PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS VACANCY IS ONLY FOR NATIONALS OF BANGLADESH.

The Position:

The GBV Cluster Coordinator is located in Country Office in Dhaka. The incumbent reports to the UNFPA Deputy Representative.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s new strategic plan (2018-2021), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. 

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

Bangladesh is ranked sixth in the World Risk Index (2015), due to the country's extreme exposure and high vulnerability to natural hazards. Within humanitarian settings, and particularly in Bangladesh, women and girls are disproportionately affected. According to the Violence Against Women (VAW) Survey conducted in 2015 by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Bangladesh has a very high prevalence of violence against women. Findings from this survey report that shows72.6% of married women experienced some form of violence by their husbands, 49.6% experienced physical violence and 27% experienced sexual violence. This data shows the magnitude of risks that women and girls are facing against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in a normal setting. Humanitarian settings make their vulnerability to GBV even greater. In emergency situations, if law and order structures break down or social support and safety systems (such as extended family or community groups) fail, women and girls are at greater risk of GBV, gender based discrimination, and harmful practices including forced or child marriage. Against this backdrop, the new 7th Five-Year Plan of the Government of Bangladesh highlights the vulnerability of women as one of the priority areas in disaster management.

UNFPA is the lead agency for GBV in Bangladesh. The prevention and mitigation of GBV is ongoing priority area for UNFPA as outlined in the UNFPA's 9th Country Programme for Bangladesh (2017-2020). Within the 9th Country Programme UNFPA has prioritized gender equality as both a cross-cutting issue and a separate outcome. Guided by the principles for the global Cluster approach and drawing upon the previous natural disaster experiences in the country, UNFPA's advocacy efforts with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA) resulted in the recent formation of a 'Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Cluster' under the national humanitarian architecture in Bangladesh, which is co-chaired by MoWCA and UNFPA. The GBV Cluster was formally launched on 17 November 2016 and is contributing to a more coherent, comprehensive and coordinated approach to GBV in humanitarian settings in the country, including prevention, care, support, recovery, and efforts to hold the perpetrators accountable.

Recent unrest in Myanmar and a series of reported incidents involving security forces in Rohingya villages close to the border to Bangladesh has resulted in an increasing number of refugees from Myanmar fleeing to Cox's Bazar. To date (April 30, 2017), approximately 73,000 Rohingyas are known to have crossed into Bangladesh. This sudden influx has contributed to an ongoing challenging situation for undocumented Myanmar nationals already residing in Box's Bazar, The 200,000-500,000 undocumented Myanmar nationals (UMNs) living mostly in makeshift camps have already endured difficult living condition and social outcomes (health, education and gender) even prior to the recent influx, and significantly impacts women and girls ability to access to SRHR and GBV services including psychosocial support. A more coherent, comprehensive and coordinated approach to GBV in humanitarian settings in Cox's Bazar, including prevention, care, support, recovery, and efforts is urgently needed.

The GBV Cluster Coordinator will fill the technical GBViE demand of the GBV Cluster at a national level. The GBV Cluster Coordinator will coordinate in collaboration with GBV Cluster members for the humanitarian support in Cox’s Bazar, inter-agency GBV interventions in humanitarian emergencies. S/he will also facilitate formation of GBV sector coordination at the sub-national level including in Cox's Bazar District.

Requirements:

Qualifications and Experience

Education:  

Advanced degree with specialization in areas such as gender studies, humanitarian affairs, human rights, law, social work, public health, development studies, international relations, and/or other related social science disciplines.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 5 years of relevant humanitarian programming and coordination experience, preferably related to GBV in emergencies, including field experience.

• Demonstrated leadership and management experience within a multi- national and multi- cultural environment.

• Knowledge and understanding of UN/UNFPA humanitarian relief operations and procedures, 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.

• Experience in developing and/or contributing to the development of training materials and experience in facilitation and conducting training.

• Experience on data collection and analysis.

• Proven work experience which demonstrates a survivors-centered approach.

• Direct experience of providing support to GBV survivors is an asset.

• Excellent English speaking and writing skills and excellent communications and inter-personal skills.

• Ability to self-manage, emotional intelligence, empathy, team spirit, conflict management as well as negotiating skills.

Languages: 

Fluency in English and Bangla is required. Working knowledge of another UN language an asset.