Accountability & Safeguarding Project Officer - CRS

Accountability & Safeguarding Project Officer - CRS

Job Summary:

The Accountability & Safeguarding Project Officer will lead the planning, implementation, monitoring, and review of CRS JWBG’s accountability activities across all projects, including the management of CRS JWBG’s feedback, complaint and response mechanism (FCRM), partner capacity strengthening in areas of accountability, safeguarding and protection, and efforts to mainstream and prioritize protection throughout CRS programming. The Project Officer will work closely with project teams to ensure the relevance and application of CRS JWBG’s FCRM standard operating procedures (SOPs) and will serve as the focal point for the identification, mitigation, and referral management of safeguarding and protection cases. Along with the partner safeguarding team, the Project Officer will support the roll out of CRS’ safeguarding training and provide follow up to partners as needed to ensure safeguarding standards are appropriately integrated. The Project Officer will ensure strong accountability to target communities and project participants in support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. His/her 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.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

1. Oversee, monitor, and regularly review the application of the Country Program’s FCRM across all projects, working closely with project staff and partners to ensure appropriate management of, response to, and learning from feedback and complaints received from community members and participants.
2. Work closely with FCRM project focal points and Program Managers to ensure the regular review of and learning from FCRM data received through both static and active channels, helping to foster a culture of accountability and adaptive management. Oversee the FCRM CommCare and Power BI workspaces to ensure that FCRM data meets programmatic needs and provide gap filling support for the management of CRS JWBG’s static FCRM channels, as needed.
3. Complete project documentation for assigned activities, and assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices. This includes reviewing and sharing regular feedback reports, as well as conducting regular effectiveness checks of CRS’ FCRM and referral pathways to ensure that both remain effective and appropriate based on the distinct needs and preferences of women, men, boys, and girls; people of different age groups; people living with disabilities; people of varying education and literacy levels; and other diverse and vulnerable groups.
4. Provide support to the partner safeguarding team as needed. Collect information on technical assistance needs of partner organizations in the areas of safeguarding and protection, and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact. Work with partners to complete partner safeguarding assessments and support partner capacity strengthening to create and implement a safeguarding action plan to ensure policies and procedures are in line with safeguarding, protection, and accountability principals.
5. Support the coordination and implementation of all assigned activities in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices. Oversee coordination between the program, MEAL, and operation staff; safeguarding focal points; partner teams; and SMT to strengthen and mainstream protection and accountability principles across programming and operations.
6. In collaboration with Program Managers and the Regional Technical Advisor for Protection, lead efforts to identify protection and safeguarding risks and develop risk mitigation measures and referral pathways for CRS programming in JWBG.

Basic Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree required, ideally in the areas of social services, social work, or community development. Master’s degree preferred.
2. Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in social development and humanitarian work required, with experience in the areas of accountability, safeguarding and protection preferred. Experience working for an NGO would be a plus.
3. Strong familiarity with humanitarian safeguarding and protection principles required.

Required Languages – Fluency in Arabic and English

Travel – Up to 15% travel across the Gaza Strip and to Jerusalem or the West Bank

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment and exhibit empathy and understanding
2. Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
3. Self-driven attitude, with ability to take initiative and demonstrate solution-focused creativity when faced with problems or challenges
4. Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
5. Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
6. Strong analysis and reporting skills; familiarity with CommCare and Power BI a plus

Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
2. Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
3. Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Experience with ICT4D (e.g. CommCare and Power BI) a plus.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates with relevant education and work experience are invited to complete an application which addresses the positions requirements. In order to be considered for the position, candidates must submit both a CV and a cover letter, in English. Applications that fail to meet these requirements will not be considered. Applications must be submitted online at http://jobs.crsjwbg.org and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This posting will remain open until filled, however, submission by April 4, 2023 is strongly advised.