[UNHCR Guyana] Associate GBV Officer, IICA-1, UNOPS At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Eligible Applicants:

This is an international position offered under a UNOPS contract at level IICA 1 and therefore the vacancy is opened to applications of not nationals of Guyana.

Operational Context:

General Background
The ongoing political, human rights and socio-economic developments in Venezuela have led over million Venezuelans refugees and migrants to move into Latin American and the Caribbean countries. It is estimated that Guyana, a small developing nation, has welcomed thus far over 23,000 refugees and migrants from Venezuela. The increasing number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela has put additional strain in already limited resources and impacted host communities, especially vulnerable local communities in the country’s interior where service provision is already limited. The deteriorating situation in Venezuela has also led to significant numbers of Guyanese and Guyanese descendants to return to Guyana from Venezuela. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the disease has also greatly impacted the country’s economy and its vulnerable population, including the large refugee and migrant population.

Guyana is not a signatory to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol; however, authorities do provide a 90-day legal stay permit with the possibility of continuous extension for a similar period of time upon registering with the Department of Immigration. It is important to highlight that the stay permit does not entitle Venezuelans to legally work in the country; a work permit is still required by national law. Nevertheless, authorities do not actively enforce these restrictions and many Venezuelans find employment in the informal sector. Those that do not possess a work permit are nonetheless more exposed to situations of sexual and labour exploitation.

One of the main protection concerns affecting persons of concern (POCs) to UNHCR in Guyana is Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and its consequences. GBV, particularly violence against women and girls, is pervasive in the country. Data from 2019 suggests that 1 in every 2 women in Guyana will experience Intimate Partner Violence, and POCs in the country are disproportionately affected. A significant number of Venezuelan refugees in Guyana are women, who are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, and other negative copying mechanisms. Other vulnerable groups at risk of GBV are indigenous Venezuelans, who in its majority settles in remote areas at the border with Venezuela.

Limited livelihoods opportunities increase the vulnerability of POCs, forcing many men and women to search for opportunities in mining areas, where Government presence is scarce. In addition, many women resort to sex work or survival sex in order to provide for their basic needs. There are no viable alternatives for women seeking other sources of income and limited social networks and psychosocial support for women suffering from trauma-related issues due to trafficking and GBV. The rapid GBV assessment report in Guyana indicates that women and children from Venezuela are subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour in mining communities in the interior and urban areas. Making contact with women in trafficking situations or women engaged in the sale and exchange of sex as a coping mechanism is challenging, especially in the mining towns where any new actor is viewed with suspicion.

Under the above context, and in close coordination with the Government of Guyana, UNHCR Guyana works to implement GBV prevention, mitigation and response initiatives directed at refugees and migrants from Venezuela, as well as host community members and other persons in need of international protection. Together with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), the Guyana Sex Work Coalition (GSWC), and Blossom Inc., UNHCR’s implementing partners, UNHCR provides a different array of services to survivors or persons at risk of GBV and victims of trafficking including safe identification and referral to Government services, individual case management and emergency shelter, food and transportation support. In addition, UNHCR works to raise awareness and to build the knowledge and the capacity of communities to prevent and mitigate GBV risks and child abuse in the country. During 2020, UNHCR and its partners provided GBV information, prevention and response services to more than 3,400 persons, including both refugees and migrants from Venezuela and members of the host communities.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Associate GBV Officer is a member of the Guyana Field Office based in Georgetown, Guyana and reports to the Protection Officer. This position is an integral part of the protection team, working closely with programme, protection and other team members, as well as at inter-agency level, to create multi-sectoral GBV prevention and response mechanisms as a life-saving priority in Guyana.

The Associate GBV Officer supports the implementation of the operations efforts to fulfil UNHCR’s mandate and associated obligations on GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response based on policy and guidance. The incumbent will maintain a close working relationship with the UNHCR Multi-Country Office in Panama for system-wide coherence.

