Senior PSEA Specialist (SC 11)

Job Description

Organizational Setting

The key mission of the FAO Representation in Somalia, which is led by FAO Representative (FAOR), is to assist and support the national government to develop policies, strategies and programme aimed at accelerating the Implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in FAO’s global mandate and Strategic Objectives. More specifically, FAO’s response aims to address national needs and priorities in achieving food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition, developing agricultural, fishery and forestry sectors, and ensuring the sustainable use of environmental and natural resources and respond to recurrent emergencies. The current portfolio of activities of the FAO Representation in Somalia includes a wide scope of technical support interventions ranging from policy support through livestock and crop production, to natural resource management, Nutrition, value chain, food security analysis and water and land information management. FAO is also implementing several emergency, resilience-building, and development interventions, with the support of its five field offices and close to 400 staff in partnership with the Federal and State line ministries.

Reporting Lines

The position is under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Somalia, the role directly reports to Head of Accountability, Compliance and Risk Management, and will work closely with the PSEA Focal Point and Alternate at FAO.

Technical Focus

The Senior PSEA Specialist is responsible for coordinating and providing substantial technical support to PSEA and GBV activities of FAO Somalia.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide PSEA technical support to PSEA Focal Point and Alternates, Country Office teams, including programming, partnerships, human resources, etc to ensure mainstreaming of PSEA processes and build technical capacity to ensure sustainability.
• Deliver PSEA awareness sessions/refresher trainings to all personnel in country; capacity building of PSEA Focal Points and Alternates and in country FAO implementing partners as required.
• In line with FAO’s PSEA Policy, develop a robust PSEA Work Plan for FAO Somalia, adapted to the local context.
• In coordination with relevant Officers at country level, support or implement outreach and engagement with programme beneficiaries and wider affected communities in areas of FAO programme implementation.
• Review, strengthen or expand existing complaints and feedback mechanisms – where established- to ensure mechanisms can safely and confidentially handle SEA allegations if received. If not established, establish appropriate mechanisms ensuring consultation with affected communities.
• Carry out SEA risk assessments in Somalia, identify, and support implementation of appropriate SEA prevention, mitigation, and response measures to strengthen protection of communities where FAO works.
• Support FAO participation in inter-agency CBCMs and interagency PSEA Network meetings, and FAO’s contribution to implementation of the Interagency PSEA network action plan 2024.
• Contribute to other inter-agency networks crosscutting with PSEA (Protection Cluster, Community Engagement and Accountability Task Force) and FAO Somalia conflict sensitive programming and other peace building activities to ensure PSEA is well addressed.
• Ensure a victim/survivor-centred approach mechanisms are established or strengthened, and that SEA incidents and allegations are reported through the appropriate channels designated at FAO.
• Initiate PSEA capacity assessments and strengthening activities with implementing partners to ensure application of the UN implementing partner protocol, especially targeting rural and hard to reach areas.
• Support mainstreaming PSEA, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Child Protection (CP) for PSEA into FAO Somalia programming, benchmarking best practices of GBV and CP actors in Somalia.

Skills and Qualifications
Minimum Requirements

• University degree in social sciences, gender studies, international development, or any other relevant field from a recognized institution.
• At least 6 years of relevant experience with 1st level degree or 4 years of working experience with master’s degree in any of the following areas: prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), accountability to affected people (AAP), sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), survivor/victim assistance, protection, child protection, safeguarding.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and Somali (Maay and Maxaa tiri)
• Nationals of Somalia.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in facilitating training and capacity building activities on PSEA is required.
• Experience applying UN and IASC PSEA standards, frameworks, and tools and/or experience working on safeguarding to international standards in complex humanitarian contexts, highly desirable.
• Experience establishing, maintaining, or working with complaints and feedback mechanisms desirable.
• Demonstrable report and presentation writing skills.
• Familiarity with data protection standards and confidentiality is required.
• Work experience in field locations and humanitarian settings required.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse problems, make appropriate recommendations, effective decisions, including in emergency settings.
• Experience working on prevention and response to sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian and complex emergencies particularly desirable.
• Familiarity with the UN system and global coordination structures (e.g. IASC) an advantage.
• Sensitivity and commitment to cultural diversity, gender issues and victim/survivor approaches is required.