Social & Behavior Change (Gender, and Violence Prevention) Specialist, (P3), Bujumbura, Burundi #131086, Temp Appoint. (6 months)

The specialist will provide authoritative technical guidance and operational support throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the management and delivery of results contributing to SBC for the prevention of violence against children through gender transformative programming in alignment with UNICEF child protection strategic framework 2021 -2030) the Gender Action Plan (2022-2025). S/He will support specialized child protection, GBV, and SBC programmes targeting children at-risk or survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, with a particular focus on adolescent girls using evidence-based SBC programming to prevent VAC and S/GBV and improve the availability and quality of prevention and response services at the local level.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a champion

In Burundi, UNICEF has a very diverse portfolio of responsibilities but all with the same objective which is to assist the Government and other stakeholders to fulfill children’s economic, social, cultural, political, and civil rights. The UNICEF country program in Burundi aims to improve the lives of children and women in the following key areas: Child and maternal health, Nutrition, Education, Child Protection, Water, sanitation and hygiene, Social Policy and Advocacy, Adolescent empowerment and community resilience, and Humanitarian response.

How can you make a difference? 

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

• Generate and utilize research, data, and evidence to inform the design, measurement, and monitoring of SBC, Gender, and Violence Prevention programs and outcomes in both development and emergency contexts and to build the evidence base for SBC. 

• Design, plan and implement SBC and violence prevention activities that are gender transformative and backed by social and behavioural evidence and strong engagement and participation mechanisms in both development and humanitarian contexts. 

• Support operationalization of SBC, gender transformative, and violence prevention programming by advocating for SBC, mobilizing resources and coordinate as required with relevant stakeholders. 

• Promote continuous learning, strengthening, and scaling up in SBC, gender transformation, and violence prevention for both development and humanitarian contexts through capacity building for UNICEF staff and partners. 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  ToR TA P3 SBC Gender and Violence Specialist final.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Women’s and Gender Studies, Social Sciences (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science, social policy, social policy, economic, or human rights), Monitoring and Evaluation, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.

• Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive programming and research in one or more of the following areas: violence against children (VAC)/gender-based violence (GBV), social development programming, social and behavior change, and gender transformative programming.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in French and strong language skills in English required.

Desirables:

• Experience in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes on gender and development or any other cross cutting programme, especially at country/field level, experience in emergency response is an asset
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.

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

The 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 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be 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 canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

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

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.