etc. for technical oversight.
  • Recruit WPE staff in coordination with human resources, senior integrated protection coordinator and WPE Technical Advisor.  
  • Direct supervision and management of WPE team in close collaboration with Senior Integrated Protection Coordinator. 
  • Ensure that WPE team is fully oriented on the project design, activities, LFA, budget and other pertinent details. 
  • Jointly with Sr. integrated protection coordinator, field coordinator, develop capacity building plan on various aspects of WPE.
  • Coach, train, and mentor staff with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team, and providing professional development guidance.
  • Work closely with WPE team to produce analytical donor reports, give technical input and necessary feedback on the donor reports.  
  • Seek guidance from IRC’s Technical Advisors based in HQ, and lead, provide technical oversight, advice, and guidance on, all aspects of the WPE programming, ensuring high quality in-line with standard methodologies, and international standards.
  • In coordination with the Partnership coordinator ensure that implementing partners’ capacity is assessed, partners’ capacity development  plan developed, build the capacity of partners, and provide coaching as appropriate.
  • In coordination with the MEAL Coordinator, ensure that ethical and sound data collection and information management systems are in place for appropriate GBV analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy.
  • Ensure regular collaboration and communication with other units and functions including Health, Education, and Protection to ensure integrated programming components are highly functional and grounded on standard methodologies across sectors
  • Lead the process to develop program implementation guidelines, SOPs, training materials, etc. to ensure program quality.

Budget Management

Program Development

  • Lead the development of WPE strategy, ensuring processes that incorporate input from WPE field teams, other sectors, and key external partners.
  • Ensure effective delivery of WPE projects in line with results framework, budget, and targets
  • Coordinate effectively with partners to ensure timely implementation of projects inline with the technical standards, and guiding principles in WPE programming.
  • Contribute to the development and implementation of the overall country strategic action plan. 
  • Undertake continued assessment of external context to inform and update strategy and program.
  • In coordination with Grants Coordinator, lead proposal development activities (narrative and budget) through planning and program design with relevant field-based staff, to ensure technical standards are taken into considering before submission.
  • Identify strategic partners (implementing partners; technical partners etc.) for potential collaboration and take part in partnership assessment process (due diligence) to select optimum partners   
  • Coordinate with other IRC sectors (i.e., ProL, child protection, ERD, EPR, health, education) to provide relevant input and support enhancing the protection and empowerment of women and girls.

 Coordination, Representation and Advocacy

  • Dedicatedly participate in, and contribute to, coordination meetings and working groups, specifically the GBV sub-sector coordination group and other related task forces.
  • Dedicatedly build strong working alliances with other international and national actors/organizations working on VAWG-related advocacy.
  • Develop strategic partnerships with local women-led organizations, wherever possible.
  • Dedicatedly develop and maintain effective working relationships with other key partners, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors, maintaining IRC as a key contributor to addressing VAWG and WPE issues in the crisis.
  • Dedicatedly seek to establish and develop partnerships and collaborate with the Bangladeshi women’s movement, women and feminist-centered organizations and initiatives to strengthen the response for women and girls and enhance their voices.
  • Ensure IRC’s active contribution in all coordination forums at local level (sub districts and camps) 
  • Lead the process to generate evidence and document best practice practices, case studies. 
  • Conduct GBV assessment, technical study, and participate in humanitarian needs assessment by GBV sector.

 Integration

  • Lead and support integration, joint working, and collaboration of WPE programming with ProL, CP streams, and other core program areas. 

Other

  • Consistently and dedicatedly monitor/assess the safety and security of field teams, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment.
  • Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.
  • Major Challenges/ Difficulties of This Role
  • Building the capacity of a team from the bottom up.
  • Demonstrating strong technical leadership in coordination forums and in partnerships where other agencies may need significant technical mentorship and support to meet standards.
  • Sourcing appropriate sites for WPE response.

Deliverables

  • IRC is highly visible externally specially in GBV sub sector based on its high-quality program on ground but also by sharing of analyzed evidence those are generated based on IRC and other’s program with the aim of informing / influencing sub sector strategy and actions. 
  • Build the capacity of the WPE Team, and partner staff ensuring strong technical knowledge as well as capacity as trainers and facilitators.
  • Work openly and collaboratively with colleagues in Child Protection, Health, Protection and Education, looking to demonstrate IRC’s strengths through combined approaches that serve the needs of girls, boys and their caretakers.
  • Serve as a consistent and technically sound voice in coordination forums, demonstrating IRC’s thought leadership and collaborating well with other agencies.

Experience

  • Minimum 8 to 10 or more years of experience with prefer in Minimum of 5 years of professional experience at the international level in VAWG programming or GBV with a specific focus on women and girls. 
  • Experience in directly supporting women and girl survivors of male violence.
  • Experience managing implementing partners in humanitarian context.

Competencies:

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

  • Deep understanding of the impact and dynamics of men’s violence against women and girls, and proven grounding in radical feminist, women and girl-centered, anti-oppressive practice.
  • Previous experience in emergency preparedness and response.
  • Demonstrated coordination, networking and relationship building skills with key partners including government, donors, INGOs, national and local organizations, UN agencies.
  • Demonstrated experience in successfully leading, building, and strengthening a program team of 80+ staff in a dynamic, challenging and changing context.
  • Proven experience in supervising, mentoring, and building capacity of national staff.
  • Strong experience, knowledge and skills in partnership management, participatory methods and community development.

Language Preference

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

Specific Educational Qualification

  • Advanced/master’s degree in Women’s Studies, Gender, Social Work, Social Science, Human Rights or other relevant field or the equivalent in professional work.
  • Proven experience working in emergency contexts.
  • Thorough understanding of best practices and evidence-based strategies in GBV response (case management, psychosocial support,) socio-economic empowerment, adolescent girls, gender transformative approach, and GBV primary prevention and risk reduction.
  • Knowledge of a range of relevant approaches and tools including GBV/IMS+, EASE, VSLA, EMAP, SASA! Together, Girl shine.
  • Strong strategic thinking and proposal writing skills.
  • Strong leadership, program, staff and budget management and capacity building skills.
  • Experience in working in partnership with UN agencies and other actors.
  • Excellent communication skills, cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, and a great team player.
  • Ability to productively work under pressure while maintaining a sense of humor.
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time.
  • Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure.
  • Experience managing, supervising, coaching and mentoring staff, and supporting partners’ staff.
  • Proven ability to work well in and promote teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure with professional grace.
  • Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.
  • Demonstrated experience in project management/program implementation experience.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.

Key working relationships:  

  • The WPE Coordinator is supervised by the Senior Integrated Protection Coordinator and receives technical support from a WPE Technical Advisor.  

Position directly supervises: WPE Senior Managers.

Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC employees are required to abide by the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct which are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, 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 & Equal Opportunity: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. IRC offers generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in its workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. IRC welcomes and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

IRC is an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at its organization. IRC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.