JOB DESCRIPTION

D

Non Family with Residential Location

Non Family with Residential Location

Nairobi (CO), Kenya

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-08-01

July 27, 2025

Assistant GBV Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant GBV Officer supports the operations’ efforts to fulfil UNHCR’s mandate and associated obligations on GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response based on policy and guidance.

The Assistant GBV Officer is part of the protection team normally reports to a higher-grade GBV or protection staff or the Head of Office.

S/he works directly with communities and persons of concern to identify the risks and ensure the implementation of a community and rights-based approach. The incumbent plans and undertakes quality, timely and effective Gender-based Violence (GBV) prevention and response in line with UNHCR’s policy and guidance on GBV, in an age, gender and diversity inclusive manner as well as in line with survivor-centred approach. The incumbent works closely with programme and other team members to design Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response programs, GBV being a key protection concern. S/he provides technical advice to other technical units to support GBV mainstreaming throughout the operation. S/he is required to lead and strengthen the coordination with inter-agency partners, government authorities and persons of concern at the field. The incumbent contributes to the development of action plans and SOPs, capacity building and organizing GBV workshops for a range of audiences including partners, authorities and persons of concern. The incumbent will contribute to reviewing the current GBV prevention and response framework on the ground to identify critical gaps to be filled.

The incumbent may supervise some support staff.

S/he also ensures that persons of concern, in particular women and girls, are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
– Function as the GBV focal point for the area of responsibility and coordinate implementation of GBV programmes for the operation.
– Liaise with relevant local authorities and other UN agencies to shape and enhance the related working groups as well as technical meetings.
– Provide technical support and guidance to operational and implementing partners to ensure good quality implementation of projects in line with the operations GBV Strategy and global GBV minimum standards.
– Ensure monthly reporting, including GBVIMS and proGres v4 statistics with trends which informs policy, projects development.
– Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
– Promote mainstreaming of Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) across all sectors and activities such as health, safety and security, psychosocial and legal shelter, WASH, and Energy and coordinate with Programme and Protection sections to ensure that GBV risk mitigation is incorporated in activities of partners in all sectors.
– Provide technical guidance on integration of the survivor-centred approach into PSEA complaints mechanisms and enhance access of SEA survivors to existing GBV services.
– Support the integration of GBV risk mitigation into the role of UNHCR staff across all sectors
– Support the initial needs/gaps and capacity assessments on GBV in close coordination with any on-going joint/common assessments being conducted in the early stages of an emergency response while ensuring compliance with ethical standards for data collection related to GBV.
– Provide support to include GBV prevention and response programming in humanitarian action plans while providing guidance to other sectors for the inclusion of GBV risk mitigation into their plans.
– Contribute to the planning and monitoring for multi-sectoral GBV programming using the Results Framework and Focus in close collaboration with Programme and different sectors.
– Contribute to strengthening of GBV coordination mechanisms throughout the operation.
– Contribute to establishment and/or strengthening of new strategic and innovative partnerships for GBV both with community-based, women-led, local, national, and international organizations.
– Provide support in mapping existing services to address GBV in the various affected areas, including identifying community capacities and structures for potential partnership.
– Advocate with senior management in UNHCR and other partners, to ensure prioritization of GBV prevention and response as a life-saving response.
– Monitor GBV programs implemented by UNHCR and partners (both implementing and operational) and adjust programming as required.
– Monitor the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and global standards within all GBV programs, including GBV case management.
– Contribute to the identification of durable solutions for persons of concern through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
– Implement capacity-building activities for all actors, persons of concern, service providers including relevant Government institutions and NGOs to strengthen the prevention and response to GBV as well as risk mitigation thus contributing to enhance the overall protection situation.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA – 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
International Development, Cultural Studies, Human Rights,
International Social Work, Social Science, Political Science,
Anthropology, Law, or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Minimum 1 year of previous work experience relevant to the function of GBV in an international context, preferably in the field and having experience in the field of GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response, broader protection or social work involving empowerment of women and girls, gender, child protection, mental health, counselling and working with survivors, humanitarian and development issues. Applied experience in survivor-centred approach, GBV guiding and case management principles related to GBV programs. Demonstrated knowledge in gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls and apply, promote and integrate gender analysis into humanitarian programming. Demonstrated knowledge of and implementation of multi-sectorial responses to GBV and support to other sectors to mainstream GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response. Demonstrated knowledge and application of GBV prevention theory and appropriate GBV prevention and behaviour change strategies at different stages of the humanitarian response. Knowledge and demonstrated use of UNHCR and Interagency GBV tools and Guidance.

