Background and Context:

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a key protection concern in the State of Palestine; according to the 2019 Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) survey on violence, which was updated in July 2022, 52.3% of (married or previously married) women between the ages of 15 and 64 experienced violence in the 12 months preceding the survey in the West Bank. Those needs and challenges were exacerbated after 7 October. Protection actors have noted a steady deterioration of the protection situation of Palestinians living in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The movement restrictions, unprecedented levels of violence by settlers and Israeli Forces, and economic challenges exacerbate risks for GBV both in terms of intimate partner violence as well as other forms of GBV including sexual harassment and assault.

Organizational Location:

UNFPA Palestine leads the GBV AoR Sub Cluster. UNFPA coordinates multi-sectoral and comprehensive partner interventions through the GBV Area of Responsibility (GBV AoR) Sub Cluster (referred to herein as the GBV SC), as part of the Protection Cluster. UNFPA is the Chair of the National GBV SC as well as the sub-national sub-cluster in the West Bank.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

In the State of Palestine, UNFPA has the responsibility for leading the GBV Sub-Cluster, under the Protection Cluster. The incumbent will lead the sub-national GBV coordination to ensure strong partnership and collaboration toward a comprehensive multi-sectoral GBV survivor-centered prevention and response. This includes close cooperation amongst health, psycho-social, protection and legal actors to ensure that survivors’ needs are met. Strengthened GBV coordination will result in enhancing women and girls’ protection and dignity, through increased awareness by GBV actors on GBV prevention and response services.

You would be responsible for:

Establishing/reinforcing effective mechanisms for inter-agency and cross-sectoral coordination and operationalization of GBV-related interventions;

Providing technical leadership and ensuring awareness and usage of relevant tools for effective GBV programming including strengthening the capacity of GBV service providers;

Supporting inter-agency needs assessments; and monitoring the implementation and quality of GBV service provision, and, promoting effective data and information collection, sharing and analysis.

Coordination and Promoting Joint Action

• Promote engagement of relevant humanitarian actors including government actors, UN agencies, and National and International Organizations.
• Promote shared knowledge and understanding of the GBV guiding principles and tools for effective GBV program management and inter-agency coordination.
• Identify Sub-Cluster focal points to engage with other relevant sectors/clusters for GBV risk mitigation and survivor referral.
• Represent the GBV SC in the Protection Cluster Meeting and the WB Inter-cluster Coordination Group (ICCG).
• Develop/Review/Update GBV referral pathways.
• Develop GBV Sub-Cluster work plans.
• Draft key messages, priorities and advocacy notes to promote consistent communications that emphasize the life-saving nature of GBV-related interventions in the crisis-affected context.
• Develop a strategy for effective communications with affected populations on GBV services, risk mitigation strategies, and to promote gender equality.
• Lead GBV Rapid Assessments and responses, review of data and reports in line with ethical guidelines.
• Support access to short but essential training such as PSEA and PFA especially for GBV frontliners.

Technical Leadership

• Assess capacity gaps that hinder quality and/or coverage of GBV prevention and response interventions.
• Develop/adapt and conduct training to address capacity gaps especially on GBV Case Management.
• Monitor the implementation and quality of GBV service provision
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to partners on GBV trainings programmes and curriculum
• Support the development, implementation and monitoring of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) , tools and referral pathway for all actors involved in GBV response.
• Promote awareness of, access to and use of relevant tools and guidelines across clusters to support effective GBV prevention and response.
• Facilitate GBV mainstreaming training for other sector responses.
• Mentor other clusters in the uptake of GBV mainstreaming tools and monitor their implementation and support implementation of action plans developed by GBV SC.

Information Management

• Lead and/or contribute to assessments and situational analyses including interagency assessments and missions; ensure GBV concerns are included in multi-cluster assessments and link to consolidated appeals
• Map actors who can support GBV-related interventions and identify gaps
• Ensure a standardized approach to data gathering, with an emphasis on ensuring safe and ethical practices as promoted by the Guiding Principles for Working with GBV Survivors, and the WHO Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Researching, Documenting and Monitoring Sexual Violence in Emergencies
• Establish/maintain a system for information sharing and dissemination, including for advocacy purposes.
• Develop and regularly update an inter-agency M&E framework to guide work of GBV Sub-cluster and support accountability

Representation and Advocacy

• Represent the collective membership of the GBV Sub-Cluster.
• Coordinate with the GBV AoR Coordinator for advocacy action and support on identified needs and gaps
• In collaboration with the GBV AoR Coordinator share information on identified needs and recommendations of the GBV SC with government partners, UN Mission, other sector leads, donors and others as relevant
• Coordinate with the GBV AoR Coordinator to mobilize funds to identify gaps in GBV prevention and response.

Other

Undertake other relevant tasks as requested by the GBV AoR Coordinator.

Key Deliverables:

• Regular GBV sub-cluster meetings.
• GB sub-cluster work-plan, with clear deliverables, timelines, and accountability – bringing together activities of members ensuring coordination and non-duplication of activities.
• Periodic Safety audits (as context allows). Findings to be used to inform advocacy priorities.
• Participation in WB cluster meetings i.e. Health, CVA, Protection, etc ensuring GBV prevention and risk mitigation is incorporated and prioritized in cluster plans.

Monthly reports to the GBV AoR Coordinator on progress against the work plan.

Work relations:

The Sub-National GBV Sub-Cluster Coordination Officer is located in East Jerusalem. As part of the coordination team, The Sub-National GBV Coordination Officer is supervised by the GBV AoR Coordinator with a secondary reporting line to the GBV SC Coordinator at the national level. Each of the Sub-National GBV Sub-Cluster Coordination Officers (in Gaza and East Jerusalem) will be expected to work closely with each other as well as the GBV Information Management Analyst.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced university degree with a specialization in areas such as gender studies, humanitarian affairs, human rights, law, social sciences, development studies, international relations, and/or related social science fields.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 5 years working on GBV preferably dealing with humanitarian projects and in the Arab States region.
• Experience leading inter-agency coordination mechanisms with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the critical components to facilitate effective inter-agency coordination.
• Experience in utilizing the following international tools: GBV Coordination Handbook, GBV Standard Operating Procedures; GBV Information Management System; IASC GBV Guidelines; IASC Gender Handbook; GBV Coordination Handbook; WHO Ethical and Safety Recommendations.
• Awareness and demonstrable knowledge of how GBV manifests in humanitarian settings and ability to describe context-specific prevention and response actions.
• Demonstrable knowledge of humanitarian emergency operations, including the Cluster System and Humanitarian Program Cycle and roles and responsibilities of key humanitarian actors.
• Ability to self-manage, emotional intelligence, empathy, team spirit, conflict management and negotiating skills.

Languages:

Fluency in oral and written English is essential.

Required Competencies:

Values:

Exemplifying integrity,

Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,

Embracing cultural diversity,

Embracing change

Core Competencies:

Achieving results,

Being accountable,

Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,

Thinking analytically and strategically,

Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.