Background and Justification

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by aid workers contradicts the very principles on which humanitarian action is based and is a protection failure, and a grievous violation of rights and dignity. All staff of humanitarian agencies and organizations, including the United Nations agencies and operational partners, are expected to uphold the highest standards of personal and professional conduct at all times to protect beneficiaries of assistance. Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of members of the local population is unacceptable and constitutes gross misconduct. Therefore, to prevent this act, it is necessary to assure that messaging on what SEA is, and where it can be reported is an essential component of any humanitarian response. Both UN agency staff/personnel and implementing partners and sub-contractors are bound by humanitarian standards and a policy of zero tolerance. At the same time, it is essential, that beneficiaries are made aware of what SEA is, and where it can safely be reported in a safe channel that is guided by the international standard of the survivor-centered approach.

Purpose of the Position

The events unfolding in the North of Ethiopia now affect 3 regions; Tigray, Amhara and Afar with displacements being rampant, and a strain that is felt among IDPs as well as host communities. Displacement, psychosocial distress, hunger, being reliant on humanitarian assistance and multi-dimensional poverty make those impacted by the crisis in Northern Ethiopia especially vulnerable to all forms of GBV, including SEA. According to the IASC guidelines, it is essential that humanitarians assume that S/GBV (sexual/gender-based violence) a serious, life threatening health issue is happening on a massive scale and is rarely reported, and this includes SEA. It is therefore incumbent upon all UN agencies, including the WHO to take all necessary steps to prevent, mitigate and response to the risk of SEA.

Organizational context

The incumbents will work under the direct technical supervision of the PRSEAH expert dedicated to the Northern Ethiopia response. They will be supported by regional coordinators for day-to-day operational support in their 3 respective hubs.

Key Responsibilities

The PSEA mobilizers are sought to be based in Afar and Amhara Regions in Northern Ethiopia. They will carry out face-to-face messaging in alignment with national COVID-19 prevention guidelines, to beneficiaries and also to implementing partners to assure their knowledge and awareness of PRSEAH (prevention and response to sexual exploitation and abuse) and where it can be reported. They will support in data collection, and in strengthening feedback mechanisms and keeping relevant WHO staff abreast of new developments, and changes that may be needed to assure the feedback mechanisms operate in a culturally, and contextually appropriate manner. This position may involve extensive training to field locations and interactions with the beneficiaries of implementing partners of WHO.

• Carry out face to face messaging in the affected communities being served by WHO on a regular basis
• Support the strengthening of SEA feedback mechanisms in the communities being served by WHO
• Provide training to Implementing partners, and regularly follow up with them to assure that risks are identified and mitigated, and feedback mechanisms are operational

Required Qualifications

Education

Essential: Completion of Secondary Education

Desirable : Diploma or First University Degree in health-related or social science fields

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in health promotion, community engagement, social mobilization and promoting populations’ awareness on sexual/reproductive health, HIV prevention
• Experience in community mobilization and sensitization on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and/or Sexual/Gender-based Violence (S/GBV)

Desirable : Experience working with a UN agency, an NGO or an INGO in the areas listed above

Competencies

• Communicating in a credible and effective way
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
• Fostering Teamwork and integration
• Producing results

Functional Knowledge And Skills

• Demonstrated ability to interact in complex situation involving technical, cultural and political elements. Sound analytical and organizational skill
• Ability and willingness to engage in discussion on subjects of a sensitive and sometimes controversial nature, in compliance with the existing policies, and the policy of zero tolerance.
• Ability/willingness to travel on mission to remote locations in Northern Ethiopia on a frequent basis
• Absolute compliance with WHO’s PSEA policy
• Experience and proven ability to work on awareness raising in affected communities essential

Language Skills

• Absolute fluency in local languages essential
• English language skills strongly preferred

Other Skills (e.g. IT)

• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of data collection software (kobo etc). a strong asset

Additional Information

• Remuneration – this is a GS06 Level Special Service Agreement assignment, with a monthly remuneration of $1,573.
• This Vacancy Notice will be used primarily to fill positions in Afar and Amhara Regions, but can also be used to fill similar positions in other Regions within Ethiopia. Candidates should indicate their preferred locations on their application letters.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• This is a General Service/National Professional Officer-level assignment. So, only applications from nationals of the country of operation (Ethiopia) will be considered.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.