Women Protection and Empowerment Officer

About the role

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is hiring a Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Officer for its BRIDGE project in Gambella, Ethiopia. The officer leads GBV prevention, response and empowerment activities in Lare and Itang woredas, serving both refugee (Itang) and host-community (Lare) populations. The role includes setting up a new Women and Girls Safe Space in Lare and renovating the existing one in Itang, and building the Bureau of Women and Social Affairs' basic case-management function.

Key responsibilities

• Lead implementation, monitoring and evaluation of WPE/GBV activities in line with IASC GBV Guidelines and Ethiopia's national frameworks.
• Establish a new WGSS in Lare and renovate the existing one in Itang, applying IRC safety, accessibility, privacy and referral-proximity criteria, and secure community buy-in.
• Pair regular WGSS activities with mobile outreach sessions for communities cut off by seasonal flooding, and support a transition to community ownership.
• Provide confidential, survivor-centred GBV case management and MHPSS, including case action planning, informed consent and referrals.
• Build the capacity of refugee-led associations in GBV identification, safe referral and protection principles, and support their transition to first-line community responders.
• Support standardized multi-sectoral referral SOPs and ensure referral information reaches communities with low literacy and limited access.
• Ensure safe documentation of GBV incidents using GBVIMS-consistent tools, following data protection protocols, and share quality data monthly with the Protection Information Management manager.
• Train BoWCA case workers and referral focal points from health, police and legal services, and facilitate EMAP sessions with men and boys, adapted to Anuak and Nuer.
• Organize or support International Women's Day and other awareness campaigns, and support the Gambela Signpost as an information channel.
• Participate in camp, woreda and cluster coordination meetings and GBV safety audits, and develop quarterly, monthly and weekly work plans based on case trends.
• Work with the WPE manager on budget, BvA, M&E and supply needs, compile reports, and integrate WPE activities with other sectors.

Required profile

• First degree with 2 years of experience in a social science field, or 1 year of relevant experience plus a postgraduate degree.
• Preferred: experience with refugees and host communities in Gambella, including flood-affected areas; NGO experience; counseling or social service experience with women and adolescent girls.
• English is mandatory; Anuak and/or Nuer preferred; familiarity with the region is an advantage.
• Knowledge of GBV guiding principles and PSEA, and ability to discuss intimate gender and sexuality issues.

Required skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication, organization and time management, and strong analytical problem-solving.
• Ability to work independently and in a cross-functional team, and to manage change positively.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office.