Protection from Sexual Exploitation

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Description

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Under the direct supervision of the UNFPA Representative, the PSEAH Specialist will lead the implementation of the inter-agency PSEAH program across Afghanistan. This role includes advising the Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) for the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT). The Specialist will therefore primarily focus on strengthening inter-agency systems for PSEAH, while also providing some direct support to UNFPA and its partners. 

You would be responsible for:

Working closely with the PSEA Network, the PSEAH Specialist will undertake the following responsibilities:

• Support the implementation of PSEA in-country programme
• ●    Assist RC/HC and senior leadership in developing and implementing a Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) strategy tailored to local contexts and integrated across all operational levels. 
• ●    Coordinate the enhancement of the inter-agency PSEA Network, which includes members from UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and civil society organizations (CSOs). 
• ●    Enhance technical coordination, share best practices, and foster a collaborative environment for addressing PSEA collectively. 
• ●    Coordinate with the PSEA Network to conduct comprehensive joint risk assessments that inform senior leadership about potential risks and vulnerabilities. These assessments guide strategic decision-making and the planning of evidence-based interventions. 
• ●    Aid senior leadership in implementing the Network’s Terms of Reference (TORs) and in developing an annual Action Plan based on insights from risk and community assessments, focusing on prevention strategies, response mechanisms, and continuous PSEA measures improvement.

Coordinate the PSEA Network:

• ●    Coordinate the inter-agency PSEA Network with the Network co-chairs in the fulfillment of its responsibilities under its TORs and Action Plan.
• ●    Represent the PSEA Network in relevant coordination bodies, such as UNCT, HCT, PMT, ICCT, and relevant clusters and thematic working groups.
• ●    Work closely with regional bodies to set up sub-national systems.

Strengthen PSEAH within UNFPA and UNFPA IPs:

• The Specialist should work with the UNFPA GBV Unit on programme implementation and collaborate with the UNFPA Compliance Team on rolling out the UN Implementing Partner (IP) PSEA Capacity assessments. This role is crucial in strengthening PSEAH by enhancing policies, practices, and awareness related to preventing sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. 
• ●    Establish an internal UNFPA Task Force on PSEA and SH, focusing on streamlining efforts and ensuring consistent application of PSEA and SH principles across all levels, both internally and with partners.
• ●    Develop and support the implementation of a PSEAH Action Plan for the Country Office, leading the coordination, design, and execution of a comprehensive action plan tailored to address specific PSEAH needs and compliance requirements.
• ●    Work with the UNFPA Partnership Unit to raise funds for PSEA programs and manage the program budget under the GBV Unit.
• ●    Support the Compliance Unit with the rollout of the UN Implementing Partner PSEA Capacity Assessment to ensure that all partners meet the eight core standards.
• ●    Supervise the coordination of the PSEA and AAP Sub-Working Groups in Kandhar, Herat, Mazaar, Jalabad, Bamiyan, and other upcoming locations.
• ●    Serve as a member of the UNFPA PSEA Advisory Group, actively engaging with UNFPA’s Ethics Office and serving as UNFPA’s Focal Point for PSEAH, ensuring that local actions are aligned with global standards.
• ●    Enhance UNFPA’s PSEAH efforts regionally by collaborating with UNFPA’s Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) and the Ethics Office to broaden the reach and effectiveness of PSEAH initiatives across the region.

Strengthen PSEAH within partner organisations:

• ●    On request, provide expert guidance and technical support to Network members and partners operating in the context to strengthen their internal PSEA programs in line with good practice and standards.

Community engagement:

• ●    As part of broader community engagement activities, in partnership with AAP, support the PSEA Network to gather information on community perspectives on the behaviour of aid workers, and their preferences in dispute resolution, discussing sexual matters, and receiving and sharing sensitive information to inform outreach and other activities.
• ●    Support the PSEA Network to develop a collective communication strategy to raise awareness on key PSEAH messages, including the rights of affected populations, the fact that help and services are never conditioned on sexual favours, and how to submit sensitive complaints.
• ●    Ensure that the implementation of the PSEA Network work plan is informed by community participation, contextually and culturally proper, and based on the community’s needs;
• ●    Engage closely with the Awaaz Interagency Call Centre to ensure dissemination of PSEAH information and facilitate reporting of incidents involving SEAH.

