BACKGROUND

Present in Sierra Leone since 1999, IRC supports Sierra Leonean institutions – government, civil society, community-based organizations, and private sector – to provide improved social services, decrease youth unemployment and mitigate gender-based violence. The IRC does this through programs and partnerships designed to improve the lives of women, youth, and children by implementing Health, Education, and Women and Girls’ Protection and Empowerment (WGPE) programming.

The IRC through its WGPE sector will be implementing the “Adolescent Girls Empowerment and Protection Project” (AGEPP) Phase 2 from 2022 to 2025, and its main aim is ‘to support the empowerment of Adolescent Girls through relevant education, knowledge, and skills for obtaining their full potential and inclusive participation in society’. This project will be implemented in Bo District and is a follow-on project from AGEPP Phase 1 (2019-2022). It will primarily focus on adolescent girls over a 3-year period, with the recognition that their empowerment cannot be fully achieved without change occurring within the family and the community. Therefore, this project will also target female caregivers of the girls, male leaders within the community, boys, and the community at large. Using learning from the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ebola, and other natural disasters that have occurred in previous years, which resulted in increased vulnerability and incidence of adolescent girls to SGBV, teenage pregnancy, and FGM, the project will seek to bring about changes that will build resilience in the communities and will allow them to take full ownership of the problems and solutions of their adolescent girls leading to the reduction of early marriage and teenage pregnancy. To be able to achieve this effectively, the project will also explore through research, how climate change affects adolescent girls.

Reporting to the WGPE Senior Program Manager, the Project Manager will assume responsibility for the management of the WGPE project field staff and implementation activities in Bo for AGEPP Phase 2. S/he will coordinate with IRC’s other programs; and represent the WGPE program in external meetings and related events in the Bo district.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position Reports to WGPE Senior Program Manager

Position directly supervises:4 WGPE Senior Officers (Bo District)

internal: WGPE Coordinator, Bo Field Manager, M & E Manager

External: Donors, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA) – Bo district, the District Health Management Team (DHMT), the Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Sierra Leone Police, Peripheral Health Units (PHUs), District Council, the CoP on Violence against Women and Girls, and Community Stakeholders.

Specific Responsibilities

Project Implementation

Supervise and manage the Project Officers, building their capacity in project implementation and ensuring a positive team spirit is fostered encouraging innovative and quality programming.

Oversee project implementation including logistics support and organization of activities – training, meetings, and workshops for staff, clients, and other stakeholders, in line with donor requirements.

Develop actionable work plans to ensure the timely implementation of project activities, in collaboration with project team members

Develop and maintain effective and productive working relationships with key stakeholders and represent IRC at meetings with stakeholders

Report on performance and lead regular team meetings aimed at ensuring the activities of the team members are coordinated and performed in a timely manner.

With support from finance, logistics, and administrative staff, oversee financial activities including monitoring of the project budget through Budget vs. Actual monthly reviews, item forecasting, and procurement for project activities.

Provide monthly written and regular verbal reports on progress on activities to the supervisor.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and reporting

Monitor progress toward the objectives and intended outputs of the project using routine data, spot checks, observation, and other methodologies.

Ensure timely data collection by project officers for analysis and use in periodic reporting and to inform project activities

Based on monitoring and feedback mechanisms, strengthen the quality, effectiveness, and responsiveness of program interventions.

Contribute to IRC and donor reports as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly, and annually) on grant activities, indicators, and achievements.

Support compilation of learning from project implementation to inform the design of future programs

Promote an environment of best practice and knowledge sharing with other IRC sectors, and with partners.

Other

Undertake all other tasks as requested by the supervisor

Qualifications
Education

Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, Education, Sociology, or a related field.

Experience

Proven practical work experience and knowledge on GBV, gender, economic empowerment, livelihoods, skills building, and men, boys, and community engagement.

At least 3 years of experience in managing, coordinating, or leading teams.

At least 2 years of experience in basic administrative, logistical, and financial management, including basic budgeting, resource management, and procurement processes.

Other Skills

Demonstrated understanding of GBV and the principles of delivering quality GBV services.

Ability to work calmly and lead teams successfully in stressful situations.

Ability to coordinate multiple project activities under one integrated program.

Ability to work independently, take initiative, delegate responsibilities, and ask for help as needed.

Ability to communicate effectively and engage positively with a wide range of actors and stakeholders, ranging from community groups to government agencies.

Able to manage and coordinate financial and procurement transactions and other operational and administrative procedures in line with organizational policies, as applicable.

Able to manage resources effectively and efficiently.

Strong facilitation and training skills.

Excellent English speaking and writing skills; ability to prepare reports and other required program documentation in a timely manner.

Mandatory (General) Abilities

Committed to the mission and principles of the International Rescue Committee.

A good, motivated team player with a positive attitude who can motivate and encourage others.

Results driven – ensures goals, objectives, and deadlines are met.

Applies effective utilization of resources.

Self-Management – Knows own strengths and weaknesses and acts accordingly, copes well with pressure and adapts and learns; willingness and ability to work in a frequently changing and demanding context.

Interpersonal skills – Listens willingly and respectfully to the concerns of all groups and individuals and provides feedback, gaining commitment by persuasiveness not demands.