WPE Caseworker – Anbar / Qaim

Requisition ID: req47243

Job Title: WPE Caseworker – Anbar / Qaim

Sector: Women Protection & Empowerment

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Anbar, Iraq

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee responds to the worlds worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity, and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The IRC established programs in Iraq in 2003 to address the overwhelming needs of displaced people in Iraq and the neighboring countries. Since re-establishing its presence in Iraq in November 2007, the IRC has been assisting thousands of internally displaced families in the northern, central, and southern governorates in the sectors of protection, gender-based violence (GBV), early childhood development, economic recovery, Child Protection, and emergency humanitarian assistance. Today, the IRC works in close coordination with the humanitarian and development partners in Iraq and local stakeholders to address the needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Returnees, and Host communities. We operate in several governorates throughout Central and Southern Iraq, including Anbar, Ninewa, SAD, and Kirkuk, with additional offices in Erbil and Baghdad.

The IRC is one of the only international non-governmental organizations (INGO) active in the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) sector in Iraq. The IRC’s expanding Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) program provides direct services (through women’s and girls’ safe spaces and mobile teams) and technical support to local partner organizations to implement safe spaces and deliver services to women and girls. Furthermore, WPE also provides targeted capacity building for local NGOs, government service providers, and other protection actors on GBV-related topics. Furthermore, WPE is also integrated into other sectors like economic recovery, protection and the rule of law, and child and youth protection and development to ensure comprehensive and need-based support to vulnerable women and girls.

The IRC is seeking services of one female case worker to work on UNHCR project that seek to provide a safe environment for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees, refugees, asylum seekers and host communities to exercise their basic rights and access services through continued implementation of community-based protection initiatives and legal assistance programming in Anbar Governorate. IRC will apply a combined static and mobile approach, including in-person and remote services where applicable and warranted by the circumstances, to ensure that assistance reaches the most vulnerable, hard-to-reach and marginalized communities in Western and Eastern Anbar

Job Overview/Summary:

The WPE Case Worker will work as part of the Iraq WPE team in Qaim in AL-Anbar governorate. The Caseworker will be responsible for providing survivor-centered case management (CM) and Psychosocial Support (PSS) to the survivors at risk of Gender Based Violence (GBV), women, and girls. Additionally, the caseworkers will provide referrals to other services as per the specific needs of the survivors.

The Caseworker will closely work with the IRC Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL) department and work with the survivors referred by the PRoL team for survivor-centered CM. The case workers will provide CM in static and mobile caravans depending on the situation. provide services for women and girls and coordinate with other service providers for referrals.

Major Responsibilities:

Program implementation and quality

Adhere to the survivor centered WPE Case Management guidelines and the GBV guiding principles throughout all GBV case management and psychosocial interventions. This includes ensuring the confidentiality of survivors, and respect for their wishes and decisions.

Provide age-appropriate CM to the high-risk survivors of GBV, women, and girls in line with CM guidelines; including assessment of client needs, basic crisis counseling; supporting clients in developing a plan to address their individual needs and safely implementing this plan; support to clients in accessing services from other providers as per their wishes.

Provide essential information on available services and support survivors in navigating the referral pathways and accessing services.

Provide support for vulnerable and/or at-risk women and girls in need of individual support and counseling as well as referrals to other service providers.

Identify concerns related to and support adherence to GBV referral protocols and GBV guiding principles and bring these concerns to the WPE Snr Officer.

Participate in community mapping/safety audit sessions to identify any general protection/GBV concerns from women and girls refugees.

Provision of PSS focused activities such as Women Rise (PSS Group Counselling).

Information & Data Management and Reporting

Ensure all cases reporting and documentation is completed on monthly basis using GBVIMS+ including IR incident reports.

Document and store all case management information and survivor data confidentially and securely, ensure any sharing of survivor information is done with the survivors informed consent and in-line with best practice as part of the referral procedure.

Collaboration & Representation

Work with the WPE Manager to exchange non-confidential information and ensure that the WPE program responds to the evolving needs of women and girls.

Work closely with the PRoL team to ensure timely and adequate CM support

Develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders including community members and other humanitarian partners and service providers.

Other duties as assigned by supervisor to ensure successful implementation of WPE programming.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:   WPE Manger.
Position directly supervises:  N/A

Indirect Reporting: WPE Sr. Officer
Other Internal and/or external contacts: describe the nature of departments or groups the position influences or requires support from to accomplish objectives.

Internal: IRC Iraq team including other programs (ERD, Child Protection, and Protection/Rule of Law Department, Supply Chain, HR, and Finance Departments).

External:  Close collaboration with other humanitarian actors, local NGOs, UN agencies, government service providers.

Qualifications

-Experience in counseling, social work, womens health, or another related field (minimum 2 years).

-Clear understanding of and interest in the wellbeing of women and girls and supporting their healing after the experience of violence.

-Understanding of case management, psychosocial support, and life skills programming to promote survivor healing and recovery.

-Experience in data entry, safe information storage and managing confidential survivor information, is desired.

-Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients.

-Positive and professional attitude, including ability to lead and work well in a team setting.

-Strong ability to maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, and work in a difficult environment.

-Computer literate, particularly in Microsoft Word and Excel

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

-Bachelors degree in relevant field (Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Gender Studies, etc.).

-Fluency in Arabic required, knowledge of English.

The case worker will be based in IRC partners office and can be required to provide case management through both static and mobile centers throughout Qaim sub district.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Gender Equality IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including maternity leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: Per the Iraqi Ministry of Health COVID-19 guidelines, IRC requires candidates who are selected for positions to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter IRC premises. However, the exemption is only accepted per the Iraqi Health regulation and upon the provision of a negative PCR test.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity.  We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Notice to all Job Seekers

IRC implements an equal employment opportunity policy, and our recruitment process is based on merit.

Applicants and/or successful interview candidates (both internal and external) are not required to pay any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.

If anyone asks you for any financial or non-financial favors to help you secure a job at IRC, kindly report to [email protected].

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