Action Against Hunger-USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network, which provides About Action Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger-USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network, which provides humanitarian relief in over 40 countries worldwide in the sectors of nutrition, health, water/sanitation, and food security. Action Against Hunger-USA, an independent NGO, currently manages operations in 8 countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Haiti and Somalia. Action Against Hunger-USA has approximately 2000 staff based in the various country offices, Head Quarter in New York City and Operational Centre in Nairobi. Additional growth is anticipated.
About the Country Program in South Sudan
Action Against Hunger has been operational in South Sudan since 1985, addressing both chronic and acute needs through a comprehensive multi-sectoral approach. Our programs integrate Nutrition, Food Security & Livelihoods, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), Protection, and Gender interventions to strengthen resilience and improve community well-being. To implement these programs effectively, Action Against Hunger engages both national and international staff, with a dedicated country team of approximately 100 professionals operating across regional and satellite offices. Action Against Hunger currently operates in four regions: Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Pibor and Jonglei states with a robust portfolio of $15 million per year, covering emergency response, resilience-building, research, and innovation programs to drive sustainable impact. In 2024/2025, the key donors include ECHO, UNICEF, AICS, GFFO, SIDA, EHF, WFP, and other partners committed to supporting humanitarian and development efforts in the country.
ย
I.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย SUMMARY OF POSITION:
The Gender and Protection Specialist will be responsible to support strategic and systematic implementation of gender transformative programming as well as gender and protection program development and providing technical support to the team at Juba coordination office and field bases. ย S/he will work with Action Against Hunger staff to ensure gender and protection mainstreaming across other sectors such nutrition, WASH, Health and FSL under the guidance of the Program development, Quality and Implementation Director. The Gender and Protection Specialist should have good judgement and problem-solving skills with innovative approach,ย strong communication skill, as well as, well-developed interpersonal skills.
II.ย ย PURPOSE:
The position is responsible for providing technical and strategic support to Action Against Hunger South Sudan Mission on Gender and Protection issues including support on planning, concept note & proposal writing, development of gender strategies, conducting gender analysis and safety audits communication, monitoring and evaluation strategies in close liaison with other sectors.
ย
III.ย ย ENGAGEMENT
Develop collaborative working relationships with program and support teams at the national and county level to ensure effective implementation of the gender and protection activities.
IV.ย ย DELIVERY
The key deliverables will include supporting the Program Development, Quality and Implementation Director in development of knowledge products and technical support to field teams on gender, protection and safeguarding issues in a timely manner.
ย
V.ย ย ย ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Support in development, management, and implementation of gender and protection focused activities for all program components.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Under the guidance of the Program Development, Quality and Implementation Director, support to build and promote internal capabilities and collaboration in mainstreaming gender within Action Against Hunger Program
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Support to transfer gender information and updates between the Gender Task Force and South Sudan country office.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Support the department to maintain the Gender Minimum Standard (GMS) and Gender Transformative Standards (GTS)
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Support resource mobilization efforts for Action Against Hunger South Sudan mission and ensure that gender is effectively mainstreamed in all project full cycle.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Support field teams to scale up the GBV Risk Mitigation programmatic package at the nutrition sites
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Technical guidance to the field teams to conduct safety audits at least once a year at every nutrition site and stabilization centres using the safety audit tool endorsed by the nutrition cluster, as well as, at community level using the safety audit tool developed under the GBV RM research
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Promote knowledge sharing, documentation and dissemination of good practices on gender equality, women\u2019s empowerment and rights, motivate, and engage peers to share ideas and engage with the gender and protection Agenda with field teams.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Ensure effective implementation of and compliance with the local safeguarding procedures and mechanisms; conduct periodic reviews of activities at field level.ย ย ย ย ย
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Technical contribution for development of proposals, as well as, timely donor reportsย ย ย ย ย ย ย
VI.ย SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position will directly report to the Program Development, Quality and Implementation Director on all technical components related to the assignment.
ย
VII.ย ย FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Budgeting of study interventions and ensure implementation of these activities within budget, scope and time.
VIII.ย ย PHYSICAL DEMANDS
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย To travel to field locations as and when required, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations, which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
IX.ย ย WORKING CONDITIONS, TRAVEL AND ENVIRONMENT
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as infectious diseases.
ย
X.ย ย ย GENDER EQUALITY COMMITMENTS & ZERO TOLERANCE TO ABUSE
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Respect beneficiaries\u2019 women, men, boys and girls regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age or marital status,
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Value and respect all cultures.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Promote and uphold the PSEA policy and procedures.
Requirements
I.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย REQUIRED QUALITIFICATIONS
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Master\u2019s Degree in Gender studies, Social Sciences or related field.
ย
II.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย REQUIRED ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย At least five years working in humanitarian response, preferably with direct experience in gender-based violence programming in diverse contexts including emergency and recovery/protracted situations.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Fluency in English both verbal and written. Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Proven experience in gender and protection mainstreaming across other sectors.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Effective communication with ability to build and strengthen partnerships and networks, Strong negotiation and interpersonal skillsย ย with ability to adjust to ever changing situations and challenging contexts.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Demonstrated knowledge of GBV risk mitigation in nutrition and/or other programmatic sectors
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Proven strong analytical and reporting skills, translating raw data to analyses, drafting and contributing to policy documents.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Strong understanding of GBV referral pathways, in South Sudan and familiarity with how they function/key challenges with ย an aim at contributing to the improvement of and strengthening in an inclusive manner.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Previous experience and strong knowledge ย of safeguarding policy and PSEA standards.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Experience building capacity on GBV risk mitigation with colleagues in other sectors and governmental interlocutors, including Training of Trainers.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Experience working with local NGOs in South Sudan
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Strong coordination and project management experience. Previous experience with coordination fora and integrated response programs is an asset.
\u00b7ย ย ย ย ย ย Considering the operational environment in South Sudan certification from recognized Safety and Security trainings is required.
III.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Previous experience and knowledge of the protection environment include cluster and sub-cluster in South Sudan is an asset. Commitment Anti-Discrimination and PSEA
We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. The incumbent is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the Action Against Hunger Safeguarding policies (PSEA, Child safeguarding and Code of Conduct).ย Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
Benefits
Action Against Hunger-USA provides all staff with an attractive salary & benefits package. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
Application Process.
Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button. All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated resume and both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and deadline is July 21, 2025.