Job Information
International Rescue Committee WPE Caseworker in Ukhia, Bangladesh
Requisition ID: req55351
Job Title: WPE Caseworker
Sector: Women Protection & Empowerment
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: No
Location: Ukhiya, Bangladesh
Work Arrangement:In-person
Job Description
Program Brief
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, we work 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, obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018, and expanded 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 primarily targeted 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. Since 2019, IRC Bangladesh’s strategic vision expanded, towards the protection, empowerment and holistically addressing the needs of the most vulnerable women, children and youth through technical expertise and partnerships in the areas of integrated protection, health, education, and economic wellbeing before, during, and after displacement caused by conflict and climate-induced disaster, including the climate affected coastal belt of Southern Bangladesh. IRC Bangladesh will continue to grow over time, it’s geographic coverage within Cox’s Bazar, Southern Bangladesh, and other parts of the country, thus expand networks and partnerships around emergency preparedness and response.
Purpose of the Role
The position works in the Women’s Safe Space part of the comprehensive/integrated women and girls Centers. Her/his role is to provide direct case management, individual counseling and group-based psychosocial activities in the space. Her/his objective is to provide age-appropriate case management services to female GBV survivors, including supporting them in assessing and planning for safety, assessing their own needs and developing a plan to address their individual needs and safely implementing this plan. These Centers will also provide essential SHR services to women and girls, so the Case Worker will work closely with the health team to ensure internal referrals and strong collaboration and adherence to GBV guiding principles.
Highlights of Key Responsibilities
Reinforce adherence to the GBV guiding principles and women-girl-survivor-centered support throughout all activities in the women and girls Centers and safe spaces.
Adhere to the women-girl-survivor-centered support approach, the GBV guiding principles and the IASC GBV Case Management Guidelines (2017) throughout all GBV case management and psychosocial interventions for women and girls. This includes ensuring the confidentiality of survivors and respect for their wishes and decisions.
Provide age-appropriate case management, including assessment of women and adolescent girl’s needs; provide basic, crisis counseling (and in some contexts further individual counseling); safety strategizing and risk assessing; development of action plans; support in pursuing services and support; safe, confidential and appropriate referrals in-line with the formal GBV referral pathways.
Work in close, daily collaboration with the health team in the Centers to ensure women and girls have safe, discrete and confidential access to/from the GBV and health services via the internal referral procedures.
Provide services to the child and adolescent survivors of GBV, including case management as well as the best interest determination, age-appropriate engagement and decision-making by survivors, and Do No Harm analysis.
Lead age-appropriate and specialized group emotional services to vulnerable women and girls.
Work with the WPE team to ensure the response to the evolving needs of women and girls and their communities.
Identify concerns related to and support adherence to GBV referral protocols and GBV guiding principles and bring these concerns to the WPE Response Officer.
Maintain effective working relationships with relevant partners including community leaders and other implementing partners.
Complete monthly activity reports, according to the mentorship provided by the WPE Response Officer.
Maintaining detailed and confidential case files in line with recognized standard methodologies.
Qualifications
Experience
Minimum 2 years of experience needed in the field of Gender and/or GBV
Professional experience in counseling and implementing activities for women and girls or proven engagement in women’s rights/groups – highly desirable
Competencies: Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Candidate must be able to demonstrate a clear and genuine willingness to work and learn quickly and be committed to developing professionally in the field of GBV and supporting women and girls’ protection and empowerment – essential.
Deep understanding of and interest in the well-being of women and girls and supporting their healing after the experience of violence.
Understanding of the impact and dynamics of men’s violence against women and girls, and a strong interest in working on women and girls’ protection and empowerment.
Personal qualities: Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
Strong communication and facilitation skills.
Ability to keep records and write simple and basic reports of activities would be an added advantage.
Excellent listening and observation skills, including the ability to build trust, support, respect and interact with survivors of all ages, backgrounds and diversity.
Demonstrated dedication to women’s empowerment and protection through current/previous volunteer or paid work in women’s groups, girls’ clubs or other relevant experience is an added advantage.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and respect in CWC/IWC at all times is essential.
Language Preference
Language spoken by population in need – essential
Good working knowledge of English – preferable, not essential
Specific Educational Qualification
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree in any Psychology/ Gender or Women’s Studies/ Social Work/ Social Science or other relevant subjects
Professional Degree/ Certification
- Certification in office administration or any other relevant professional degree/course would be a plus