Gender-based violence (GBV) Consultant

Purpose of the Consultancy

Povide timely and sustainable technical support on GBV to WHO oPt and the Health Cluster as needed as well as Conducting an assessment on the needs and gaps in health services to provide better services for GBV, In addition to developing a plan for WHO oPt office and to contribute to the adaption/update of training materials, protocols and guideline on the health sector response to GBV un the oPt.

Background

With funding from the US State Department’s Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM), WHO is implementing a project to strengthen its capacity to address GBV, through the Health Cluster and WHO’s emergency work. Preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) in refugee contexts and emergencies remains one of the key challenges for the humanitarian sector. Research suggests that approximately one in five refugee or displaced women experience sexual violence. Health services for survivors of GBV can be lifesaving and are a minimum standard of health care in humanitarian settings. However, access to this essential care data is often limited. As the lead agency for health, WHO is well placed to institutionalize the health sector response to GBV in crises, within a gender equality and human rights perspective.

The WHO project aims to accomplish the following:

- The country office promotes and operationalize responses to GBV within the health sector.

- Technical and normative guidelines and tools on GBV are strengthened to reflect up-to-date evidence and WHO recommendations and implemented at country level

- WHO is actively engaged in relevant interagency GBV emergency initiatives, and coordinates with relevant actors.

WHO oPt has recently joined this project, which is currently implemented in six countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Somalia, and Sudan.

This position will focus on implementing activities to strengthen the health response to GBV in the oPt, in close collaboration with the Health Cluster coordinator and the WHO GBV Focal Point for the oPt. The position will also refer to EMRO GBV Technical Officers for technical support.

Planned timelines

Start date: 25/4/2022

End date: 30/8/2022

Work to be performed

Output 1****: Provide timely and sustainable technical support on GBV to WHO oPt and the Health Cluster as needed.

Deliverable 1.1: Provide technical support on GBV for different WHO programs and for the health cluster projects, reports, and trainings.

Output 2****: Conduct visits to targeted health facilities to identify needs and gaps to respond to GBV needs and propose action to address it, in line with WHO tools;

Deliverable 2.1: Conduct meetings and coordinate with health cluster including SRH, GBV working group, and MHPSS working group.

Deliverable 2.2: Develop an action plan and proposal for WHO on GBV intervention for strengthening MOH health system to GBV response.

Deliverable 2.3: Contribute to the adaptation/update of training materials, protocols, and guidelines on the health sector response to GBV in the oPt.

Deliverable 2.4: Produce quarterly reports on activities.

Specific requirements

- Qualifications required:

Required: First degree in public health, women's or gender and development studies, social sciences, and mental health.

Desirable: Advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) for mid and high end of range in public health, women's or gender and development studies, social sciences, and mental health

Experience required:

Up to 5 years’ of relevant experience in in public health, women's or gender and development studies, social sciences; mental health: violence against women/gender-based violence, and ideally with some of this in humanitarian settings, and experience in training health organizations and health providers, including in emergencies, with proven knowledge of health and gender-based violence issues,

- Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• A good understanding of gender equality and survivor-centered approaches and a good understanding of the humanitarian organizational structure.

• Demonstrated capacity to work in challenging circumstances, administer projects and build partnerships involving technical and political elements.

• Demonstrated ability to work in multicultural settings and excellent inter-personal skills.

• Very good reporting skills
• Team player
• Very Good communication skills

Language requirements:

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English, and Arabic.

• Desirable: other UN language.

Place of assignment

WHO Jerusalem office

Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel according to the itinerary and estimated schedule below:

No travel required abroad, only in oPt and Gaza.

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Additional Information section

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice - https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.