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, protection

Central African Republic (sharepoint.com)

The humanitarian situation in CAR The humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) remains preoccupying and volatile. While insecurity and conflict-related violence have somewhat decreased since the peak of the 2021 post-election crisis, they remain widespread. From January to September 2022, the UNICEF-led Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) recorded 104 alerts, compared to 112 over the same period in 2021. The share of conflict-related alerts decreased from 70 to 56%, but floods-related alerts have increased significantly, with about 85,000 people affected at the end of September. Consequently, the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) has also decreased since the post-election crisis spike of 722,000 in September 2021, but remains at a high level, with 652,000 IDPs recorded at the end of August 2022. Persistent fuel shortages, exacerbated by the aftermath of the war in Ukraine and sharp increases in food prices, will worsen an already precarious situation for displaced people and the 3.1 million people in general-63 per cent of the population- who will be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023. This includes 1.4 million children and 460,000 people with disabilities. The number of children under 5 years in need of severe wasting treatment is expected to again rise by about 10 per cent, to 69,000. Two-thirds of the country’s children did not regularly or at all attend school and 1.41 million will need help to do so in 2023. 944,000 children will also need protection, especially from the psycho-social impact of conflict and from the risk of sexual violence. 58% of the population will lack access to water and sanitation, a sharp increase due to conflict destructions. In turn, epidemics including measles are expected to remain prevalent in 2023.

In addition, humanitarian access will remain a major concern. The numerous attacks and the presence of explosive devices (in the Northwest) have made the CAR one of the most difficult places for humanitarian workers, limiting humanitarian access in the context of growing needs.

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is at the core of UNICEF’s mandate. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by UNICEF personnel and by personnel and sub-contractors of UNICEF Implementing Partners. SEA constitutes the most serious breach of accountability in all humanitarian and development settings.  Consequently, the PSEA is distinctly linked to accountability to affected populations (AAP), with a high profile and a strong set of specific commitments. In December 2018, under the IASC Championship of UNICEF Executive Director, the IASC Principals laid out three main priorities to prevent and respond to SEA, namely: 1) safe and accessible reporting that is gender and child sensitive; 2) quality SEA survivor assistance; and 3) enhanced accountability, including through prompt and respectful investigations. UNICEF is also committed to work in collaboration with other UN agencies in implementing the Strategy of the Secretary-General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13); the IASC Plan for Accelerating Protection from SEA in humanitarian response and in rolling out the UN Victim Assistance Protocol, Technical Note and Training Package which UNICEF is leading globally.

UNICEF is committed to swiftly and decisively responding to allegations of SEA against children and adults involving UNICEF personnel and partners if and when they arise. All UNICEF offices, as well as UNICEF staff members and related personnel, should take seriously SEA concerns and complaints and take immediate and appropriate action in accordance with the applicable policies, procedures and guidance. UNICEF’s commitment involves institutionalizing SEA prevention and response across the office.

To fulfil this commitment, UNICEF is recruiting a PSEA Specialist who will implement UNICEF CAR’s Office PSEA Action Plan which focuses on enhancing UNICEF and partners’ capacity to prevent and respond to SEA; supporting the country office in managing and coordinating SEA concerns and allegations; supporting partners to respond to the needs of SEA survivors and witnesses; providing technical guidance to senior management on SEA issues; supporting the implementation of community based mechanism (CBCM); representing UNICEF in PSEA coordination forums including the PSEA Task force; and engaging and supporting local communities in PSEA efforts.

How can you make a difference?

The Programme Specialist (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse PSEA) will report to the Representative, for guidance and general supervision. The purpose of this position is to: 1) enhance capacity of UNICEF and partners on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA); 2) support the country office to develop and roll out the UNICEF PSEA action plan and, 3) support UNICEF’s engagement in the inter-agency PSEA network that is established under the HC/HCT. The Specialist will also be responsible for providing high quality technical guidance and support on gender- based violence in emergency (GBViE) prevention, risk mitigation and response. She/He will assist on designing, planning and expansion of programming across UNICEF CAR.

Under the direct supervision of the Representative, the incumbent will:

• Provide strategic and technical support to UNICEF CAR to scale up efforts to prevent and address SEA at internal and external levels

• Provide technical support and monitoring on the implementation of UNICEF CAR PSEA Action Plan in the national and field offices

• Deliver induction and refresher PSEA trainings for all UNICEF staff including implementing partners, contractors, consultants, volunteers etc. and support HR to ensure that all UNICEF staff complete the PSEA online mandatory training

• Assist HR to integrate PSEA tasks in Focal Points Job Descriptions

• Support Human Resources/Management to ensure sustainability of implementation and follow-up on PSEA Action Plan

• Provide PSEA awareness sessions (initial or refresher) in all UNICEF field offices and provide capacity building sessions on PSEA for UNICEF implementing partners

• Enhance capacity of UNICEF PSEA Focal Points to lead PSEA activities in their field offices.

