Position Title: GBV Expert
Receiving Agency: WHO
P Level: P4
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Duration: 6 months
Language: English required. Fluency in Polish/Ukrainian an asset.
Background and Justification
WHO seeks a qualified individual consultant with expert knowledge of gender-based violence (GBV) response and prevention, as well as demonstrated professional experience in humanitarian response and preparedness, to implement activities to strengthen integration of GBV interventions into the WHO and the interagency health sector response in Poland to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine .
The mission of the WHO Health Emergencies Program (WHE) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies. WHE has collaborated with the WHO Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH) to promote and operationalize interventions to address GBV within its agency-led response and within coordinated interagency efforts to respond to public health emergencies.
From 24 February to 2 May 2022, 3.097 million refugees have fled the armed conflict in Ukraine and have arrived in Poland. 96% of refugees are women and children. Poland has opened its borders and demonstrated unprecedented generosity, hospitality and solidarity towards those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. On 4 March 2022, for the first time in its history, the EU activated the Temporary Protection Directive, establishing a regional legal framework to offer quick and effective assistance to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine throughout the European Union. On 12 March 2022, the Government of Poland (GOP) adopted the Act on Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens in the
Context of the Armed Conflicti n Ukraine. The law provides broad protections to Ukrainian nationals and their spouses (to the exclusion of third country nationals) who fled the conflict in
Ukraine after 24 February, including extended legal stay, access to employment, healthcare, education and, through PESEL (national social security system) registration, financial assistance.
2. Job Description
Under the overall supervision of the Head of Country Office in Poland, and the direct supervision of the WHO CO Health Operation, technical expert and second-line supervisor WHO CO Incident Manager WCO Poland, the Consultant will work proactively to operationalize GBV interventions within coordinated interagency efforts to respond to the GBV situation in humanitarian settings by: providing timely and sustainable technical support on GBV to WHO and the Health sector, strengthening the skills and knowledge of health partners to respond to GBV, and enhancing multi-sectoral linkages to improve referral to other services. The Consultant will work in close collaboration with Country Office Team, the GBV Technical Advisors in the EURO region and in HQ, as well as other and with other health partners.
Output 1: Provide timely and sustainable technical support on GBV to the WHO emergency team and Health sector
Activity 1.1: Support health sector planning processes to ensure that GBV is reflected in health activities in the operational plans and tools of the Health sector, including refugee crisis from Ukraine and COVID-19 response actions
Activity 1.2: Ensure appropriate integration of GBV into Health sector information management mechanisms and tools, communications, and reporting
Activity 1.3: Integrate GBV health response needs into flash appeals, humanitarian needs/response plans, and/or other relevant advocacy and resource mobilization products
Activity 1.4: Produce quarterly reports on activities as required.
Output 2: Enhance the capacity of WHO staff and health partners to respond to GBV
Activity 2.1: Support trainings for health partners and service providers on clinical care and first- line support for GBV survivors
Activity 2.2: Support the adaptation of training materials and guidance on health response to
GBV in emergencies to the specific context
Output 3: Support linkages and coordination between the health sector (including SRH, MHPSS, Protection working groups as relevant) and the GBV Sub-sector
Activity 3.1: Strengthen integration of health services into GBV referral network/referral pathways, in coordination with the GBV Sub-sector and PSEA network
3. Recruitment Profile
Competencies: Generic
• Producing results
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Fostering integration and teamwork
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment
• Promoting innovation and organizational learning
Functional Knowledge and Skills
Education Qualifications
A first university degree in one of the following fields: health, public health, women's or gender and development studies, social sciences
Experience
• At least 5 years' work experience in violence against women/gender-based violence response and prevention, ideally with some of this in humanitarian settings, and experience in training health organizations and health providers.
• Proven work experience of violence against women/gender-based violence response and prevention in emergencies, with proven knowledge of health and gender-based violence issues, a good understanding of gender quality and survivor-centered perspectives and a good understanding of the humanitarian organizational structure.
• Demonstrated capacity to work in challenging circumstances, administer projects and build partnerships involving technical and political elements.
• Demonstrated ability to work in multicultural settings and excellent inter-personal skills.
• Previous experience of working in emergency situations
4. Use of Language Skills
English required. Polish/Ukrainian desired.