Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Coordinator

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JOB TITLE: Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Coordinator

UNIT/DIVISION: Programmes

DUTY STATION: Bogotá, Colombia

DURATION: Until 30 October 2026

CONTRACT TYPE: Special Services Agreement (SSA)

LEVEL: SSA8

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) by humanitarian and development workers directly contradicts the principles of the UN and represents a protection failure on the part of the aid and development community. PSEA inflicts harm and damage on those whom the humanitarian community is obligated to protect, as well as jeopardizes the reputation of all United Nations (UN) entities.

The complex situation in Colombia due to the reconfiguration of non-state armed groups in the regions and the resulting Mixed Migration Flow from the Venezuela crisis has significantly increased the number of humanitarian actors working with people of concern, consequently contributing to an increased risk of SEA. Moreover, a recurrent finding in recent assessments indicates that sexual exploitation, such as transactional sex and other negative   coping mechanisms are rampant, especially in border areas. Due to the humanitarian emergency, several actors lack solid prior humanitarian experience and may not have set-up internal policies and procedures for the prevention and response to PSEA.

United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Colombia established the Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) in June 2018 with the main objective to coordinate interagency initiatives to strengthen awareness raising and the capacities of the UN, partners, and different NGOs to develop a culture of effective prevention and response to SEA. PSEA is a cross-cutting topic in the UNCT, Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), the Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Sustaining Peace (MPTF) and the Mixed Migration Flow Inter-Agency Group (GIFMM) architectures.

Job holders are likely to be working under the close support and guidance of a more experienced professional staff member receiving guidance and regular feedback on work performed. They are typically involved in programme or policy activities or similar nature and analytical work of limited complexity.

In this context, the recent allocation of USD 100 million from OCHA/WHA to Colombia represents a critical opportunity to reinforce inter-agency mechanisms for PSEA. Strengthening coordination at the level of the PSEA Network, including the re-establishment of a dedicated coordination role facilitated by WFP in support of OCHA, will ensure that resources are strategically leveraged to enhance accountability, harmonize efforts across humanitarian actors, and sustain a culture of prevention and response. This investment underscores the importance of institutional commitment to safeguarding affected populations and consolidating collective action against sexual exploitation and abuse.

JOB PURPOSE

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Country Director or his/her delegate, the PSEA Coordinator is responsible for overseeing and supporting the collective PSEA activities of the UN in Colombia. The PSEA coordinator’s contract will be administered by the WFP, which has supported this position in the country since 2020. The PSEA Coordinator reports directly to the Office of the Resident Coordinator Deputy Country Director, working closely with the members of the Task Force (currently co-led by UNICEF and UN Women).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES: 

Support the establishment of the PSEA in-country program

• Support senior leadership in developing and implementing PSEA Task Force TORs and the action plan, based upon the priorities identified.

• Support senior leadership PSEA TF strengthen and promote the PSEA Network for technical coordination on PSEA, consisting of membership from UN entities; international, national, and local organizations; UN mission operating in Colombia.

• Participate and provide inputs in global meetings to promote PSEA and ensure permanent interaction with the global bodies OSCSEA, IASC, OVRA, DCO among others.

• Advocate and provide recommendations to implement SEA prevention, risk mitigation, and response measures during planning, policy and project development to the interagency groups, including the Inter- Agency Groups for Mixed Migration Flows (GIFMMs) and Local Coordination Teams (ELCs).

• Provide inputs in the development of inter-agency strategic documents, to include PSEA activities in projects and programs and to access funding for work on PSEA.

• Coordinate trainings for all focal points and managers and provide guidance in accordance with the barriers, challenges, progress identified.

Coordinate the PSEA Task Force

• Coordinate and support the PSEA in country program through the work of the Task Force in close coordination with the co-chairs in the fulfillment of its responsibilities under its PSEA Task Force TORs.

• Represent the PSEA Task Force in relevant coordination bodies and leadership forums, for example UNCT, HCT and GIFMM, relevant in the humanitarian, development, and peace building context in Colombia. 

• Support the PSEA Task Force to conduct a joint PSEA risk assessment to inform senior leadership on strategic decision-making.

• Establish/Strengthen an Inter-agency Complaints Mechanism with engagement of relevant stakeholders in order to ensure support, high-level commitment, sustainability, and community trust and ownership in the CBCM.

• Support the PSEA Task Force to improve the Colombia Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on inter-agency complaint referral and appropriate for the local context, following global guidelines. Coordinate with PSEA focal points to ensure the interagency referral pathways are incorporated in PSEA trainings and understood by all actors. 

