UNV Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Specialist

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.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF believes that all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfil their potential – to the benefit of a better world. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Under the direct supervision of the PSEA Manager, and in close collaboration with all programme sections, the UN Volunteer PSEA Specialist will undertake the following tasks: Advocacy and general activities: • Participate in inter-sectoral collaboration with other programmes sections in ensuring the integration of PSEA in all interventions and actions, ensuring the achievement of specific assigned objectives; provide guidance and support to staff in meeting PSEA objectives; • Support the mapping of current institutional response capacities, the development of partnership agreements and small-scale funding with both INGOs and NGOs, and provide required technical support to partners in PSEA activities, and the mechanisms for monitoring and reporting of cases • Develop a link with governmental structures for their effective involvement in PSEA interventions and work for their possible appropriation of this theme • Support the strengthening of the existing community based PSEA networks to actively engage in identifying, referring, reporting and supporting victims of SEA; • Support PSEA manager to organize and manage workshops and providing UNICEF contribution to various coordination for a including PSEA networks meetings, UNICEF Regional Coordination meeting etc; • Support as needed surge capacity in areas affected by new emergencies and displacements in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and ensure PSEA response is provided timely and based on UNICEF commitment for children in humanitarian action. Planning, research, monitoring and evaluation: • Maintain an overview of the situation and identify crucial gaps in PSEA activities. • Provide timely and accurate reports on activities to PSEA manager • Undertake field visits to monitor programmes, as well as conduct periodic programme reviews with government counterparts and other partners; propose and/or undertake action on operational procedures affecting PSEA activates implementation; • Design, prepare, implement, monitor and evaluate PSEA activities on the filed; analyse and evaluate data to ensure achievement of objectives and/or take corrective action when necessary to meet office objectives related to PSEA; • contribute to the development and/or introduction of new approaches, methods and practices in project management and evaluation; • Contribute towards preparation of the situation analysis by compiling data, analysing and evaluating information and writing chapters of the analysis related to PSEA; • Help strengthen PSEA networks on the field, providing capacity building and support to such networks to ensure synergy and all action plans are implemented and strengthened; participate in Monitoring and Reporting at field level; • Effectively promote knowledge management through drafting/finalizing key project documents and reports, sharing good practice, lessons learned, and knowledge/information exchange, including the new established integrated approach between cross sectors; Capacity Building and Technical Support - Support the PSEA Manager and Field Office PSEA focal points in developing the PSEA annual action plan for the DRC country office and various field offices.
- Assist in implementing and monitoring PSEA action plan and the PSEA action plan - Support capacity building for staff and other stakeholders including partners on various topics related to PSEA ( SEA risk assessment, PSEA basic concepts, Victim assistance protocol, case management etc) - Support the development of contextualized awareness raising materials - Support assessment of PSEA risk for UNICEF partners and in the communities including displaced camps - Contribute to gathering data, evidence, and eventually internal UNICEF reporting on SEA - Carry out SEA/GBV risk analysis in communities and programmes - Establish efficient and effective collaboration with the different UNICEF program sections to ensure that PSEA is taken into account in all program sections, their various interventions, a harmonized approach - Prepare and submit periodic reports - Support implementing partners SEA risk assessment and development of action plans to reduce risk levels Interagency and governmental actors Collaboration - Represent UNICEF at local and regional PSEA Network - Provide support to local and regional PSEA network and coordination - Participate in coordination fora to ensure that PSEA is integrated - Monitor the implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures related to the joint complaints management mechanism, in agreement with organizations operating in the same environment as well as communities - Develop a link with governmental structures for their effective involvement in PSEA interventions and work for their possible appropriation of this theme Prevention: - Collaborate and coordinate with UNICEF partners and sections to ensure active sensitization with communities and monitor systems for tracking implementation. - Ensure the establishment and popularization of safe and effective complaint mechanisms within the community and favor prevention and active detection activities to be carried out jointly with members of the PSEA network and partners. - Coordinate and collaborate with partners to analyze risks of SEA and follow-up the implementation of recommendations of such analysis Survivor assistance: - In coordination with PSEA Specialist and Chief of Child Protection, support the implementation of survivor assistance. - Support and ensure the referral of all survivors for appropriate assistance. - Monitor the quality of assistance and follow-up provided to survivors by UNICEF partners Reporting and response to allegations - Support the functioning of UNICEF’s reporting mechanisms in the areas of intervention - Support the mapping of all existing complaint mechanisms in the areas of intervention - Assists assessment and improvement of existing reporting and feedback mechanisms through community consultation and where necessary, support the development of new mechanisms as appropriate. - Ensure that all allegations received are handled with confidentiality in line with existing protocols and SOPs. - Support the functioning of UNICEF reporting mechanisms in all focus areas - Monitor all PSEA -related activities organized by network members and ensure the dissemination of all key information on PSEA-related activities.

at the national and/or international level in child protection, GBV, PSEA, human rights or relevant field programmes with a focus on peacebuilding or child-focused programming in conflict-affected countries; experience working in the UN or other international development organization an asset;

• Experience in capacity building and strengthening partners, networks and systems
• Experience with project development and management, monitoring and evaluation, human rights-based approaches, capacity development approaches, are all assets.
• Have affinity with or interest in children’s issues, issues related to prevention of exploitation and sexual abuse, international development, humanitarian action, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; proven ability to engage effectively at community level; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; understanding of community- level drivers of political and conflict dynamics;
• 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;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Sound security awareness;
• Experience working on Child Protection, GBV or PSEA programming preferably in emergency setting is strongly desireable

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of five poorest countries in the World 2021 ([https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/drc/overview). Kinshasa is a family duty station with relatively high risk of armed robbery and theft. The security situation in the capital city kinshasa is relatively stable, compared to many parts of the country characterised by armed crisis.
Good housing is available in Kinshasa even though expensive compared to many African cities. There is good connectivity to other major cities of the world and between other cities with dailay flights taking of the Njili international airport. Social services are mostly available but must be paid for. A few private clinics accept CIGNA insurance. There are frequent power outages while the flow of tap water is quite stable. At least 4 mobile network operators exist providing 4G internet services.

The DRC is a unique country and Kinshasa is a unique operation. 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.