Gender-Based Violence Officer At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a UNOPS Individual Contractor full-time position of Gender-Based Violence Officer within the Operational Support Service in the Division of Resilience and Solutions, Geneva Headquarters.

UNHCR is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 125 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.

Title: Gender-Based Violence Officer

Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland

Duration: starting as soon as possible until 31 December 2021

Contract Type: UNOPS Individual Contractor, IICA – Level 2

Closing date: 01 April 2021

Start date: as soon as possible

Organisational context

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a serious human rights violation and major public health issue. As a cross-cutting issue, GBV must be integrated into all aspects of emergency humanitarian response with all sectors promoting and respecting human rights as well as enhancing the protection of women, girls, men and boys.

UNHCR stands committed in mainstreaming of gender-based violence (GBV) risk mitigation across all areas of its work, a commitment which was further reaffirmed and institutionalized by the newly launched UNHCR Policy on Prevention of, Risk Mitigation and Response to Gender-Based Violence (GBV Policy). Consequently, each humanitarian sector and area of work is responsible of reducing risks and exposure to GBV and improving safety as part of an agency-wide mainstreaming approach.

The Global Camp Coordination and Camp Management CCCM and Shelter Clusters are Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) coordination mechanisms that support people affected by natural disasters and internally displaced people (IDPs) affected by conflict to meet their emergency as well as longer-term needs and provide means to live in safe, dignified and appropriate settings. Under the cluster approach established in 2005, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR globally co-lead the CCCM Cluster, while International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and UNHCR globally co-lead the Shelter Cluster, in natural disaster situations as well as in conflict situations respectively.

As UNHCR co-lead global Clusters, CCCM and Shelter share the responsibility of ensuring the prevention and mitigation of GBV through their programmes and activities, ultimately reducing the risk of exposure to GBV, particularly for women and girls.

To further strengthen UNHCR’s capacity in mainstreaming of GBV risk mitigation programming and activities in CCCM and Shelter Clusters, a GBV Officer with technical expertise will be embedded into these technical sectors to, inter alia, strengthen the capacity of staff as well as provide field support. The position is funded through the earmarked Bureau’s for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) contribution and is part of the UNHCR’s Safe from the Start 2021 project.

Finally, direct GBV technical support within the CCCM and Shelter Clusters will also contribute to the advancement of UNHCR’s commitment under the 2021-2025 Road Map for the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based violence in Emergencies (Call to Action) of a 100% inclusion of GBV risk mitigation measures in CCCM and Shelter response plans within the HRP/Emergency Appeals.

Duties and responsabilities

GBV continues to be a prominent topic for CCCM and Shelter Clusters at the global, regional and country levels. The core areas include meeting the emergency and longer-term needs as well as supporting safe and dignified living conditions of IDPs and ensuring the implementation of effective measures to mitigate the risk of violence, including GBV. Due to the cross-cutting nature, the CCCM Cluster has taken a lead role in enhancing cooperation to increase meaningful participation of the persons of concern, particularly women and girls, in the governance structures of site management, design of response as well as durable solutions.

To this end, the global CCCM Cluster has been striving to provide necessary targeted guidance as well as ensure that policies and strategies adequately mainstream GBV risk mitigation within the Cluster’s programmes. Both UNHCR co-led Clusters have been developing coordination structures, trainings as well as other policy guidance and key messages supporting the mainstreaming of GBV risk mitigation at the global and field levels.

The incumbent is therefore expected to take a lead on the abovementioned efforts and to contribute to the work of the UNHCR-led CCCM and Shelter Clusters on ensuring effective incorporation of GBV risk mitigation throughout all Clusters’ activities, including by enhancing operational advocacy efforts to mainstream GBV into all Cluster-related activities, policies and guidance.

Embedded within the Global CCCM Unit, the incumbent is further expected to represent the Cluster in the relevant working groups, engage with the coordination entities at the global levels, maintain contacts and provide guidance and support to the field based Clusters and join the training efforts and initiatives to mainstream GBV risk mitigation. In addition to the CCCM Cluster, the incumbent is expected to provide support to the Global Shelter Cluster, both part of the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS).