Coordination with Key Partners:

• ●    Engage and coordinate with Clusters to ensure PSEA is mainstreamed during planning, policy development, and programming phases, and collaborate with relevant thematic working groups to ensure alignment of strategies and actions across different initiatives and stakeholders.
• ●    Collaborate with the Protection Cluster, Health Cluster, GBV sub-cluster Coordinator, and Child Protection Area of Responsibility (AoR) Coordinator to ensure a harmonized approach to prevention activities and victim support, emphasizing a victim-centered approach.
• ●    Represent the PSEA Network at Inter-Cluster Coordination Team (ICCT) meetings and provide updates on relevant PSEA activities.
• ●    Report back to the PSEA Network on ICCT developments and updates.
• ●    Work with the Access Working Group to support senior leadership in developing an engagement strategy with relevant ministries and stakeholders for outreach and advocacy on PSEAH issues.
• ●    Support RC/HC to collaborate with SRSG and UNAMA at the strategic and technical level to offer support, ensure harmonization of messages, avoid duplication of activities, and share trends analysis and developments.
• ●    On a regular basis, present progress toward meeting the objectives of the PSEA Network work plan to the UNCT, HCT and ACBAR (the coordinating body for NGOs involved in the humanitarian response).

Establish/strengthen an Interagency Community-Based Complaints Mechanism (CBCM):

• ●    Facilitate the establishment and maintenance of an inter-agency Community-Based Complaints Mechanism (CBCM) by linking Complaint and Feedback Mechanisms (CFMs) through agreed referral pathways and creating new complaint channels to address reporting gaps. 
• ●    Assist Network members in consulting and engaging with relevant stakeholders during the design of the CBCM to ensure broad support, sustainability, and community trust. 
• ●    Draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for inter-agency complaint referrals, aligning with Global SOPs and adapting to the local context. 
• ●    Advocate with senior leadership to finalize and endorse SOPs and ensure understanding of referral pathways by heads of organizations and cluster or sector leads. 
• ●    Ensure that the SOPs incorporate Protection, Health, GBV, and CP referral pathways to provide immediate aid for complainants and victims.
• ●    Collaborate with the PSEA Network, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) Working Group, service providers, and other relevant actors to understand community preferences for reporting sensitive allegations. 
• ●    Map existing CFMs to identify gaps in community access for reporting sensitive complaints and strengthen or establish new channels where needed. 
• ●    Roll out inter-agency training on SEA complaint intake and referral for PSEA focal points, Protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and Child Protection actors, as well as staff managing CFMs. 
• ●    Disseminate contact information for PSEA focal points to aid staff and affected populations to enhance accessibility and awareness of the CBCM.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• ●    If the Specialist receives an allegation directly, refer the allegation to the concerned organization, the victim/witness to available services on informed consent, and provide appropriate follow-up after referral, in accordance with the SOPs and best practice.
• ●    Keep aggregate, anonymized trends data as submitted by members and other actors in-country in order to capture SEA trends.    
• ●    Coordinate in-country mapping of partners, and agreement on lead agency for PSEA assessment, implementation plan, and capacity development of shared partners.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree in gender studies, humanitarian affairs, human rights, law, social work, public health, development studies, or related field.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• ●    At least 7 years of relevant progressive work experience in PSEA, GBV, staff misconduct, risk management, or gender mainstreaming.
• ●    Demonstrated expertise in SEA Risk Overview (“SEARO”) rollout, including risk assessment and evidence-based programming as a member of a RMT.
• ●    Strong understanding of international development and BHN.
• ●    Familiarity with the UN system and global coordination structures (IASC). 
• ●    Proven ability to develop and implement PSEAH Action Plans effectively. 
• ●    Experience in designing and facilitating capacity-building activities. 
• ●    Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• ●    Familiarity with data protection and confidentiality measures. 
• ●    Experience working in UN integrated missions is highly desirable.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2003/job/24181

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