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UNFPA-GBViE Specialist/Team Lead-P4-Port Sudan, Sudan
Port Sudan, SudanPosition Title: GBViE Specialist / Team Lead
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P4
Location: Port Sudan, Sudan
Duration: 4 months
Language: Fluency in English is required, knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
Mission Specific Considerations
Remote-Based Deployments (if remote-based please only fill in this table)
Physical deployments (only fill out if you anticipate surge to physically deploy)
Background Description of Emergency / Justification for Request
The conflict started on April 15th, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) driving Sudan into the largest humanitarian and displacement crises in the world. The conflict started in Khartoum State and quickly spread to the States of Darfur, Kordofan, Blue Nile, Jazeera states. As of the date of this note, the conflict is still ongoing in Darfur and Kordofan states resulting in displacement of people, and grave violation of human rights including conflict related Sexual violence.
The ongoing conflict’s human cost is already very high; around 11.5 million people were forced to flee their homes within the country with more than two million seeking refuge in neighboring countries, particularly in Tchad, Egypt, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Ethiopia.
The 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) for Sudan estimates that 12.1 million women and girls and other vulnerable people are facing the risk of life-threatening gender-based violence in Sudan, as violence continues, inter-communal tensions mount and protection services and support systems are increasingly breaking down, and access to lifesaving services is heavily impacted with the ongoing conflict.
Women and girls continue to live at extremely high risk of all forms of gender-based violence (GBV). The presence of armed actors, resource shortages -including water, food, and fuel - and even the humanitarian response itself continue to exacerbate risk of GBV and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) in the public sphere, while long periods trapped within homes due to fighting increases incidents of intimate partner and domestic violence. Multiple women and girls, including non-Sudanese individuals, are experiencing secondary displacement and psychological impacts of displacement. Older women, adolescent girls and women and girls living with disabilities face additional concerns and challenges in this unstable environment. Vulnerable men and boys are also exposed to the risks of GBV.
Ongoing insecurity, looting, and inability to ensure reliable supply-chains for commodities, combined with electricity cuts and fuel shortages all continue to prohibit GBV humanitarian response of the scale necessary to meet the needs in conflict affected states. While humanitarian actors, including coordination mechanisms, are now operating through locations and states affected by new IDP influx, such as Port Sudan and Gadarif and Kassala States, administrative challenges, shortages of supplies, and unmet needs for GBV services continue to exist.
UNFPA Sudan supports GBV interventions at two levels. It coordinates multi-sectoral and comprehensive partner interventions through the GBV sub-sector under the overall protection sector. UNFPA is also one of the biggest implementers of specific prevention and response activities. Specifically, this includes the provision of lifesaving and specialized GBV response services, implementing GBV risk mitigation interventions supported by cash assistance, capacity building efforts to enhance quality-of-service delivery. UNFPA also supports the revision and operationalization of already developed National Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). UNFPA conducts community sensitization on GBV issues, supports women centers providing entry points for livelihood opportunities, and provide personal hygiene/dignity kits to the most vulnerable women and adolescent girls of communities affected by humanitarian crisis. UNFPA leads the national/federal GBV sub-sector under the Protection Sector (led by UNHCR) and works closely with UNICEF (Child Protection) and UNHCR (Protection) to ensure strong linkages between the sub-sector and the Protection sector.
Security Situation in country and main threats: (i.e armed conflict, terrorism, crime, social unrest, hazard)
Sudan continues to have security concerns across the country, driven by heavy armed clashes, inter-communal violence, massive internal displacement, climatic shocks and hazards, disease outbreaks, disrupted livelihoods of vulnerable households, and aggravated food insecurity, malnutrition, and protection risks.
Role Description: Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA CO Representative and direct supervision of the deputy representative, the GBV Specialist ensures timely effective and efficient implementation of GBV programming, manages the GBV Programme Unit, and actively participates and ensures UNFPA representation in sector working groups. He/She will develop strong, collaborative relationships across the organization to ensure an integrated response, and with external partners. The GBV Specialist will ensure the application of effective Programme planning, monitoring and evaluation principles; identify bottlenecks in Gender, GBV prevention and response, programing on harmful practices such and FGMC and early marriages in the Country; devise strategies to address them and ensure application of a resilience approach in the humanitarian response while addressing the humanitarian-development nexus programmatic implementation; provide leadership to ensure that technical knowledge is updated and disseminated for effective implementation. .
