Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and Safeguarding Officer

Job Description

Job description
Position Title: Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and Safeguarding Officer

Duty Station: Mogadishu

Position Category: Full-time

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Position (General Position Summary)

As the GEDSI and Safeguarding Officer, the position holder is responsible for providing capacity building trainings on GEDSI, safeguarding, gender-based violence, and protection for marginalized communities. They also support the organization’s transformation towards greater gender, diversity, and inclusion by facilitating staff reflections and promoting an inclusive workplace environment. Additionally, the Officer is tasked with documenting GEDSI-related activities, compiling reports, following up on safeguarding matters, and representing the organization in GEDSI, GBV, protection, and other relevant forums and networks. All these duties are carried out under the direction of the GEDSI and Safeguarding Coordinator.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

· Oversee the technical implementation and ensure mainstreaming of GESI (Gender Equality, and Social Inclusion) activities across different projects and initiatives.

· Mainstream GEDSI and safeguarding principles into the organization’s various projects and programs.

· Identify GEDSI-related concerns within project areas using a market systems development lens and other relevant frameworks.

· Develop strategies to address identified GEDSI concerns and promote gender equality and social inclusion.

· Provide capacity building training on GEDSI and safeguarding topics, including gender-based violence, for staff, community, partners and other stakeholders.

· Support the organization’s efforts to transform its approach to gender, diversity, and inclusion.

· Facilitate and support staff reflections and promote an inclusive workplace environment.

· Document GEDSI-related activities, compile reports, and follow up on safeguarding matters.

· Represent the organization in GEDSI, protection, and other relevant forums and networks as required

· Assist in organizing and facilitating GEDSI and safeguarding induction for newly recruited project staff, volunteers, stakeholders, and partners, including Safeguarding Champions in other offices.

· Translate the Code of Conduct for partners and other casual labor into local language and support the dissemination of IEC materials in coordination with the CARM teams.

· Compile and develop quarterly/yearly GEDSI and safeguarding training data reports.

· Conduct supervision and monitoring visits to project sites as required.

· Support staff to take proactive steps to ensure that all programming activity identifies potential risks and works to mitigate those risks.

· Respect and practice the values of non-discrimination, non-judgment, and inclusivity at all times.

· Encourage CARM teams to lead in disseminating safeguarding messaging across CARM activities.

· Discuss and review lessons learned with the GEDSI and Safeguarding Coordinator on a quarterly basis.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Mercy Corps team members are expected to implement community accountability reporting Mechanism (CARM) effectively

Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility:

Reports Directly to: GEDSI and SG Coordinator, and Director of Programs

Works Directly with: All MC staff, Program Teams, MEAL team, Operations team and Finance team.

Skills and qualifications
Knowledge and Experience

● Respect, diversity, adaptability, able to perform under stress, innovation, building relationships, communicating effectively, initiating action, planning and organizing, and a personal commitment to the wellbeing and protection of all community participants

● Values diversity, sees it as a source of strength

● Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

● Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions

● Bachelor’s degree in social work, gender studies or relevant professional qualification.

● Minimum of 2 years’ relevant work experience.

● Good data management, data analysis, computer literacy and documentation and report writing skills

● Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information as well as facilitate training to a wide and diverse audience.

● Ensure confidentiality is maintained

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct E-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

How to apply
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for this position and submit their applications (cover letter, updated CV, and contacts of 5 professional referees) through https://www.mercycorps.org/careers/national only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Deadline for Applications: Nove 15, 2024 at 5PM