Victim Support Specialist - [Open to Tier 0, 1 and 2 applicants only]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

Organizational Context

UNDP’s mission as part of the UN system is to achieve sustainable development and fight poverty wherever it is greatest. This requires the very best of us, world-class collaboration, innovative thinking, resilient-based strategies and continuous learning. UNDP is strongly committed to upholding UN values and strictly prohibits all forms of sexual harassment in the workplace, as well as sexual exploitation and abuse in relation to the populations we serve (collectively referred to as sexual misconduct). The UNDP corporate Strategy and Action Plan on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) prioritizes four key areas: accountability, prevention, reporting and response, and support for victims and survivors.

The UNDP corporate Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment ( PSEAH) Task Force oversees the implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan. A cornerstone of these efforts is the establishment of robust internal systems to ensure a diligent, appropriate, and sensitive response to incidents of sexual misconduct, with the rights and protection of victims, survivors, and affected individuals placed firmly at the center of UNDP’s response (victim centered approach)

Job Purpose

A critical element of UNDP’s PSEAH victim-centered approach (VCA) is the role of the Victim Support Specialist to provide individualized support to those who report sexual misconduct or who experience gender-based violence. The Victim Support Specialist serves as a key point of contact for victims of both sexual harassment (SH) and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), offering confidential, empathetic, and professional assistance in a sensitive and non-judgmental manner. The Victim Support Specialist ensures that victims’ voices are heard, respected, and prioritized throughout the reporting and complaints process. The Victim Support Specialist contributes to UNDP ‘s overall commitment to maintain a safe, ethical and supportive environment where sexual misconduct is not tolerated, and where all personnel feel respected, protected, and empowered to report concerns and seek support.

The post holder will be a member of UNDP’s core team on the prevention of sexual misconduct, based in the Bureau for Management Services (BMS) Directorate, and will report to the Programme Advisor, PSEAH who is the Global Focal Point for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct. The post holder will collaborate closely with UNDP’s Office of Audit and Investigations, Ethics Office, Office of Legal Services, and Office of Human Resources, all of which play critical roles in addressing and managing incidents of sexual misconduct. The post holder will undertake duty travel as required.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

1) Lead the design and development of policies and strategies related to UNDP’s victim centered approach (VCA)
 

• Lead the development of a comprehensive victim-centered, trauma-informed response strategy and action plan for victims of sexual harassment (SH) and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). This strategy should enhance victims’ choices, recognize their strengths, and ensure efficient triage with various support services available both within and outside UNDP.
• Provide advice and guidance on the development of relevant policies, guidelines, SOPs, investigation templates, communication materials, training modules, and other tools to ensure alignment with a victim-centered approach across the organization.
• In coordination with relevant stakeholders, develop a process to strengthen UNDP’s capacity to analyze risks and identify trends related to sexual misconduct. This includes contributing to the creation of a system that alerts offices to potential patterns of misconduct, to prompt timely action.
• Lead on the design and implementation of initiatives that promote awareness of UNDP’s strategies, policies and relevant guidelines on the victim centered approach
• Ensure relevant principles and standards (eg the UN Protocol on the Provision of Assistance to Victims of SEA) are mainstreamed in relevant policies and procedures as appropriate.

2) Build capacity and awareness of personnel and partners on UNDP’s victim centered approach 

• Design and deliver training sessions and implement learning interventions to raise awareness on the victim centred approach for existing and new personnel, and partners as required.
• Design and develop guidance materials and other resources on the victim centred approach including specifically with the PSEAH Focal Points in Country Offices
• Provide guidance and advice to all Managers, Project Officers, Human Resources staff, and other UNDP personnel on safely and ethically responding to incidents of sexual misconduct in a manner that protects victims and ensures confidentiality and informed consent.
• Contribute to efforts to enhance a speak-up culture across UNDP that nurtures up-stander actions and discourages bystander attitudes. 

3.) Serve as the Victim Support Officer during formal investigation and accountability processes

• Upon request, serve as a support person during the formal investigation and accountability processes to ensure that UNDP’s complaint handling processes apply a victim centered approach. This includes: 
• assessing victim-related needs and risks; 
• offering confidential guidance on procedures and available services; 
• supporting victims in decision-making processes; liaising with other services involved in the response to incidents of sexual misconduct;
• strengthening linkages between UNDP and external services to meet victims’ needs and wishes.
   

4.) Advice and support the implementation of on-going initiatives on UNDP’s Victim Centered Approach (VCA) and monitor progress and VCA activities and draft regular reports, briefing notes and other relevant documents on the victim centered approach as required

• Working closely with the PSEAH Focal Points, support Country Offices in establishing and strengthening a victim centered approach including: 
• identifying and mapping locally available services for victims, ensuring that referral pathways are widely circulated and accessible across all UNDP country offices and to all personnel globally. 
• Establishing, monitoring and strengthening safe, gender sensitive and victim centered complaints and feedback mechanisms.
• Refer sexual misconduct victims to relevant local services upon request and in accordance with established protocol.
• Establish and maintain a confidential and/or anonymous reference group of victims who consent to provide input into various initiatives that UNDP is developing, oversee research projects and other feedback initiatives to gather the perspectives and recommendations of victims.
• Draft briefings and contribute to speeches and materials to aid in advocating the importance of the victim centered approach.
• Contribute to Executive Board (EB) reports and related briefings and talking points to support EB discussions on the victim centered approach. 
• Support development of relevant M&E frameworks; data collection tools and support report writing 
• Gather data and report on the implementation of the victim centered approach to inform corporate reporting requirements.
• Track trends in victim reporting and utilize this data to inform policy or process improvements. 
• Monitor progress of VCA activities within the organization and provide support where gaps have been identified in form of reports and updates to leadership teams.

5.) Participate in and contribute to UN interagency working groups and other relevant fora and facilitate knowledge sharing 

• Represent UNDP in relevant interagency working groups and other formal and informal meetings – internally and externally - on issues related to a victim centered approach, providing technical inputs as required
• Build internal and external networks on issues related to the victim centered approach to strengthen implementation of UNDP’s approach

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

Competencies

Core : Full list of UNDP Core Competencies can be found here  

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

• HR-Duty of Care-Psychosocial support to Personnel: Ability and certified qualification to provide psychological counselling services to teams and individual personnel
• Business Direction & Strategy - Strategic Thinking:  Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight
• Business Development - Knowledge Generation: Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
• Business Development - Integration with the UN: Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work. Knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations
• Business Management - Risk Management: Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks
• Business Direction and Strategy - System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
• Business Management - Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiativeswith regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management
   

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Work, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence; Counselling; Psychology; Psychotherapy or other relevant field or other relevant Social Sciences is required. Or 
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned areas with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of the master’s degree
   

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience case management, preferably involving victims of sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse is required.
• Proven experience in prevention and response to sexual harassment in the workplace or sexual exploitation and abuse is required.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and respect cultural differences when working with victims from diverse backgrounds is desired.
• At least 3 years of experience working on SEAH in developing country contexts including working directly with victims of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse is required.
• Experience in designing and delivering learning strategies, capacity-building programs, and training sessions related to victim-centered approaches or similar programs is required.
• Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder discussions and incorporating diverse perspectives into decision-making processes is desired.
• Strong global mindset with the demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment is desired.
• A proven track record of delivering impactful results in programs aimed at safeguarding the rights and dignity of victims of sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse within a global organization, including the development and implementation of strategies and action plans is desired. 

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language is desired.
   

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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