PSEA Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is among the top priorities of the United Nations Secretary-General, with a special focus on putting the victims first and ensuring accountability of PSEA on senior management. South Sudan is ranked among top four -countries globally at risk of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by UN staff.. The South Sudan PSEA Taskforce was established in 2007 and revitalized in 2016 as system-wide coordination body, under the leadership of the Deputy SRSG/Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator. The PSEA Taskforce includes UN agencies, funds and programmes, the UN Mission in South Sudan, and all other categories of institutions and entities having direct cooperative and or contractual arrangements with the UN such as international and national NGOs, partners, and service providers. At sub-national level the PSEA Taskforce has established field level taskforces in Aweil, Bor, Bentiu, Yei, Malakal, Wau, Yambio Torit, Jamjang and Mingkamam.

The field level PSEA taskforces lead the system wide prevention and response to SEA work at community level. It has established community based compliant mechanisms with different level of functionality at Aweil, Bor, Bentiu, Yei, Malakal, Wau, Yambio, Torit, Maban, Kuajok, Rumbek, Jamjang, and Mingkamam. Sub-national PSEA taskforces have representatives from each UN agency, INGO and NGO and they receive regular support and guidance from the PSEA Taskforce.

The National Taskforce has developed a systemwide strategy 2018 – 2022, whose implementation was disrupted due to challenges such as access constraints and other restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The candidate’s function, based at the UN Resident Coordination Office (RCO), will be vital in supporting coordination and strengthening capacity for establishment and maintenance of functional inter-agency community-based complaint mechanisms for addressing allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. This will contribute to strengthened capacity for coordination and accountability for enforcement of the zero tolerance to SEA policy, safe and accessible child sensitive and gender responsive SEA reporting mechanisms and enhanced survivors’ access to quality, survivor-centred assistance services.

The candidate will be contracted by UNMISS, assigned to the Office of the DSRS/RC/HC, and seated inside the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO). Under the overall supervision of the DSRSG/RC/HC, the day-to-day guidance by the PSEA Coordinator, the UN Volunteer PSEA Officer will undertake the following tasks:

i. Support Field Level PSEA Taskforces to develop and coordinate the implementation, monitoring and reporting on inter-agency work plan on PSEA at sub-national level across 10 States in South Sudan:  Support the Field Level PSEA Taskforces to develop, implement, monitor, and report on inter-agency PSEA workplan at sub-national level.  Support establishment of inter-agency community-based complaint mechanisms in identified priority high risk locations  Monitor and draft documentation on trend analysis, key achievements, challenges, good practices and lessons-learned from implementation of inter-agency community based compliant mechanisms at sub-national and community level for shared learning and adaptation across States and beyond South Sudan.  Participate in PSEA related mission to the deep field locations.

ii. Capacity building and technical support to System-wide mechanisms to address sexual exploitation and abuse:  Identify and draft capacity gaps and contribute to development of capacity building plan tailored to the needs from implementation of filed level PSEA work plans  Support organizing and conduct of capacity building interventions for stakeholders at sub-national and national level  Support organizing and conducting awareness raising sessions and trainings on PSEA for humanitarian, development and peace keeping community  Support organizing of programme learning visits and south-to-south exchanges for scale up of innovative, promising, and good practices from implementation of community based compliant mechanisms

iii. Coordination and accountability on PSEA:  Support coordination of PSEA Task Force activities and provide required logistical support to facilitate implementation of the activities and running meetings  Participate in the humanitarian cluster and UNSCDF coordination mechanisms and contribute to mainstreaming of PSEA across the humanitarian-development and peacekeeping nexus  Support in drafting of relevant documents including background papers, protocols, and service standards for the inter-agency PSEA mechanisms at national and sub-national level  Support the implementation of the system-wide strategy on PSEA and contribute to strengthening capacity for collective accountability for a safe and protective environment for every beneficiary in South Sudan.

iv. Knowledge management on volunteerism:  UN Volunteers are required to strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day)  Seek to understand and be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country  Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.  Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers- Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.  Provide annual and end of assignment reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities using UNV’s Volunteer Reporting Application

Results/expected outputs  Functional location specific inter-agency community-based mechanisms  Increased knowledge on PSEA among UN personnel and communities  Increased awareness about available reporting mechanisms among beneficiaries.  A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed.

 Accountability
 Adaptability and Flexibility  Commitment to Continuous Learning  Communication  Integrity  Planning and Organizing  Professionalism
 Working in Teams

sexual exploitation and abuse and/or GBV and coordination  Full proficiency in various MS Office applications especially Excel, Word and PowerPoint required. Ability to quickly learn new information management systems/use of database, is desirable.  Excellent oral and written communication skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.  Excellent interpersonal skills: culturally and socially sensitive and inclusivity is required.  Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment.  Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel

South Sudan is a non-family duty station. The general security situation is calm with conducive working environment to UN and humanitarian partners. However, due to several factors, the security environment is one of the main challenges for the staff safety and operations in the area. All UN personnel are required to undergo a SSAFE training. There is a UN imposed curfew from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.

South Sudan is a unique country. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.