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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built, we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, protection

UNICEF in the State of Palestine works to uphold the rights of children to access essential services and protection, from early childhood through adolescence. Our objective is to ensure that every child in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, irrespective of background or circumstance, has an equal chance to fulfil their potential. Following the escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, UNICEF is responding at scale with Education, WASH, Nutrition, Health, Child Protection and Multi-Purpose Cash, while preparing for return to learning for children across the State of Palestine to respond to the most precent and critical needs of children, while supporting the restoration of essential services.

The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Coordinator position is based in the UNICEF Palestine Office, in East Jerusalem. The PSEA Coordinator reports to the Special Representative with a direct linkage to the DSC/RC/HC, and is responsible for coordinating and supporting the collective PSEA activities of organizations in the State of Palestine. Working closely with the PSEA Network co-chairs, UNRWA GFO and Première Urgence Internationale, the PSEA Coordinator will undertake the following responsibilities:

1. Support the PSEA in-country program

- Support senior leadership in developing and implementing an in-country PSEA strategy

- Support senior leadership in strengthening the inter-agency PSEA Network for technical coordination on PSEA

- Support the Network in carrying out a joint PSEA risk assessment to inform senior leadership on strategic decision-making

- Support senior leadership in developing and implementing PSEA Network TORs and an Action Plan, based upon the risk assessment

2. Coordinate the PSEA Network

- Coordinate and support the inter-agency PSEA Network in coordination with the Network co-chairs in the fulfillment of its responsibilities under its PSEA Network TORs and Action Plan

- Support CBCM focal points in elaborating an internal plan with clear objectives addressing identified gaps, covering all six core areas of PSEA and actions to sustain consultations with beneficiaries and awareness raising.

- Represent the PSEA Network in relevant coordination bodies and leadership forums in Palestine, including the UN Country Team, the Humanitarian Country Team, Cluster Coordination meetings, and other meetings, as relevant and appropriate.

- When the PSEA Coordinator is unavailable the Network will be overseen, supported, and represented by the co-chairs, UNRWA GFO and Première Urgence Internationale

3. Strengthen PSEA within organizations

- On request, provide expert guidance and technical support to Network members and other relevant entities operating in Palestine to strengthen their internal PSEA programs in line with good practice and standards including, but limited to, the Minimum Operating Standards on PSEA and the CHS PSEAH Index.

4. Stakeholders and Community engagement

- As part of broader community engagement activities, support the Network to learn of community perspectives on behavior of aid workers and others delivering humanitarian assistance and programmes and preferences in discussing sexual matters and receiving and sharing sensitive information to inform the Network’s outreach and activities

- Support the Network to develop a collective communication strategy to raise awareness on key PSEA messages, including the rights of affected populations, the fact that assistance and services are never conditioned on sexual favors, and how to submit sensitive complaints

- Ensure that the implementation of the PSEA Network Action Plan is informed by community participation, contextually and culturally appropriate, and based on the community’s needs

- Engage and coordinate with Clusters in Palestine to ensure PSEA mainstreaming during planning, policy development, and programming

- Represent the PSEA Network and update on relevant PSEA activities during Cluster and inter-Cluster meetings

- Report back to the PSEA Network on Cluster developments and updates that may impact the PSEA Action Plan implementation

- Collaborate with the Protection Cluster, GBV sub-Cluster Coordinator and Child Protection Area of Responsibility Coordinator to ensure a harmonized approach to prevention activities and support of victims/survivors, and make sure that PSEA Network activities take a victims/survivor-centered approach supporting the rights of victims/survivors

- Support senior leadership to develop a localized engagement strategy with the host government, including identified entry points in relevant ministries and stakeholders for outreach

5. Establish/Strengthen an Inter-agency Complaints Mechanism

- Assist Network members to consult and engage with all relevant stakeholders during the design of the CBCM in order to ensure support, high-level commitment, sustainability, and community trust and ownership in the CBCM

- Support the Network to draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on inter-agency complaint referral following the Global Standard Operating Procedures on Inter-Agency Cooperation in CBCMs, and appropriate for the local context

- Support and advocate with senior leadership to finalize and endorse the SOPs

- Coordinate with Heads of Organizations and Cluster leads to ensure the referral pathways are incorporated in PSEA trainings and understood by all actors in Palestine.

