GBV in Emergencies Preparedness and Response Consultant

The Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region faces a complex array of risks, ranging from natural disasters to protracted conflicts. Recent events like the war in Ukraine, the earthquake in Turkey, and renewed hostilities in the Karabakh region have further exacerbated existing vulnerabilities. These events, alongside less publicised but persistent conflicts, have affected economic stability and political equilibrium in countries across the region.

Since the onset of the Ukraine crisis, UNFPA’s Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECARO) has been providing comprehensive support to those affected, working closely with UNFPA country offices and partners in Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and non-programme countries like Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, to address the unique needs of women and girls.

In response to the frequency and severity of these crises, the UNFPA Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (EECARO) has made significant investments in bolstering the emergency preparedness and response capacity of its Country Offices (COs), and selected non-programme countries, with a specific focus on Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE). 

EECARO has already taken concrete steps, including developing and facilitating the first EECA Regional GBV in Emergencies Training, establishing a Regional Roster of GBV/GBViE Specialists, sustaining a dedicated Community of Practice. EECARO has also been investing in strengthening the GBV Coordination mechanisms within the Refugee Response to the Ukraine crisis and rolling out the Safe You app in Romania and Poland to increase access to services and information to all women and girls.

Building on this momentum, EECARO is committed to continue investing in GBV emergency preparedness and response in the region.

Objective of the Consultancy:

• Under the overall guidance of EECARO’s Regional Director and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, and under direct supervision of EECARO Regional GBViE Specialist, the GBViE Consultant will work closely with the wider Humanitarian and Gender Teams to provide:
• Technical Assistance: Offering expert guidance and support to the Regional Office, Country Offices and partners in non-programme countries on GBViE integration into preparedness and response efforts.
• Development of Guidance: Creating practical resources and tools to facilitate the effective integration of GBViE considerations into Minimum Preparedness Actions (MPA), Preparedness Plans, and GBViE programs.
• Capacity Building: Delivering targeted training and workshops to strengthen the skills and knowledge of staff at both regional and country levels.
• This consultancy represents a crucial opportunity to further enhance UNFPA’s ability to address the unique challenges and vulnerabilities faced by women and girls seeking refuge from the war in Ukraine, while leveraging on these interventions to increase capacity to effectively deliver GBViE programmes across the EECA region and increase the overall level of preparedness of UNFPA COs in EECA to respond efficiently and timely to crises that may affect their country.

You would be responsible for:

Expected outputs and deliverables:

• Enhance Emergency Response through Integration of Digital Safety and Addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-based Violence (TF GBV): develop guidance and training resources, supporting the development of technology solutions for protection, and fostering collaboration between humanitarian and technology sectors.
• Support to GBV Coordination across the Regional Refugee Response to Ukraine: support GBV coordination mechanisms at regional and national levels, facilitate GBV assessments and other cross-sectoral analysis, lead capacity building and knowledge sharing initiatives.
• EECA-Adapted Resources: Develop a set of guidelines, tools, and training/capacity building materials specifically adapted to the EECA context, with a focus on TF GBViE,  and others as deemed needed.
• EECA’s GBV/GBViE Community of Practice: Plan and co-facilitate thematic sessions on key programmatic areas, and provide technical assistance to CO’s GBV and GBViE focal points;
• Capacity Building Initiatives: Support organisation and co-facilitation of regional-led capacity building initiatives on emergency preparedness and response, including Regional GBViE Preparedness and Response Training for non-GBV Specialists and scale up of the Regional GBViE Preparedness Training for GBV Specialists.
• Ad hoc support: Perform any other duties as required by UNFPA EECARO Regional Director, EECARO Regional GBViE specialist and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, in support to the COs in EECA and EECARO. Undertake missions to selected countries in the Region, including non-programme countries, as needed.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_2003/job/23493