GBV Working Group Coordinator, TA, P4,Beirut, Lebanon

The Position:

The GBV working Group Coordinator should be based in Beirut, Lebanon. Under the overall supervision of the international program coordinator, and working closely with the UNFPA GBV programme specialist,  the incumbent facilitates and coordinates the planning, programming and implementation of multi-sectoral, inter-agency GBV interventions in the context of Lebanon’s humanitarian needs. Comprehensive GBV prevention and response programming in humanitarian emergencies requires skilled coordination of a range of organizations and actors from the refugee, displaced and host communities, NGOs, government partners, UN agencies, and other national and international organizations. The role will also support the co-leading and coordinating the GBV response effectively in alignment with the Lebanon Response Plan (LRP) 2024, and planning for 2025,  which addresses the needs of all vulnerable populations in Lebanon, including Lebanese, displaced Syrians, Palestinian Refugees from Syria (PRS), Palestine Refugees in Lebanon (PRL) and migrants. 

How you can make a difference:

Lebanon is experiencing an unprecedented crisis marked by a convergence of various challenges that severely impact its security and stability and exacerbating existing challenges and creating new ones for both people and institutions in Lebanon. The security situation continues to be tightly connected to the ongoing security situation in the region, specifically Gaza. 

Lebanon has two main SRM Areas North of the Litani River (assessed at Substantial in both SRM-1 Beirut & Lebanon Central and SRM-2 North & East borders with Syria), with one main SRM Area South of the Litani River – UNIFIL AoR (assessed at an overall Substantial Security Level). The overall security situation remained volatile amidst an increase in several threat factors, mainly armed conflict, civil unrest and crime country wide. The threat of terrorism in the country is rated as substantial with several threat factors that vary from direct attacks against the UN to attacks on public or religious places.  In the current regional fragility, Lebanon currently faces a very precarious security situation, characterized by heightened tensions, increased instability and imminent risks to the safety and security of UNSMS Personnel. Ever since Hamas attacked southern Israel, there have been intensified cross-border exchanges in the southern region of Lebanon. For more details see the UNDSS Lebanon Travel Advisory for Lebanon North (SRM1) as of August 2024 noting the ongoing revision.   

Since 8 October 2023, there has been a steady increase in cross-border strikes between Israel and Lebanon, leading to the internal displacement of people in the south of Lebanon and other parts of the country, including the capital Beirut. This escalation follows a period of intense clashes between Hezbollah and Israel, including Hezbollah rocket attacks on key Israeli sites near Haifa and Israel’s most intense bombardment of sites in Lebanon since 8 October 2023. Israeli airstrikes have since hit dozens of towns across Lebanon, including Saida, Nabatieh, Tyre Bekaa valley and the southern suburbs of Beirut. In addition to casualties and injuries, the conflict has triggered mass displacement, with tens of thousands fleeing southern Lebanon towards Beirut and other safer areas. 

Attacks carried out in September have proven to be the most intense Israeli strikes since the 2006 war in Lebanon, completely levelling dozens of buildings; resulting in over 600 deaths and approximately 1700 injured. These attacks have triggered widespread panic, with residents fleeing the area, leading to a new wave of displacement. Lebanese officials estimate, based on the 2006 experience, that approximately one quarter of the total number of directly affected and/or displaced individuals are in shelters. With many displaced in collective shelters still unregistered, the national Disaster Risk Management (DRM) dashboard is now reporting over 115,000 individuals in more than 660 shelters; many more are yet to be registered, placing the number of displaced persons as likely to be double this number. Among the newly displaced, many of the more than 111,000 people displaced since October last year through 29 September are likely to have been secondarily displaced.

Vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls, face heightened risks of exploitation, abuse, and other forms of violence. Community tensions have been rising, particularly with the deportation of Syrian refugees since April 2023. In addition,  Lebanon's infrastructure, including health and protection systems, is severely depleted. The ongoing hostilities and economic crisis have compounded the state of fragility.

The situation in the country, including the most recent escalation of hostilities in the South, demands a dedicated GBV inter-agency coordinator to focus on implementation and updating of the contingency / response plan specific to the South; address the heightened risks; and ensure that the response is both effective and just, in alignment with UNFPA’s leadership role in the GBV AOR, ensuring comprehensive support for vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls. 

 

Job Purpose:

The GBV Coordinator’s duties include:  building and sustaining partnerships, strategic planning, capacity development, advocacy, and information management. The GBV Coordinator will use the GBV Area of Responsibility’s Handbook for Coordinating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Emergencies (2019), Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Prevention and Response to GBV in Emergencies  and IASC’s Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action: Reducing Risk, Promoting Resilience, and Aiding Recovery, to facilitate planning, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of inter-agency GBV initiatives. As of now it is not foreseen to activate any of the clusters under the IASC coordination structure, hence, also no activation of the GBV AOR. Should there be any change of the current coordination structure toward activation under the IASC cluster system, then the GBV AOR coordination will be the prime responsibility of the incumbent. Currently, in Lebanon, UNFPA has the responsibility for co-leading the GBV coordination body (called “GBV working group”) along with UNHCR and the Ministry of Social Affairs responding to the complex setting including refugees, IDPs, migrant and host communities.   The incumbent will represent UNFPA in an inter-agency capacity to ensure a robust and well-functioning coordination body that promotes the highest standards of GBV prevention, mitigation and response, in line with global guidance. 