The Associate GBV Officer will play a hands-on role by ensuring that GBV programming is prioritized and in line with UNHCR’s global policies and standards. The incumbent will undertake the following responsibilities;

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Implementation of UNHCR’s Global Policies and Standards
• Ensure adherence to UNHCR’s global GBV prevention, mitigation and response policies and standards as part of the operation’s broader Protection and Solutions Strategy;
• Coordinate timely reporting on progress including the documentation of promising practices;
• Participate in the promotion of compliance with UNHCR’s GBV policy, priorities and commitments aligned with polices on age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP), child protection, gender equality, disability and youth empowerment;
• Update UNHCR Guyana’s protection strategy and develop a strategic operational plan on GBV;
• Function as focal point for the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) for UNHCR’s operations in Guyana, in line with UNHCR’s global PSEA policy and regional PSEA SOPs;
• Monitor and ensure the implementation of SOPs on GBV and PSEA, by UNHCR and its partners

Planning / Programming

• Lead the planning, implementation and monitoring of UNHCR’s specialized programming and existing partnerships for GBV prevention and response based on needs, risks and capacity assessments;
• Participate in conducting, consolidating and reporting on GBV assessments including gender equality components at least once per year, linked to annual planning processes and participatory assessments and sharing strategic trends analyses;
• Contribute to planning processes and advocate for adequate resource (re)allocation and mobilization.

Capacity Development and Technical Support

• Provide training, technical guidance and support field colleagues and partner staff to operationalize and comply with UNHCR’s corporate GBV policy, priorities and commitments (aligned with policies on AGD and AAP, Child protection, disability, youth empowerment and gender equality) as well as UNHCR’s PSEA policy;
• Support and build capacity and systems for individual GBV case management for survivors and persons at-risk of GBV, and ensure effective referral mechanisms for response services;
• Ensure safe and ethical GBV data collection and reporting is functioning and regular reporting is done on GBV;
• Propose measures to ensure appropriate GBV and PSEA accountability measures in the Job descriptions and Performance management systems of key staff members.

Partnerships and Coordination

• Co-lead the R4V GBV Working Group and facilitate implementation of the workplan of the Working Group;
• Lead bi-lateral coordination with various partners and government authorities working on GBV prevention, mitigation and response;
• Support that community-based approaches are applied in GBV programming and communities considered as key stakeholders;
• Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications and Experience
a. Education and work experience

Essential

• 3 years relevant experience with undergraduate degree or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree, in the areas of Human rights; Social Anthropology; Social Work; Law; International Development; Social Sciences; or other relevant field
• Previous work experience relevant to the function of Associate GBV Officer in an international context, including in the field of GBV prevention, mitigation and response, broader protection or social work involving empowerment of women and girls, gender, child protection, mental health, counselling and working with survivors, humanitarian and development issues.
• Applied experience in survivor-centered approach, GBV guiding and case management principles related to GBV programs. Demonstrated knowledge in gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls and apply, promote and integrate gender analysis into humanitarian programming. Demonstrated knowledge of and implementation of multi-sectorial responses to GBV and support to other sectors to mainstream GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response. Demonstrated knowledge and application of GBV prevention theory and appropriate GBV prevention and behavior change strategies at different stages of the humanitarian response.

b. Desirable

• Excellent writing and analytical skills;
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills;
• Demonstrated understanding of critical issues around GBV data and knowledge of safe and ethical data collection and analysis and conducting assessments;
• Demonstrated knowledge of engagement with GBV Interagency humanitarian architecture.
• Knowledge and experience of participatory approaches to engaging with and mobilizing communities;
• Good understanding of displacement and protection issues including, child protection, education and the application of UNHCR’s Age, Gender and Diversity Policy;
• Demonstrated coordination and consensus building skills to manage multiple stakeholder consultation processes;
• Ability to work under significant time pressure and come up with innovative and creative solutions faced with fast-paced changing circumstances.

c. Language

• Fluency in English required;
• Knowledge of Spanish is highly desirable.

d. Key Competencies

• Accountability
• Communication
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Client & Result Orientation
• Judgement and Decision Making
• Managing Resources

Additional Information

Please note that this position is offered under a contract at IICA-1, UNOPS for an initial period of one year. Extension subject to operation needs, funds and performance.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

UNOPS does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

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. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.