Prevention of Sexual Exploitation & Abuse (PSEA) Officer at World Health Organization (WHO)

World Health Organization (WHO)

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Position: Prevention of Sexual Exploitation & Abuse (PSEA) Officer

Job Time: Full-Time

Job Type: Contract

Place of Work: Ethiopia - Ethiopia

Salary: $2,359/month

Posted date: 1 year ago

Deadline: Submition date is over

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO?s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

The Programme seeks to promote and uphold the humanitarian and public health principles by leading a coordinated and effective health sector response together with the national and international community, with specific attention to vulnerable and marginalized populations, through effectuating WHO's commitment to work within the framework of the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) and the cluster approach. The incumbent will be responsible for performing dedicated coordination, health needs assessment, strategy development and resource mobilization, supporting the implementation and, monitoring the joint incident management system and advocacy function.

An exceptional three-season drought sequence has struck the Eastern Horn of Africa due to the poor rains in October-December 2020 and March-May 2021 followed by an extremely dry October-December 2021 season. In Ethiopia, millions are estimated to be in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance affecting Somali region, Oromia and SNNP and southwest regions. To reduce excess morbidity and mortality resulting from the public health consequences of the drought-related humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, WHO will be working with the Federal Ministry of Health, Ethiopian Public Health Emergencies Institute (EPHI) and health partners to respond to this emergency while building on existing health sector development programmes, enhancing preparedness for further deterioration of the humanitarian situation, boosting capacities and integrating risk reduction and resilience building components to foster long-term development solutions to the crisis.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by aid workers contradicts the very principles on which humanitarian action is based and is a protection failure, and a grievous violation of rights and dignity. All staff of humanitarian agencies and organizations, including the United Nations agencies and operational partners, are expected to uphold the highest standards of personal and professional conduct at all times to protect beneficiaries of assistance. Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of members of the local population is unacceptable and constitutes gross misconduct. Therefore, to prevent this act, it is necessary to assure that messaging on what SEA is, and where it can be reported is an essential component of any humanitarian response. Both UN agency staff/personnel and implementing partners and sub-contractors are bound by humanitarian standards and a policy of zero tolerance. At the same time, it is essential, that beneficiaries are made aware of what SEA is, and where it can safely be reported in a safe channel that is guided by the international standard of the survivor-centered approach.

The events unfolding in the drought-affected regions of Ethiopia in SNNPR, Oromia and Somali have brought widespread humanitarian calamity to individuals, families and communities. Displacement, psychosocial distress, hunger, being reliant on humanitarian assistance and multi-dimensional poverty make those impacted by the crisis in drought-affected regions especially vulnerable to all forms of GBV, including SEA. According to the IASC guidelines, it is essential that humanitarians assume that S/GBV (sexual/gender-based violence) a serious, life-threatening health issue is happening on a massive scale and is rarely reported, and this includes SEA. It is therefore incumbent upon all UN agencies, including the WHO to take all necessary steps to prevent, mitigate and respond to the risk of SEA.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• The incumbents will work under the direct technical supervision of the PRSEAH expert dedicated to the Ethiopia overall drought response. They will be supported by regional coordinators for day-to-day operational support in their 3 respective hubs.
• The PSEA Officers will be based in the three areas targeted in the drought response. They will carry out face-to-face messaging to beneficiaries and also to implementing partners to assure their knowledge and awareness of PRSEAH (prevention and response to sexual exploitation and abuse) and where it can be reported. They will support in data collection, and in strengthening feedback mechanisms and keeping relevant WHO staff abreast of new developments, and changes that may be needed to assure the feedback mechanisms operate in a culturally, and contextually appropriate manner. This position may involve extensive training missions to field locations and interactions with the beneficiaries of implementing partners of WHO.
• Strengthen the capacity of the implementing partners of WHO on PSEA, and in assuring that they are fully compliant with the 2018 protocol of the SG on allegations of SEA involving IPs
• Support the strengthening of SEA feedback mechanisms in the communities being served by WHO
• Provide training to Implementing partners, and regularly follow up with them to assure that risks are identified and mitigated, and feedback mechanisms are operational.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

Essential:

• First University Degree in health-related or social science fields

Desirable

• Diploma in law or international relations, postgraduate peace and conflict resolution

WORK EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Minimum of 2 years experience in health promotion, community engagement, social mobilization and promoting populations? awareness of sexual/reproductive health, HIV prevention
• Experience in community mobilization and sensitization on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and/or Sexual/Gender-based Violence (S/GBV)
• Knowledge of SRH, and especially GBV essential

Desirable

• Experience working with a UN agency, an NGO or an INGO in the areas listed above.

FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrated ability to interact in complex situations involving technical, cultural and political elements. Sound analytical and organizational skill
• Ability and willingness to engage in discussion on subjects of a sensitive and sometimes controversial nature, in compliance with the existing policies, and the policy of zero tolerance.
• Ability/willingness to travel on missions to remote locations in Northern Ethiopia on a frequent basis
• Absolute compliance with WHO?s PSEA policy
• Experience and proven ability to work on awareness-raising in affected communities essential

WHO COMPETENCIES

Communication

• Teamwork
• Producing result
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential:

• Excellent knowledge of English. Working knowledge of the local language.

Other Skills (e.g. IT Skills)

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office software applications. Excellent presentation skills.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The duty stations of this assignment are located in Somali, SNNPR, Oromia regions

Remuneration ? This is a Special Service Agreement (SSA) contract at NO-B level, with a monthly remuneration of $2,359

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

A written test may be used as a form of screening.

If your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

This is an assignment reserved for local recruitment; so only applications from Ethiopians will be considered.

Applications from women are particularly encouraged.

WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

WHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

The SSA holder shall perform the work as an independent contractor in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under an SSA contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the SSA holder.

WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the SSA holder. The SSA holder shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the SSA holder in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the SSA holder shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.