You would be responsible for:

1.Building and Sustaining Partnerships 

• Strengthen and facilitate inter-agency, multi-sectoral GBV Working Group (“sub-sector”) at national level; and attend and support sub-national GBV coordination groups. Promote, respect and ensure that the Principles of Partnership are reflected in the day-to-day work of the GBV sub-sector.
• Strengthen result-oriented, two-way communication channels between national and sub-national GBV coordination groups to ensure a standardised response to GBV.
• Proactively engage with all relevant stakeholders to ensure coordination bodies reflect the range of actors addressing GBV, including across multiple sectors (health, psychosocial, legal, security, etc.) and categories of actors (UN, NGO, civil society, government, etc.). 
• Regularly represent the GBV Working Group in Protection Cluster meetings, OCHA/UNHCR-led meetings (e.g. around development of the Strategic Response Plan or for Inter-Sector Coordination), ICCG / ISWG and other relevant meetings, including those called by the Humanitarian Coordinator.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other sectors/working groups such as the Health Sector, Child Protection sector / working group, Shelter sector, Food Security sector, Education sector, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Working Group, etc. to ensure integration of GBV-related action in their sector plans and to advocate for joint awareness-raising for non-GBV specialists.
• Advocate with donors and mobilise resources for inter-agency GBV prevention, risk mitigation  and response in line with GBV working group GBV WG) work plan and SRP. As necessary, leverage UNFPA resources to support inter-agency GBV activities under the WG. 
• In consultation with non-governmental GBV actors and national civil society, identify appropriate mechanisms for working with and collaborating with national authorities on GBV issues.

2.Strategic Planning

• Facilitate implementation of Standard Operating Procedures. Regularly review and revisit SOPs at strategic points throughout the crisis response, bringing in the REGA where needed. 
• In collaboration with national and international GBV actors, map current institutional response capacities, including facilitating mapping of GBV-specific 3/4/5Ws.
• With UNHCR co-chair, lead a process to develop a realistic, evidence-based multi-sectoral and inter-agency prevention and response plans. Promote engagement of a range of sectors and ensure realistic benchmarks and timelines for achieving set objectives. Regularly monitor progress against plan during coordination meetings. Allow space for new actors, especially women led organisations to engage with plans over the course of the crisis response.
• Work with partners to continually identify response gaps in line with proposed work plan (including geographic coverage and programmatic scope) and seek solutions to fill gaps. Advocate with UNFPA as sub-sector lead to address gaps not yet filled by partners.

3.Capacity Development

• Coach GBV coordinators at the sub national level, utilising available support from the REGA.
• Work with partners to strengthen and deliver on the inter-agency GBV capacity development strategy that meets the needs and priorities of key national and local stakeholders to facilitate implementation of agreed work plans.
• Support efforts to strengthen the capacity of sub-sector  members on planning and responding to GBV in emergencies including preparedness and on safe and ethical GBV information management.
• Revise existing training materials according to local context and ensure partners’ access to relevant training sessions.
• Support efforts to strengthen the capacity of GBV coordination group members on planning and responding to GBV in emergencies and on safe and ethical GBV information management.
• Ensure all GBV coordination group partners and others are aware of relevant policy guidelines, technical standards, and other resource materials (go to www.gbvaor.net for the latest information).

4.Advocacy

• Provide technical support to the development of relevant advocacy and policy documents to address GBV in the context of broader gender inequality issues.
• Promote awareness of national laws and policies that inform action to address GBV.
• Present at HCT, ISWG and other relevant forums

5.Information Management

In line with WHO’s Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Researching, Documenting and Monitoring Sexual Violence in Emergencies:

• Engage in robust analysis of available secondary data to ensure readily-available information on known trends and patterns on GBV for inclusion at relevant points along the Humanitarian Programme Cycle, including the MIRA.
• Consolidate existing assessments on the GBV situation and/or work with relevant agencies, the displaced and host populations to conduct relevant participatory analyses of GBV. 
• Undertake new assessment missions as necessary/appropriate to determine the magnitude and scope of GBV and identify strategic inter-sectoral approaches for addressing it.
• Work with the GBV Sub-National coordination groups to strengthen the standardized GBV incident report/intake form and other relevant forms as necessary. Train partner organization's and other sectors in the use of this form with particular emphasis to the Guiding Principles for Working with GBV Survivors and in line with the GBV Information Management System (GBVIMS).
• Support the work of the GBV IMS coordinator and actively support and participate in the GBV IMS 
• If necessary, develop monthly report formats that capture relevant information and that support the analysis and evaluation of program progress and outcomes.
• Document best practices and approaches for responding to issues of GBV in order to deepen the knowledge base among relevant partners.
• Prepare regular analytical reports on emerging issues.

6.Administrative and Miscellaneous Duties

• Write monthly reports documenting progress against work plan outputs.
• Other duties as required.

 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:

• Advanced Master degree in social work or other social sciences, public health, community health, international relations, international law, human rights or related field. 

 Experience

• 7  years of experience working on gender-based violence, of which 4 are at the international level, preferably in a humanitarian context.
• Experience leading inter-agency coordination mechanisms with a wide range of stakeholders. Demonstrable knowledge of the critical components to facilitate effective inter-agency coordination.
• Awareness and demonstrable knowledge of how GBV manifests in humanitarian settings and ability to describe context-specific prevention and response actions.
• Demonstrable knowledge of humanitarian emergency operations, including the UNHCR Working Group / OCHA Cluster System and HPC, and roles/responsibilities of key humanitarian actors.
• Experience designing and managing GBV programmes.

Languages

• Proficiency in English language is required. Other UN languages, French and Arabic are an asset. 

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, 

Functional Competencies: 

• Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda 
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners
• Building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results-based programme Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization 

 

Managerial Competencies:

 Providing strategic focus, Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders, 

Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance 

Making decisions and exercising judgment Compensation and Benefits: 

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

 

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, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

 

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.