• Based on CFM assessment conducted in 2021, the results of the Colombia PSEA annual survey and community preferences, provide recommendations to the PSEA 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. Additionally, disseminate with the PSEA Network good practices in SEA complaint int and referral mechanisms with relevant actors 

• Keep aggregate, anonymized trends data as submitted by the PSEA Task Force members and other actors in- country to capture SEA trends and provide recommendations to the UNCT. 

Strengthen PSEA within organizations

Support Network members and other relevant entities operating in the context to strengthen their internal PSEA programs (where requested) to promote:

• The establishment of a Code of Conduct and Whistleblowing Policy that clearly prohibits SEA, obliges reporting of such acts, enforces these clauses when breached, provides protection to whistleblowers, and encourages safe reporting.

• The implementation of SEA prevention, risk mitigation, and response measures during planning, policy and project development, and programming in each organization.

• The development of skills through training staff on PSEA and the Code of Conduct, including appropriate conduct for aid workers and how to submit and receive complaints under internal and inter-agency reporting systems. 

• That Human resource departments understand the importance of guarding against hiring persons who have a (pending) allegation of misconduct against them, and include PSEA content in staff induction, contracts and subcontracting, and job evaluation criteria. 

• Insert and enforce PSEA clauses in partnership contracts that clarify reporting and investigation responsibilities. 

• Establish and/or strengthen internal investigation protocols, including clear case handling responsibilities in-country. Where Network members have a dedicated investigation body in Headquarters, strengthen referrals to the dedicated investigation unit.

• The strengthening safe SEA-specific procedures for internal complaint and feedback mechanisms (CFMs) and referrals to survivor assistance, informed by good practice and community consultations. 

Engage Stakeholders Community engagement

• Work closely with accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) and/or Communicating with Communities (CwC) groups to promote community engagement activities led by the UN entities and the NGOs.

• Support the Network members to develop communication strategies to raise awareness on key PSEA messages, including the rights of affected populations, the fact that assistance and   services are never conditioned on any sexual activity, and how to submit sensitive complaints.

InterCluster/InterSector Coordination

• Engage with Clusters (EHP) /Sectors (GIFMM) in Colombia to ensure PSEA mainstreaming during planning, policy development, and programming.

• Represent the PSEA Network and update on relevant PSEA activities during intersector and intercluster meetings.

• Report back to the PSEA Network on developments and updates and promote the report of PSEA indicators in the HRP and RMRP.

Protection, GBV and Child Protection

• Collaborate with the Protection cluster/sector, National GBV coordination group and Child Protection group to ensure a harmonized approach to prevention activities and support of victims/survivors, and that PSEA Network activities take a victims/survivorcentered approach supporting the rights of victims/survivors.

Government Actors

• Support senior leadership to develop engagement with the host government, including identified entry points in relevant institutions and stakeholders to promote the Zero Tolerance Policy against SEA. 

Victims’/Survivor-Centered Assistance

In coordination with the National GBV Group and Child Protection group

• Share with the PSEA Network the map of available services and the gaps for health, legal, psychosocial, and material support and provide key recommendations for service improvement.

• Ensure that the SOPs on complaint referral incorporate GBV assistance and referral pathways to aid with complainants and victims/survivors.

• Support the Network to promote trainings within its personnel about the assistance and the survivor-centered approach.

Accountability, including investigations

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

• Provide technical support 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.

Promote Information sharing

• Regularly report to the UNCT/EHP/GIFMM on developments and challenges in PSEA incountry 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 enhancing strategic and operational decision-making related to PSEA.

• Liaise with global PSEA bodies (e.g., the IASC, OSCSEA, OVRA), share regular updates on PSEA implementation.

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

• Never share during meetings nor record in minutes the names or identifying information of alleged perpetrators, complaints/survivors, or witnesses. Instead, cases discussed in meetings should be referred to by a case number.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:

• Minimum of 8 years of work experience with relevant expertise in the field of PSEA, safeguarding, protection, gender-based violence, staff misconduct and discipline, gender mainstreaming and/or humanitarian affairs.

• Understanding of international development and humanitarian architecture.

• Familiarity with the UN system and global coordination structures (e.g., OSCSEA, OVRA and the IASC).

• Proven ability to develop and/or implement an Action Plan.

• Experience in developing and facilitating training and capacity-building activities is an advantage.

• Specific filed experience in the Colombian context.

STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Minimum Undergraduate degree in human or social sciences, law, or related sciences with an advanced University Degree (master’s or equivalent) in Human rights, gender, or related fields.

Language: Fluency in Spanish and English is required.

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

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• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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