GBV in Emergencies Preparedness and Response Consultant

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:

The Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region faces a complex array of risks, ranging from natural disasters to protracted conflicts. Recent events like the war in Ukraine, the earthquake in Turkey, and renewed hostilities in the Karabakh region have further exacerbated existing vulnerabilities. These events, alongside less publicised but persistent conflicts, have affected economic stability and political equilibrium in countries across the region.

Since the onset of the Ukraine crisis, UNFPA's Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECARO) has been providing comprehensive support to those affected, working closely with UNFPA country offices and partners in Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and non-programme countries like Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, to address the unique needs of women and girls.

In response to the frequency and severity of these crises, the UNFPA Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (EECARO) has made significant investments in bolstering the emergency preparedness and response capacity of its Country Offices (COs), and selected non-programme countries, with a specific focus on Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE). 

EECARO has already taken concrete steps, including developing and facilitating the first EECA Regional GBV in Emergencies Training, establishing a Regional Roster of GBV/GBViE Specialists, sustaining a dedicated Community of Practice. EECARO has also been investing in strengthening the GBV Coordination mechanisms within the Refugee Response to the Ukraine crisis and rolling out the Safe You app in Romania and Poland to increase access to services and information to all women and girls.

Building on this momentum, EECARO is committed to continue investing in GBV emergency preparedness and response in the region.

Objective of the Consultancy:

Under the overall guidance of EECARO’s Regional Director and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, and under direct supervision of EECARO Regional GBViE Specialist, the GBViE Consultant will work closely with the wider Humanitarian and Gender Teams to provide:

• Technical Assistance: Offering expert guidance and support to the Regional Office, Country Offices and partners in non-programme countries on GBViE integration into preparedness and response efforts.
• Development of Guidance: Creating practical resources and tools to facilitate the effective integration of GBViE considerations into Minimum Preparedness Actions (MPA), Preparedness Plans, and GBViE programs.
• Capacity Building: Delivering targeted training and workshops to strengthen the skills and knowledge of staff at both regional and country levels.

This consultancy represents a crucial opportunity to further enhance UNFPA's ability to address the unique challenges and vulnerabilities faced by women and girls seeking refuge from the war in Ukraine, while leveraging on these interventions to increase capacity to effectively deliver GBViE programmes across the EECA region and increase the overall level of preparedness of UNFPA COs in EECA to respond efficiently and timely to crises that may affect their country.

You would be responsible for:

Expected outputs and deliverables:

• Enhance Emergency Response through Integration of Digital Safety and Addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-based Violence (TF GBV): develop guidance and training resources, supporting the development of technology solutions for protection, and fostering collaboration between humanitarian and technology sectors.
• Support to GBV Coordination across the Regional Refugee Response to Ukraine: support GBV coordination mechanisms at regional and national levels, facilitate GBV assessments and other cross-sectoral analysis, lead capacity building and knowledge sharing initiatives.
• EECA-Adapted Resources: Develop a set of guidelines, tools, and training/capacity building materials specifically adapted to the EECA context, with a focus on TF GBViE,  and others as deemed needed.
• EECA’s GBV/GBViE Community of Practice: Plan and co-facilitate thematic sessions on key programmatic areas, and provide technical assistance to CO’s GBV and GBViE focal points; 
• Capacity Building Initiatives: Support organisation and co-facilitation of regional-led capacity building initiatives on emergency preparedness and response, including Regional GBViE Preparedness and Response Training for non-GBV Specialists and scale up of the Regional GBViE Preparedness Training for GBV Specialists. 
• Ad hoc support: Perform any other duties as required by UNFPA EECARO Regional Director, EECARO Regional GBViE specialist and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, in support to the COs in EECA and EECARO. Undertake missions to selected countries in the Region, including non-programme countries, as needed. 

Duration and working schedule:

Consultant will be engaged for up to 165 workdays during the period of  February to December 2025 as per the request of EECARO and may include remote or in-country support at the Regional Office in Istanbul, or deployment to Country Offices, as needed.

Place where services are to be delivered:

• Home-based, with possible travels to EECARO, Country Offices and non-programme countries in the EECA region, as needed.

UNFPA will pay travel costs separately and in line with UNFPA travel policy.

Supervisory Arrangements:

• The Gender Consultant will perform under the overall guidance of and will report directly to the Team Lead  Consultant. 
• The overall report will be to the UNFPA EECARO Regional Gender Advisor, with support from the Gender Specialist.

Monitoring and Progress Control:

Under the direct supervision of EECARO Regional GBViE Specialist, the GBViE Consultant will work closely with EECARO Results Monitoring Consultant, in collaboration with the Regional SRHiE Specialist, the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, the Gender Program Specialist and other EECARO staff, as needed. 

To document  progress against ToR deliverables and deadlines, the GBViE Consultant will provide regular reports as follows:

• Monthly Reports: Regular reports summarising key achievements, capacity building activities undertaken, training materials, tools, and guidance developed, and technical assistance provided to UNFPA Country Offices. 
• Final Report: A comprehensive report detailing the support provided to Preparedness Countries, key findings, guidance, materials, and tools developed, lessons learned, and recommendations for enhancing GBV Preparedness in the EECA region.

Expected Travel:

• Possible travel to the Regional Office in Istanbul, Turkiye, to Countries where UNFPA has Country Offices in EECA, as well as non-programme countries, including but not limited to Poland, Slovakia and Romania), as needed.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:  

• Minimum of Master’s degree in medicine, public health, gender studies, public health, international development, social sciences, or other related fields.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant professional humanitarian experience, including experience in GBV in emergencies, preferably in the EECA region;
• Substantive knowledge and practical experience in GBV in Emergencies programming in humanitarian with a specific focus on preparedness actions;
• Knowledge and experience in the UNFPA’s Minimum Preparedness Actions (MPA) implementation is an advantage;
• Demonstrated experience in GBV coordination in humanitarian settings;
• Experience in capacity development and delivery of GBViE trainings to UN, government, NGO, and community-level counterparts are essential;

Languages: 

• Fluency and excellent writing skills in English is required.
• Knowledge of languages spoken in EECA and non-programmatic countries covered by EECARO is an asset.

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,
   

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.