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Qualifications and Skills Required:
Proficiency in English oral and written is a must. Working level of Arabic is desirable
Required Competencies
Values:
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P4
Location: Port Sudan, Sudan
Duration: 4 months
Language: Fluency in English is required, knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
Mission Specific Considerations
Remote-Based Deployments (if remote-based please only fill in this table)
| Considerations for remote-based deployments | |
| If the deployment is remote based, is the country office set up to ensure ongoing communication / team integration and appropriate supervision with the employee from afar? Please explain. | N/A |
Physical deployments (only fill out if you anticipate surge to physically deploy)
| Pre-departure considerations for physical deployments | |
| Does this duty station require candidates to have undertaken SSAFE training? If so, can the office provide training upon arrival? | No SSAFE training is currently required. |
| Visa Are there any special/new, specific visa considerations that need to be considered? |
The incumbent needs to apply for a visa in advance |
| Equipment Is there any equipment that the Surge should become equipped with prior to travel, e.g. PPE such as masks, gloves, sanitizer, etc? |
No |
| Is there any other paperwork that the local government authorities require upon entry/re-entry into the country? | No |
|
On mission considerations (for physical deployments):
|
|
|
Accommodation
What type of accommodation is available for Surge deployees? |
UNFPA guest house or other guest house assigned by UNFPA Sudan CO |
|
R&R
Is the duty station on an R&R cycle and if so how often? |
4 weeks |
| Medical Treatment Are there any government restrictions or limitations that would adversely impact in-country medical treatment plans or medical evacuation? |
Medical facilities are very limited in Port Sudan. General good health conditions are required. If the surge is under specific medication, these medications shall be brought in the necessary quantities in the duty station. Medical evacuation plans are in place. |
| Office arrangement for telecommuting If the Surge needs to telecommute within the country, can the country office demonstrate that the deployee is realistically able to work in terms of remote connectivity, equipment, etc.? |
Yes, telecommuting from the guest house is possible as needed. |
| Equipment If the Surge is required to physically deploy, can the country office provide necessary equipment, e.g. masks, gloves, sanitizer? |
Yes |
Background Description of Emergency / Justification for Request
The conflict started on April 15th, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) driving Sudan into the largest humanitarian and displacement crises in the world. The conflict started in Khartoum State and quickly spread to the States of Darfur, Kordofan, Blue Nile, Jazeera states. As of the date of this note, the conflict is still ongoing in Darfur and Kordofan states resulting in displacement of people, and grave violation of human rights including conflict related Sexual violence.
The ongoing conflict’s human cost is already very high; around 11.5 million people were forced to flee their homes within the country with more than two million seeking refuge in neighboring countries, particularly in Tchad, Egypt, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Ethiopia.
The 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) for Sudan estimates that 12.1 million women and girls and other vulnerable people are facing the risk of life-threatening gender-based violence in Sudan, as violence continues, inter-communal tensions mount and protection services and support systems are increasingly breaking down, and access to lifesaving services is heavily impacted with the ongoing conflict.
Women and girls continue to live at extremely high risk of all forms of gender-based violence (GBV). The presence of armed actors, resource shortages -including water, food, and fuel - and even the humanitarian response itself continue to exacerbate risk of GBV and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) in the public sphere, while long periods trapped within homes due to fighting increases incidents of intimate partner and domestic violence. Multiple women and girls, including non-Sudanese individuals, are experiencing secondary displacement and psychological impacts of displacement. Older women, adolescent girls and women and girls living with disabilities face additional concerns and challenges in this unstable environment. Vulnerable men and boys are also exposed to the risks of GBV.
Ongoing insecurity, looting, and inability to ensure reliable supply-chains for commodities, combined with electricity cuts and fuel shortages all continue to prohibit GBV humanitarian response of the scale necessary to meet the needs in conflict affected states. While humanitarian actors, including coordination mechanisms, are now operating through locations and states affected by new IDP influx, such as Port Sudan and Gadarif and Kassala States, administrative challenges, shortages of supplies, and unmet needs for GBV services continue to exist.
