Philippines: Protection and Inclusion Officer (Filipino Nationals Only)

BASE LOCATION: Islamic Relief Worldwide - Philippines Country Office

SCOPE OF THE ROLE:

The Protection and Inclusion (P&I) Officer leads on the “Leave No One Behind”, Safeguarding and “Do No Harm” agendas to be integrated into all Islamic Relief Worldwide – Philippines (IRPH) programmes. S/he ensures that commitments towards Core Humanitarian Standards and Inclusion Charter are prioritized and mainstreamed in the programmatic and operations of IRPH. S/he must have the ability to forge strong partnerships with key stakeholders and in championing inclusion and protection of the most vulnerable and marginalized in all IRPH programme activities and operations.

REPORTING TO: Programme Manager

STAFF REPORTING: None

I. Key Working Relationship: 

• Work closely with the Programme Manager and technical advisers (Gender, Child Protection, Age and Disability) of IRW at the headquarters and regional levels; Programme Leads; MEAL; Accountability and Safeguarding Focals; and other staff in mainstreaming inclusion and protection in IRPH programmes and operations.
• Support the development and delivery of inclusive, sensitive and accountable programmes under protection mainstreaming umbrella.
• Channel key recommendations and messaging to IRPH advocacy initiatives to influence policy and practice on inclusion and protection.
• Work with key stakeholders to build their capacity on protection and inclusion that underscore child protection, prevention of gender-based violence (GBV), and inclusion of all ages and abilities including strengthening Accountability mechanisms.
• Work to support and strengthen safeguarding approaches and mechanisms across IRPH programmes and operations.

II. Key Responsibilities: 

1. Lead the protection and inclusion agenda across the country office’s programmes and operations highlighting child protection, gender mainstreaming, and inclusion of other socially excluded groups regardless of age, gender and diversity.
2. Develop plans and strategies on inclusion and protection to ensure that IRPH operations, programmes, approaches and activities are inclusive and protective to the beneficiaries, communities and partners at all times.
3. Conduct periodic organizational assessment on inclusion and protection using IRW’s Marker Tool across all projects and operations at the country level in coordination with all relevant departments within the country office.
4. Build / strengthen partnerships with relevant government agencies, UN and specialized NGOs / CSO partners, and other stakeholders to find areas of collaboration, best practice, innovation, and knowledge sharing on Child Protection (including referral pathways), gender-based violence (GBV) and inclusion of the most vulnerable sector regardless of age, gender and diversity.
5. Identify training needs and build the capacity of IRPH staff and other stakeholders on protective and inclusive programming.
6. Provide technical support in ensuring that inclusion and protection are embedded in new concept notes and proposals.
7. Ensure that IRPH protection and inclusion approaches are align with international standards such as Core Humanitarian Standards, Humanitarian Inclusion Standards, Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, and Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Gender Policy, among others.
8. Create and lead a Protection and Inclusion Working Group for regular updating, exchange of learnings, innovation and development of plans in strengthening IRPH inclusion and protection lenses across its programmes and operations.
9. Document learning and evidence of impact related to protection and inclusion initiatives in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and ensure that these are reported to donors, IRW and used to inform new programming design.
10. Provide technical inputs in the preparation of reports required by donors, management, annual reports, and other reports, as necessary.
11. Work with HQ-PQ team to ensure the implementation of a donor-funded project on sustainable and inclusive Safeguarding mechanisms through awareness raising of communities, capacity building of staff, developing necessary materials and resources necessary for communicating safeguarding messages, and networking with local CSO’s.

• Act as the main Safeguarding Focal Point:
• Lead the overall implementation of IRW’s Safeguarding Policy in IRPH.
• Work with the programme teams and units in ensuring that the Safeguarding Policy is embedded in all the activities and operations of IRPH.
• Act as a point of contact for staff and beneficiaries in all child protection / protection-related and safeguarding issues.
• Proactively engage in Safeguarding and Protection Networks and Clusters for information sharing and gathering the latest update about local and national safeguarding and protection issues or concerns.
• Provide technical support to IRPH staff in building their capacities and ensuring the implementation of standardized approaches, documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, and identification of solutions to any safeguarding issues or concerns in alignment with IRW’s Safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Ensure that all staff, representatives and staff of partner agencies, consultants, volunteers and service providers are made aware of the contact details of their respective focal points for receiving safeguarding concerns/complaints.
• Lead the mapping process in identifying local safeguarding resources, child welfare specialists, health and law enforcement stakeholders and participate in relevant coordination meetings.
• Make appropriate referrals to organisations and/or law enforcement agencies and institutions that can provide emergency support to cases of violence, sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Maintain basic management and statistical information about the reported violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, compliant with confidentiality and data protection policies.
• Monitor safeguarding risks associated with the design and implementation of projects and take appropriate protective actions.

Ensure that all new recruits receive a thorough Safeguarding induction and arrange for relevant capacity building of staff.

III. Person Specification: 

Education: 

• University degree in one of the relevant areas- International Law, Human Rights, or Social Science, Development Studies, or Project Management.

Work Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience or Master’s degree and preferably 3 years of relevant professional work experience in human rights issues, protection and/or child protection and GBV. Working in emergency or conflict situations in developing countries is an asset.

Language: 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

Required Skills/Competencies: 

• Empathetic
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment
• Good interpersonal skills
• Good advocacy, analytical skills
• A team player and good in working with people
• Drive for results and learning
• Proficiency in programme and project management
• Aptitude in rights-based and results-based programming
• Good understanding of policies and strategies in addressing child protection and GBV issues

Knowledge: 

• Demonstrate enhanced knowledge of protective and inclusive programming
• Good understanding of Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) principles, SPHERE, and international standards on child protection, gender and inclusion.

Our Values and Commitment to Safeguarding: 

IRW is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behavior at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IRW engages. IRW expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. IRW also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

How to Apply: 

Interested applicants should send their CV with a cover letter on or before ** 30 June 2024**to HR.Philippines@islamic-relief.org.ph with email subject or reference: Protection & Inclusion Officer Application.

Islamic Relief Worldwide is a humanitarian and development organization and working in Livelihood, WASH, Education and DRR sectors in line with our vision of a caring world where communities are empowered, social obligations are fulfilled, and people respond as one to the suffering of others. We work regardless of ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, or gender.

This position is open for Filipino nationals only, women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Selection will be based on application letter, CV, interview, and other relevant documents (as requested). Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

Walk-in applicants and applications sent through Islamic Relief Philippines social media account i.e., Facebook, will not be entertained.

As the position needs to be filled in on an urgent basis, therefore, we may stop receiving applications as soon as there are applicants suitable for the position.