1). Inter-agency response to SEA

• Participate in PSEA Task Force coordination meetings and events

• Work with the PSEA Task Force in taking forward actions including: development of information sharing agreement on SEA; development and implementation of a Community Based Complaints Mechanism; development of outreach and sensitization on SEA in the communities

• Support training PSEA Focal Points and staff from other humanitarian organizations, responding to complaints that arise, and developing interagency responses to problems that become evident

• Liaise with the focal points in the UNCT in the implementation of the strategy of the Secretary-General’s Bulletin on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse including the additional directives of 2018 on PSEA.

2). Receiving SEA Allegations

• Immediately refer victims/survivors to appropriate service providers so that they receive the medical, psychosocial, legal and material support they may need being this is the first priority

• Upon request, assist the CAR CO to document and manage reported SEA allegations- including referrals, and completing the SIR and UNICEF notification alert

• Ensure that all information pertaining to complaints is handled and referred strictly in line with agreed protocols: the internal UNICEF Notification Alert and inter-agency information sharing procedure agreed with the PSEA Task Force

• Ensure that information gathered on SEA allegation are kept safe and confidential.

3). Victim (Survivor) assistance

• In coordination with PSEA and GBV Specialists based in RO and in the field, ensure age-appropriate assistance including psychosocial, medical, safety and legal services are provided to survivors of SEA via established GBV referral mechanism and UNICEF policies on SEA response.

• Ensure that referral pathways are interlinked with CP AoR, GBV and other sectors to facilitate the timely and efficient reference of age-appropriate assistance.

• In coordination with local PSEA focal points, monitor the quality of assistance and follow up provided to victims/survivors of SEA by UNICEF partners.

• Work with the PSEA focal points and the Chief of Child Protection to define the modality for monitoring the assistance provided to child SEA victims by service providers (other than UNICEF implementing partners).

4). Strengthen information management, policy development and resource mobilization on PSEA, Child Safeguarding and GBViE for CO

• Work with the Information Management Officer (IMO) for Child Protection to establish a confidential data management system on SEA cases and case management

• Regularly manage, update SEA data base and contribute to CAR CO PSEA quarterly progress report

• Update share drive for office staff to access PSEA policy and guidance material

• Support community awareness and consultations to mitigate SEA risks and prevent SEA

• Identify opportunities across UNICEF programmes for community sensitization, risk assessment and capacity building on SEA

• Respond to any circumstances that create risk and vulnerability for SEA, seeking to address underlying risk factors

• Together with SBC, and in liaison with the PSEA Taskforce, develop awareness raising materials for UNICEF, partners and communities including leaflets, brochures, and posters

• Support partners in implementing community-based complaint mechanism on PSEA in selected communities

• Keep abreast of developments with PSEA, GBVIE child safeguarding and make appropriate recommendations for UNICEF CAR on enhancing prevention and response strategies.

• Support documentation of good practices, learning exchanges and forums on PSEA and GBVIE interventions and regularly update the SharePoint sites for Myanmar staff to access policy and guidance on PSEA, Child Safeguarding and GBViE.

• Promote the inclusion of PSEA, Child Safeguarding and GBViE into resource mobilization efforts, reports, proposals, ToRs, humanitarian appeal processes, advocacy materials and other relevant documents, as required.

• Review and analysis of CSI and RAM data and Annual Plans for PSEA.

5). Prevention, Mitigation and Responding to Gender -Based Violence in Emergencies (GBVIE)

• Support CAR CO and partners to deliver on organizational commitments in line with UNICEF GBViE programming approaches covering the three pillars approach as per the UNICEF GBViE Operational Guide: response, risk mitigation and prevention adapted to the operating environments in CO.

• Work with the UNICEF sectors, clusters and inter-agency partners to ensure GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response is adequately integrated across sectors, and actions to reduce risks of GBV are implemented.

• Provide guidance to support CO and partner trainings and capacity building initiatives to strengthen GBV risk mitigation and GBV case management including caring for child survivors of sexual abuse.

• Provide ad-hoc technical support on GBVIE preparedness and response as an essential part of training CO emergency response training.

• Support funds mobilization for GBVIE programming.

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

Education: Advanced university degree (Master or more) in one of the following fields: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in design, implementation and management of child protection or GBV programming, PSEA and child safeguarding, preferably with the UN and/or international NGO

• Experience of working in both humanitarian and development context is an asset

• Knowledge of UN and IASC policies and guidance related but not limited to PSEA, AAP, GBV and Centrality of Protection. Familiarity with the latest development in PSEA, interagency PSEA responses and humanitarian cluster systems. IASC PSEA Training for Coordinators will be considered an advantage

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to liaise with people successfully and effectively in a wide range of functions in a multi-cultural environment

• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization

• Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions

• Excellent facilitation, training, networking and advocacy skills

• Strong understanding of GBV and Child Protection case management systems and survivor assistance

• Experience in community engagement and development of community-based complaints and feedback mechanisms is an asset

Language Requirements:  Fluency in French and English is required (Excellent analytical, communication, writing and editorial skills in English). Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is 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

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. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable [females’ candidates and candidates from industrialized countries’] 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). 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.