About Aid Gate Organization “AGO” 

Aid Gate Organization (AGO) is an independent, nonpartisan, national organization in Iraq whose history goes back to 2014 with the beginning of ISIL’s occupation in Iraq. At that time and throughout the mass conflicts occurring from 2014 onwards, ISIL groups took control of large swathes of the country, including Nineveh, Salah al-Din, Anbar, and parts of Diyala. This period witnessed an unprecedented wave of displacement for people who lived in these areas in addition to extreme human rights violations. With the Iraqi government, unable to provide much-needed, widespread assistance, many international organizations entered the country to facilitate a response. In doing so, local community members were actively recruited to assist in the movement and return of displaced peoples, while providing them with emergency life-saving assistance to meet their basic needs. Since 2014, AGO has been working untiringly to help Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees, and vulnerable host communities for the implementation of whole-of-community resilience-building measures in Iraq. Today AGO is functional in Salah al-Din, Kirkuk, and the Nineveh governorates, with 50–150 employees, depending on the situation in the region. We are currently working on expanding our operations into the Anbar governorate as well as southern Iraq through proven programs to rebuild the lives of men, women, children, and refugees IDPs, minorities, ethnic groups and persons with disabilities. 

JOB DESCRIPTION

AGO seeks an experienced Gender and Protection Technical Specialist to lead in developing and integrating gender equality and protection approaches into the planning, implementation, and monitoring of all current and future Iraq programs. This role will work in close collaboration with the Project Manager, Deputy Program Manager, and M&E Manager.

The Gender and Protection Technical Specialist will develop and roll out a gender and protection mainstreaming strategy, including tools and training for staff on their use. The Gender and Protection Technical Specialist will ensure robust gender and protection mainstreaming in program design and MEAL frameworks, the development of gender equality and protection strategies as well as building the technical capacity of the staff of the project and AGO and field teams. The Gender and Protection Technical Specialist will further ensure that program activities target the most vulnerable, enhance safety, and dignity, and promote and protect the human rights of beneficiaries without contributing to or perpetuating discrimination, abuse, violence, neglect, and exploitation.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Activity planning and implementation:

• Provide technical input into the development and implementation of relevant SOPs and technical standards’
• Work closely with Project Managers an related AGO staff on the identification of GBV needs of communities and gaps in Protection services within AGO’s areas of intervention
• Ensure that any reports or incidences related to GBV, SEA and child protection are managed sensitively and confidentially within the appropriate reporting structure, including regular training for staff on how to report and respond to incidences, and that any services and follow-up are provided in line with best practices and standard guidance and principles
• Develop and roll out a gender and protection mainstreaming strategy for AGO programming, including the development of relevant tools, technical resources materials, and training modules
• Review project plans and budgets (or provide written guidelines for such a review) to ensure that adequate attention is paid (and resources allocated) to the promotion of protection and gender equality and women’s participation across all sectors
• Participate in the recruitment process, the capacity building, and the evaluation of protection staff, as necessary
• Participate in the proposal development process by providing field-specific context analysis technical sector-specific analysis, beneficiary information, and technical feedback on the concept.
• Undertake field visits to monitor the quality of implementation and provide technical advice and customized and needs-based capacity building to protection staff, with specific regard to GBV case management
• Coach field teams with the adoption of standardized methodologies (including those developed by consultants or internally), including associated monitoring and evaluation mechanisms;
• Stay abreast of developments that have an impact on the protection environment in Iraq and provide ongoing analysis on key issues on a regular basis.

 Reporting and communication:

• Ensure that any reports or incidences related to GBV, SEA and child protection are managed sensitively and confidentially within the appropriate reporting structure, including regular training for staff on how to report and respond to incidences, and that any services and follow-up are provided in line with best practices and standard guidance and principles
• Support MEAL team in ensuring MEAL frameworks for all projects include relevant indicators, lead gender and protection assessments, and develop specific tools, protocols, and processes to collect and analyze data in alignment with gender and protection guidelines and train field staff in their use
• Regularly review the MEAL data to gather evidence to inform current and future programming
• Identify evidence/knowledge gaps and work with MEAL to suggest options to rectify
• Regularly review and share emerging evidence from international standards and tools
• Networking / Coordination:
• Active participation in, contribution to, and representation of AGO in the Protection Cluster, and GBV AOR or other relevant bodies, including working groups and other meetings related to protection.
• Coordinate internally and externally with relevant actors to ensure teams apply updated service mapping for effective referrals when a client requests.
• Fill and submit Purchase Requisitions, Travel Authorizations, and any other AGO administrative forms as needed
• Coordinate with other AGO departments to ensure the effective use of the logistical and financial resources
• Work closely with all relevant Program Managers to integrate gender and protection mainstreaming within proposals, concept notes, and budgets upon request

COMPETENCIES

• University Degree in psychology, social science, pedagogy, or relevant field.
• At least 1 years of progressively professional experience in child protection, psychosocial support, case management other related area with a minimum of 6 months’ work experience with NGOs.
• Experience in GBV and CP is highly desirable
• Fluency in Arabic is essential. Spoken and written English is desirable
• Able to work in unstable, uncertain or potentially dangerous environments, independently and in a team.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Able to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different cultural backgrounds.

AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC “PROFESSIONAL”  COMPETENCIES

• Good communication skills.
• Able to work in unstable, uncertain or potentially dangerous environments, independently and in a team.
• Strong cross-cultural communication and resilience skills are very important.
• Able to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different cultural backgrounds.
• Computer knowledge of MS Office Word and Excel.

Interested applicants must send their most recent: 

1. CV
2. Cover Letter 

To [email protected] , Subject line must read: Gender and Protection Specialist

Note:

• Applications not meeting the specified minimum requirements may not be considered
• The CVs received after the closing date may not be considered.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview that may include a written test of communication and writing skills.

Due to the nature of AGO work activities, AGO demand its employee to have the highest discretion and flexibility qualities. AGO can anytime according to the needs of his mission, and change the work location of his employee. AGO can at any time update tasks on this Job Description according to the evolution of the program or strategy changes. The above-listed tasks are not exhaustive, the employee can be asked to undertake other tasks by the employer according to the competencies, to work over settings time.

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Candidates are encouraged to apply early, as applications may be screened prior to the vacancy deadline.