UNFPA Sudan supports GBV interventions at two levels. It coordinates multi-sectoral and comprehensive partner interventions through the GBV sub-sector under the overall protection sector. UNFPA is also one of the biggest implementers of specific prevention and response activities. Specifically, this includes the provision of lifesaving and specialized GBV response services, implementing GBV risk mitigation interventions supported by cash assistance, capacity building efforts to enhance quality-of-service delivery. UNFPA also supports the revision and operationalization of already developed National Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). UNFPA conducts community sensitization on GBV issues, supports women centers providing entry points for livelihood opportunities, and provide personal hygiene/dignity kits to the most vulnerable women and adolescent girls of communities affected by humanitarian crisis. UNFPA leads the national/federal GBV sub-sector under the Protection Sector (led by UNHCR) and works closely with UNICEF (Child Protection) and UNHCR (Protection) to ensure strong linkages between the sub-sector and the Protection sector.
Security Situation in country and main threats: (i.e armed conflict, terrorism, crime, social unrest, hazard)
Sudan continues to have security concerns across the country, driven by heavy armed clashes, inter-communal violence, massive internal displacement, climatic shocks and hazards, disease outbreaks, disrupted livelihoods of vulnerable households, and aggravated food insecurity, malnutrition, and protection risks.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Strategic and Technical guidance: the GBV Programme and Coordination of the GBV Programme implementation
- Provide strategic and technical guidance to the GBV Programme, in line with up-to-date international guidelines (including but not limited to IASC Guidelines for GBV Interventions in Humanitarian Settings), existing tools and good practices.
- Support the Gender and Social Norms Specialist in implementing the FGM and early marriage interventions, through coordination with Unicef and WHO and in line with guidance by the global joint programme staff
- Strengthen the usage of Cash and voucher assistance in GBV programming including facilitating access to services, risk mitigation, economic support and supplies.
- Collaborate closely with the supply chain unit in the procurement of management of protection supplies including the Last Mile Assurance.
- Contribute to the program sensitivity analysis in program development and implementation.
- Provide day-to-day job guidance to and technical supervision of the Gender/GBV Programme Unit Team.
- Oversee achievement of programme results by ensuring appropriate policies and procedures including the (Emergency Policy and Procedures (EPPs) are applied by Programme team, and appropriate monitoring and oversight mechanisms and systems are established and implemented.
- Ensure the coordination and collaboration with SRH, Communication Fund management, operation units on integrated GBV/SRH/Youth interventions in humanitarian response.
- Strengthening advocacy, partnership and resource mobilization
- Review the humanitarian context of each state and design a program/ rapid interventions to address the immediate needs of women and girls.
- Participate in resource mobilization efforts and engage with humanitarian donors to mobilize resources for emergency GBV response and provision of life saving services.
- Contribute to the development of situation reports (Sitreps) Flash updates, and donor reports.
- Manage team dynamics; ensures synergy and harmony with the team. Providing role clarity to all staff within the team, providing supportive supervision, technical guidance and ensuring accountability.
- Support the capacity building efforts of local partners and women-led organizations to enhance their technical and institutional capacity in providing humanitarian assistance.
- Carry out any other duties as may be required by the UNFPA management
Qualifications and Skills Required:
- Advanced University degree with specialization in areas such as social work, public health, gender, law/human rights, international relations, and/or other related social science disciplines.
- At least 7 years of professional work experience in the area of combating GBV in emergencies / humanitarian settings; integrating gender equality in humanitarian actions; women and girls protection in humanitarian settings; community engagement and combating harmful practices.
- Demonstrated leadership and management experience within a multicultural environment.
- Direct experience providing support to GBV survivors as an asset.
Proficiency in English oral and written is a must. Working level of Arabic is desirable
Required Competencies
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity,
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
- Embracing cultural diversity,
- Embracing change
- Achieving results,
- Being accountable,
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
- Thinking analytically and strategically,
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
- Communicating for impact
- Implementing management systems
- Innovation and marketing of new approaches
- Generating, managing and promoting the use of knowledge and information.
- Facilitating quality programmatic results
- Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners, and building strategic alliances and partnerships
- Client orientation
- Providing strategic focus,
- Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,
- Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
- Making decisions and exercising judgment.
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of 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.