Regional Gender Based Violence in Emergency (GBViE) Specialist, P4, Istanbul, Turkiye

Background:

The war in Ukraine has triggered one of the fastest-growing refugee emergencies in history, and the largest since World War II in Europe. The escalation of the conflict has caused civilian casualties, destruction of civilian infrastructures, including health facilities and maternities, disruption of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services and supply chain, and led to an increase in Gender Based Violence (GBV) including Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV).

While to date UNFPA has responded through its different country offices, the regional office and different units and divisions in Headquarters including the Humanitarian Office, moving forward, UNFPA Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECARO), based in Istanbul, is called to play a bigger role and to expand its support to additional countries in the region where the number of arrivals continue to increase. (Data available on UNHCR portal)

Therefore, UNFPA is establishing a regional Ukrainian response unit under EECARO’s leadership and management, in Istanbul, Turkey. Its main objectives will be to coordinate and provide tailored technical and operational support to UNFPA offices and partners in Ukraine and the neighboring countries affected directly or indirectly by the crisis with a focus on UNFPA mandated areas of responsibility in Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), as well as to coordinate with other sister UN agencies regional emergency offices.

This regional Ukrainian response unit will initially be composed of two specialists, respectively on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and GBViE, under the overall leadership of EECARO Regional Director and the supervision of EECARO Regional Humanitarian Coordinator (RHC). The unit may later be strengthened with other profiles based on the evolving context, needs and capacity.

Job Purpose:

UNFPA requires a GBViE specialist to coordinate and provide tailored technical, operational support and practical solutions on GBV programmatic and coordination matters to UNFPA partners and country offices in Ukraine and neighboring countries affected directly or indirectly by the crisis.

Role description:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of UNFPA EECARO Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, the regional GBViE Specialist supports UNFPA country offices (COs) and partners in strategic decision-making processes at country and regional levels in emergency response efforts with the aim to promote GBViE programming and coordination and the implementation of quality GBV-related services in crises and post crises situations, based on the inter-agency Minimum Standards for GBViE programing and the Handbook for Coordinating GBV Interventions in Humanitarian Settings.

The incumbent also encourages and assists COs and UNFPA IPs and partners in capacity building and establishing relevant partnerships with other humanitarian stakeholders, NGOs, donors and government counterparts, not only in countries in EECA where UNFPA has country offices, but also in countries affected by the crisis, like the 4 EU countries neighboring Ukraine, namely Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania and other countries where people fleeing the conflict have sought protection. The incumbent will guide partners and UNFPA COs on the establishment of comprehensive GBV services and/or their integration in the regular/existing system. Depending how the context evolves, the incumbent may also provide tailored support to UNFPA COs in their internal and inter-agency preparedness and contingency planning efforts.

More specifically, the regional GBViE specialist will provide remote support in both emergency preparedness and response efforts to UNFPA COs and partners, including for capacity building for GBViE; develop tools and guidance notes; review contingency plans and national DRR and preparedness strategies; support planning and development of country office responses; review response-related documents such as fund requests and donor proposals; and provide guidance and insight on the best ways to advocate for survivor-centered responses, and apply the strategies, plans and tools in order to best respond to the GBV-related needs of affected populations in the region.

The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of UNFPA EECARO Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director, under the direct supervision of EECARO Regional Humanitarian Coordination, and in close collaboration with UNFPA Gender and/or GBV advisors, specialists and analysts as well as specialists in other field of expertise (SRHiE, communication, resource mobilization, operations etc) at country level, in EECARO and in UNFPA Humanitarian Office, Geneva. The regional GBViE specialist will also collaborate with partners at the regional level (such as organizations constituting the Regional Health Extension in Krakow, Poland) but also at country level, in countries where UNFPA does not have country offices.