Desirable
Demonstrated understanding of critical issues around GBV data and knowledge of safe and ethical data collection and analysis and conducting assessments. Demonstrated knowledge of engagement with GBV Interagency humanitarian architecture. Knowledge and experience of participatory approaches to engaging with and mobilizing communities Good understanding of displacement and protection issues including, child protection, education and the application of the Age, Gender and Diversity Policy.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Capacity development and training
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
TR-Training – Virtual and face to face
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention programming
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) risk mitigation
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) response programming
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Given the post-conflict context of the Greater Kasai region, the persistent humanitarian challenges, and the complexity of protection needs, the ideal candidate should possess the following qualifications, competencies, and experience:

Technical Expertise and Professional Experience:
• Demonstrated experience in gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, including case management, strengthening of community-based mechanisms, and inter-agency coordination.
• Proven track record in implementing prevention programmes using innovative and community-based approaches, such as EMAP (Engaging Men through Accountable Practices), with a focus on shifting social norms.
• Solid understanding of GBV guiding principles, including inter-agency minimum standards, survivor-centred case management protocols, and ethical standards for data collection.

Contextual Knowledge and Analytical Skills:
• In-depth knowledge of the sociopolitical and security context of the Greater Kasai region, particularly the impacts of the Kamuina Nsapu conflict, challenges linked to the reintegration of returnees and internally displaced persons, and community dynamics around traditional authority.
• Ability to conduct gender-sensitive contextual analysis to inform strategic planning and ensure an appropriate and inclusive response.

Coordination, Influence, and Advocacy Capacities:
• Ability to ensure effective coordination with government actors, NGOs, UN agencies, and community-based structures.
• Experience in advocacy with national and local authorities to integrate GBV into public policies and national protection mechanisms.
• Active engagement in the implementation of the Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) Nexus, particularly by contributing to the institutionalization of GBV response services in identified villagization zones.

Technical and Behavioural Competencies:
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in French; proficiency in local languages (e.g., Tshiluba) is an asset.
• Strong ability to draft analytical reports, advocacy briefs, and technical proposals.
• Demonstrated initiative, proactivity, professional integrity, and ability to work under pressure in a multicultural environment.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Grand Kasaï region, the area of operation of the UNHCR sub-delegation in Kananga, faces complex humanitarian challenges. Some 20,000 repatriated refugees and 750,000 people expelled from Angola currently reside there. Added to this are the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Kamuina Nsapu crisis, 135,791 of whom remain displaced, while 36,009 have returned to their localities of origin over the past six months.

These population movements are putting further pressure on already limited access to basic social services – including health, education, water, sanitation and security – exacerbating community tensions and the challenges of peaceful coexistence. In addition, 711 residual Rwandan refugees continue to live in the provinces of Kasai Oriental and Lomami.

Host communities continue to face latent conflicts, particularly in connection with rivalries over customary power, territorial boundaries and other inter-community tensions. The prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) also remains a cause for concern.
In terms of security, the situation in Greater Kasai is generally calm. However, isolated cases of criminality targeting economic operators or people with financial resources have been reported. Inter-community clashes, mainly linked to land disputes and claims to customary power, also continue to be recorded in certain localities.

To contribute to stabilization efforts, an integrated approach based on the Humanitarian Development-Peace Nexus has been implemented since April 2021. Within this framework, the Kananga sub-delegation’s main interventions focus on the return and reintegration of refugees repatriated from Angola, with particular emphasis on five convergence zones identified as villagization sites: Tshilumba and Nkonko in Kasaï Oriental, Kansanpuila in Kasaï, as well as Shamusanda and Kapinga Nkundi also in Kasaï province.

Living and Working Conditions:

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the biggest operation of the Regional Bureau for Southern, and one of the oldest on the whole continent. DRC continues to host over 538,009 refugees countrywide since the beginning of the year (including 216,451 Rwandan refugees, 172,809 CAR refugees, 45,336 Burundian refugees and 102,044 South Sudanese refugees). DRC also continues to host over 4 million IDPs mainly located in the Kasai provinces, and Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tanganyika provinces due to inter-tribal conflict, militants illegal activities amongst others.

In line with the 2020-2025 UNHCR DRC Protection Strategy, UNHCR ‘s operations focus on facilitating durable solutions, including local integration and empowerment; providing multi-sectoral assistance to refugees both in camps and for those living with the host community (including on sites, in accordance with an approach of ¿alternatives to camps ¿); building self-reliance by supporting livelihood opportunities for refugees and host communities; protection monitoring, prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and search for durable solutions for Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees; capacity-building vis-à-vis the DRC authorities; providing emergency response.

On the security front, the situation in Greater Kasai is generally calm. However, isolated cases of criminality targeting economic operators or people with financial resources have been reported. Inter-community clashes, mainly linked to land disputes and claims to customary power, also continue to be recorded in certain localities.

To contribute to stabilization efforts, an integrated approach based on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus has been implemented since April 2021. Within this framework, the Kananga sub-delegation’s main interventions focus on the return and reintegration of repatriated refugees.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Capacity development and training, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention programming, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) response programming, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) risk mitigation, TR-Training – Virtual and face to face

Bachelor of Arts: Anthropology, Bachelor of Arts: Cultural Studies, Bachelor of Arts: Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts: International Development, Bachelor of Arts: International Social Work, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance