Catholic Relief Services is seeking a Technical Advisor to work in its Baltimore, United States' office.
Background
CRS’ Guiding Principles direct those of the organization to respect the dignity of all human beings and in so doing promote right relationships between them. Protection embodies these guiding principles emphasizing both safeguarding human beings from disruption, deprivation, displacement, disease, and discrimination and on preserving their dignity and integrity. It is in this context, Pope Francis has placed special emphasis on anti-trafficking work, protection from child-abuse, and the plight of refugees. Inspired by the Holy Father, CRS strengthens protection by empowering participants to use their voice individually and collectively to transform structures and systems that perpetuate inequalities and imbalances of power.
CRS is also responding to increased donor requirements that proposals demonstrate how vulnerable populations will be protected. Specifically, donors are pushing for greater engagement of host country governments to strengthen protection systems and policies. they are also demanding increased integration of protection and anti-trafficking into all cycles of project development and management.
CRS has responded by mainstreaming protection in ways that are both age appropriate and gender responsive. Last year’s protection policy will be followed by an anti-trafficking policy and another one on business ethics, all of which have protection components and must be rolled out to partners in the field. To date, CRS has initiated much of this work but needs additional support in rolling them out and monitoring their implementation. The TA-II will play a key role in both advancing and monitoring the rollout and strengthening CRS and partner staff capacity to implement them.
Job Responsibilities
Technical Support for Program/Project Implementation
- Prioritize technical support for gender-based violence, deinstitutionalization of children from residential care, protection of civilians in violent conflicts and other CRS strategic/emerging areas
- Liaise with CRS gender and youth communities of practice to improve coordination
- Prepare for, facilitate (or co-facilitate) of CRS Community of Practice activities
- Support expansion of CRS efforts to increase inclusion and equity for people with disabilities, other disadvantaged groups
- Promote the mainstreaming of protection-related standards of practice throughout CRS: i.e. principles of equity, access and “Do No Harm.”
- Contribute to developing approaches for system strengthening at national and sub-national levels, i.e., linking protection with peacebuilding and governance
Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning
- Undertake literature reviews and research relevant to protection, anti-trafficking and violence against children and vulnerable adults, as part of ongoing efforts to execute the Justice & Peacebuilding learning agenda
- Support creation and execution of a CRS youth learning agenda and continued roll out of Gender learning agenda research and dissemination of results
Business Development
- Serve as technical writer in protection and anti-trafficking-related proposals
- Participate in external representation and influence of public donors and peer organizations
- Participate in protection, anti-trafficking (and related gender and youth) networks and communities of practice
- Update regularly protection/anti-trafficking marketing pieces and other publications as needed
Capacity Strengthening
- Strengthen CRS and partner capacity for delivery of social support to children and young adults
- Strengthen CRS internal operations, policies and procedures on protection, becoming more disability friendly, etc.
- Collaborate with US Operations to strengthen capacity of church partners and Catholic-affiliated schools and universities in protection of children and vulnerable adults
- Assist with planning and follow-up on protection/anti-trafficking related training workshops
Strategy, Communications and Advocacy
- Update internal CRS communication tools with relevant Protection/EQUIP resources and documentation.
- Review select CRS publications on gender, youth and disability to ensure cross-focus sensitivity and coordination, revising documents as necessary
- Support US Operations’ advocacy efforts on protection and anti-trafficking-related issues
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
- Serves with Integrity
- Models Stewardship
- Cultivates Constructive Relationships
- Promotes Learning
Key Working Relationships
Internal: EQUIP team, especially Senior Technical Advisors for Protection, Gender and Youth; Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning team; Partnership & Capacity Strengthening team; members of Signature Program Area teams, especially Humanitarian Response; Institutional Donor Engagement and Advancement; US Operations, especially Advocacy
External: Country program-level Heads of Programming, Program and Project Managers; Regional Technical Advisors; counterparts in peer organizations working on protection and trafficking issues
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in social work, public administration, education, public health, economics, sociology, political science, international relations, public policy, anthropology or a related field
- Minimum 5 years total relevant experience with at least 2 years spent overseas
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, especially in analytical writing
- Proven ability to think strategically
- Exposure to or preferably experience working with faith-based organizations
- Experience developing successful proposals for external donor funding
- Strong computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Publisher and web page design (e.g. SharePoint)
- Strong cross-cultural, interpersonal and teamwork skills
- Demonstrated ability to work independently
- A commitment to the mission of Catholic Relief Services and a passion to engage in work focused on the protection and social inclusion of vulnerable individuals and groups
- Knowledge and understanding of protection and anti-trafficking issues