PSEA Program Associate (Protection Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse)

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism.

Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by aid workers directly contradicts the principles upon which humanitarian action is based and represents a protection failure on the part of the aid community. SEA inflicts harm on those whom the humanitarian community is obligated to protect, and as such jeopardizes the credibility of all assistance agencies. Humanitarian workers are expected to uphold the highest standards of personal and professional conduct at all times to protect beneficiaries of assistance. In recognition of the global concern over SEA, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) has prioritized efforts to prevent and respond to these abuses at both the agency level and through collective efforts in the field. PSEA policies affect all UN related personnel and implementing partners, NGOS and INGOS, including volunteers, contractors and consultants and operate in West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.

Since 2018, UNICEF State of Palestine has invested in advancing the PSEA portfolio and addressing potential risks related to UNICEF’s operations and misconduct of personnel involved in the delivery of UNICEF’s programme. UNICEF has been the leader of the establishment of the interagency PSEAH Network which mirrors the internal efforts exerted to prevent risk of SEAH, and has since began the process of mainstreaming PSEAH in all its operations, training personnel in standardized good practices and developing protocols to handle SEAH cases. A Community-Based Complaint Mechanism (CBCM) has been established which fosters a survivor’s cantered approach and connects to Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) channels. The CBCM is a system of mutual responsibly among the partners that conform the PSEA Network where survivors can use any accessible channel to report SEAH to lead them to appropriate assistance in a safe and confidential manner.

The UNV Programme Associate (PSEA) will be based in East Jerusalem with the possibility of field missions to UNICEF State of Palestine projects with implementing partners in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Within the context of the emergency response and the National PSEA Committee framework, the UNV Programme Associate (PSEA) will support the implementation of UNICEF State of Palestine PSEA Action Plan, which focuses on scaling up and taking forward UNICEF’s prevention and response efforts to sexual exploitation and abuse.

The position will report directly to the PSEA Officer on day-to-day work accountabilities, working closely with the PSEA team members who combine UNICEF and Inter-Agency PSEA Network in the State of Palestine, in addition to relevant sections involved in addressing SEA allegations reporting and response.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the PSEA Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Programme Associate (Protection Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) will:
- Give support to PSEA Officer in the internal process of PSEA Risk Assessment cycle to UNICEF
implementing partners and members of the PSEA Network.
- Support in assisting partners to ensure PSEA policies and structures are aligned with standards and
requirements as per UNICEF PSEA Implementing Partners Procedures and the UN Protocol.
- Support coordination and implementation of the PSEA Risk Assessment Capacity Building plan for
implementing partners.
- Support coordination, internal communication, and community mobilization for the PSEA Network.
- Support on documentation, monitoring and reporting needs of the PSEA team.
- Manage and monitor community-level feedback and complaints channel.
- Provide support to ongoing projects, events, and partnerships as relevant.
- Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.