Position Title: Child Protection Officer (GBV)
Receiving Agency: UNHCR
P Level: P3
Location: Abeche, Chad
Duration: 3 months
Language: French and English required

Operational Context

On Saturday, 15 April 2023, clashes broke out between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum before spreading to other locations across the country, including in the Darfur region. Located 7km from the border with Chad, the Sudanese towns of Béda and Konga were attacked on Monday, April 17, 2023. This situation has led to the forced displacement of nearly 20,000 people to Chad, mainly in the sub-prefectures of Borota and Addé, with the main entry points being the localities of Kulbus, Mahamata, Werwerta, Beida, Amdjerema/Dogdoré, Sarafbourgou, Mashiborgho and Maguilta.

In response to this situation, Chad has reaffirmed its traditional hospitality towards the new arrivals while closing and deploying its Defence and Security Forces along its border with Sudan to avoid repercussions of the conflict as well as the intrusion of soldiers into its territory. Since the onset of the crisis, and in line with previous refugee responses mounted in the country, UNHCR has supported the Government at its request, by initiating and coordinating a multisectoral humanitarian response at field level and by mobilising resources internally and externally.
Using the Refugee Coordination Model, UNHCR has worked with authorities, agencies and partners to coordinate national and international assistance. This includes helping the Government with its plan to relocate the refugees away from border areas to both existing camps and new sites for their physical safety and protection. Multi-sectoral assistance has been mobilized, including GBV and Child Protection, and other protection and support services.
As resources and capacities have been stretched (and for some sectors, resources diverted from much needed assistance to other populations in the east), further support from new actors and donors particularly needed for food and nutrition. The multi-sectoral response is also being strengthened to ensure that all the features of the RCM are integrated. In addition, and in line with the H/D/P nexus, the coordination model integrates a specific forum to foster area-based approaches and strengthen assistance to host communities.

GBV-Child Protection- Sudanese emergency Refugee Response in Abeche
Ongoing fixing and pre-registration of some 60,000 refugees identified 63% women and 67 % are children. UNHCR supported the government in the development of a relocation plan aiming to move new arrivals from bordering villages to existing camps and 5 new camps to be constructed. With relocation efforts, UNHCR will conduct level 2 registration at the individual level.
Recent assessments conducted in Eastern camps and villages revealed multiple combined GBV and Child Protection concerns, including child marriage, child labor, exploitation and abuse , sexual violence, and neglect. The assessments highlighted the urgency to address GBV prevention and response gaps as well as the specific needs of refugee children and their families/caregivers, including through child protection mainstreaming in all interventions.
As far as GBV is concerned, survivors and people at risk face significant challenges in accessing services, such as legal aid and psychosocial support. The capacity of local communities remains weak to effectively prevent and respond to SGBV incidents. Communities play a key role in identifying and responding to reintegration needs of survivors. Organizations and institutions capable of providing adequate support to survivors are also lacking.
The context of protracted refugee asylum reveals growing gender inequalities, particularly among women who face multiple forms of discrimination. The case of women from minority groups is even more striking as they face difficulties in accessing humanitarian aid while they have protection needs.
The ProGres database indicates that 60 per cent of the population in the refugee camps are women, while 45.02 per cent are men. Most cases of GBV are perpetrated on women and girls. In 2022, 1438 GBV cases have been reported which is an increase as compared to 2020 when 1242 cases were recorded. Overall, 96.7 per cent of survivors are women and girls, compared to 3.3 per cent of men and boys. The first three most common types of violence are: physical aggression (33.5%), psychological abuse (30%) and denial of resources (23%). 8 cases of GBV have ben reported since the emergency started.
As of May 10, 2023, 128 children at risk have been identified, including 74 girls and 14 children living with disabilities. These are mainly cases of separated, unaccompanied children and all other types of risk. In total, 88 ENA/ES in the 7 sites. Eight (8) among them, including five (5) girls, were referred to health partners in the various sites.