In order to provide the most field-driven support to colleagues and partners responding to the crisis, the successful candidate will be based in Istanbul, Turkey. The duty station may be changed at a later stage to another country, like Poland or Moldova, based on needs, evolution of the context and localization of the regional teams of other agencies. The successful candidate will also undertake frequent missions to the different countries affected by the war as needed.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

You would be responsible for:

Coordination and Partnership

• Represent UNFPA in national interagency coordination meetings, GBV sub-working groups / sub-sectors in countries without UNFPA presence affected by the crisis, and establish relationships with UN sister agencies and governmental agencies in order to ensure that GBV needs are addressed and prioritized, map key actors, identify GBV-related gaps in the responses provided by local, national and international actors, and provide support based on needs, requests and UNFPA capacities and resources.
• Regularly represent UNFPA in other relevant regional working groups (such as gender, protection, IM, inclusion, PSEA, Cash and Voucher assistance, Child Protection, and anti-trafficking), maintaining working relationship and sharing relevant information with other key actors, and ensuring that GBV remains a priority at all levels and that UNFPA fulfills its role as the GBViE provider of last resort during emergencies
• Encourage and support the establishment of strong linkages between existing SRH and GBV programmes with regard to the protection and health (sub)sectors/cluster response for survivors of sexual violence, specifically on Clinical Management of Rape (CMR).
• Coordinate closely with Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) and SRH experts in the countries to ensure that CVA is designed to meet the expressed needs of women and girls to overcome barriers to access to GBV (and SRH) services.
• Facilitate coordination and knowledge management among GBV coordinators, GBV programme and Information Management (IM) specialists in the different countries
• Support UNFPA COs to assess the capacity of existing implementing partners and explore new partnerships as necessary, especially in countries where UNFPA does not have permanent presence.
• Lead development of regional humanitarian GBV analysis and strategy in line with global policies.
• Strengthen the partnership between UNFPA, UNHCR RO and the regional Refugee Health Extension (RHE) in Krakow (Poland), leverage UNFPA comparative advantage, support UNFPA regional SRHiE specialist and RHC in the discussions for UNFPA to become part of the interagency extension team, advocating towards GBViE, especially CMR, to be a priority 1- in the support provided to governments who lead and coordinate the refugee response in their respective countries, 2- in the work in close collaboration with the EU on national regulations, and 3- in the coordination with regional and national experts
• Ensure integration with the work of other UNFPA HO and regional technical specialists (e.g. SRH, Gender, GBV, Youth/Adolescents, HIV, Communication, Human Resources, Operations, Security) in GBV programming and coordination in all countries supported by UNFPA for the regional Ukrainian crisis

Tailored operational and technical support on GBV

• Provide technical inputs and support to the development of relevant programmatic, coordination, advocacy and policy documents to address GBV in the context of the Flash Appeal, Humanitarian Response Plan (in Ukraine) and the Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) in countries neighboring Ukraine, in line and compliance with relevant UNFPA, UNHCR, the Global Protection cluster and IASC Guidelines and policies (including UNFPA 2022-25 strategic plan and GBV AoR policy, priorities, and commitment)
• Review the GBViE components of COs’ emergency responses on coordination, programming and information management, including but not limited to: CO response plans, assessments and tools, Emergency Fund / Humanitarian Thematic Funds requests, CERF and other proposals, country situation reports / snapshots, procurement plans, distribution plans, etc.;
• Provide technical guidance to UNFPA COs on GBViE-related response efforts remotely or via short deployments
• Provide strategic advice to COs and EECARO senior management as needed and upon request, including for the preparation of talking points and other documents ahead of external and internal high-level meetings
• Ensure alignment and compliance of COs’ humanitarian responses with UNFPA GBViE Guidelines and relevant financial policies and procedures, providing practical guidance to COs in the implementation of these policies and protocols.
• Conduct regular missions to provide in-country technical support and capacity building as needed to UNFPA partners and members of the GBV sub-working groups / sub-sectors / sub-clusters.

