Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Consultant

Duration of the agreement: 3 Months

Location: Bethlehem, Palestine

BASR is a national development NGO functioning as a resource center, empowering people with disabilities, offering them pioneer health and rehabilitation services and provide the Palestinian community with professional specialized medical services from a human rights and inclusive development perspectives. BASR contributes to the empowerment of people with disabilities of both genders, especially women with disabilities, and their families to realize and advocate for their rights.  This is done through capacity building activities, and awareness raising on disability issues, as well as integrated community activities (educational, cultural, social, empowerment, employment and recreational), in coordination with different stakeholders e.g. Disabled People Organizations (DPOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and public authorities. BASR renders its comprehensive services to people with disabilities based on the human rights and inclusive development approaches, also reaching out to those living in the communities of the West Bank through its Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) program, covering the southern and northern parts of Palestine. The CBR program is implementing a program titled “Strengthening safeguards & protection measures against gender-based violence, in particular sexual exploitation & abuse among national partner organizations in MENA region”, for which a consultancy is needed.

Background:

All forms of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by United Nations (UN) personnel, partners (including civil society organizations, international and local NGOs and government partners) and associated personnel are a flagrant violation of human rights and a violation of the position of authority over populations at risk. The Secretary-General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13) provides six (6) guidelines on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.

Johanniter International Assistance and its partners Development Action without Borders (NABAA) in Lebanon, Jiyan Foundation in Iraq, and St John Eye Hospital Group and Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation (BASR) in Palestine as part of the larger humanitarian community along with UN and other NGOs are responsible for taking all necessary steps to reduce the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse of the communities assisted and served. In line with the UN Secretary General’s strategy to improve the organization’s system-wide approach to preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse, Johanniter in coordination with partners NABAA, Jiyan Foundation, St. John and BASR in February 2021 has piloted a project to focus on establishing and improving safeguarding and protection systems and policies with its partners and self in Middle East programme with a focus on the PSEA, improving strategic communications for education and transparency and effective response systems among the partners.

In order to achieve this, the PSEA Consultant will work closely with CBR Program/BASR PSEA focal points to coordinate the implementation of special measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

Under the Supervision of the CBR program, the consultant will support the development and improvement of PSEA policies. This entails developing and improving PSEA policies and guidelines, carrying out awareness raising sessions/dialogues with staff and communities, developing a contextualized PSEA training package, improving the complaint and feedback mechanism and working closely on adopting PSEA policy into the system.

Scope of Work:

The PSEA Consultant will promote protection from sexual exploitation and abuse within the organization, and his/her main responsibilities will be as follows:

• Review existing PSEA assessments and PSEA action plans at CBR program/BASR
• Organizational Policy: Develop jointly with the program and partners policies related to PSEA in-line with UN definitions, IASC six core principles relating to SEA. The consultant will support the development/improvement of PSEA policies within the organization.
• Organizational Management and HR Systems:

Develop a standard clause to commit to a zero-tolerance policy on SEA for all contracts. Develop recruitment procedures in accordance with local law checking for prior involvement in SEA or other safeguarding concerns.

Ensure that procedures (such as strict reference checks) are adopted and implemented to avoid hiring people with records of sexual exploitation and abuse-related offenses, if such procedures are not already in place.

• Training: Conduct awareness sessions on sexual exploitation and abuse for employees and other workers of the organization, identified by CBR program focal points.
• Reporting: Develop mechanisms and procedures for personnel, beneficiaries and communities, including children, to report SEA allegations that comply with core standards for reporting (i.e. safety, confidentiality, transparency, accessibility). These mechanisms should also cover procedures for handling these allegations, including those involving personnel of other entities. These should be translated into a clear complaint mechanism.
• Assistance: Develop guidelines to ensure survivors of SEA receive immediate professional assistance or referral to relevant service providers
• Investigation: Develop processes for investigating allegations of SEA.
• Provide appropriate recommendations on strengthening protection strategies. This may include collecting and analyzing information on actual/potential risk factors for vulnerability to sexual exploitation and abuse and developing measures to address them, depending on the organization's programs and activities.

Main duties and responsibilities of the PSEA Consultant regarding program:

1. PSEA Response:

• Review internal procedures and policies, and make recommendations on the inclusion and introduction of PSEA clauses and measures.
• Ensure that internal procedures are in place for staff and personnel to report incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse
• Develop complaints mechanisms, reports, and questions to track alleged acts of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by employees and workers of the organization or of partner or affiliated organizations.
• Develop referral mechanisms to other specialized organizations in a secure and confidential manner and in line with agreed interagency complaint referral pathways.
• Draft appropriate measures to ensure the safety and confidentiality of all visitors/reporters to the consultant.
• Ensure that all resources related to complaints are available and are in line with the applicable grievance procedures.

2. Management and coordination:

• Actively participate in the meetings and initiatives of the Network for the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse at the national or local level, including the implementation of the annual work plan, when requested by BASR.
• As required, support the incorporation of the standards contained in the Secretary-General's Bulletin into contractual arrangements with non-UN entities and individuals in accordance with paragraph 6.1 of the Secretary-General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (SEC.) ST/SGB/2003/136.1.
• As required, coordinate the organization's commitment to relevant monitoring/compliance mechanisms, including contributing to the Secretary-General's annual report on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.

Deliverables

• Report on the status of BASR’s internal regulations in terms of PSEA inclusion
• Recommendations on enhancing all BASR’s internal regulations to include PSEA measures, including HR manuals, procedures, safeguarding policies… etc.
• Establish a complaint mechanism for CBR program that can be accessed and used by outreach beneficiaries and communities

Desired competencies, technical background and experience

1. a) Education:

Advanced university degree (a Master’s Degree) or equivalent in gender studies, social anthropology,

law and human rights, sociology, or another field related to PSEA.

1. b) Experience:

At least 5 years of humanitarian or development experience, including in emergency settings on human rights and violence prevention and response, in particular sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence; and on child protection.

Experience in and knowledge of UN and IASC policies and guidance related but not limited to PSEA, AAP, GBV and Centrality of Protection.

1. c) Values, Principles and Skills:

• Integrity, objectivity and demonstrated professional competence
• Demonstrated consideration of cultural diversity and gender issues
• Proven experience working directly with local communities
• Proven communication skills
• Proven training skills

Expected Timeframe

The service provider is expected to conduct all requested tasks and outcomes presented in this document within 3 months. The expected starting date is in September, 2021.

How to apply

Interested candidates with relevant skills and experience are encouraged to send their offers to CBR/BASR by email to [email protected] no later than 20/09/2021. The offer must include:

• CV for the consultant including previous experience
• Proposed consultancy plan and outline
• The financial offer in ILS including VAT or income tax if applicable.
• Deduction at Source. If no deduction at source is available, 5% of the contract amount will be deducted as income tax.

Note: All offers must be submitted in English.

For more information, please contact Philippe Jarad at: Email: [email protected]

                                                                                      Mobile: 0598998316