Field Specialist

The Position:

The unprecedented flow of refugees and migrants into Europe has exposed the high level of suffering and violence experienced by people fleeing conflict, persecution and poverty. With the closure of migrant routes over Croatia and Hungary back in 2016, there was a period when migrants/refugees settled down in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Serbia. This period lasted until the beginning of 2018 when new migrant routes were discovered leading to Western Europe through Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In September 2018, in view of an emerging mixed migration crisis, UNFPA Bosnia and Herzegovina initiated emergency response that enabled local institutions to work on the development of SOPs for GBV and provide safe spaces for women and girls refugees/migrants. In order to improve the situation in the field, provide protection services to affected population and achieve sustainability through building local capacities for work on GBV protection and provision of SRH services, continuation of previously started activities is necessary in Sarajevo Canton where part of vulnerable population of refugees/migrants (families and unaccompanied girls and boys) are located. One of the crucial support services is Women and Girls Center as well as Boys and Young Men Center in TRCs in Sarajevo Canton where comprehensive GBV support is provided to women, girls, boys and young men.

Women and girls, boys and men continue to face the risk of different types of GBV due to various factors such as insecurity, crowded refugee camps where they are accommodated, lack of support, different traditional and social norms, previous traumatic experiences, lockdowns due to COVID-19, etc. Due to various factors, the GBV response can be complex, and the comprehensive coordination of the program, including direct services must be coordinated, monitored and harmonized with the needs and situation on the ground. In addition, humanitarian response in Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the phase of transitioning humanitarian services to locally and state-owned mixed migration response and management, including GBV services provision. UNFPA will continuing to provide technical and operational support during the transition phase while in the same time UNFPA will work towards transitioning of service delivery to public health service providers by improving capacities which will ensure that after the completion of the planned cycle public health institutions will be able to take over service delivery fully.

Under the supervision of the GBViE Project Manager, Field Specialist is required to coordinate field activities related to the GBV Humanitarian Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on transitioning GBV response to the relevant institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Field Specialist will coordinate GBV programme activities implemented through Women and Girls Centers and Boys and Young Men Centers, including but not limited to: prevention and response to GBV, mental health and psychosocial support, sexual and reproductive health and empowerment activities. Together with GBViE Project Manager, He/She will oversee the all programme components focusing on the support services provided to survivors of gender-based violence and women and girls in general, as well as adolescents and young men. He/She will oversee the work of other UNFPA humanitarian personnel engaged in direct work with migrants and refugees. Moreover, he/she will be hold regular group meetings with humanitarian teams, UNFPA beneficiaries, relevant agencies involved in the Humanitarian response, etc as well as participate at the all relevant meetings/events to ensure that transition plans are followed, trends, gaps and concerns are identified and followed up.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

Field Specialist will coordinate GBV programme activities implemented through Women and Girls Centers and Boys and Young Men Centers, including but not limited to: prevention and response to GBV, mental health and psychosocial support, sexual and reproductive health and empowerment activities. Together with GBViE Project Manager, He/She will oversee the all programme components focusing on the support services provided to survivors of gender-based violence and women and girls in general, as well as adolescents and young men. He/She will oversee the work of other UNFPA humanitarian personnel engaged in direct work with migrants and refugees. Moreover, he/she will be hold regular group meetings with humanitarian teams, UNFPA beneficiaries, relevant agencies involved in the Humanitarian response, etc as well as participate at the all relevant meetings/events to ensure that transition plans are followed, trends, gaps and concerns are identified and followed up.

You would be responsible for:

Support the process of transitioning Gender-based violence response services to the government authorities:

To implement transition and ensure its sustainability, work closely with relevant institutions and state holders;
Identify and work with the local NGOs to identify areas of collaboration and map actors who can support GBV interventions and identify gaps in designated regions;
Coordinate and communicate with the relevant actors in the field, including Safe houses, Centers for Social Welfare, local Healthcare Center, etc.;
Organize workshops with the relevant institutions and partners to exchange best practices and lessons learned based on the gender-based violence humanitarian response in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Support capacity building of relevant actors through planning, designing and implementation of training packages that will empower professionals to deliver quality services;
To organize a series of meetings with healthcare centres in order to discuss and find the best model for the transition of SRH services; make a follow up action plan
To organize a series of meetings with Centers for Social Welfare, Centers for Mental Health, etc. in order to discuss provision of essential and crucial GBV services during and after the transition period; make a follow up action plan
Develop a work plan and ensure that the developed tools and guidelines, embodied in four separate documents, are used as a technical lead support to relevant authorities and institutions in assuming full management and coordination of GBV responsibilities;

Coordination and development of GBV programme activities in Una Sana and Sarajevo Canton:

