REGA Team Lead LACRO Panama City P5 NORCAP

OVERVIEW

The GBV AoR capacity building efforts, and the REGA as a representative of the global AoR, focus on GBV prevention and response in humanitarian action, from preparedness, crisis, and through recovery phases and transition of coordination leadership to the relevant national or local authorities, and/or local organisations.

The REGA will develop the capacity of regional-, national-, and local actors to strengthen GBV prevention and response, through remote and in country support to GBV sub-clusters, and cluster-like GBV working groups. In so doing, the REGA will ensure the sustainability of their interventions by supporting inter-agency GBV prevention and response efforts, GBV sub cluster coordination at national and sub-national  levels, government disaster management agencies and regional  and national/country level disaster preparedness actors, in addition to ministries and other relevant actors to assume greater responsibilities for disaster preparedness, service delivery and coordination, promoting substantive institutional follow-up after regional visits, and facilitating training-of-trainer workshops to national staff and local actors. 

REGAs capacity building efforts aim to ensure country level take up of the 2019 GBV AoR Manual for Coordinating GBV in Emergencies, for minimum GBV coordination deliverables to be in place, and more generally that GBV coordination at country level can deliver on all core cluster functions in line with cluster accountabilities. The core functions of cluster include: facilitating service delivery, advising and informing humanitarian leadership and strategic decision making, planning and implementing cluster strategies, monitoring and evaluate performance, capacity building of government on preparedness and contingency planning, and support to robust advocacy.

The REGAs work with GBV coordinators in support of national preparedness capacity wherever this is feasible and appropriate. In the Latin America and the Caribbean region, this work will be carried out in collaboration with the Emergency Response Program and OCHA, as relevant, for prioritisation and ensuring inter-agency focus. Preparedness efforts will focus on coordinated GBV service delivery and risk mitigation efforts across sectors in national plans, building on the revised 2015 IASC Guidelines for GBV Interventions in Humanitarian Settings.

Working in the Latin America and Caribbean Region (LAC):

In the LAC, recurrent disasters, often with low international visibility, have always affected poor rural livelihoods, exacerbated inequalities and hampered sustainable development. Between 2003 and 2017, natural disasters in the Americas and the Caribbean left an estimated 300,000 dead and affected more than 70 million people (OCHA). The Caribbean and Central America experience cyclical hurricanes with impact intensifying due the effects of climate change.  The northern countries of Central America also face ongoing drought, chronic violence and forced displacement. The economic crisis in Venezuela and the impact of mixed migration flow into neighboring countries has brought an unprecedented level of urgency for well-coordinated humanitarian responses at regional and country level.  

The mandate of the GBV AoR and the REGA is GBV coordination under the IASC structure, and contexts of Internal Displacement more specifically. The clusters are operational in Venezuela and in Colombia; furthermore there is a need to focus on preparedness efforts in the Caribbean and potentially Central America. The current GBV AoR mapping of coordination includes the Bahamas, Ecuador and Haiti; and the REGA preparedness focus needs to be accompanied by a possibility to also respond to emergencies, and rapid response needs in times of crisis. It is important that coordination is joined up in mixed settings, and the REGA may contribute with capacity building in such humanitarian contexts, depending on context and OCHA presence.  The REGA will deploy up to 50-60% to country offices (COs) within the region including other official travel.

Recognising the need for collaboration and synergies with the response to refugees and migrants from Venezuela in host and transit countries, UNFPA Regional Office will host a Regional GBV Coordinator for the Regional Interagency Coordination Platform which is led by IOM and UNHCR. The GBV Coordinator reports to UNFPA’s Emergency Coordinator but will have a dotted line to the REGA. The REGA will provide technical support to the Coordinator, and may in the future also function as the team lead and supervisor of a more junior GBV IM.

UNFPA LACRO and REGA hosting

The REGA will be hosted by UNFPA LACRO where s/he will engage in interagency regional capacity building activities, provide technical support to country GBV coordination mechanisms, and contribute  to global level processes linked to the GBV AoR.  The REGA will deploy up to 50% to country offices (COs) within the region including other official travel. On the occasion that a REGA will deploy to a system-wide scale up in emergency, the length of deployment will be a maximum of six weeks, and the GBV AoR will do its best to complement with other rapid response capacity.

As a hosting agency, UNFPA LACRO office will facilitate the work of the REGA by contributing with contextual analysis, knowledge of regional processes and needs, supporting access to regional and country actors, initiatives and resources. The REGA is expected to keep the GBV AOR Core team, interagency partners and the hosting agency informed of the support provided to any country in the region. The REGA reports to the REGA Manager. UNFPA LACRO will identify a management focal point to whom the REGA will have a dotted reporting line. REGA country missions are approved by the global GBV AoR core members, after consultations in country and at the regional level.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The expected outcomes of REGA work is strengthened GBV sub-cluster capacity to deliver life-saving coordinated response with a survivor-centered approach, in line with cluster accountabilities. The team builds the capacity of GBV coordinators and GBV practitioners. Also, the REGA works at a more strategic level, supporting GBV sub-clusters with strategic advice to the Humanitarian Country Teams (HCT).

The REGA will also, in collaboration with the GBV Guidelines Reference Group, build more sustained and effective mainstreaming of GBV-related actions throughout the humanitarian response, to effectively mitigate risks and to integrate GBV into other sectors for a stronger multi-sector response.

Advocacy and Resource Mobilization

• Advocate with regional decision makers the best practices to reduce risks of GBV, increase access to services available for survivors, incorporate GBV prevention and response programming into all technical sectors, and coordinate funding and programming needs effectively
• Lead regional, inter-agency GBV prevention and response programming advocacy and resource mobilisation efforts
• Promote the integration of GBV prevention and response in humanitarian planning processes by all regional technical sectors, including in contingency planning processes as well as regional humanitarian platforms on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) and in regional IASC fora.

