Principal Adviser on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment, D1, Geneva

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

UNHCR aims to provide a safe, trusted, respectful and inclusive environment where the people we serve and those who work for the organization feel safe, heard, equipped, and empowered to speak up for themselves and others, and where sexual misconduct does not happen. In case sexual misconduct does occur, UNHCR takes victim-centred action, striving to eradicate sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and sexual harassment (SH) from our organization and the sector we work in.

Reporting to the Deputy High Commissioner, the Principal Adviser on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (PSEA/SH) leads and coordinates UNHCR’s efforts to tackle sexual misconduct. The Principal Adviser supervises a dedicated team of colleagues covering policy development and oversight, support to victims/survivors, training, communications and external relations, field support, and interagency engagement. S/he works closely with all UNHCR entities that contribute to UNHCR’s global safeguarding efforts as well as other stakeholders, including the Inspector General’s Office (IGO), Legal Affairs Service (LAS), the Division of International Protection (DIP), the Division of Human Resources (DHR), the Division of External Relations (DER), the Division of Strategic Planning and Results (DSPR), the Ethics Office, the Ombudsman’s Office, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), as well as all of UNHCR’s Regional Bureaux and operations. S/he also works closely with a wide variety of partners including UN sister agencies, non-governmental organizations, the Office of the Special Coordinator on Improving the UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and the Victims Rights Advocate.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Working closely with all concerned stakeholders, lead and coordinate UNHCR’s efforts to tackle SEA and SH, with a view of building the capacity of UNHCR personnel and partners to tackle sexual misconduct.
• Oversee the development and implementation of UNHCR’s Strategy and Action Plan on Tackling Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment
• Monitor the implementation of UNHCR’s Policy on a Victim-Centered Approach in UNHCR’s response to Sexual Misconduct, promoting, supporting, and facilitating the streamlining of an end-to-end victim-centred approach in all UNHCR practices and procedures concerning responses to sexual misconduct. Through working closely with the Victim Care Officers on the team, identify and support UNHCR to address systemic issues to enable UNHCR to be more victim centred in its response to sexual misconduct.
• Uphold organizational and operational accountability in tackling sexual misconduct, strengthening prevention, mitigation, and response measures related to sexual misconduct as an institutional priority. Provide advice and guidance to relevant entities at Headquarters, the Regional Bureaux and operations in this respect.
• Lead and coordinate the formulation of UNHCR’s corporate and organizational guidance, strategies, and interventions concerning sexual misconduct, both in relation to specific policy questions as well as in response to specific operational situations and concerns.
• Provide advice, guidance and technical support to senior managers within the Bureaux, and country offices as appropriate, helping to equip and empower them to effectively tackle sexual misconduct within their regions/operations.
• Oversee the management of UNHCR’s PSEA Community of Practice, set direction for, capacitate, develop, and promote UNHCR’s network of PSEA Focal Points, ensuring oversight and direction-setting for PSEA Focal Points in operations globally.
• Lead the development of learning initiatives and other tools to help capacitate UNHCR operations, managers, and personnel. Promote the inclusion of SEA and SH in learning and other initiatives aimed at empowering colleagues in the field and partner organizations to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct and apply a Victim Centred Approach.
• Lead and coordinate UNHCR’s participation and engagement in interagency and broader efforts to tackle sexual misconduct. Ensure adequate and appropriate participation in various fora within the IASC, the UN system and with donor governments, and represent UNHCR on the CEB Task Force on Addressing Sexual Harassment within the UN system. Ensure that quality substantive input is provided to interagency and UN guidance, policies initiatives and tools.
• Advance UNHCR’s partnerships with communities in the fight against sexual misconduct, strengthening outreach efforts and community-based feedback mechanisms, ensuring the communities with which we work are empowered to access timely, relevant, and appropriate and context-specific information about their rights and available services.
• Strengthen external and internal communications and advocacy efforts on addressing sexual misconduct. Formulate, communicate, explain and authoritatively convey the organization’s strategic priorities in relation to SEA/SH, empowering UNHCR’s management and personnel to engage in the combat against sexual misconduct. Represent UNHCR’s efforts against sexual misconduct with donors and partners and support the High Commissioner and the Deputy High Commissioner in their leadership roles on tackling sexual misconduct in the interagency context.
• Support organizational culture change efforts. Recognizing that sexual misconduct is rooted in power differentials and gender inequalities, contribute to internal and interagency efforts to capacitate managers to provide safe, respectful, and inclusive working environments free from sexual misconduct.
• Ensure the High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner and other members of Senior Management are kept abreast of relevant developments, challenges and achievements concerning UNHCR’s combat against sexual misconduct, and support them in their leadership in this respect across the organization.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For D1 – 17 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 16 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 15 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

