BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In April 2018, the Secretary General’s Executive Committee confirmed the regional coordinating role of UNHCR and IOM to ensure an adequate UN response to the pressing needs of millions of Venezuelans leaving the country. In line with this UNHCR and IOM have established the Regional Interagency Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela, which integrates a range of humanitarian and development actors including governments, UN, NGOs and CSOs, as a mechanism for coordination of the operational response. The Platform is supported by a multifunctional team led by UNHCR Senior Operations Manager and IOM Regional Specialist in Strategic Partnerships. In line with its mandate as lead of the GBV AoR UNFPA provides coordination and technical support on GBV.

Since the outflow of migration is cross border and fluid and affects multiple countries, the regional approach is important to ensure a coherent and coordinated response. The regional platform provides a strategic and operational lead at HQ and regional level, and is mirrored by national platforms that build upon already established refugee and migration mechanisms. Priorities and actions for 2019 are laid out in the Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP).

Priority areas for immediate action include Sexual Violence and other forms of GBV (with emphasis on sexual violence due to the high levels of rape, trafficking and sexual exploitation); communication with communities (CwC); anti-xenophobia campaign; safe routes and support spaces; socio-economic integration; information management and resource mobilization.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

The GBV coordinator will be out-posted to the office of the Regional Interagency Platform, now located in Ciudad del Saber in the Republic of Panama. Under the overall supervision of UNFPA’s Regional Programme Advisor, and in close liaison with IOM and UNHCR’s respective platform coordinators, the incumbent will coordinate and facilitate development and implementation of regional, multi-sectoral, inter-agency actions to respond to sexual violence and other forms of GBV and provide technical guidance to national coordination platforms to integrate the GBV response. The GBV Coordinator’s role includes building and sustaining partnerships, strategic planning, capacity development, information management, advocacy and resource mobilization.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Coordination:

Establish and facilitate an inclusive inter-agency, multi-sectoral GBV coordination group as part of the regional platform, ensuring that the Principles of Partnership are reflected;
Establish two-way communication channels between the regional and national platforms on GBV themes;
Proactively engage with all relevant stakeholders to ensure coordination among the range of actors addressing GBV, including across multiple sectors (health, psychosocial, legal, security, etc.) and categories of actors (UN, NGO, civil society, government, etc.);
Regularly participate in meetings of the Regional Interagency Platform and other relevant fora to represent the GBV coordination group;
Advocate with donors to mobilize resources for inter-agency GBV prevention and response;
Identify appropriate mechanisms for collaboration with regional and national actors on GBV issues.

Strategic Planning and Monitoring

Facilitate inputs for the Regional Refugee and Migrants Response Plan (RMRP) and coordinate implementation of joint actions to be taken forward by the GBV group;
Promote engagement of a range of sectors and ensure realistic benchmarks and timelines for achieving set objectives;
Regularly monitor progress against plan during coordination meetings;
Facilitate coordination with other thematic groups of the platform to build synergies and avoid duplication of effort.

Capacity Development

Work with partners to identify joint GBV capacity development priorities;
Revise existing training materials according to local context and ensure partners’ access to relevant training sessions;
Promote and support the establishment of coherent GBV referral pathways including through sharing of tools and protocols that can be utilized/adapted at country level;
Support efforts to strengthen the capacity of relevant actors on safe and ethical GBV information management;
Ensure all GBV group partners and others are aware of relevant policy guidelines, technical standards, and other resource materials (go to www.gbvaor.net for the latest information).

Advocacy

Provide technical support to the development of relevant advocacy and policy documents to address GBV in the context of broader gender inequality issues;
Promote awareness of international standards, regional frameworks and national laws and policies that inform action to address GBV.

Information Management
In line with WHO’s Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Researching, Documenting and Monitoring Sexual Violence in Emergencies:

Conduct/coordinate analysis of available secondary data and consolidate existing assessments on the GBV situation to ensure readily-available information on known trends and patterns on GBV in relation to mixed flow migration from Venezuela;
Work with relevant agencies, national platforms and the displaced and host populations to conduct relevant participatory analyses of GBV;
Undertake new assessment missions as necessary/appropriate to determine the magnitude and scope of GBV and identify strategic inter-sectoral approaches for addressing it.
As needed, work with national platforms to promote the adoption of a standardized GBV incident report/intake form and other relevant forms as necessary at country level in line with the GBV Information Management System (GBVIMS).

Qualifications and Skills Required:

Master’s degree or equivalent in Gender, Human Rights, International Development, Social Science, Public Health or related field
Minimum of seven years of experience in coordinating, developing and implementing survivor-centered interventions to address sexual violence and other forms of GBV, some of which in humanitarian settings
Knowledge of the current LAC context
Understanding of international humanitarian, development, migration and refugee frameworks and architecture;
Excellent leadership, coordination and communication skills and demonstrated ability to work as part of a diverse team, including with team members based in other countries and/or organizations
Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment and under pressure
Strong analytical and organizational skills
Fluency in Spanish and English required, Portuguese would be an asset.

Other Openings

P3

P3/P4

P4