Cluster Coordination Participation

• Support country level coordination mechanisms to engage local organisations and increase participation and decision making of local women organisations in the coordination structure.
• Promote ways of engaging diverse representation within the GBV coordination mechanisms such as youth organisations, women-led disability organisations, SOGIE related and others context specific organisations.

Capacity Building

• Conduct and support capacity building activities, that targets specifically GBV coordinators and GBV sub-cluster/working group member organisations with a focus on local and civil society organisations, to ensure adherence to global guidance and ethical standards and country take up of the GBV AoR Coordination Handbook, the forthcoming GBV AoR Global Minimum Standards, and ensuring country coordinators are aware of other global GBV AoR resources, such as the Helpdesk and Community of Practice. The aim of this capacity building is for GBV coordinators and local partners at national and sub-national level, to have strengthened capacity to deliver on core functions and minimum deliverables, ultimately leading to an effective, timely and life-saving multi-sectoral response for survivors
• Communicate global discussions or initiatives and how these can be leveraged by country actors, including the new GBV Accountability Framework, IASC protection policy, understanding of accountabilities and roles within the IASC humanitarian architecture.
• During HNO and HRP season, proactively reach out to countries, and provide targeted and focused support to GBV sub-clusters and cluster like coordination groups, and liaison with GBV AoR on potential needs for additional support, to enable reliable data and visibility of the GBV sector needs and plans in the new HNO and HRP templates (launched in 2019).
• Collaborate with GBV coordinators, UNFPA and Humanitarian Country Teams , and IASC principles on regional level (in consultation with UNFPA) to ensure adequate integration of GBV into HCT Protection Strategies (drafting, revision and implementation) and advise on strategic decision making so that Humanitarian Coordinators deliver on the new HC TORs that include leadership on GBV.
• Develop, lead or support inter-agency trainings to address capacity gaps as applicable to the context, including but not limited to conducting mappings, preparedness measures and inclusion of marginalised groups, establishing referral pathways, establishing SOPs, advocating for IMS, and how to reach adequate inclusion of GBV issues in all phases of the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC), including needs analysis and planning,  monitoring and fundraising.
• Support the national and sub-national GBV sub-clusters and ‘cluster-like or related mechanisms’ to conduct activities including but not limited to advocacy, mappings, effectively engage in the different phases of the  HPC, GBV mainstreaming and providing relevant GBV  and coordination technical support as defined by GBV AoR endorsed guidance.
• Strengthen capacity of GBV Sub Cluster or Working Group Coordinators through mentoring and coaching, including in non-emergency times.

Contingency Planning/Preparedness

• Actively engage in disaster risk reduction discussions to ensure inclusion of GBV prevention and response actions as life-saving activities
• Support national and regional disaster management bodies and networks, to lead review and integration of GBV-specific actions in relevant regional and national guidance related to contingency planning and preparedness
• Proactively participate in the development of GBV-focused contingency plans for countries on the brink of conflict, political unrest, or natural disaster and to position GBV-related interventions as life-saving
• Support and/or lead capacity mapping exercises to identify available resources and expertise as well as critical capacity gaps that need to be addressed in advance of the onset of an emergency

Knowledge Management

• Actively share regional good practices with country level actors, and ensure that global guidance reflects field challenges and good practice, and the take up of global resources at country level.
• Maintain a regional repository of all REGA documents, including mission reports, training tools, HPC documents, tools and examples
• Support the development of global and regional technical guidance based on REGA experiences and promising practices from country programs, and also propose and measure update of existing tools and GBV AoR resources.
• Identify and document best regional practices and develop documents for dissemination as appropriate
• Track integration of GBV-specific actions in relevant regional guidance related to contingency planning and preparedness
• Support the development of tools to assist countries in knowledge management.

Regional Support

• Effectively represent the GBV AoR with regional senior members, regional cluster lead agencies, regional donors, and key decision makers, to ensure awareness and prioritization of GBV prevention and response as a life-saving issue
• Provide regional capacity development to field actors on GBV prevention and response programming

REQUIREMENTS

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates knowledge of the GBV Guiding Principles, the application of a gender "lens" to humanitarian programming, the survivor-centred approach, and gender-equality
• Clear understanding of how power and violence impact the lives of women and girls

Professional Competencies

• Understands and can implement multi-sectoral prevention and response programs within the humanitarian architecture
• Demonstrated skills in coordination of GBV in multiple emergency settings, including roles of coordinators, government, key actors
• Excellent understanding of IASC humanitarian architecture and global GBV initiatives.
• Can locate and apply key GBV resources
• Understands and uses participatory approaches to engaging with and mobilizing communities
• Provides strategic planning and funding appeals for GBV prevention and response
• Conducts Advocacy on behalf of GBV programming and survivors
• Mainstreams GBV into other sectors
• Understands basics and conducts ethical safe assessments, data collection, and information-sharing
• Facilitates a collaborative culture to promote coordination
• Fluency in English and Spanish required
• Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset

Behavioural Competencies

• Able to adapt and cope to high-stressful and pressure situations
• Fosters effective communication
• Excellent interpersonal skills – including, but not limited to, fostering effective communication and maintaining a positive and professional attitude.
• Sensitivity to political and cultural contexts and dynamics and ability to communicate strategically with humanitarian leadership
• Ability to share successes, and take a less visible leadership role, in order to promote the ownership and leadership of GBV actors in the region, including governments.