Project Assistant - Safeguarding, Protection & Gender

ACTED is a non-governmental organization with headquarters in Paris, founded in 1993. Independent, private and not-for-profit, ACTED respects a strict political and religious impartiality and operates according to the principles of non-discrimination and transparency. ACTED has been present in Pakistan since 1993. ACTED Pakistan programmes range from short-term emergency responses to recovery and rehabilitation, as well as longer-term development initiatives. ACTED strategy is to target vulnerable communities affected by natural and conflict-related disasters as well as lack of socio-economic development.

JOB PURPOSE

The Project Assistant - Safeguarding, Protection & Gender, under operational guidance of the Project Manager and technical guidance of the Protection and GESI Lead, is responsible for ensuring proper implementation of ACTED’s project in Jacobabad District. The Safeguarding and GESI Officer oversees field operations and ensures effective and timely completion of activities, delivery of quality outputs and achievement of outcomes with maximum impact for beneficiaries. The Project Assistant - Safeguarding, Protection & Gender works with the project staff in day to day management of all aspects of the project and liaises with relevant internal departments and external partners and project stakeholders.

OBJECTIVE

To ensure the project is implemented in a timely and professional manner, according to objectives, goals and indicators, in line with donor requirements and based on beneficiary needs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Project Assistant - Safeguarding, Protection & Gender will be responsible to integrate gender and safeguarding matters in program, provide technical inputs to adapt program strategies to integrate participants belonging to different genders and vulnerabilities, and to ensure a safe and dignified environment in accessing program support. The Gender and Safeguarding Officer will also be responsible for identifying capacity building requirements of the team, developing plans and building capacity of the team.

• Identify gender and safeguarding issues/ challenges/risks within the program and develop strategies to adapt the program activities, under the BHA funded program initiatives.
• Provide technical inputs to integrate gender and safeguarding considerations in program.
• Identify capacity building needs of the team, develop, and implement capacity building plan for the staff.
• Conduct periodic monitoring for compliance with the safeguarding minimum standards and capacity building plans.
• Keep track of safeguarding related issues, concerns or experiences and ensure next steps occur in accordance with Acted’s policies and procedures.
• Ensure that Acted’s Safeguarding and Gender policies and considerations are integrated across programs.
• Help ensure the safety, security and well-being of participants and communities in program area.
• Help to support and raise awareness around community about Acted’s reporting mechanism.
• Contribute to program design, and program review to ensure inclusion of the Acted’s Safeguarding and Gender policies.
• Support Acted’s management to fulfill the responsibilities and donor’s obligations related to Safeguarding and Gender policies and response mechanisms.
• Work closely with the Technical Lead for Protection and GESI to implement safeguarding protocols in the interventional areas of Balochistan and Sindh.

Requirements:

• Demonstrated experience in the implementation of GESI-related projects, including capacity development and the development of GESI strategies.
• Strong understanding of GESI principles and a strong commitment to promoting inclusion and equality.
• Knowledge of best practices in knowledge management and sharing.
• Available to travel amongst interventional areas in Balochistan and Sindh

PSEAH Obligation:

• Acted has zero tolerance approach on PSEAH matters and as an Acted employee It is my utmost duty to ensure full compliance of PSEAH policies in Acted and outside Acted as well. I will not engage in any PSEAH violations and will ensure team working under my supervision will also follow the same protocols. I shall not be involved in any sexual exploitation or abuse. I shall ensure to comply with the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct. Any incident of SEA shall be reported to Acted. Any failure by myside to take preventive measures against sexual exploitation or abuse, or to investigate allegations or take corrective action, shall constitute grounds for termination of the Agreement.
• For the purposes hereof, the following definitions shall be used.
• Sexual exploitation means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.
• Sexual abuse means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Skills:

• Pro-active, well organized with sound planning, organizational, prioritization and problem-solving skills as well as effective verbal and written communication. 
• Good report writing skills.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

•  % of milestones completed on time as per the original plan
•  Project completed on time without the need for an NCE
•  Project completed within budget flexibility (not requiring a budget amendment for project lines)
•  % of contractual performance indicators achieved
•  Project records and documents (beneficiary lists, donation certificates, attendance sheets, payment sheets) available for all project activities
•  Positive monitoring and evaluation reports (internal and external)