Job Purpose: The Program Officer (Gender) reports to the Program Coordinator and will be responsible for the implementation of all activities aimed at improving gender relations as well as enhanced psychosocial wellbeing families and their children with in the refugee camp and the host communities. Under the supervision of the Project Coordinator, the person will be responsible for planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting on the activities aimed at enabling the beneficiaries to understand and challenge some of the gender dynamics/relations that lead to gender inequality. These range from power relations leading to situations of gender based violence (GBV) among the refugees themselves, host communities, women and men, women and women.
Similarly, the person will lead the implementation of various psychosocial interventions that will be carried out to enable individual refugees and the families improve their wellbeing. These will be carried out both at individual and group level using dialogues facilitated by the group members with experience to provide psychosocial support/mediators and/or trained counselors. He/she will among others conduct community based psychosocial and protection needs assessments to identify problems/gaps, risk and vulnerabilities; hold specialized psychosocial trainings for community counseling aides; conduct family visits and provide counseling and social support services to children and their caregivers; establish and facilitate psychosocial support groups; establish referral mechanisms and referrals to the health service providers for cases that require clinical counseling and monitoring to ensure they access the services.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS: PRIORITY TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Responsible for organizing community awareness creation /discussion forums on gender issues (Sexual and Gender Based Violence, gender equality and equity).
- Lead the implementation of male and boys’ engagement in gender transformation initiative.
- Engagement of community structures to incorporate gender issues into their programs as well as conducting trainings for stakeholders on Gender Based Violence and establish community based approaches to prevent and respond to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and Violence against Children (VAC).
- He/she will be responsible for conducting community based psychosocial and protection needs assessments of the refugees and host communities to identify problems/gaps, risk and vulnerabilities.
- Will be charged with conducting specialized psychosocial trainings for community counseling aides who will then support therapy sessions for children and their caregivers within the camp and host communities.
- Work with other stakeholders to establish referral mechanisms for referring refugees with severe psychosocial health problems or any other general health issues to the appropriate health care service providers in the area.
- Ensure that UNHCR’s age, gender and diversity approach to protection is consistently applied through community-based protection methods.
- Maintain strong working relationships with all stakeholders – including community leaders, NGOs, UN agencies, and community based organizations to enhance multi-agency cooperation and coordination
- Involve/include community structures in all aspects of planning and implementation to promote and maintain sustainability.
- Provide oversight and monitoring of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and Psycho- social support project activities.
- Represent SOS Children’s villages Uganda and participate in relevant sector meetings and other forums
- Support awareness campaign and prevention of Covid 19 in the refugee settlement.
- Compile and submit weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual and specific activity reports to the Project Coordinator.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies, Gender & Conflict, Social Work and Social Administration, Social Sciences, Psychology.
- Post graduate Diploma/Certificate in Counselling and Guidance.
- Awareness and knowledge of SGBV issues, knowledge, skills and experience in participatory methods for community education and mobilization.
- At least four years relevant work experience in a similar role
- Proficiency in English is required.
- Knowledge of the local language and/or Swahili is and added advantage
- Ability to ride motorcycle, with a valid rider permit
HOW TO APPLY
If you believe you are the right candidate for this position, please send your application letter, detailed curriculum vitae (CV), and photocopies of academic certificates, and names and contact details of three traceable referees to the address below to reach not later than Thursday 22nd April 2021:
The Head Human Resource and Administration
SOS Children’s Villages Uganda,
Plot 53 Ntinda II Road
Kampala, Uganda
Electronic Applications must be sent as one Single PDF Document not exceeding eight pages to: jobs@sosuganda.org
Applications that are late, do not have CV or certificates or exceeds eight pages or electronically submitted as images will be disqualified. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.