Under the direct supervision of the Global CCCM Cluster Coordinator (UNHCR), the incumbent’s key responsibilities include:

· Technical mainstreaming of GBV risk mitigation support and coordination:

o Support and advice the Global CCCM and Shelter Clusters on enhanced mainstreaming of GBV risk mitigation through, inter alia, the review of existing and development of new policies and guidance.

o Conduct analysis on progress made by the UNHCR on GBV risk mitigation and identify opportunities to accelerate the progress.

o Support the development and implementation of criteria checklist for Humanitarian Programme Cycle process as well as the reporting against global commitments. Support the alignment of existing policies and implementation methods in reference to the Humanitarian Response Plans and the Humanitarian Needs Overview.

o Document practices and case studies for publication highlighting UNHCR’s positive contribution to GBV risk mitigation.

o Develop and contribute to the development of easy-to-use resources, including guidance materials, on sectoral mainstreaming of GBV risk mitigation for field use as needed.

o Support the development and implementation of monitoring processes on GBV risk mitigation within the cluster activities.

o Keep the global CCCM and Shelter teams updated on issues relevant to the GBV area of work.

o Follow-up on mainstreaming of GBV risk mitigation efforts across cross-cutting themes and other thematic areas of interest to the Shelter and CCCM Clusters, such as Protection, CBI, Energy and Environment, Gender, Site Planning and Housing, Land and Property rights (HLP).

· Participation in internal and external coordination fora:

o Contribute to the provision of inputs to guidance and other resource materials developed for Inter-Agency use, in consultation with and together with the DIP focal points.

o Participate in the IASC GBV Guidelines Reference Group monthly meetings.

o Represent CCCM/Shelter Clusters in Global Protection Cluster as well as GBV Area of Responsibility fora.

o Participate in the Women Participation Working Group, led by the Global CCCM Cluster.

o Participate at the Global Cluster Coordination Group when required.

· Capacity building and development:

o Deliver capacity development, in person and remotely, on GBV risk mitigation, including safe disclosure and referral.

o Support operational capacity development efforts.

· Undertake other responsibilities as required.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

· Development of detailed workplan with milestones.

· Development of a criteria checklist for Humanitarian Programme Cycle.

· Development of resources and provision of technical support at the global and field levels.

· Mission reports when applicable.

· Provision of analysis, cases studies and promising practices highlighting UNHCR’s positive contribution to GBV risk mitigation.

· Participation in internal and external coordination fora.

· Timely input to quarterly SftS project reports and other reporting requirements, including Call to Action.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)

University degree at Masters level in Law, International Law, Political Science, Social Sciences, Statistics, Economics, or other Social science (e.g.: humanitarian affairs, development studies, political science, or a related field).

Additional education or relevant work experience in a field that offers a comprehensive view of community organization, planning and design (e.g.: architecture, urban planning, anthropology, or a related field) will be considered an asset.

b. Work Experience

· 6 years of previous work experience relevant to the function of GBV in an international context, of which two years of field experience in the area of work. Professional experience, preferably with technical areas and/or CCCM in emergencies (natural disasters or complex) is an asset.

· Demonstrated experience/competencies in cluster approach and coordination. Knowledge of engagement with GBV inter-agency humanitarian architecture, as well as knowledge and demonstrated use of UNHCR and inter-agency GBV tools and guidance.

· Demonstrated knowledge in gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as well as application, promotion and integration of age, gender and diversity approach.

· Demonstrated knowledge of multi-sectorial response to GBV and support to other sectors on mainstreaming GBV risk mitigation.

· Experience in camp management or field coordination in camp-like settings.

· Experience in conducting training on GBV risk mitigation is an asset.

· Understanding of humanitarian planning processes in different settings.

c. Key Competencies

· Strong protection and GBV programming.

· Strong interest and motivation for inter-agency coordination.

· Demonstrated understanding of CCCM emergency programming, needs assessment, monitoring and cluster coordination

· Experience in documenting and developing quality practical guidance.

· Detail-oriented with strong coordination, analytical and drafting skills.

· Experience in facilitating training, in person and remotely.

· Ability to think creatively, explore, as well as harness and translate innovative concepts into practice.

· Previous exposure to GBV in shelter and CCCM programming

· Ability to work independently with limited supervisions and deliver high-quality products.

· Flexibility, diplomacy, leadership, cultural sensitivity, collaboration and team-spirit are important personal features.

· Excellent communication skills in English (oral and written);

· Other UN language is an asset (French and Spanish desirable).

Location

The successful candidate will be working at Geneva Headquarters.

Conditions

The UNOPS Individual Contractor position is until 31 December 2021 with a starting date as soon as possible.

Working 100% (full-time)