Gender Based Violence in Emergency Specialist, WCARO, Dakar, Senegal, P4

The Position:

Multiple countries in the West and Central Africa (WCA) region are experiencing several protracted natural and man-made disasters including health emergencies, climate change, armed conflict, displaced populations and refugees, drought and floods, food insecurity, as well as a continuing fragile security context in the Sahel. This worrying situation in the region has led the United Nations to develop and implement, since 2013, a United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS) covering 10 countries and encompassing 3 pillars including security, governance and resilience. An estimated 55 million people in the region required humanitarian assistance in 2021. Women, girls and children makeup almost all of those affected and are the most vulnerable.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has over the years become one of the indispensable humanitarian actors by providing life-saving, integrated sexual and reproductive health services, gender-based violence prevention and response, youth peace and security (SCR 2250) and women peace and security (SCR1325). The UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) is striving for operational excellence in crisis and disaster response and is strengthening the capacity of the regional office and country offices (COs) with greater capacities for timely and quality responses to the populations affected by existing and potential humanitarian crises.  UNFPA humanitarian response is delivered in close collaboration with government authorities, UN sister agencies and non-governmental organization partners.

The Gender Based Violence in Emergency (GBViE) Specialist’s duties include: implementing the GBV Area of Responsibility’s Handbook for Coordinating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Emergencies, the 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 country, sub-regional and regional GBViE coordination;
• Developing regional partnerships;
• Designing planning, capacity development, advocacy, and information management of GBViE in the WCA region.

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.

Job Purpose:

The GBViE Specialist P4, WCARO will coordinate technical assistance, capacity development, advocacy, information management, programme designs, monitoring and evaluation of GBViE interventions, communication, partnership development and resources mobilization for addressing GBViE at national, sub-regional and regional level.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced University Degree in gender studies, social anthropology, law and women’s rights, social sciences, cultural sciences, public health, demography, international relations, international law, socioeconomics, or other related field;

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant overall work experience in the field of humanitarian response, GBV in Emergencies (GBViE), gender and protection, at regional and field levels, with progressively increased management responsibilities required;
• Must have at least 5 years of work experience in leadership and coordination of GBV within the IASC humanitarian cluster system and / or complex aid coordination in politically sensitive settings with proven track record in coordination of high-level diplomatic relationships. Previous experience as GBV Coordinator is preferable, experience as PSEA Coordinator or in gender and protection related coordination roles are an asset;
• Awareness and demonstrable knowledge of how GBV manifests in humanitarian settings and ability to describe context-specific prevention and response actions;
• Proven record of accomplishment in (i) effective resource mobilisation in the field of GBV, (ii) project management, (iii) donor relations, and (iv) funding negotiations;
• Demonstrated skills in interacting with senior management including Humanitarian; Coordinators, Regional Directors and UN Agency Representatives;
• In-depth expertise of the (i) GBV Guiding Principles, (ii) application of a gender "lens" to humanitarian programming, (iii) survivor-centered approach, (iv) human-rights based approach, and (v) gender-equality;
• Experience in effective global advocacy for GBV prevention and response, including high-level events with multiple co-hosts from governments, UN, NGOs and donor community is an asset;
• Ability to effectively manage and lead inter-agency processes and inclusive consultations;
• Proficiency in the latest office software applications;

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required and French is desirable to enable effective communication with English speaking and French speaking country coordination groups and local organizations (West and Central Africa region).

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.