Programme Specialist (PSEA), FT P4 Bamako-Mali

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 141,094 USD and 181,912 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Hope

UNICEF is committed to creating environments where women, children, and their communities are safe and respected by humanitarian and development personnel and can access the protection and assistance provided by them without fear or risk of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA).

UNICEF is committed to accelerating protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) across all humanitarian settings and the development and peace nexus. PSEA is an organization-wide accountability, and UNICEF Child Protection plays a leading role and is a key contributor to this work. UNICEF’s Child Protection strategy prioritizes the prevention of violence, which includes the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. The UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 includes core commitments on PSEA, including within Goal Area 3: Every child is protected from all forms of violence, exploitation, abuse, and harmful practices. The Strategic Plan also includes a strategic enabler on the establishment and strengthening of PSEA systems at the country-level, for which Child Protection plays a leading role. UNICEF’s PSEA commitment is further grounded in UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) and Emergency Procedures.

As a leader in child protection globally and as an agency mandated to strengthen the protection of children and women, UNICEF is also committed to driving forward best practices to deliver on the shared IASC PSEA framework and priority areas and is scaling up its programming to prevent and respond to SEA. UNICEF’s approach stems from ED Fore’s work as IASC Champion on PSEA in 2018 and 2019. Under ED Fore’s leadership, the IASC developed and endorsed the IASC Plan for Accelerating PSEA in Humanitarian Response at Country Level ("the IASC Acceleration Plan"), a common IASC PSEA Country-Level Framework; and the IASC PSEA strategy to effectively deliver on its commitments to prevent and respond to SEA, and to advance a survivor-centered approach. UNICEF continues to advance the PSEA work as a key contributor to the IASC Acceleration Plan and the new IASC Strategy and Vision on the PSEA and Sexual Harassment (PSEAH) 2022−2026

How can you make a difference?

Under the leadership of the Mali CO Representative, the Programme Specialist - Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), will develop and support UNICEF’s work on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse to meet its institutional and programmatic commitments on PSEA, in line with the CCCs. The Programme Specialist (PSEA) will work collaboratively with the Gender and Development Specialist and closely with the Chief of Child Protection.

The Programme Specialist (PSEA) will be based in Bamako and will be responsible for supporting the country-wide implementation of PSEA, including technical support to UNICEF Field Offices. This includes working closely with the child protection section and the Gender and Development Specialist, as well as across programme sections, to support the acceleration of PSEA around core programmatic priorities, including safe and accessible reporting, survivor-centered assistance (in collaboration with the CP Specialist), and accountability, as elements of an overall preventative approach.

Within the context of the inter-agency response and the UNCT/HCT PSEA strategy and action plan, the PSEA Specialist will support UNICEF’s contribution to PSEA at the inter-agency level. The successful candidate will be issued a contract of 2 years (validity of the budget).

Within the context of the inter-agency response and the UNCT/HCT PSEA strategy and action plan, the PSEA Specialist will support UNICEF’s contribution to PSEA at the inter-agency level.

1. Advisory services and technical support

• Provide leadership, technical support, and monitoring for the implementation of the UNICEF Mali Country Office PSEA Action Plan (including in supporting the coordination of the UNICEF PSEA task force) and the UNICEF’s requirements on PSEA as outlined in the Emergency Procedures, including implementation at the field office level.
• Provide technical advice to management on issues related to PSEA, including supporting and advising the Representative on the internal roll out and implementation of UNICEF’s SEA reporting mechanisms and responding to allegations in line with endorsed internal reporting procedures and relevant UN / inter-agency protocols and guidelines.
• Deliver PSEA trainings for UNICEF staff (including focal points and resource persons), consultants, volunteers, and implementing partners in line with the PSEA Training Plan.

• Support development of programme proposals reflecting priorities for PSEA, maintain partnership relationships, and take other actions to increase the visibility of PSEA programming and the financial resources available for PSEA work

• Contribute to the preparation of programme reports, as required, for management, donors, and partners, in line with defined deadlines and endorsed guidance.

