Programme Specialist, Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies

The Position:

The Programme Specialist, GBViE post shall be based in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The incumbent reports to the Head of Sub-Office, Cox’s Bazar, and liaises frequently with the Head of the Gender Team, based in Dhaka.

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:

Gender-based violence increases in emergency situations. People affected by natural disasters of armed conflict who are forced to leave their homes are subjected to trauma and the breakdown of societal norms. Women and girls may be separated from family members, and may be exposed to multiple types of risk of violence. This was also the case following the influx, in 2017, of around one million Rohingya refugees who arrived over the border from Myanmar. Refugees, especially women and girls were disproportionately affected by forms and patterns of GBV including rape, conflict-related sexual violence, intimate partner violence, sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, child and forced marriages, sexual exploitation, survival sex, and forced engagement in drug and sex trade. Additional challenges for Rohingya women and girls included access to sexual and reproductive health services.

UNFPA, as the lead agency on gender-based violence in emergencies, provides comprehensive gender-based services to Rohingya women and girls, together with partners. The services include integrated health response to GBV as well as psychosocial counseling, legal services, and more.

UNFPA Bangladesh is looking for a GBV specialist to lead the team’s work, including providing technical guidance to ensure minimum standards, providing effective leadership of people and ensuring good team dynamics, and contributing to the integration of UNFPA’s GBV, SRH and Adolescent and youth programming.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced university degree with a specialization in areas such as social work, public health, gender, law/human rights, international relations, and/or other related social science disciplines.

Knowledge and Experience:

Minimum 5 years of specialized experience in GBV program management at the international level; minimum 2 of which in a humanitarian context.
Experience in coordination and liaison with government counterparts and other stakeholders, including NGOs and communities
Strong understanding of concepts and principles integral to GBViE, including global minimum standards and guidelines, human rights based and participatory approaches, and experience of implementing survivor centered approaches. Additionally, experience of integration the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse into programming.
Practical experience of GBV case management, development and use of referral pathways, experience in the use of GBV SOPs, guidelines and tools for GBViE prevention and response interventions. Direct experience providing support to GBV survivors will be an asset.
Proven ability to lead, manage and nurture effective and harmonious teams is critical
An understanding of the Bangladesh or regional context, and in particular, prior experience of the Rohingya refugee crisis, will be an asset.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other official UN languages is an asset.