Capacity Development

• Provide briefing/orientations and coaching to newly recruited staff and newly deployed surge personnel, where appropriate, and as requested by UNFPA COs, with a focus on GBViE.
• Coach and build capacity of staff members and staff of implementing partners responding to the regional Ukraine crisis, as needed, and upon request by UNFPA COs and their partners, in countries where UNFPA has a country office and in countries where UNFPA does not have a regular presence.
• In collaboration and with the technical support of colleagues in UNFPA EECARO and Humanitarian Office (HO) with expertise on GBV (including Clinical Management of Rape (CMR) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), SRH, Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA), MHPSS and supply, adapt existing generic training materials to the specificities of the context of this regional Ukraine crisis, organize and/or support UNFPA COs’ and partners’ colleagues in the planning and organization of awareness sessions, trainings and capacity building workshops on matters related to GBViE, and integration between SRH and GBV.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Support UNFPA GBV coordinators and programme specialists in COs and UNFPA IPs and partners in countries where UNFPA does not have a regular presence in order to establish systems to monitor GBV assistance provided by UNFPA, IPs or other organizations to crisis affected populations, in particular IDPs, returnees and refugees, and ensure adequate GBV requirements are being met.
• Conduct monitoring visits, and ensure a systematic approach for tracking coverage of targeted populations by UNFPA assistance in humanitarian settings.
• Work closely with the UN partners and national counterparts, operations teams and logisticians regarding orders to be placed and supplies of NFIs or dignity kits
• Contribute to the regional situation reports (sitreps) with a focus on GBViE-related inputs and review national snapshots as requested and/or needed
• Prepare regular progress reports and document lessons learned and challenges and share with UNFPA EECARO, UNFPA Humanitarian Office and other units as may be necessary.

Knowledge Management

• Contribute to the global knowledge on GBV in Emergencies by capturing good practices and lessons learned from UNFPA humanitarian country operations.
• Lead the development of good practices tools and resources for GBViE in the region based on the identified operational needs of UNFPA COs and partners in countries without a UNFPA presence

Emergency Preparedness and Contingency Planning

• Review internal and inter-agency contingency plans, emergency preparedness plans and documents to support integration of GBViE, including country contingency plans, national DRR plans, disaster management laws or other relevant humanitarian preparedness and response policies.

Any Other Duties

• The incumbent will carry out any other duties that may arise and as required by EECARO Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director and the supervisor, EECARO Regional Humanitarian Coordinator (RHC).

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Public Administration, Economics, Development Studies, Gender Studies, Law, or Programme/Project management, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Knowledge and Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant professional humanitarian experience, including experience in programming and coordination of GBViE.
• Substantive knowledge and practical experience in the programming and coordination of GBV in emergency in humanitarian and post-conflict recovery settings;
• Experience and capacity in development and delivery of GBViE training components to UN, government, NGO, and community level participants.
• Ability to develop and coordinate GBV programs that target refugees, IDPs/returnees and their host communities.
• Expertise in integrating SRH and GBV programming an asset.
• Field experience in complex emergencies, including humanitarian emergency response.
• Experience working in a politically sensitive conflict context is an asset.
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience within an international and multicultural environment.
• Must be a strong team player, supportive, empathic and dedicated. Ability to establish harmonious working relations in an international and multicultural environment;
• Experience in remote working and remote management/supporting is highly desirable.
• Willing and capable of traveling to Ukraine, Moldova and other neighboring country is a must (of course while taking into consideration all security and safety measures taken by the United Nations in each country)
• Knowledge of and work experience in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region is an asset. Work experience in developed and upper-middle income countries is an asset.
• Strong advocacy and written and oral communication skills required.
• Excellent computer literacy (MS office applications including Word, Excel and Power-point and Internet skills).

Languages:

• Fluency in English required. Fluency in Ukrainian, Russian or another Slavic language is highly desirable

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.

Disclaimer:

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.

How to apply

https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2003/job/5885