SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH - GBV ENGAGEMENT OFFICER

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

IRC Summary

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC provides lifesaving assistance and supports people affected by conflict, displacement, and disaster to rebuild their lives with safety, dignity, and hope.

In Nigeria, conflict, displacement, and insecurity continue to create significant barriers to accessing essential health and protection services. Women and girls are particularly affected by sexual and gender-based violence, unintended pregnancy, maternal and reproductive health risks, stigma, and limited access to confidential and appropriate care. These challenges are often compounded by insecurity, social norms, limited information, weak referral pathways, and the physical and financial barriers associated with accessing services.

IRC works with government authorities, health facilities, communities, and local partners to strengthen integrated health and protection services. Through its Health and Women’s Protection and Empowerment programming, IRC seeks to ensure that women and girls can access services that are safe, confidential, accessible, respectful, survivor-centered, and responsive to their needs and preferences.

Position Summary

The SRH/GBV Engagement Officer will support IRC's efforts to increase access to and utilization of quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV) services among women, girls, adolescents, and other vulnerable populations affected by conflict and displacement.

The position will serve as an important link between communities, health facilities, WPE/GBV services, and referral partners, helping to ensure that women and girls understand available services, can safely access them, and receive appropriate support throughout the referral process.

The Officer will work closely with community health workers, community volunteers, women's and youth groups, health providers, WPE staff, government counterparts, and other community-based structures to identify barriers to service access and develop appropriate engagement strategies. This will include community dialogue, targeted awareness activities, social and behaviour change approaches, feedback mechanisms, referral support, and engagement with trusted community influencers.

The role will also support the integration of survivor-centered principles into community engagement and referral activities, ensuring that all interactions uphold confidentiality, informed choice, dignity, safety, non-discrimination, and the autonomy of survivors and clients.

The SRH/GBV Engagement Officer will report to the Roving SRH Manager and contribute to IRC's broader objective of improving equitable access to quality SRH and GBV services in humanitarian and underserved settings.

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Major Responsibilities

Community Engagement and Service Uptake

• Develop community activities that raise awareness and encourage people to use available sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV) services.

• Work with community health workers, volunteers, women’s groups, youth groups, traditional and religious leaders, and other trusted community members to share clear and relevant information with women and girls.

• Organize community meetings and small-group discussions on SRH, GBV prevention, available services, referral options, and challenges people face when seeking care.

• Identify barriers to accessing services, including social, cultural, financial, distance, and other practical challenges, and work with communities and programme teams to find realistic solutions.

• Promote informed, voluntary, and respectful access to SRH services, including family planning and maternal health care, while raising awareness of GBV support services in ways that protect survivors from further harm.

• Ensure activities are inclusive and suitable for different ages, genders, abilities, languages, literacy levels, and cultural backgrounds, with particular attention to adolescent girls, women with disabilities, displaced people, and other underserved groups.

SRH/GBV Information and Demand Generation

• Support the development and sharing of clear, accurate, and culturally appropriate information on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV).

• Make sure community messages explain where, when, and how women and girls can safely access available services.

• Help address misinformation, stigma, misunderstandings, and harmful beliefs that may prevent people from seeking support.

• Raise awareness of available services, including family planning, maternal health, post-violence care, psychosocial support, and protection services.

• Use suitable ways to reach different groups, such as one-on-one discussions, community meetings, radio, women’s groups, youth groups, and other local communication channels.

• Ensure all communication respects people’s right to make their own informed choices, and work with health and WPE teams to ensure that information is accurate and consistent with approved programme guidance.

GBV Survivor-Centered Engagement and Referral

• Put the safety, privacy, choices, and needs of survivors first in all community engagement and referral activities.

• Support safe and confidential referrals for people who choose to access GBV-related services.

• Keep up-to-date information on available health, GBV case management, mental health and psychosocial support, legal, child protection, and other services.

• Clearly explain available support and referral options so individuals can decide what is right for them, without pressure.

• Do not pressure survivors to share personal information or use any service against their wishes. Collect and share only the information that is necessary and with appropriate consent.

• Work with WPE and health teams to address challenges that may prevent survivors from getting timely and appropriate support, while following established procedures for urgent safety, protection, and safeguarding concerns.

Strengthening Community–Facility Linkages

• Build strong connections between community groups and IRC-supported or government health facilities.

• Help community members understand available SRH and GBV services and how to access them safely.

• Work with health facility teams to identify and address barriers that prevent women and girls from using services.

• Maintain regular communication between community representatives, outreach teams, and service providers.

• Share community concerns and referral challenges with the supervisor and support practical solutions.

Engaging Men, Boys, Leaders, and Influencers

• Engage men and boys as partners in preventing GBV and supporting better SRH outcomes.

• Work with traditional, religious, youth, women’s, and other community leaders to promote support for women’s and girls’ access to services.

• Encourage open discussions about harmful gender norms, stigma, discrimination, and practices that limit access to care.

• Promote community values based on safety, dignity, equality, and