Position Summary:
In Bangladesh, UNFPA is currently implementing its 9th Country Programme (2017-2020). The unprecedented level of the influx of Rohingya refugees seeking refuge in Bangladesh from Myanmar’s northern Rakhine State since 25 August 2017, has led to the new arrival of 655,000 Rohingya refugees staying in Cox’s Bazar district (as of 21 December according to the Inter Sectoral Coordination Group). This “fastest growing humanitarian crisis in the world” has exacerbated an already protracted refugee crisis in Cox’s Bazar for the past decades.
More than half of these Rohingya refugees are women and girls. Out of the total 1.2 million target beneficiaries of the UN/NGO joint Humanitarian Response Plan including both refuges and host communities, UNFPA estimates that 294,000 are women of reproductive age (15-49 years). Approximately 60,000 women and girls are currently pregnant with 5,000-6,000 births every month, all of whom need access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health services, including antenatal care, emergency obstetric and newborn care and postnatal care. Women and girls are at increased risk of sexual violence and thus need support with life-saving interventions, which includes clinical management of rape, case management and psychosocial support. To oversee these efforts at saving the lives of vulnerable girls and women and building back better with resilience, UNFPA has established a Sub-Office in Cox’s Bazar, as a front base housed by UNFPA personnel and experts on emergency coordination, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender-based violence (GBV) and operations.
The Head of Sub-Office (HoSO) for Cox’s Bazar will, under the overall supervision of UNFPA Country Representative and direct supervision of the Deputy Representative in Dhaka, provide strategic oversight to the management of the UNFPA’s humanitarian programme in Cox’s Bazar. As the Head of UNFPA Sub-Office s/he will have supervisory role over the SRHR, Gender and Operations teams in Cox’s Bazar. In close collaboration of the CO Programme Units, M&E Unit and Operations Team, the SoHO substantively contributes to the management, coordination and quality assurance of planning, implementation, monitoring and results reporting of UNFPA activities in Cox’s Bazar. In addition, under the guidance of the UNFPA Country Office management, the HoSO will work closely with government authorities, humanitarian agencies, civil society and local counterparts for the effective provision of humanitarian assistance to Rohingyas and host communities.
Requirements:
Qualifications and Experience
Education:
Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent and above) with specialization in public health, gender studies, humanitarian affairs, human rights, law, economics, statistics, sociology, social work, development studies, public administration, international relations, and/or other related social science disciplines.
Knowledge and Experience:
• At least 7 years of relevant humanitarian/development programming and coordination experience at an international level, preferably related to SRHR, GBV and/or emergency response, including field experiences.
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience within a multi-national and multi-cultural environment.
• Knowledge and understanding of UN/UNFPA humanitarian/development programming and operations, and about UN common programming principles including human-rights based approach, gender equality and capacity development.
• Skills in building strategic alliances and partnerships, strong communication and networking and excellent organizational skills.
• Proven work experience which demonstrates a survivors-centered approach.
• Excellent English speaking and writing skills and excellent communications and inter-personal skills and diplomatic tact.
• Ability to self-manage, emotional intelligence, empathy, team spirit, conflict management as well as negotiating skills.
Languages:
• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Knowledge of Bangla and/or local language is a plus