GBV Consultancy at UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Title: GBV Consultant
Contract Type: Consultancy (home based)
Contract Level: IICA
Duty Station: Georgetown, Guyana
Language: Fluency in English
Contract Duration: 4 months
Application deadline: June 6, 2021 (Midnight Geneva time).

This position is advertised open to external applicants.

General Background of Project Assignment

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 23000 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 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.

A critical number of Venezuelans settling temporarily in Guyana are women. Other significant groups include members of the Warao and other indigenous communities, and returning Guyanese. 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, it seems that 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.

Limited livelihoods opportunities increases the vulnerability of persons of concern, 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 survival sex 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) and the Guyana Sex Work Coalition (GSWC), UNHCR 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 in the country. During 2020, UNHCR and its partners provided GBV information, prevention and response services to more than 3400 persons, including both refugees and migrants from Venezuela and members of the host communities.

Overall Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Concise and detailed description of activities, including measurable outputs and delivery dates, impact indicators (what qualitative and quantitative results would be achieved upon completion of individual contract), performance indicators (time lines, value of the service rendered in relation to the cost, timeliness) and work plan:

During the course of the consultancy, the incumbent will engage on the following activities:

1. Support GBV Inter-agency coordination initiatives:
   a. Support the implementation of the GBV Working Group workplan, including the development of the GBV Advocacy Plan and the standard GBV SOPs template;
   i. The documents will strengthen the GBV Working Group under the R4V and reinforce UNHCR’s leadership on GBV in the country.
2. Documents to be completed by the end of the consultancy
3. Monitoring and strengthening GBV partnerships (HIAS/GSWC) through:
   a. Support facilitation of bi-weekly meetings and monitoring implementation of the partner GSWC;
   b. Support monthly meetings with HIAS management;
   c. Ensure coordination in particular concerning response for individual cases between UNHCR and its field staff, HIAS, GSWC;
   d. Support Capacity Development Activities through identifying training needs and designing remote training sessions for partner staff;
4. Support the recruitment of the Protection Officer (GBV) IICA-2 for Guyana, including through preparation of ToRs;
5. Support with the capacity development on GBV of UNHCR staff through identifying training needs and designing and delivering training sessions;
6. Support mid-year review of UNHCR Partnership Agreements;
7. Monitor and strengthen implementation of UNHCR Child Protection Programme including through:
   a. Supporting newly engaged Child Protection Partner Blossom Inc. implement planned interventions;
   b. Support facilitation of monthly meetings and monitor implementation of partner activities;
   c. Prepare a draft MoU between UNHCR and the Child Protection Agency if the current political environment allows for it
   Required Level, qualifications and work experience

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required
The ideal candidate will have:
• 6 years relevant experience with undergraduate degree in the areas of Human rights; Social
• Anthropology; Social Work; Law; International Development; Social Sciences; or other relevant field;
• Excellent writing and analytical skills;
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills
• Previous work experience relevant to the function of SGBV in an international context, including in the field of SGBV 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
• Demonstrated understanding of critical issues around SGBV data and knowledge of safe and ethical data collection and analysis and conducting assessments. Demonstrated knowledge of engagement with SGBV 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 the 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.

Desirable:
• Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of position such as: Protection Learning Programme, Operations Management Learning Programme, Middle Management Learning Programme, SGBV and Gender Equality. Experience in a humanitarian context.