General Functions:  

The protracted conflict in Syria has exposed large portions of the population to devastating humanitarian conditions. Eight years into the crisis, over 13 million people are still in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including 6. 1 million internally displaced. With large-scale population displacements, increased poverty levels and limited livelihood options, the most affected communities are highly dependent on humanitarian aid. Moreover, the social fabrics and support systems have been severely disrupted, leading to limited individual and community capacities to address protection risks and incidents.

In a context where access is limited, and remote management and monitoring modalities are often used to deliver assistance, humanitarian workers are in positions of substantial power over the community, and such dynamics leave open the risk of humanitarian workers to abuse this power imbalance to exploit and abuse the affected population and beneficiaries.

Findings from past assessments in Syria and Humanitarian Needs Overview established a high prevalence of Gender Based Violence (GBV), including Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). SEA refers specifically to acts committed against members of the affected population by humanitarian actors, including international and national personnel of the United Nations (UN) and of non-government organizations (NGOs). SEA represents a failure on the part of humanitarian agencies to provide protection and care for communities, especially for the most vulnerable members of the population.

In December 2017, the Syria Strategic Steering Group endorsed a Whole of Syria PSEA implementation approach which led to the establishment of inter-agency PSEA networks in various operations of the Syria humanitarian response. The inter-agency PSEA network in North East Syria was established in April 2018 and is operated under the NGO Forum with the WoS PSEA Coordinator responsible for its coordination and technical support.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Sub Office (ESEM Region) and direct supervision of the PSEA Coordinator, the position will provide support to the PSEA Program to target members of the Humanitarian Syria Civil Society Platform managed by UNOCHA Turkey and other community-based networks who are not currently members of the PSEA Network with the PSEA Programming.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Conduct mapping and liaison with organizations that are affiliated to the PSEA network member organizations.
2. Liaise with Syrian community-based organizations, networks and their constituencies to conduct PSEA self-assessment to identify gaps and opportunities for capacity strengthening in close coordination with the PSEA Coordinator.
3. Undertake an outreach activities on the PSEA programme to the organizations affiliated to PSEA network member organizations, Syria Civil Society Platform member organizations and in coordination with the PSEA Coordinator, undertake joint outreach to the Turkey Cross Border PSEA Network member Organizations with the Senior PSEA Project Assistant.
4. Identify and incorporate PSEA knowledge and best practices to be replicated by community-based organizations, Syrian humanitarian network organizations, SCO platform members and their constituencies.
5. Build a database and regularly update organizations database that are affiliated to the PSEA network member organizations and SCO Platform for adequate targeting with the PSEA Program.
6. Organize and coordinate thematic assessments and fact finding among member organizations of PSEA network humanitarian actors to inform relevant interventions and support by the PSEA program.
7. Organize and facilitate thematic meetings, information sessions, workshops and trainings for constituencies.
8. Suggest and  implement mechanisms for the organizations and networks reached by the Program  to share progress reports and updates on PSEA implementation.
9. Coordinate administrative and logistical duties as required, including ensuring locations for PSEA meetings and outreach activities for the target constituency are organised and have all the required equipment and materials.
10. As member of the Whole of Syria Program team, provide a regular information and visibility products for updates and briefings to various stakeholders as required.
11. Write and submit monthly progress reports and contribute to WoS PSEA Program reports and information products as requested by the PSEA Coordinator.
12. Perform other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications:

Education:

• Master’s degree in Sociology, Economics, International Relations or a related field from an accredited academic institution; or
• University degree from an accredited academic institution, with two years of relevant professional experience.

Experience:

·Experience in humanitarian and emergency assistance;

• Proven experience working with beneficiaries, humanitarian organizations, and other stakeholders;
• Proven experience in various activities and topics for community based protection interventions;
• Proven experience in PSEA work,
• Knowledge of the Syria Humanitarian context.

Languages:

• Fluency in Arabic and English is required.  
• Working knowledge of Kurdish is an advantage.

Required Competencies

The incumbent is expected to demonstrate the following values and competencies:

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity:

Shows respect and sensitivity towards gender, culture, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, political conviction and other differences.

• Encourages the inclusion of all team members and stakeholders while demonstrating the ability to work constructively with people with different backgrounds and orientations.