International Law, Human Rights, International Development,

International Relations, Anthropology, Political Science,

Social Science, or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Relevant previous work experience in humanitarian context including field operations. Demonstrated experience in leadership, management, and representation, including leading and managing diverse teams, and representing organizational positions at senior levels. Authoritative knowledge of issues relating to protection, refugee women, gender, humanitarian and development issues, and prevention and response to gender-based violence. Experience in refugee protection and human rights. Demonstrated teamwork and coordination skills, responsive and effective problem-solving and crisis management skills. Demonstrated experience in strategic advocacy and coordination of complex stakeholders. Extensive experience in overseeing policy development and implementation. Extensive operational experience covering a variety of regional situations, including in HQ and operations, and in particular hardship locations. Experience working with vulnerable individuals of populations.

Desirable

Experience working in a coordination capacity, including in other organizations (UN, government and NGO).

Functional Skills

CO-Strategic Communication

SO-Presentation skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering and Building Trust

Judgement and Decision Making

Leadership

Managing Performance

Managing Resources

Strategic Planning and Vision

Cross-Functional Competencies

Stakeholder Management

Political Awareness

Planning and Organizing

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

• Extensive operational experience in diverse humanitarian and/or development settings, protection experience at the senior level a strong asset

• An understanding of the causes and nature of sexual misconduct, both sexual exploitation and sexual abuse and sexual harassment, and their impact on victims and survivors, and the requisite multi-functional response.

• Excellent skills in strategy and policy development as well as a demonstrated creative and innovative approach to addressing complex challenges.

• Proven skills in leadership, team building, diplomacy, negotiation and managing high-level meetings at the senior level.

• Experience in advocacy and coordination, and demonstrated capacity to create strong and effective professional relations.

• Strong internal and external communication skills, both oral and written, and demonstrated experience in strategic communication on complex issues to a wide range of internal and external interlocutors.

• Knowledge of UN and IASC systems, processes, and policies relating to sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment.

• Knowledge of UNHCR integrity and accountability framework and mechanisms.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

,

,

Desired languages

,

,

Operational context

Nature of Position:

Protection from sexual misconduct is a key organizational priority. Since 2018, UNHCR has made significant progress in tackling sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and sexual harassment (SH) within the organization and has contributed equally to doing so in the humanitarian and development sectors. Critical to the success of these efforts has been the establishment of a dedicated capacity in the Office of the Senior Coordinator (PSEA/SH) to lead and coordinate UNHCR’s efforts to tackle both forms of misconduct, recognizing their common roots in power differentials and gender inequalities and the similar needs of victims.

In accordance with UNHCR’s Strategy and Action Plan on Tackling Sexual Misconduct and Policy on A Victim Centred Approach in Response to SEA and SH, the Senior Coordinator (PSEA/SH) and her/his teamwork in coordination with, and provide advice and support to, UNHCR Divisions, entities, Bureaux, and operations. This includes the development and implementation of policies, strategies, guidance and communication materials, operational tools, training and learning initiatives, and field support missions.

In recent years the role and responsibilities of the Senior Coordinator (PSEA/SH) have grown in scope and complexity. In addition to the important leadership and advisory role the Senior Coordinator plays within UNHCR, the function must likewise represent UNHCR’s operational perspective and position in a multifaceted interagency arena, where authoritative and experienced UNHCR participation at a senior level is paramount.

The position requires an understanding of the root causes of sexual misconduct, both SEA and SH, their impact on victims and survivors, and the requisite multi-functional response. Given the sensitive and somewhat complex nature of this subject, a unique combination of experience and skills is required to drive this work forward both internally and within the interagency context. This includes strong skills in strategy and policy development and internal and external communications and advocacy, as well as a demonstrated creative and innovative approach to addressing complex challenges, Familiarity with integrity and oversight process and training and learning are an advantage. The internal and external coordination environment comes with inherent pressure that also requires demonstrated skills in leadership, team building, diplomacy, managing high-level meetings, negotiation, and the creation and maintenance of strong, effective professional relationships. Solid operational experience is also required to ensure that policy and tool development and implementation speak to field realities.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Anthropology, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Development, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science

Certifications

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Add. 3 to March 2023 Compendium – Part A

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

How to apply

For a full job description and to apply, interested candidates are requested to visit

bit.ly/3puKfaf

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

Closing date of receipt of applications: 13 July 2023 (midnight Geneva time)