To monitor the implementation and quality of UNFPA service provision, identify areas for improvement and follow up with the concrete action plans;
To bring in better Centers for girls and women and Centers for boys and young men and design joint activities;
Together with the UNFPA humanitarian personnel prepare the tools, guidance and all required supporting items for the mental health and psychosocial support programme, SRH component, and GBV (with the support of GBViE Project Manager);
Harmonize workflow in Centers across UNFPA Humanitarian Response in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ensuring streamlined data tracking, methodologies and approaches used in their work;
Supervise the work of the UNFPA Coordinators and support them in their activities and work development;
Conduct quality checks with humanitarian personnel on all components on tools in place to ensure quality service delivery. This includes forms, protocols and procedures. Establish missing protocols;
Regular participation in interagency meetings and working groups, especially the GBV and Protection working group, and ensure that action points concerning UNFPA are tackled and addressed;
To share knowledge, tools, lessons learned, and good practices among partners;
To hold regular weekly meeting with humanitarian personnel to tackle most important challenges, trends and developments and prepare action plan based on the organized meetings; Share action plans and meeting minutes regularly with GBViE Project Manager;
Regularly visit teams in the Temporarily Reception Centers following the agreed steps and agenda on the specific programme activities;
To ensure adherence to the GBV guiding principles throughout all GBV interventions. This includes ensuring confidentiality of survivors and respect for their wishes and decisions;
To design and prepare documents, messages and tools for GBV awareness raising, GBV prevention, risk and mitigation, in collaboration with GBViE Project Manager;
Ensure visibility inputs (planned activities, events and multimedia) are delivered in a timely manner to facilitate proper external communication;
Ensure that all visibility protocols are in place and respected;
Monitor the base of supplies needed for the functioning of the Centers, standardize the supplies for the Centers and initiate procurement processes in a timely manner;
Perform any other duties as may be required by UNFPA country office management.

Reporting and data collection:

To ensure timely reporting and analysis of GBV data to facilitate programmatic decision making;
Together with GBV Project Assistant, draft interagency reports;
Prepare data for monthly infographics related to the overall Humanitarian programme;
Supporting activities for regular project monitoring, process evaluation, and impact evaluation, as requested by the project manager
Ensure proper documentation of reported GBV incidences through GBV data base
Ensure all documentations on reported cases and referrals made are updated, accurate, organized and well maintained.
Contribute in the collection of information needed for M&E activities and progress towards indicators;
Support any other reporting duties as assigned by the supervisor

Interaction with all PoCs - engaging appropriately and respectfully, upholding the principles of confidentiality, dignity and diversity.

Prepare and submit daily and weekly work plans and reports. Also, provide inputs for regular UNFPA reporting mechanisms in a timely manner.

In addition to this, the following core principles must be respected working with beneficiaries:

Do no harm approach;
The consultant must abstain from sensationalism, focus on understanding and empathy. However, all and any programming that departs from a stereotypical portrayal of survivors as broken, dysfunctional individuals, living in seclusion and self-imposed exile must be avoided.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

University degree in social work, psychology, human rights law, humanitarian and development work, or other relevant field related to work with children, gender, humanitarian and development issues, and GBV prevention and response. MA Degree would be considered an asset.

Knowledge and Experience:

At least five years of previous experience in work in humanitarian setting, including coordination activities and supervision;

At least two years of experience in direct work with vulnerable categories; working with unaccompanied children and refugee children would be considered as an asset;

Previous work with GBV survivors would be considered as asset;

Experience working on similar positions with international organizations/projects will be considered an advantage;

Familiarity with UN procedures and working methods, particularly with UNFPA agenda, policies and procedures, is a plus;

Strong interpersonal and organizational skills, ability to multitask and be detail-oriented;

Understanding of the main processes and methods of work regarding the position;

Understanding and experience in working with people from diverse cultural setting would be considered an asset;

The ability to adapt to new environments and to establish and maintain good working relations with individuals of different cultural backgrounds is required;

Languages:

Fluency in English and BHS languages required.

Required Competencies:

Values:

Exemplifying integrity,

Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,

Embracing cultural diversity,

Embracing change

Core Competencies:

Achieving results,

Being accountable,

Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,

Thinking analytically and strategically,

Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda

Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships

Delivering results-based programmes

Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilisation

Managerial Competencies:

Providing strategic focus,

Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,

Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance,

Making decisions and exercising judgment.

UNFPA reserves the right to offer to the selected candidate the rate in accordance with UNFPA consultant rates and UNFPA available budget. Payment for contractor will not exceed average UNFPA rates for national consultants.

Where the contractor fails to deliver the required quality of products, the rate payable will be reduced. UNFPA reserves the right to assess the quality of products. The contractor has an obligation to finalize products/documents to the full UNFPA satisfaction.