DRC L3 _Programme Specialist (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse – PSEA) – TA (6 months), Goma, DRC

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, dedication

Under the direct supervision of the P4 Program Specialist, PSEA (PSEA Manager) and in close coordination with the UNICEF Chief of Field Services, and the Goma Chief of Field Office, the PSEA Specialist shall provide technical assistance on the development and implementation of the PSEA emergency workplan, the implementation of the victim assistance protocol, the UN protocol on implementing partners as well as strategic support to three field offices: Bunia, Goma and Bukavu.

The PSEA Specialist will work closely with all Programme Sections, Child Protection, HR, PSEA Focal Persons and Supply to strengthen systems for prevention, reporting, and accountability to survivors.

How can you make a difference?

Provide Support to the Strengthening of Response Systems

• Support capacity building for UNICEF implementing partners on victim assistance and oversee service timely and quality service provision to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse
• Ensure adherence to global prescribed procedures for PSEA cooperation and reporting of SEA incidents and promote understanding among UNICEF Staff and all stakeholders such as humanitarian agency and IP/contractor staff of the applicable internal PSEA policies and reporting procedures.
• Support the senior management, the chief of field services and PSEA Manager in the fact finding and documentation of reported SEA allegations and taking appropriate measures to ensure safety and confidentiality of complaints / allegations received by the designated FPs and through other entry points.  This entails ensuring that all materials pertaining to complaints are handled strictly in line with prescribed SOPs and referring the complaints / allegations for the attention of Senior Management for immediate action.
• As appropriate, immediately referring the complainants, or survivors if different from the complainant, to the victim/survivor assistance mechanism established by SOPs on prevention and response and in close cooperation with all appropriate stakeholders, in order to access appropriate services i.e. medical, psychosocial, legal and material support.
• Draft significant incident reports (SIR) of allegations of SEA in conformity with UNICEF procedures and guidelines
• Provide technical support concerning appropriate prevention and risk mitigation strategies to advance survivor-centered, child-friendly complaint mechanism
• Conduct training to all UNICEF staff and implementing Partners staff on PSEA, sexual harassment, child safeguarding and Abuse of Authority.

Support Operationalization of UNICEF Procedure for Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Assessments of Civil Society Organization (CSO) Implementing Partnerships:

• Support all Programme Sections in the completion of PSEA Assessments of implementing partners, to identify and mitigate risks of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
• Support the partners to develop and implement PSEA Action Plans to address the PSEA gaps identified during the PSEA Assessment and increase their capacity to Low Risk

Partner Capacity Development, Institutional Development and Technical Support

• Support partners and UNICEF vendors to have PSEA policies and structures in place, aligned with international standards and UNICEF systems; consult and follow up with partners on codes of conduct and safeguarding policies (including beyond PSEA) and risk mitigation plans including technical review and support as required by partners.
• Deliver induction and refresher Child Safe guarding and PSEA trainings, awareness-raising sessions and other innovative capacity building for UNICEF implementing partners to ensure that all UNICEF implementing partners have a thorough overview of PSEA guidelines and policies, complete the PSEA mandatory Action Plan and develop/strengthen their PSEA policies and procedures.

Support PSEA mainstreaming during planning, policy development and programming

• Provide technical review of Programme Documents and other programme and operational documentation to ensure inclusion and adherence to PSEA requirements in all such documents. Reviewing all new Programme Documents to ensure sufficient inclusion of SEA mitigation strategies in all UNICEF supported projects. This will help to prevent exposing children and adults who benefit from UNICEF supportred projects from being exposed to the risk of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
• Support the inter-agency PSEA Networks in Goma, Bunia and Bukavu to establish and/or strengthen community-based complaint mechanisms for safe and accessible reporting of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.  Solicit participation from a broad range of humanitarian assistance agencies, including IPs and as appropriate, developing common protocols for complaint handling and referring of SEA allegations for follow up and investigation, working with beneficiaries to ensure relevance to the local community (especially setting up entry points).

Engagement with and support of affected populations:

• In collaboration with SBC, contribute to the development of a creative communication strategy together with IPs to facilitate awareness-raising in communities on their rights, the fact that humanitarian assistance is never conditioned on sexual favours, and how to submit complaints.
• Carry out community consultations to identify culturally and contextually appropriate entry points for submitting complaints, including SEA allegations.

Ensure PSEA management and coordination internally and externally at inter-agency level

• Contribute to the development and updating of DRC CO PSEA Action Plan which is fully aligned to the UNICEF Global PSEA Strategy
• Participate in UNICEF internal PSEA Task Force meeting and serve as secretary whenever necessary

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

1. Education

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

2. Work Experience

A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in design, implementation and management of protection or GBV programming and PSEA actions, preferably with the UN and/or international NGO.

Experience working in humanitarian contexts.

Familiarity with the latest developments in PSEA, inter-agency PSEA responses and humanitarian cluster systems. Excellent communication skills. Proven ability to work independently under stressful conditions and with good coordination with all partners.

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.

3. Language Proficiency

Fluency in French is required. Working knowledge of English is a strong asset. Knowledge of Swahili is considered an asset. 

4. UNICEF values and competency Required (based on the updated Framework)

i) Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

ii) Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and 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…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

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. 

Remarks:

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is: a role with direct contact with children, works directly with children, is a safeguarding response role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) applies.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will 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.

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.