Project Officer: Gender & Child Protection at Sexual Offences Awareness & Response (SOAR) Initiative

Duration: 2year contract
Start Date: Pre-employment training and induction with immediate effect. Employment contract commences June 2021.

General Overview Of Project

• On this project for which a Gender and Child Protection Officer is being sought for engagement, SOAR Initiative will be working to address sexual based violence against adolescent girls (SBVAG) in three grassroots communities in Gwagwalada and Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.

Objectives

• To strengthen collaboration with Community leaders, men and boys to address negative socio-cultural norms on SGBV against girls in three project communities in the FCT
• To strengthen community-based structures to prevent and respond to SGBV against girls in three project communities in the FCT
• To build the capacity of in and out of school adolescent girls in the three project communities in the FCT to address SGBV and assert their fundamental human rights

Expected Outcomes

• The project communities have in place and in use local protection groups and mechanisms with improved structures, attitudes and behaviours that promote gender equitable norms and protect girls from SGBV by May 2023
• In and out of school Adolescent girls in project communities have improved attitudes and behaviours in place to recognise socio-cultural norms that perpetuate SGBV, assert their rights, avoid victimisation and share this information with their peers and other community members by May 2023

Overall Objective of Job Position

• The Project Officer is expected to oversee the scope, quality, cost and maintain timelines/schedules of the project in the targeted communities in Abuja.
• The Project Officer will use community-mobilisation approaches in addressing socio-cultural norms that perpetuate sexual based violence against girls (SBVAG) within the communities, including: establishing/strengthening SBVAG response groups, working with men and boys and building the capacity of in and out of school adolescent girls through mentoring programs.
• The Project Officer must be able to work with limited supervision and still ensure that progress is made on the project to achieve all pre-determined outputs and outcomes as required by funders.

Expected Duties and Responsibilities of Project Officer

• Plan, implement and supervise all project activities, including by all sub-contracted partners to achieve set indicators, milestones, outputs and ultimately outcomes and goal of the project
• Provide direction, coordination, support and oversight functions over staff and volunteers, when available, to achieve set indicators, milestones, outputs and ultimately outcomes and the goal of the project
• Identify, contract and supervise the work of contracted partners, consultants and vendors, as required and directed, to achieve overall project objectives.
• Identify relevant local and State level stakeholders and ensure their buy-in, commitment and involvement on the project including: local and state level government authorities, school authorities, community and opinion leaders in development of sustainable child protection systems and structures to protect particularly girls from sexual violence and ensure that the voices of women and children are heard and incorporated in project implementation
• Organise, lead on and deliver advocacy visits, sensitisation outreaches and capacity building workshops on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV)/ harmful practices (HP) and gender, project training curriculum and various advocacy issues related to achieving stated project objectives as the case may be.
• Identify gaps in delivery of functions of established SBVAG response groups and deliver periodic information/training sessions to members to address identified gaps.
• Prepare and submit annual, quarterly and monthly workplans to aid and show effective planning and implementation of the project.
• Prepare detailed Activity Concept Notes for all activities on workplan and prior to implementation to aid and show effective planning and implementation of activities
• Ensure implementation of approved annual and quarterly work plans and Activity Concept Notes as approved.
• Report programmatic achievements, gaps and challenges to the Project Director and recommend changes to achieve project results
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual reports in line with organizational and funders requirements.

Demonstrated Core Competences:

• Demonstrated capacity to manage all components of the 2year project with result-based project management skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Analytical and Strategic Thinking/Results Oriented/Commitment to Excellence
• Proactive problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Working in and with Teams
• Advocacy/Communicating information and ideas/Knowledge sharing
• Self-management/Emotional intelligence and conflict management/Negotiating and resolving disagreement
• In-depth knowledge about SGBV, HP, Child Protection and Adolescent Reproductive & Sexual Health (ARSH)
• Belief and practice of core values of SOAR Initiative

Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience to be Evidenced in Profile

• Minimum of HND or B.Sc. degree with at least 3 years practical relevant work experience
• Experience in non-profit project management
• Demonstrated expertise and programming in SGBV, gender inequality and its root causes and child protection issues
• Fluent in oral and written English and computer literacy is essential with ability to communicate clearly in Hausa language. Knowledge of Gbagyi language is an added advantage.
• Experience in community mobilisation approaches. Collaboration and negotiation skills are therefore required with ability to identify and liaise with relevant community-based stakeholders and other potential state and non-state project partners
• Demonstrated show of self-motivation and self-direction with proactive decision making and strategic thinking skills.
• Highly organized, with ability to deliver error free work output
• Ability to represent the organisation and its objectives in a highly professional and responsible manner
• Personal integrity, honesty and transparency is essential.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, multitask and employ proactive decision-making skills
• Ability to work under pressure with limited supervision yet allocate and review priorities and proactively take decisions to meet deadlines and achieve set objectives