Deadline for ApplicationsFebruary 8, 2026
Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)H (no hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS IICA2
Target Start Date2026-03-01
Terms of ReferenceTitle: GBV Officer
Project: GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response
Duty station: Home based
Section/Unit: GBV unit
ICA Level: IICA-2
Corresponding level: P3
Duration: from 01/03/2026 to 30/09/2026
1. General Background
The GBV Officer will be part of the headquarters-based global GBV unit. The GBV unit sits in the Durable Solutions and Field Support Service (DS-FPS) within the Division of International Protection and Solutions. The GBV unit provides an important function for UNHCR’s global standard setting and policy making. It also provides oversight for the implementation of the UNHCR Policy on the Prevention of, Risk Mitigation, and Response to GBV. The incumbent will maintain a close working relationship with the Bureaux, and Headquarters Divisions and entities.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
Implementation of UNHCR’s Global Policies and Standards
- Participate in the promotion of compliance with UNHCR’s GBV policy, priorities and commitments (aligned with polices on age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP), Child protection, gender equality, disability and youth empowerment.
Planning / Programming
- Provide technical guidance on programming for GBV prevention and response.
- Provide guidance on conducting GBV assessments such as GBV safety audits.
- Support cross-cutting programs and technical sectors to mainstream gender and to program for mitigation of GBV risks in their specific technical areas.
Capacity Development, Technical Support and Coordination
- Provide technical guidance and support field colleagues to operationalise and comply with UNHCR’s corporate GBV policy, priorities and commitments (aligned with policies on AGD and AAP, Child protection, disability, youth empowerment and gender equality).
- Lead global capacity development efforts especially on GBV prevention and risk mitigation.
- Increase engagement with the GBV community of practice.
- Represent UNHCR on interagency forums.
Partnerships
- Strengthen partnerships including with UN agencies, governments, civil society and with displaced and host communities, to prevent, mitigate, and respond to GBV, to promote gender equality and to ensure age and gender-informed protection and solution programs.
- Support that community-based approaches are applied in GBV programming and communities considered as key stakeholders.
- Perform other related duties as required.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
- Increased engagement on the GBV community of practice
- Facilitation of training workshops on GBV topics and measurement of results
- Technical support provided on GBV prevention
- Technical support provided on GBV risk mitigation
- Performance will be monitored through weekly updates and scheduled performance reviews
4. Qualifications and Experience
a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
Master’s degree in human Rights Law, Social Anthropology, International Development, Social Work, Social Sciences or another relevant field.
b. Work Experience
6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
c. Key Competencies
Essential
6 years of previous work experience relevant to the function of GBV in an international context, of which two years in the field and having experience in the field of GBV prevention, 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 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.
Location and Conditions:
The remuneration level and the applicable entitlements and benefits may differ based on the residence of the most suitable selected candidate.
Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.
Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).
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.
GBV Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The GBV Officer is a member of the Protection Team in a Regional Bureau or a Country Office and normally reports to the Senior GBV Officer or the Senior Community-Based Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer or the Head of Sub-Office or the Assistant Representative for protection. In smaller offices, the post may report directly to the Representative.
The 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.
S/he collaborates closely with the UNHCR management and the Protection team in the country and strengthens working relations with other agencies involved in GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response.
The incumbent will maintain a close working relationship with the Bureau and the Division of International Protection for system-wide coherence.
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
Implementation of UNHCR's Global Policies and Standards
- Support and facilitate the effective and timely development, implementation and monitoring of a clear and coherent multi-year and multi-sectoral GBV strategy as part of the operation's broader Protection and Solutions Strategy, coordinate timely reporting on progress including the documentation of promising practices.
- Participate in the promotion of compliance with UNHCR's GBV policy, priorities and commitments (aligned with polices on age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP), Child protection, gender equality, disability and youth empowerment.
- For functions at regional level, support the harmonization of GBV strategies in the region and alignment with global policies and commitments, support exchange of expertise and practices in the region and provide a regional level analysis of trends as well as aggregated reporting on GBV.
- Provide technical guidance on integration of the survivor-centred approach into PSEA complaints mechanisms and enhance access of SEA survivors to existing GBV services
Planning / Programming
- Support the development and implementation of programming for specialized GBV prevention and response based on needs, risks and capacity assessments at the onset of an emergency and throughout all phases of displacement.
- Participate in conducting, consolidating and reporting on GBV assessments including gender equality components at least once per year, linked to annual planning processes and participatory assessments and sharing strategic trends analyses.
- Contribute to planning processes and advocate for adequate resource (re)allocation and mobilization.
- Support cross-cutting programs and technical sectors to mainstream gender and to program for mitigation of GBV risks in their specific technical areas, and report on progress.
Capacity Development, Technical Support and Coordination
- Provide technical guidance and support field colleagues to operationalise and comply with UNHCR's corporate GBV policy, priorities and commitments (aligned with policies on AGD and AAP, Child protection, disability, youth empowerment and gender equality).
- Support operational capacity development efforts and provide technical support on gender and GBV mainstreaming
- Under the guidance of the Senior Protection Officer, support and facilitate the establishment of and ensure the functioning of GBV coordination mechanisms with all relevant stakeholders.
- Facilitate and strengthen the development and implementation of GBV Standard Operating Procedures for all sites that enable all survivors to access, at a minimum, appropriate health, psychosocial, security and safety, and legal support.
- Support and build capacity and systems for individual GBV case management for survivors and persons at-risk of GBV.
- Ensure safe and ethical GBV data collection and reporting is functioning and regular reporting is done on GBV, including through PRIMES and protection monitoring processes. Promote the use of the GBV module of PRIMES or another GBV information management system that provides for safe and ethical data collection and analysis. Where applicable, support reporting under the Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Arrangements on conflict-related sexual violence (MARA).
Partnerships
- Strengthen UNHCR's collaboration with host governments to develop national services in order to expand safe access for forcibly displaced and stateless persons to services that prevent, mitigate, and respond to GBV.
- Support the capacity development of staff, partners and other stakeholders to address GBV and to promote gender equality and the empowerment of displaced women and girls.
- Strengthen partnerships including with UN agencies, governments, civil society and with displaced and host communities, to prevent, mitigate, and respond to GBV, to promote gender equality and to ensure age and gender-informed protection and solution programs.
- Support that community-based approaches are applied in GBV programming and communities considered as key stakeholders.
- 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 P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Human rights, Social Anthropology, Social work,
Law, International Development, Social Sciences, or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
6 years of previous work experience relevant to the function of GBV in an international context, of which two years in the field and having experience in the field of GBV prevention, 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 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. Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of position such as: Protection Learning Programme, Operations Management Learning Programme, Middle Management Learning Programme, GBV and Gender Equality. Experience in a humanitarian context.
Functional Skills
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
TR-Training - Virtual and face to face
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Capacity development and training
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.
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SkillsPR-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
EducationMaster's: Human Rights Law, Master's: Social Science, Master's: Social Work
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
RemoteYes