• Promotes the benefits of diversity; values diverse points of view and demonstrate this in daily work and decision making.

• Challenges prejudice, biases and intolerance in the workplace.

• Integrity and transparency:

Upholds and promotes the Standards of Conduct and Unified Staff Regulations and Rules.

• Delivers on commitments; manages the organization’s resources reliably and sustainably.

• Embraces and encourages transparency, balancing this with the need for discretion and confidentiality as appropriate.

• Maintains impartiality and takes prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour.

• Does not abuse one’s position and acts without consideration of personal gain. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns.

• Professionalism:

Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter and willingness to improve knowledge and skills.

• Seeks to raise professional standards in self and others through daily work and activities.

• Adapts quickly to change and is decisive and versatile in face of uncertainty.

• Shows self-control and persistence when faced with difficult problems and remains calm in stressful situations.

• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Teamwork:

• Fosters a sense of team spirit by developing a shared understanding, accountability and enthusiasm for the team’s work.

• Displays a high level of cultural awareness, sensitivity to different ways of working and leverages individual strengths in order to build a better team.

• Shares credit for team accomplishments and ensures that the contribution of others is recognized.

• Helps create a positive team spirit, putting aside personal considerations to help the team achieve its goals.

• Delivering results:

•Produces high-quality results and workable solutions that meet clients’ needs.

• Anticipates constraints, identifies solutions and takes responsibility for addressing critical situations.

• Monitors own and others’ work in a systematic and effective way, ensuring required resources and outputs.

• Aligns projects with Organization’s mission and objectives and demonstrates a good understanding of the impact of team’s and own work on external and internal counterparts.

• Managing and sharing knowledge:

•Disseminates and shares knowledge openly and actively contributes to knowledge/network communities for topics relevant to area of expertise.

• Encourages knowledge-sharing across units/departments and ensures that knowledge is captured, recorded and disseminated appropriately.

• Builds networks for the effective communication and exchange of knowledge and ideas and puts others into contact with various sources of knowledge.

• Contributes to an environment that is conducive to innovation and learning.

• Accountability:

• Proactively seeks responsibility in delivering towards the goals of the Organization.

• Plans and organizes work with a clear and deliberate focus, ensuring commitments are easily identified and progress is widely communicated.

• Stands by the actions of team or department, publicly accepting ownership.

• Takes responsibility of own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable

• Communication:

•Speaks and writes clearly and effectively.

• Seeks to share information with others, with due respect for diversity and the confidentiality of specific sensitive information.

• Listens and seeks to understand without bias, and responds appropriately.

• Shares information and keeps others up to date; actively seeks others' views and ideas and respects their contribution.

Managerial Competencies[1] – behavioural indicators level 2

• Leadership:

• Assigns responsibilities fairly and manages performance, taking account of individual strengths, workloads and interests.

• Is inclusive in decision-making and actively seeks feedback from team members and colleagues in order to identify opportunities for improvement.

• Takes sound and timely managerial decisions that are consistent with the Organization's vision and purpose.

• Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of stakeholders to understand needs and gain support.

• Empowering others and building trust:

•Delegates appropriately to make the most of others’ talents, clarifying expectations and allowing autonomy in important areas while providing necessary support.

• Encourages others to take responsibility for their performance; promotes ownership, responsibility and accountability for desired results at all levels.

• Creates an atmosphere of trust and confidence in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion.

• Gives proper credit to others, shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort.

• Strategic thinking and vision:

•Aligns own actions to the Organization’s vision, values and mandate.

• Translates strategic direction into short and medium-term plans and objectives for own team; revises objectives to reflect changes in organizational goals.

• Identifies key issues/priorities in complex situations and how they may be related to one another.

• Clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals.

Other:

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

Only candidates residing in either the country of the duty station or from a location in a neighbouring country that is within commuting distance of the duty station will be considered. In all cases, a prerequisite for taking up the position is legal residency in the country of the duty station, or in the neighbouring country located within commuting distance, and work permit, as applicable.

Please be advised that this is a local position and as such only applications from candidates with a valid residence / working permit residing in Turkey will be considered.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are requested to submit their application including the most recent CV with a cover letter in English with contact details (name, position, phone and e-mail details) of three references by indicating  name of the position applied with its VN number in the subject line of the e-mail by the end of 13 December  2019.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.