Temporary Appointment: Programme Specialist (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), P-3, Islamabad, Pakistan, # 111875 , 364 days.

Company Name: UNICEF
Location: Austrailia

The incumbent shall conduct Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) related assignments in accordance with the UNICEF Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH). The Programme Specialist (PSEA) work is crucial to strengthening PCO’s efforts ensure UNICEF’s PSEA Vision is achieved – and this is “realizing the right of individuals and communities that UNICEF and its partners serve to access the protection and assistance they need without fear of sexual exploitation and abuse; the right of UNICEF staff members and related personnel to feel supported, respected and empowered to deliver assistance in an environment free from sexual harassment; and the right of survivors of SEA and SH to access timely and confidential investigation and effective and safe assistance and support”.

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, a fair chance!

UNICEF Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH) acknowledges the complexity and limitation to UNICEF’s authority in relation to SEA perpetrated by implementing partner personnel, including Government personnel. However, it does include measures to address and prevent these violations including supporting partners to fully integrate Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) into national programmes in both development and humanitarian contexts, creating a joined-up accountability culture that abhors, sanctions and prevents SEA and protects victims.

The Programme Specialist (PSEA) should be a seasoned professional to assist Pakistan Country Office (PCO) Senior Management in fulfilling UNICEF’s commitment that involves institutionalizing SEA prevention and response across offices, field sites and operations. This includes the four steps (1) Reporting SEA allegations; (2) response to SEA allegations; (3) monitoring SEA response; and (4) prevention of SEA. It is thus expected that the incumbent should have in-depth understanding and experience in this area.

How can you make a difference?

The incumbent shall conduct Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) related assignments in accordance with the UNICEF Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH). The Programme Specialist (PSEA) work is crucial to strengthening PCO’s efforts ensure UNICEF’s PSEA Vision is achieved – and this is “realizing the right of individuals and communities that UNICEF and its partners serve to access the protection and assistance they need without fear of sexual exploitation and abuse; the right of UNICEF staff members and related personnel to feel supported, respected and empowered to deliver assistance in an environment free from sexual harassment; and the right of survivors of SEA and SH to access timely and confidential investigation and effective and safe assistance and support”.

Key Functions, Accountabilities And Related Duties/tasks

Support the strengthening of Response Systems:

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.

Following the Global prescribed guidelines, support PCO Senior Management in setting up PCO SOPs for receiving, handling, and referring SEA allegations committed by humanitarian staff, IPs and personnel of other entities (such as sub-contractors), including when the institutional affiliation of the alleged perpetrator(s) is unknown or uncertain and not excluding SEA by UNICEF staff.

Support Senior Management 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.

Conduct training to all UNICEF staff and implementing Partners staff on PSEA and Abuse of Authority

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

Ensure that as part of PSEA Assessment, the office screens the CSO IPs for organization capacity to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse and the office encourages IP partner to develop an Action Plan to address gaps in organizational capacity. Where adequate preventive measures have not been put in place and are outstanding for greater than twelve months from the date of the PSEA Assessment, ensure that the PCO Senior Management is informed so that appropriate action as per global procedure guidelines is undertaken.This task will manage the potential risk that UNICEF partners may fail to take adequate measures to prevent and protect against sexual exploitation and abuse. Engagement with such partners could thus expose beneficiaries to harmful actions and this could have negative impact on UNICEF’s reputation.

Support the PCO to implement PSEA Assessment Procedure and related risk mitigation measures such as collaborating with Operations Assurance and Programme teams to ensuring additional assurance activities, partner capacity building through PSEA Toolkit and Action Plan, and information to relevant stakeholders of actions taken. This task will manage the potential risk that inadequate measures by UNICEF to screen partners for SEA preventive measures, and to mitigate risks of SEA may negatively influences donors and other external stakeholders.

Propose simplification and streamlining initiatives wherever applicable. These could include: maintaining centralised PSEA Assessment database; options to outsource PSEA Assessments to Third Party Service Providers with the inclusion of PSEA Toolkit and PSEA Assessment training package developed and provided in tandem with rollout by UNICEF HQ; monitoring of PSEA KPI’s in PCO Performance Scorecard and Dashboards. This task will avoid time required to complete PSEA Assessments and related follow up activities to be too long and burdensome for PCO which could cause inadequate implementation and follow-up.

Support PSEA mainstreaming during planning, policy development and programming:

Support establishment of inter-agency community-based complaint mechanisms, 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).

Work closely with the Protection Cluster and relevant IPs to ensure coordinated referral mechanisms for victim services and implementation of UN strategy on victim assistance.

Co-ordinate with Gender Specialist / Focal Points Network and other gender groups as appropriate to ensure synergy, collaboration and complementary efforts. This will include co-facilitating PSEA training modules for UNICEF and IPs staff as appropriate on appropriate conduct for aid workers, international standards on PSEA, roles & responsibilities, and how to submit and receive complaints.

Support and maintain the nomination of PSEA Focal Points (FPs) from humanitarian assistance agencies and IPs by organizing regular meetings, acting as Secretariat to the PSEA network, enhancing communication and information sharing among FPs in the network and with existing coordination and complaint/feedback mechanisms.

Advocate for incorporation of PSEA responsibilities into FPs Terms of Reference (ToRs) and performance evaluations as an incentive for them to adequately perform their roles.

Engagement with and support of affected populations:

Lead 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.

Incorporate community feedback into programme adjustment to ensure that the mechanisms remain appropriate to community needs.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social work, social sciences, political science, law, human rights law or another relevant field.
• Knowledge of current developments and activities in the inter-agency setting of the UN System and its partner organizations on PSEA.
• Minimum 8 years of work experience from a humanitarian setting with relevant professional experience in the field of sexual exploitation and abuse, protection, gender-based violence, staff misconduct and discipline, gender mainstreaming and/or humanitarian affairs;
• Developing country work experience and international development is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are Analyzing [III], Deciding and Initiating Action [II], Applying Technical Expertise [III] and Following Instructions and Procedures [II]

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. Female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Interested in finding out more?

You will have a rewarding experience working with a dynamic, diverse and committed staff who are making a difference in saving lives and building a better future for Every Child in Pakistan.

To know more about UNICEF's work in Pakistan, visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan

Videos from Pakistan can be viewed on YouTube and Vimeo

Remarks

Staff members in the Professional and higher categories (P and D) are normally internationally recruited and are expected to serve at different duty stations throughout their career with the Organization.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

• Seniority level

  Entry level

• Employment type

  Full-time

• Job function

  Administrative

• Industries

  Nonprofit Organization ManagementHuman ResourcesFinancial Services