Protection, Gender and Inclusion in Emergencies Officer (Apply Via the Link)

Job purpose
The COVID-19 Pandemic has severe global impacts to peoples Dignity, Access, Participation and Safety. Throughout the operation-specific measures will be taken to address the variation and extent of barriers different people face with access to services and information, dignity, participation and safety – to ensure that we “do no harm” and that services have appropriate reach and relevance.

The IFRC response to Covid-19 will pay particular attention to the needs of vulnerable groups, identified as in need of specific assistance and support in this crisis. Groups already identified as particularly at risk include older people, people with physical and intellectual disabilities, adult men, people with underlying physical and mental health issues, pregnant women, homeless or displaced people and migrants (especially irregular), children (especially those out of school or without safe care), pregnant women, low-income households and those in institutional settings (prison, refugee camp, aged care -facility).

The IFRC will coordinate and ensure targeted and specific action is taken globally, regionally and in-country to prevent, mitigate and respond to the increased risk of violence, discrimination, exclusion, and exploitation posed by the impacts of COVID-19. Specific attention will be given to the risks associated with isolation, social distancing, closing of vital institutions and loss of livelihoods, as well as unhealthy coping triggered by grief, stress, fear and loss. Of particular concern are harms and risks related to violence in the home, child abuse and neglect, self-harm, identity-based violence, exploitation and human trafficking. Efforts will be adapted to existing capacities and priorities within each context, with resources and technical support continuously made available at global and regional levels.

To address the unprecedented negative socio-economic effects of the outbreak on the most vulnerable and marginalised, efforts to reduce inequalities, discrimination, patterns of unhealthy coping and lasting damage to social protection mechanisms and institutions as well as educational ones will be developed and adapted. Existing programmes and services in National Societies will be supported in scaling up and adaptation, with good practices shared with the IFRC network.

The PGI in Emergencies Officer -COVID-19  will support National Societies, IFRC teams and other movement partners to enhance the impact, reach and efficiency of emergency response operations through implementing  PGI activities and approaches. This includes PGI mainstreaming, programme management, staff support and training, and strengthening community relationships. The PGI in Emergencies Officer -COVID-19  officer provides the operational capacity to identify protection risks including child protection and sexual and gender-based violence and take action to prevent, mitigate and respond to violence, exploitation and abuse, including appropriate reporting and referral mechanisms.

Job duties and responsibilities

In close collaboration with PGI focal points in National Societies, Sector leads in IFRC COVID-19 response and the global PGI team, and under the technical supervision of the Gender and Diversity Coordinator, IFRC Geneva:

•  Support and coordinate mainstreaming of PGI and in consolidating efforts for PGI in response to COVID-19 pandemic in MENA region.
• Support MENA NSs in sharing best practices and linking up on technical issues experienced during the COVID-19 response.
• Ensure coordination of and provide technical support on PGI mainstreaming to MENA NSs
• Support developing measures to address PGI in livelihoods and cash programming and consolidating and sharing information and tools etc.
• Support PGI integration in Appeals, action plans, assessments and reporting through the application of Minimum Standard Commitments to Gender and Diversity (incl. gender, age and disability marker)
• Support the development of outputs, indicators, and monitoring tools and activities that can guide PGI implementation.
• Facilitate coordination and access to key PGI resources including SGBV, psychosocial support, education in emergencies, child protection, trafficking
• Support and/or deliver capacity building activities for Red Cross Red Crescent staff, volunteers and community members: build understanding and ownership of PGI, support the 
• implementation of the PGI Minimum Standards, reduce PGI risks in the operational environment and build sustainable local capacity.
• Support multi-sectoral needs assessments to ensure that PGI related information is collected sensitively and safely analysed and findings are documented securely.
• Support and advocate for the operation to collect and analyse sex, age and disability disaggregated data.
• Support evaluation and gathering lessons learned from PGI efforts in COVID-19 interventions
• Liaise with other movement and non-movement actors at the regional level to ensure efficient and effective technical coordination and standardisation
• Undertake any other tasks as needs arise in support of the PGI efforts in COVID-19 response
• Support the global PGI team in developing efforts in advocacy, by ensuring challenges and opportunities within the region is considered and raised