Senior Project Officer – Safeguarding and Protection – Catholic Relief Services – CRS

Development and Project Management, Social Sciences and Community

Catholic Relief Services – CRS

About CRS:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community 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, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For nearly 60 years, CRS has taken the lead in responding to natural and man-made disasters affecting Ethiopia’s most vulnerable communities. Moving beyond emergency response, CRS’ disaster mitigation and recovery projects in drought and flood-prone areas have rebuilt individual and community assets through non-food aid in the form of agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation assistance. CRS’s humanitarian work in Ethiopia also provides livelihoods support to farmers and entrepreneurs, promotes equality and inclusion, and mitigates the impact of COVID-19.

Position Title:          Senior Project Officer – Safeguarding and Protection

Department:                JEOP, Program Quality Unit

Duty Station:                 CRS Ethiopia/Addis Ababa

Employment Term:       Definite term (until April 30, 2027)

Reports To:                    Technical Advisor Gender and Protection

Application Deadline:   March 09, 2023

Job Summary:

As a member of the Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP) and the CRS Safeguarding and Protection unit, you will facilitate 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 coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that JEOP applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve. You will coordinate, support, monitor and report on all CRS Ethiopia Safeguarding and Protection activities under the JEOP with particular focus on private sector engagement and working with vendors. You will provide support for JEOP in activities to mitigate safeguarding and protection risks and ensure safeguarding and protection concerns are addressed as per CRS safeguarding policy. You will support implementation of the Feedback and Response Mechanism for JEOP in collaboration with JEOP’s Accountability team, in-line with CRS policies (MEAL, Safeguarding) and program quality principles, and donor guidelines, ensuring that mechanism for reporting and referral are available to community members, project participants, staff, contractors and other stakeholders. 

Job Responsibilities:

•  Implement and monitor safeguarding and protection activities for JEOP in-line with the CRS safeguarding policy and international standards with particular focus on frontline workers and vendors.
• Provide technical assistance, accompaniment and mentoring to JEOP CRS, implementing partner staff and vendors on safeguarding approaches, system, and tools.
• Provide support to safeguarding and protection unit in capacity strengthening and awareness raising activities to enhance staff, contractors (transporters, loading associations, scoopers) and partners capacity on safeguarding and protection.
• Participate in, and lead, regular safeguarding and protection assessments to better ensure safeguarding and protection concerns.
• Support JEOP promoting a phone hotline system (when operational) as a feedback mechanism for sensitive protection issues.
• Support development of field level standard Operating Procedures for CRS and partners that outline the process for escalating sensitive reports that pertain to safeguarding and protection issues.
• Collaborate with JEOP compliance monitoring, accountability and CRS safeguarding and protection team in designing IEC and training materials on safeguarding and protection.
• Develop TORs and reports for safeguarding and protection activities as required, including developing inputs for quarterly donor reports.
• Work together with other safeguarding and protection team colleagues across the country and across partners to ensure protection mainstreaming in all CRS programs and cross-functional learning.
• Participate in mapping of referral mechanisms and ensuring partners understand safe referrals.
• Participate in a protection and safeguarding technical working group for JEOP partners to share successes, challenges and lessons learned. Support partners with staffing up around protection and safeguarding.  
• Participate in the development of protection mainstreaming tools, checklist, and guidance for JEOP including overseeing translation.
• Participate in safeguarding / protection meetings / networks representing JEOP.
• Support CRS JEOP staff wellbeing via leading wellness activities in the workplace. 

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

·         BA/ MA degree in safeguarding, protection, human rights, gender, Law or related Social Sciences

·         Minimum of five years of experience for MA degree and six years for BA degree

·         Previous experience in an international NGOs and/or institution is a strong advantage

·         Proven experience in safeguarding, protection, gender, or law

·         Candidates who have the experience working on gender programs are highly encouraged to apply

·         Able to work on a high level with Word, Power Point, and Excel

 Personal Skills

·         Demonstrated ability to work in a team-oriented environment with strong interpersonal skills

·         Observation, active listening, and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment under limited supervision.

·         Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with international, local partners, government stakeholders and community members

·         Attention to details, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities

·         Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented

 Required Language: Amharic and English required. Tigrinya, Afan Oromo and other local languages advantageous

 Travel Required:  35%

 Key Working Relationships:

·         Supervisory:  potential for supervision of project officers

·         Internal: CRS Safeguarding unit, JEOP CRS staff (MEAL, EWS, Compliance and Risk, Operations), CRS PDP staff across the country, Safeguarding and Protection program team members, Human Resource

·         External: JEOP implementing partners, protection cluster, UN agencies, regional level safeguarding / protection networks

 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

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

Lien