Cultural Mediator Dari/Pashto

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries, the IRC aims to restore safety, dignity, and hope to millions uprooted and struggling to endure. In late 2021, following the shift in power in Afghanistan and the expected increase in people arriving from Afghanistan to Europe, IRC Italy launched an emergency response in Trieste at the Italian-Slovenian north-east border. The IRC roving team has been supporting newly arrived migrants from the Balkan route by distributing non-food items (NFI), providing legal information sessions, and supervising protection concerns. Since June 2022 IRC in Trieste has also provided case management and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services to Ukrainian women and children living outside the reception system. In early 2023 IRC opened a safe space where women and children from different nationalities can participate freely, socialize, and engage in paths of empowerment.

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Job Summary

We are looking for a Dari/Pashto Cultural Mediator who will provide cultural mediation and interpretation services in Trieste, Italy. Reporting to the Area Manager, they will assist the team with the designing and implementation of program activities related to the Women and Girl Safe Space (WGSS) and will promote the effective inclusion of Afghan/Pakistan/Irani women within such space. They will also be responsible for conducting outreach activities and for providing cultural mediation services in case management and psychological support services.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide Dari / Pashto cultural mediation services in 1 on 1 meeting, as the caseworker and psychologist requested.

• Provide cultural mediation and ensure clients’ effective participation during group activities, both within the WGSS and outdoors, three times a week.

• Facilitate communication with the clients and promote group activities through different social platforms.

• Translate relevant materials (flyers, messages) in a timely and accurate manner.

• Support planning the WGSS activities and participating in periodical focus group discussions with clients.

• With training and supervision from IRC staff, provide basic psychological support to women refugees facing distress.

• Carry out outreach activities together with the team.

• Identify potential vulnerable cases and clients’ specific needs.

• Implement data collection and protection monitoring activities, including information sharing, monitoring, reporting trends, and accurately filling out relevant forms.

• Any other task assigned by Area Manager.

Reporting Lines

Position directly reports to Area Manager, IRC Italy

Requirements:

• Proficiency in spoken and written Dari and Pashto, and good Italian.

• Previous experience in cultural mediation/interpretation is strongly preferred.

• Predisposed to collaboration, problem-solving, and the ability to build a proactive environment.

• Experience conducting group activities with women and working with local partners, preferably with a non-profit in the target region, would be an asset.

• Excellent communication and relational skills.

• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact, and diplomacy

• Be based in Trieste.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that enable women to participate in our workforce, including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: At IRC, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone from any background can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.

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