Bangladesh: Senior WPE Manager

Apr 14, 2019 | International Rescue Committee
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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. Through 2018, the IRC’s response strategy will primarily target Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, 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.

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Women’s Protection Manager will oversee WPE projects and ensure programming focused on violence against women and girls (VAWG) response and prevention in women and girls’ safe spaces and the communities, and the WPE components within mobile teams and partner facilities. Through supportive mentoring, they will provide capacity development to staff to strengthen their management skills, and to case management, PSS, safe space, support worker and SRH teams (IRC and partner organization) to strengthen their WPE and VAWG response and prevention practice. The Snr WPE Manager will directly supervise WPE Managers, related to the role. The Snr Manager will be directly supervised by the Senior Program Coordinator.

Major Responsibilities:

Project Management

  • Responsible for overall project management and coordination of assigned WPE grants.
  • Lead role in project implementation on ground and oversee and manage implementation of WPE programming including women and girl’s safe spaces, and WPE components in emergency mobile teams and health facilities
  • Working closely with respective WPE Managers, ensure timely implementation and budget spending in line with the project documents.
  • Ensure development of project planning and management documents for each project including but not limited to; project results framework, detailed implementation plans, financial plans, M&E plans, procurement plans, human resource plans and ensure their execution.
  • Coordinate and ensure grants opening meetings take place and coach project Managers and staff of new projects
  • Support implementation and ensure adherence to grant work plans, spending plans and monitoring and evaluation plans;
  • Responsible for preparing high quality donor, management and other internal and external reports and ensure their timely submission.
  • Put in place measures to track financial spending and ensure budget is spent as per project financial plans.

Program Quality and Technical Support

  • Ensure that all WPE programming, meets IRC and international standards adhering to a women-, girl- and survivor-centered and feminist approach and that IRC and partner staff and volunteers are supported to build and strengthen their practice in this area;
  • Ensure that all services are fully functioning, are well equipped and resourced, and staff members and teams are motivated and encouraged in their roles and work;
  • Provide technical guidance and support to the WPE and partner teams to strengthen safe space and mobile operations and improve the provision of quality case management and psychosocial support services to meet the needs of women and girls;
  • Lead on needs-based capacity development (training, learning sessions, and on-the-job mentoring) for the WPE and partner teams in critical areas of WPE and VAWG practice;
  • Ensure that ethical and sound data collection and information management systems are managed appropriately and are functioning in all sites;
  • Ensure that formal referrals pathways are used and adhered to by the WPE and partner teams, and any issues found with the pathways and services are reported to the WPE Coordinator for advocacy;
  • Ensure regular collaboration and communication with the health team counterparts in health facilities and mobile teams to ensure standard methodology across both sectors and strong internal safe and confidential referrals;
  • Work with the WPE Coordination and other Snr WPE staff in the design and implementation of activities that specifically target women and adolescent girls grounded in evidence-based methodologies.

Staff Supervision and Development

  • Provide direct supportive supervision to the WPE Managers, and support them to do the same for the WPE staff they supervise to enable them to successfully perform in their positions;
  • Responsible for performance management including setting performance objectives and conducting regular performance appraisals on progress with supervisees, providing timely and constructive feedback to develop their professional practice;
  • Spend significant time in field locations to provide hand holding support to team and supportive supervision
  • Working with the WPE Coordinator, ensure the female WPE staff have opportunities and space to regularly as scheduled meet, self-organize and build strong, supportive peer networks and solidarity with each other, creating a community of feminist-grounded VAWG practice between them;
  • Ensure staff well-being and care is prioritized and is an integral part of weekly/monthly work plans.

Coordination, Representation and Advocacy

  • Proactively build strong working relationships at the site levels with other international and national actors/organizations and UN agencies (i.e.: WASH, shelter, food/NFI) for advocacy on ensuring specific measures are put in place to reduce risks of VAWG in line with Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines for response and prevention of GBV in humanitarian settings; and ensure that all advocacy points are communicated in a timely manner to the WPE Coordinator for field and national level advocacy;
  • Under the guidance of SPC, represent IRC in relevant coordination meetings at camp and sub district level including sector coordination meetings

Other duties and responsibilities

  • Maintain open and professional relations with all IRC and partner team members, promoting a strong, respectful team spirit, ensuring effective communication, and opportunities for debriefing;
  • Consistently and proactively 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.

Experience:

  • At least 5 or more years’ experience in GBV programming for women and girls - essential; and also experience in sexual and reproductive health – highly desired;
  • Proven experience in responding to GBV in emergencies / humanitarian crisis in international settings

Knowledge, Skills & Competences:

  • Deep understanding of the impact and dynamics of male violence against women and girls, and solid grounding in feminist, women and girl-centered, anti-oppressive practice;
  • Previous experience in emergency preparedness and response;
  • Demonstrated 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 10 + staff in a dynamic, challenging and changing context;
  • Demonstrated experience in supervising, mentoring and building capacity of national staff;
  • Strong experience, knowledge and skills in participatory methods and community development;
  • Demonstrated experience in facilitating practical workshops and learning on this issues outlined in the areas of responsibility for this position;
  • Strong ability to respect differences of culture, opinion and lived experiences while upholding rights-based principles and women’s protection and empowerment;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, positive and professional attitude, ability to lead and work well in a team setting and with multiple partners;
  • Strengths in listening, empathy, flexibility, and creativity;
  • Fluency in English Language - essential.

Specific Educational Qualification:

  • Advanced degree in women’ studies, social work, social sciences, human rights, humanities