• Develop an internal tracking tool to ensure regular and consistent monitoring of SEA cases and case management of child victims’ assistance.

2. Inter-agency response to SEA and PSEA Network coordination

• Represent UNICEF and provide technical leadership in the inter-agency PSEA Network and the PSEA Steering Committee. Contribute actively to coordination meetings and work with relevant stakeholders to help advance the inter-agency PSEA Network action plan and the national HCT strategy on PSEA.
• Support appropriate reporting and response of SEA allegations by the interagency PSEA network, including with:
  • The finalization, endorsement, and system-wide implementation of the PSEA Network Standard Operating Procedures/ information-sharing protocols.
  • Development and implementation of safe and accessible reporting mechanisms for SEA, and enhancement and or development of joint interagency SOPs in relation to receipt and referral of SEA allegations and concern.
  • Development of Community-Based Complaints Mechanisms on SEA.
  • Support the HCT/UNCT and PSEA network to roll out the UN Victims’ Assistance Protocol.

3. Support Reporting, Response and Prevention of SEA

• Provide support to the country office on reporting, response, and prevention of SEA and integration of PSEA within UNICEF’s programming across all sectors, including:

1. Safe and accessible reporting

• Support the internal rollout and implementation of UNICEF SEA reporting procedures.
• Support the country office to promptly establish and/or strengthen effective, safe, and accessible reporting channels for SEA that are embedded within UNICEF’s overall response and consider the needs of women and children so that any child or adult receiving assistance from UNICEF has access to a safe reporting channel for SEA, linked with CP/GBV assistance. This should include trainings of community PSEA focal points and raising community awareness of PSEA.
• Provide technical support to partners to implement community-based reporting mechanisms and to ensure that all information pertaining to SEA allegations is handled and referred strictly in line with agreed protocols.

2. Prevention

• Provide support and coordinate with UNICEF sections to ensure diverse and appropriate prevention activities on SEA to rapidly detect and follow up on SEA risk and alerts are implemented across communities and establish systems to monitor the implementation.
• Support and contribute to SEA risk assessments and analysis in collaboration with UNICEF sections, partners, and interagency PSEA Network to ensure the systematic SEA risk assessment and inclusion of SEA risk findings in programme implementation. Flag SEA risks at the HCT/UNCT level for the interagency response.

3. Survivor assistance

• In coordination with the Chief of Child Protection, support UNICEF’s prompt roll-out of the UN Victims’ Assistance Protocol to ensure that survivors of SEA can access assistance and support, and that UNICEF is well-positioned to support any child survivors, as the provider of last resort.
• Provide technical support and capacity development on the UN Victims’ Assistance Protocol, survivor-centred approach, and child-sensitive investigations, including with UNICEF partners, the inter-agency PSEA response, and related actors.
• In coordination with the Chief of Child Protection and GBV Specialist, review and monitor the effectiveness of GBV/CP referral pathways and support the scale-up of GBV/CP services to fill any gaps within the response; monitor the quality of assistance and follow-up provided to survivors by UNICEF partners.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.

*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in design, implementation, and management of protection or GBV programming, PSEA, and child safeguarding, preferably with the UN and/or international NGO.
• Experience working in humanitarian contexts. Familiarity with the latest development in PSEA, inter-agency PSEA responses, and humanitarian cluster systems and understanding of the intersections of PSEA with other technical areas (e.g., GBV, Child Protection, AAP, etc.).
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written). Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions and exercise sound judgment in high-pressure situations.
• Excellent facilitation, training, networking, and advocacy skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization and exercise sound judgment in high-pressure situations.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English and French are required (oral and written). Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)
• Works Collaboratively with others (3)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (3)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (3)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (3)
• Deciding and Initiating Action (2)
• Persuading and Influencing (3)
• Applying technical skills (3)
• Entrepreneurial thinking (2)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Eligible UNICEF International Professional (IP) Staff Members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to a Temporary Appointment, which is dedicated to L3 (or L2) Response, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and their current tour of duty, and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

** Bamako is a Category D; Non-Family duty station. The Rest and Recuperation Cycle is 8 weeks.