- Work with the PSEA Network, the AAP/CwC Networks, GBV/CP service providers, Protection and other relevant actors to understand community preferences in reporting sensitive allegations

- Support the PSEA and AAP Networks to map existing CFMs in Palestine to identify where there are gaps in community access for reporting sensitive complaints

- Based on CFM mapping and community preferences, support Network members to strengthen existing and/or establish new entry points to fill the gaps in reporting access so that there are safe, accessible, and contextually appropriate channels for any member of the community to report complaints of SEA

- Where major gaps exist, in coordination with the PSEA Network and on the endorsement of senior leadership, support establishment of a collective channel for complaints (e.g. a call center) with clear protocols on complaint intake and referral in line with the SOPs.

- Support the PSEA Network to hold inter-agency trainings on good practices in SEA complaint intake and referral for PSEA Focal Points, Protection, GBV and Child Protection actors, and all actors staffing CFM channels, so that all actors who may receive SEA complaints know how to recognize SEA and where to send allegations in the joint CBCM

- Support the Network to disseminate contact information of PSEA Focal Points amongst staff and the affected population, so that the entire aid community is aware of and can reach out to the formal reporting mechanism for each Network member

- If the Coordinator receives an allegation directly, refer the allegation to the concerned organization, the survivor to available services based on survivor’s informed consent, and provide appropriate follow-up after referral, in accordance with the SOPs and best practice.

- Keep aggregate, anonymized trends data as submitted by members and other actors in-country in order to capture SEA trends in Palestine and support stakeholders to adjust programs

- Coordinate in-country mapping of partners, and agreement on lead agency for PSEA assessment, implementation plan, and capacity development of shared partners

6. Victims’/Survivor-Centered Assistance

- Mobilize the PSEA Network to assist in a mapping exercise of available services and gaps for health, legal, psychosocial, and material support

- Ensure that the SOPs on complaint referral incorporate Protection, GBV, and CP assistance referral pathways to provide immediate aid for complainants and victims/survivors

- Assist the Network to train assistance service providers on PSEA-specific components in services

7. Accountability, including investigations

- Disseminate and share good practice standards on victim/survivor-centered investigations with PSEA Network members and external partners

- Provide technical support and coordination to deliver training on PSEA guidelines and protocols for victim/survivor-centered investigations

- Include good practice standards into the PSEA Network practices on ensuring that SEA victims/survivors are informed and/or supported in relation to investigations and accountability processes

- Provide technical support, as needed, for child and gender-sensitive approaches to investigations and the integration of such standards within the PSEA Network membership

8. Promote Information sharing:

- Proactively reach out to relevant entities that are not participating in the PSEA Network or the joint CBCM to ensure that they are aware of PSEA activities, and to foster linkages and information-sharing on PSEA

- Regularly report to senior leadership on developments and challenges in PSEA in-country to ensure continued engagement and address gaps in PSEA implementation

- Collect and analyze inputs of PSEA Focal Points and other relevant colleagues, identify recurring issues and trends, and share recommendations with senior leadership with the aim of enhancing strategic and operational decision-making related to PSEA

- Regularly update regional and global bodies to ensure up-to-date understanding of PSEA activities in Palestine.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

An advanced University degree in human rights, health, psychology, sociology, social work or other relevant field

Experience:

A minimum of eight years of professional experience in designing, implementation and management of protection, GBV and PSEA, preferably with the UN and/or NGO. Experience working in humanitarian contexts.

Familiarity with the latest development in PSEA, inter-agency PSEA responses and humanitarian cluster systems.

Excellent communication skills.

Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions.

Excellent facilitation, training, networking and advocacy skills.

Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization

Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is considered as an added advantage.

Language Requirement:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language, in particular Arabic, is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

This is required for all posts requiring a higher education degree. “UNICEF 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). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

The VA is open to all (internal and external candidates)

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.