Job Title: Project Officer-Protection (Ref:20254/0114)
Department: Programs
Band: 7
Reports To: Protection Manager
Indirect report to: Program Manager II
Country/Location: Mogadishu Somalia
Length of Contract: 12 Months
About CRS
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. Through its programs CRS assists poor and vulnerable persons based on need, regardless of creed, ethnicity, or nationality. It works through partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates.
CRS has a long history of supporting local civil-society organizations in Somalia and has implemented development and emergency programming in multiple sectors, primarily supported by the United States Agency for International Development. CRS’ work in Somalia supports populations across 5 regions of Somalia, with emergency presence concentrated in the South-Central area.
CRS began working in Somalia in 1961 responding with food to assist flood victims and established its first office there in 1964. Today, CRS continues to respond to the urgent needs of the Somali people through meeting their immediate needs (food and water); providing essential services (health, nutrition, and protection); creating and rehabilitating critical infrastructure (latrines and wells); restoring productive assets and purchasing power to build resilience and promote long-term, sustainable solutions; and ensuring peacebuilding activities to transform intercommunal conflict.
Job Summary:
As a member of the CRS Somalia team, you will monitor and report on all protection project activities in support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable across the project areas. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve. Under the direction and leadership of Program Manager, you will primarily monitor and support protection activities but will also support protection mainstreaming and protection integration across all sectors and partners. You will also provide support and monitoring to other CRS activities including health, nutrition, and WASH activities, especially focusing on protection mainstreaming and beneficiary accountability across sectors.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
• monitor project implementation through partner accompaniment, spot checks, monitoring visits, etc. to ensure program quality and mitigate risk, document, and report observations in a timely way.
• Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per the appropriate MEAL plans. Ensure beneficiary feedback mechanisms are functioning effectively.
• Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per established reporting schedule.
• Collect information on staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• support MEAL and accountability systems by conducting gender-disaggregated Focus Group Discussion and Key Informant interviews directly with beneficiaries as directed.
• Assist coordination and support of assessment activities, including rapid needs assessments, scoping for proposal development, etc.
• Complete project documentation for assigned activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.
• Represent CRS at coordination meetings (clusters and working groups) and with other stakeholders through delegation from the Protection Program Manager.
University degree in Social Science, Human Rights, development studies, gender studies, international development, or other relevant field from a recognized institution.
• Minimum of 3 years wok experience in protection, child protection, safeguarding, GBV with a demonstrated focus on protection program design and implementation. Experience working with local/implementing partners is an advantage.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.
Required Languages - Fluent Somali speaker (required). Maay or other relevant local dialect is considered an advantage
Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 25 %.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities to effectively convey information and engage with diverse audience
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
• Technical expertise (demonstrated through education or experience) in GBV prevention and response and/or child protection is a strong advantage.
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement in the Somali context.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred, especially in protection programming, and especially through qualitative data collection (e.g. FGDs).
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.
Agency Leadership Competencies:
• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities
Supervisory Responsibilities None
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Other Project Officers; Health and Nutrition Project Manager, MEAL Officer, WASH Manager, MEAL Manager, Senior MEAL Officer, MPCA Manager, Kaafia Plus Program manager. External: Partner staff, Local Stakeholders
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
What we offer:
CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS Somalia strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and do their best.
CRS provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or
mental disability or handicap, medical condition and any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, CRS will recruit, hire, train and promote persons solely on their qualifications and abilities.
CRS’ emphasis on family values supports benefits, including maternity and paternity leave, policies that promote exclusive breastfeeding, the availability of a baby room at the office, and flexible working hours where possible.
Women and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.
By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.
The protection of your personal data is important to Catholic Relief Services. By submitting your application, you consent to CRS using your personal data only for the recruitment process to have all the information and documents necessary to proceed with the recruitment, validation of your application and selection of the most suitable candidate. Your personal data will be treated confidentially. CRS will not use your personal data in any other way other than for purposes of recruitment.
If your qualifications and experience meet this job requirements, please submit a written application, quoting the job title and reference number, and updated CV including daytime contact phone numbers, as well as names and contact information of three references to reach the below mentioned by close of business, January 22, 2025
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.
Human Resources Manager
Catholic Relief Services-Kenya/Somalia program
Email: CRSSomalia-recruitment@crs.org
Note: CRS does not charge any fees from applicants for any recruitment. Further, CRS has a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption and are committed to acting professionally, fairly and with integrity in all our Recruitment Process. Kindly note that any attempts to engage in bribery or canvassing during the recruitment process will result in automatic disqualification
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. We alleviate suffering and provide assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, belief or n... Read More
