Programme Officer (PSEA)

Details

Mission and objectives

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Context

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated significantly, with essential services on the brink of collapse, exacerbating the needs of an already vulnerable population. An estimated 24.4 million people need humanitarian assistance, including 12.9 million children. In addition, deteriorating food security has left 8.7 million people at the emergency level of food insecurity, and an estimated 1 in 2 children under five will be acutely malnourished in 2022. Moreover, the full impact of the political transition has not yet materialized, with considerable socio-economic shocks expected to affect the realization of children’s rights and access to essential services. Women and girls continue to be at a greater risk of such violence due to displacement, the breakdown of social structures, a lack of law enforcement, the potential further entrenchment of harmful gender norms, and the loss of livelihood opportunities for both men and women in the community. Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) constitutes the most egregious breach of trust between humanitarians responders and those they serve as well (SEA) by aid workers directly contradicts the principles representing a protection failure on the part of the aid community. Although there is inadequate data on the incidence of SEA in Afghanistan, global evidence suggests SEA rates are high in conflict settings. In Afghanistan reporting SEA cases or open discussion on SEA becomes much more difficult due to the stigma associated with reporting such cases. Yet anecdotal evidence suggests that SEA, including Gender-based Violence (GBV), is widespread. The UNV (PSEA) should be seasoned and proficient to assist ACO programs in fulfilling UNICEF’s commitment to institutionalizing SEA prevention and response across offices, field sites, and operations. This includes the four steps (1) Reporting SEA allegations; (2) responding to SEA allegations, (3) monitoring SEA response; and (4) prevention of SEA. [Provide brief description of Host Agency– date of establishment/creation, mandate, roles]. e.g. This UNV assignment is part of [Host Agency’s] project/flagship programming initiative etc. Provide brief description of the project including relevant stakeholders, outcomes etc. and/or include web link.

Task description

Reporting to the Programme Specialist (PSEA), the PSEA UNV will provide technical Support related to PSEA mainstreaming in all UNICEF projects and activities, such as delivering PSEA awareness sessions and sensitization, supporting the development of PSEA training packages, producing reports concerning the PSEA activities, and monitoring the PSEA calls through the PSEA hotline, coordinate and represent UNICEF in relevant meetings/working groups when needed and as requested. PSEA Response and Support on Activities implementation (60% of the time) • Provide technical Support and monitoring for the implementation of UNICEF Afghanistan Country Office PSEA Strategy and Workplan. • Support Afghanistan Country Office to institutionalize PSEA efforts within programmes and operations, monitoring, e.g., HACT, supply section, human resources, program component teams, etc. • Jointly with the Programme Specialist (PSEA), support the developing PSEA mainstreaming plan in all the projects and ensure the performance of all related activities as planned. • Support the PSEA specialist in the preparation and implementation of the PSEA activities (planning and delivery of PSEA training to UNICEF staff, consultants, implementing partners, third-party contractors, including Extenders, all related personnel, and other stakeholders) • Build the capacity of selected UNICEF staff to replicate PSEA training and awareness-raising efforts. • Capture and relay accurate information to callers professionally while conducting inbound and outbound calls, ensuring absolute data entry accuracy and adherence to protection, data protection, and confidentiality principles. • Liaise with sections to record, respond, refer to the callers and provide a regular summary of the calls. Write clear and concise caller notes in English, ensuring a rapid call handling time. • Handle calls in a timely and professional manner, including distressing calls. Ensure that all calls are treated with empathy, respect, dignity, and understanding commensurate with the call's sensitivity and vulnerability. • Support the PSEA Specialist in mapping and identifying capacities, gaps, and risks related to PSEA (policies, HR processes, training, internal and external reporting, support/assistance to SEA survivors, and investigations) and providing feedback on the needed risk mitigation measures and next steps. • Jointly with the PSEA specialist, support knowledge management efforts on PSEA, including - ensuring internal procedures are shared, updated/adapted, and in line with the global standards, UNICEF and IASC policies, and best practices in all the PSEA-related activities (risk assessment, prevention and response activities, complaint and feedback mechanism, action on SEA complaints/ensuring support for survivors, reporting and investigations) • Develop PSEA awareness-raising materials for specific groups, including brochures, posters, and banners. Reporting (30% of the time) • Collect the needed information and data and fill them properly • Prepare and support the PSEA Specialist in producing PSEA reports regularly • Remain informed of accurate and up-to-date information on UNICEF and other humanitarian responses and information relevant to affected communities. • Jointly with Social and Behaviors Change and the Accountability for Affected Populations working group, support ACO to expand/strengthen communities' access to safe and accessible reporting channels. Representation (10% of the time) • Represent UNICEF in relevant working groups, meetings, workshops, and related events when needed and requested Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.