Background:
On April 15th, 2023, military conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict started in Khartoum State and quickly spread to the States of West Darfur, South Darfur, North Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Blue Nile, Kassala and the Red Sea. As of the date of this note, the conflict is still ongoing and, in some areas, it even intensifies.
The revised 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Sudan estimates that before the conflict, around 3.1 million women and girls and other vulnerable people were already facing the risk of life-threatening violence in Sudan, according to UN estimates in the initial 2023 Sudan HRP. Since the conflict broke out, that number has increased by 1 million, meaning 4.2 million people (including refugees inside Sudan) are at risk of gender-based violence (GBV) as violence continues, inter-communal tensions mount and protection services and support systems are increasingly breaking down, and access to lifesaving services is heavily impacted with the ongoing conflict.
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Women and girls continue to live at extremely high risk of all forms of gender-based violence (GBV). The presence of armed actors, resource shortages -including of water, food, and fuel - and even the humanitarian response itself continue to exacerbate risk of GBV and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) in the public sphere, while long periods trapped within homes due to fighting increases incidents of intimate partner and domestic violence. Multiple women and girls, including non-Sudanese individuals, are experiencing secondary displacement and psychological impacts of displacement. Older women, adolescent girls and women and girls living with disabilities face additional concerns and challenges in this unstable environment. Vulnerable men and boys are also exposed to the risks of GBV.
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Ongoing insecurity, looting, and inability to ensure reliable supply-chains for commodities, combined with electricity cuts and fuel shortages all continue to prohibit GBV humanitarian response of the scale necessary to meet the needs in conflict affected states. While humanitarian actors, including coordination mechanisms, are now operating through locations including States affected by new IDP influx, such as Port Sudan and Al Jazeirah State, administrative challenges, shortages of supplies, and unmet needs for GBV services continue to exist.ย
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UNFPA Sudan supports GBV interventions at two levels. It coordinates multi-sectoral and comprehensive partner interventions through the GBV sub-sector under the overall protection sector. UNFPA also implements specific prevention and response activities. Specifically, this includes coordination of comprehensive GBV-related prevention and response activities among different actors through chairing the GBV sub-sector under the protection sector to ensure comprehensive sharing of information, identification of response gaps, and follow-up through relevant protection stakeholders. UNFPA also supports the revision and operationalization of already developed National Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Programmatically, UNFPA conducts community sensitization on GBV issues, supports women centers providing entry points for livelihood opportunities, and provides personal hygiene/dignity kits to the most vulnerable women and adolescent girls of communities affected by humanitarian crises.
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UNFPA leads the national GBV AoR under the Protection Sector (led by UNHCR) and works closely with UNICEF (Child Protection) and UNHCR (Protection) to ensure strong linkages between the sub-sector and the Protection sector. UNFPA currently also assumes the GBV coordination by leading 11 GBV sub-sector working groups (GBV WG) in 4 Darfur states (North, West, South, and Central), Blue Nile state, White Nile state, South Kordofan state, Kassala state, Gadarif state, Aj Jazeira state, and Red Sea state.
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The Position:
In Sudan, UNFPA has a responsibility for leading GBV AoR, called โGBV Sub-Sectorโ, under the Protection Cluster or for actively identifying and supporting another agency to take on this role. The incumbent will support UNFPA/GBV AoR in an inter-agency capacity to ensure a robust and well-functioning information management system for GBV response that promotes the highest standards of GBV ethical data management, in line with global guidance.
The International GBV AoR Information Management Officer (IMO) will lead on systematic, safe and ethical process of collecting, collating, storing, processing, verifying, analysing and disseminating data and information related to GBV and the sectoral response to enable evidence-based and quality GBV coordination and response. The GBV AoR IMO is also responsible for providing technical guidance, mentoring and coaching and to strengthen the national GBV IM capacity.
IMO will use the GBV Area of Responsibilityโs Handbook for Coordinating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Emergencies (2019), the Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Prevention and Response to GBV in Emergencies and the IASCโs Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action: Reducing Risk, Promoting Resilience, and Aiding Recovery, to facilitate information management system strengthening.
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.ย UNFPAโs 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 โbuild forward betterโ, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on womenโs and girlsโ 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.
