Senior GBV Associate

Senior GBV Associate Vacancy at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

December 7, 2025

E (most hardship)

Non Family with Residential Location

Non Family with Residential Location

Addis Ababa,Eth Fed Dem Rep

GS7

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-01-01

Senior GBV Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior GBV Associate 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 Senior GBV Associate works under direct supervision of a more senior GBV/Protection colleague who defines overall work objectives and provides regular advice and guidance. The Senior GBV Associate will focus on strengthening GBV case management supervision as well as safe and ethical data collection and further analysis of GBV trends. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive GBV strategy and represents the Office externally on GBV standards and policy as guided by the supervisor. The incumbent prepares relevant documentation and follows-up on administrative requirements of GBV projects.

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. S/he promotes alignment with GBV minimum standards and respect of GBV Guiding Principles.

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
- Assist the Associate Protection Officer or Associate GBV Officer and/or the Protection Officer or GBV Officer in the preparations and holdings of the coordination meetings of the GBV sub-working group (and/or Protection Working Group) or support follow-up required within GBV sub-clusters chaired by other organizations.
- Support the development of coordination tools such as referral pathways.
- Provide inputs to 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;
- Under the overall guidance of the Protection Officer or GBV Officer /Senior Protection Officer or Senior GBV Officer, 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 support other sectors/units on GBV risk mitigation under overall guidance of Associate Protection Officer or Associate GBV Officer / Protection Officer of GBV Officer.
- Support in providing technical guidance to partners and government counterparts on GBV minimum standards under overall direction of the supervisor.
- Contribute to GBV partners' monitoring by undertaking regular field visits and drafting monitoring reports.
- Contribute to drafting donor reports.
- Provide GBV case management services for survivors at high risk and/or other complex cases (if relevant in operation) and follow-up with other units/partners as relevant.
- Ensure technical supervision of UNHCR staff providing GBV case management (including coaching and implementation of staff care strategies).
- Facilitate and contribute to the design of GBV capacity building initiatives, including on GBV safe disclosure and referrals.
- Ensure the wishes of survivors are prioritized as per the survivor-centred approach.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures for GBV as well as the GBV minimum standards and Guiding Principles.

- 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 G7 - 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Human rights, Social Anthropology, Social work,
Law, International Development, Social Sciences, or other relevant field.

HCR Gender Equality Lrng prg.
HCR Gender-Based Violence
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
4 years of previous work experience relevant to the function of GBV in a local context, 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 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-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
(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.

The incumbent should have proven competencies and experience as follows:

• The ideal candidate should have experience in the implementation of gender-based violence prevention and response programs. This role involves working closely with survivors, community stakeholders, and partner organizations to ensure a survivor-centered, rights-based approach to GBV programming.
• Experience working with survivors of GBV and knowledge of survivor-centered approaches.
• Familiarity with international standards and guidelines related to GBV (e.g., IASC GBV Guidelines, Minimum Standards for GBV in Emergencies).
• Have experience and knowledge in protection program planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting applying age, gender and diversity (AGD) approach throughout this cycle.
• Stakeholder management and multi-agency co-ordination skills, with internal and external factors such as the Government counterparts, NGOs, UN Agencies, development actors as well as donors.
• Experience promoting sustainable responses aligned with GRC/CRRF principles and the Government of Ethiopia’s Global Refugee Forum (GRF) commitments, ensuring effective protection and durable solutions for refugees.
• Community based protection experience, particularly promoting innovative ways the community can participate, manage and sustain protection responses in specific contexts.

Technical Knowledge:
• Understanding of GBV concepts, root causes, and consequences.
• Knowledge of psychosocial support, referral pathways, and case management principles.
• Ability to conduct risk assessments and safety planning.
• Knowledge of CP/GBV module in UNHCR proGres v4 as well as GBV/CP information systems would be also important

Communication & Interpersonal Skills:
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work sensitively with diverse populations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and uphold ethical standards.

Analytical & Organizational Skills:
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities.
Language:
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required.
• Knowledge of Somali languages is a strong asset.

Personal Attributes
• Empathetic and non-judgmental attitude.
• Commitment to gender equality and human rights.
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

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

Certifications

Community Development/Social Work - Other, HCR Gender Equality Learning Program. - UNHCR, HCR Sexual and Gender_Based Violence - UNHCR, Human Rights - Other, Law - Other, Social Sciences - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Additional Information

 Position is opened to ONLY Ethiopian nationals
 Women are strongly encouraged to apply in order to promote gender-balance within UNHCR.
 Candidates may be subjected to assessment (written or oral interview).

This position doesn't require a functional clearance