In view of the foregoing, efforts to prevent and respond to both GBV and Child Protection concerns should start from the onset of the response under the leadership of the Protection Working Group that was reactivated at the national level in April 2023 and will subsequently be established in the Eastern region. Several response interventions, including GBV prevention and response activities, family tracing, temporary care arrangement and case management are gradually taking place but due to scarsity of funding, UNHCR fears that most of actors will be working under short term projects.

Aim of the Mission

The deployee will ensure that UNHCR sets out a quality GBV and child protection response, strengthen UNHCR interventions and advocacy within the GBV and CP coordination mechanisms.

Mission OBJECTIVES

The deployee will Co-lead and strengthen the GBV and child protection coordination mechanisms, support the development of programmes for GBV and Child Protection in collaboration with partners, train and develop the capacity of UNHCR staff NGO and government counterparts, support the strengthening of community based GBV and Child Protection prevention and response and carry out advocacy with counterparts.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior Protection Officer in Abeche, the GBV/ Child Protection Officer will be assisted by the CP/CBP staff and will support the Sudanese refugees emergency:

Conduct a full programmatic and needs assessment of UNHCR GBV / Child Protection interventions for refugees in camps and host communities and guide UNHCR and partners to restructure the programmatic priorities and redesign interventions based on the new circumstances and shifts in urgent and longer-term GBV/CP needs. This includes:
- Support setting up a quality GBV/ CP response system, including GBV referral mechanisms, Best Interest Procedures through strengthening of safe and ethical referral pathway, building capacity of case management including through in-job coaching, rolling-out data collection systems (Progres V4), streghthening support services…
- Assess the situation of refugee children who remained in villages, support the partners to programme for them and monitor their situation, including through mobile units.
- Support strengthening community-based GBV/ CP programmes to both prevent and respond to risks.
- Strengthen linkages with partners, including UNFPA, HIAS, the ICRC and CRT, to streghthen the system for referals of children/families in need of tracing and restoring family link support.
- Provide guidance to partners on strengthening alternative care arrangement for ; unaccompanied and separated children in light of changes to the community structures.Work with other technical sectors to integrate GBV risk mitigation and Child Protection mainstreaming within their response strategies and support and enhance the linkages between Child Protection, GBV, Registration, Protection, education, Community-Based Protection, to ensure effective prevention and response to GBV/ Childr Protection risks.
Support review of PPAs with partners to emerging GBV and Child Protection needs and to their strategic protection goals.
Identify resource and capacity needs, and support the operation ensure that GBV & child protection are part of the fund raising and resource allocation efforts.
Contribute to the operation’s advocacy plan to promote the rights of refugee women and children and ensure their protection.

DELIVERABLES

Ensure development and dissemination of SOPs for GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response and Best Interests Procedure, and guidance notes on family tracing and reunification, alternative care arrangements for unaccompanied and separated children;
Update and strengthen the existing Referral pathways for Child protection and GBV services;
Regularly organize trainings on GBV; Child Protection in Emergencies and BIP;
Roll-out V4 GBV and CP modules with interested partners and ensure inter-agency Information Sharing Protocols are established and operational at the local level;
Continue supporting the GBV and Child Protection interagency coordination mechanisms.

PROFILE

Experience
Minimum 5 years of previous work experience relevant to the function of which 3 years in the field. At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience in the field of humanitarian and development issues and GBV prevention and response. protection of children, broader protection or social work involving children and youth, GBV & child protection coordination, developing and implementing training activities, with knowledge of issues relate to child protection, education, gender.

Essential requirements
Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master’s) plus 3 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 2 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.

Strong experience in interacting with and building partnerships and synergies with UN agencies, NGOs and civil society organizations.

Previous experience in Chad would be an asset as well as the knowledge of the context of the Region.

Personal Characteristics
Diverse field operational experience.
Good IT skills including database management skills.
Proven communication skills, both oral and written.
Demonstrated knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches.
Extensive experience in working directly with Persons with Specific Needs; Women, children, adolescents and youth.
Demonstrated coordination and consensus building skills to manage multiple stakeholder consultation processes.
Training and coaching skills/facilitation of learning.

CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy towards Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.

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