You would be responsible for:
Under direct supervision of the GBV AoR Coordinator, the international GBV IM Officer will provide technical support to ensure that up-to-date information necessary for effective GBV programming and coordination is collected, used, stored and shared, in line with relevant standards. IMO will support the GBV AoR to make informed, evidence-based strategic and programmatic decisions for GBV programming based on the collected and analysed information on the scale/scope and coverage of the GBV responses at states level and the needs of affected populations. The GBV IM officer will provide technical guidance, mentoring, and coaching the national GBV IMO and collaborate closely with GBV AoR Coordinator at national level.
Support Coordination and Service Delivery ย
In consultation with the GBV AOR partners, develop/update IM strategy which defines how data is collected, collated, analysed and shared and the ethical and safety standards in GBV data management. Conduct mapping of all actors (national and international organizations as well as local community-based institutions) working on GBV prevention and response using the 4Ws matrix. Conduct periodic mapping of multi-sectoral GBV service providers and existing and potential referral mechanisms, identifying details of the specific types of response services (entry points), their locations, service providersโ contact details to establish/update/strengthen referral pathways for GBV survivors. Conduct analysis of the service mapping data to identify key gaps in terms of availability, accessibility, quality of services as well as issues of duplications in order to assist the GBV AOR coordination develop mechanisms to address them. Manage information flows and dissemination in a timely and appropriate way, including up-to-date contact/mailing lists, shared information repositories (such as google drive, drop box), humanitarian website and other platforms. Support GBVIMS roll-out in designated states. Organize and maintain safe and accessible systems for exchange of information about GBV standards/guidelines, assessments, resource mobilization processes and coordination. Represent the GBV AOR in the Information Management Working Group (IMWG) meetings; and work with relevant clusters, including protection (led by UNHCR), child protection (led by UNICEF), the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (led by OCHA), health (led WHO) and relevant stakeholders (national and international NGOs and community- based organizations) to exchange and analyse relevant information. Support the GBV AOR partners in applying GBV guiding principles (safety, non-discrimination, confidentiality and informed consent) as keystones of safe and ethical data management, including not seeking or disclosing unauthorized information that could be misconceived as prevalence of GBV Contribute to advocacy and communication materials (key messaging/briefing note/talking points, etc.) developed by the GBV AOR to help a better understanding of the GBV needs due to the humanitarian crisis as well as the gap in the response and financial requirements.Capacity Building ย
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Needs Analysis, Strategic Decisions and Response Planningย
Identify/update the GBV AOR information needs and appropriate methods/available data sources to facilitate informed strategic decisions and effective response planning.ย Ensure GBV specific indicators and questions are adequately and appropriately integrated in the existing and new inter-agency assessments including Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), Site Assessment (SA), protection monitoring, etc. Map out and review available qualitative and quantitative secondary data sources to assist the GBV needs analysis and identify information gaps. Participate in relevant GBV-related assessments/data gathering initiatives to provide direct technical support on the GBV in emergency assessment methodologies and the ethical considerations based on the WHO Ethical and safety recommendations for researching, documenting and monitoring sexual violence in emergenciesย Support review and adaptation of the GBV rapid assessment tools to ensure coherent and quality use of common assessment tools amongst partners. Consolidate and analyse information/data on the GBV related needs, vulnerability and capacities of the population affected by the crisis from secondary data review, existing multi sectoral assessments, DTM, GBV response monitoring data, and GBV-specific assessment. Support the GBV AOR in conducting analysis of severity of needs and calculating the number of people in need (PiN) of GBV response and setting realistic and measurable targets for priority activities and locations. Represent the GBV AOR in a joint intersectoral needs analysis team/working group.Response Monitoring and Reportingย
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Program Support
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Qualifications and Experience:ย
Education:ย ย
Advanced University Degree in computer/data science, statistics, GIS, demography, economics or the equivalent combination of education and experience in a related area.ย
Knowledge and Experience:ย
Demonstrated skills in communication, and training and mentoring to GBV and non-GBV specialists in GBV IM standards and principles.
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Languages:ย
Proficiency in both oral and written English is required; knowledge of Arabic is an asset
Required Competencies:ย
Values:
Exemplifying integrity,ย Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,ย Embracing cultural diversity,ย Embracing changeCore Competencies:ย
Achieving results, Being accountable, Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, Thinking analytically and strategically, Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,Functional Competencies:
Advocacy / Advancing a policy-oriented agenda, leveraging the resources of state/local governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships.ย Delivering results-based programmes;ย Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization. Project management leadershipย
Compensation and Benefits:
ย This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.ย
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.ย
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.