Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Programme Specialist, Freetown

General

• Description of assignment title: Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Programme Specialist
• Assignment country: Sierra Leone
• Duty stations: Freetown
• Work location: On UN premises
• Expected start date: 12/15/2026
• Duration: 12 months
• Sustainable Development Goal: 5. Gender equality
• Host entity: UNFPA
• Modality: Onsite
• Type: International
• Volunteer category: Specialist UCoS from Apr2026
• Work schedule: Full-time
• Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives

UNFPA’s mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The Agency promotes gender equality and empower women, girls and young people to take control of their bodies and their futures. We work with partners in more than 150 countries to provide access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services. Our goal is ending unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal death, and gender-based violence and harmful practices including child marriage and female genital mutilation by 2030.

Context

UNFPA’s mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The Agency promotes gender equality and empowers women, girls and young people to take control of their bodies and their futures. We work with partners in more than 150 countries to provide access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services. Our goal is ending unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal death, and gender-based violence and harmful practices including child marriage and female genital mutilation by 2030.

The UNV will support the implementation of the UNFPA Sierra Leone’s on-going work on advocacy, policy formulation and implementation, accountability, related to GBV. S/he will support the effective implementation of the Essential services package for women and girls who suffer violence, at the national level and in targeted districts, including working a with multi sectorial government institutions and civil society organizations, especially with young and women organizations. The UNV will also support the establishment of strategic partnerships and will contribute to the preparation of funding proposals in support of the UNFPA cooperation in Sierra Leone in GBV.

Task description

The GBV Programme Specialist reports to the UNFPA Representative through the Deputy Representative and has a secondary, matrix coordination line to the Co-Chairs of the National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Sub-Cluster / working mechanisms. In addition, the Specialist works in close collaboration with the UNFPA Country Office (CO) team, sister UN Agencies, and civil society partners to integrate transformative, evidence-based results frameworks and theories of change into joint advocacy and resource mobilization efforts .The position serves as a primary technical focal point between UNFPA and the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA) and engages with key state institutions such as the Family Support Unit (FSU)  the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) and local non-governmental organizations to support the implementation of multi-sectoral GBV prevention, response, and girls' empowerment programming in strict compliance with the UNFPA Minimum Standards for Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence and broader national priorities.

1. Strategic Program development and implementation

At the core of this role is the active support and strategic development of comprehensive Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response interventions. The incumbent will ensure that all programmatic activities are rigorously designed and executed in strict alignment with the UNFPA Minimum Standards for Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence. This includes driving UNFPA’s multi-sectoral approach, bridging health, psychosocial, and legal frameworks, to provide holistic support systems for survivors. Furthermore, the role involves spearheading the implementation of UNFPA’s girls’ empowerment programming, ensuring that initiatives are tailored to build resilience, leadership, and agency among adolescent girls.

2. Technical Leadership and Coordination

A critical component of this position is the facilitation of high-quality technical assistance, strategic advocacy, and robust coordination support. The incumbent will act as a key technical resource to ensure that all operational and programmatic activities comply with established international humanitarian and development standards across UNFPA’s mandated areas of work. This requires close collaboration and seamless coordination of GBV programming with a diverse network of stakeholders, including sister UN Agencies, government ministries, international and national NGOs, and civil society organizations. The incumbent will also serve as a dedicated representative of UNFPA in critical GBV coordination mechanisms, such as sub-clusters or working groups, ensuring UNFPA's mandate is effectively integrated into broader humanitarian and development responses.

3. Evidence-Based Advocacy and Resource mobilization

Utilizing a transformative and evidence-based approach, the incumbent will champion UNFPA’s overarching efforts to eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), as well as deeply entrenched harmful practices. This involves participating actively in high-level advocacy and critical resource mobilization efforts. The professional will be responsible for developing robust, evidence-based results frameworks, underpinned by clearly articulated and appropriate Theories of Change, to attract funding and demonstrate measurable impact to donors and partners.

4. Community Transformation and Normative Change

Beyond systemic and institutional coordination, the role is heavily invested in community-level transformation. The incumbent will assist the UNFPA Country Office (CO) team in conceptualizing and rolling out innovative programs and strategies specifically aimed at dismantling and addressing the negative social norms that perpetuate GBV. A major focus of these community-driven strategies will be building the capacity and agency of adolescent girls, equipping them with the knowledge and resources necessary to make informed life choices and advocate for their own rights.

5. Operational Adaptability

In addition to these core programmatic and technical responsibilities, the incumbent remains flexible and responsive to the dynamic needs of the Country Office, performing any other strategic or operational duties as assigned by the UNFPA Representative to advance the organization's mission.

Eligibility criteria

• Age: 18 - 80
• Required experience: 3 years
• Donor priorities: -
• Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Additional eligibility criteria

This assignment is funded by the Government of the Republic of Ireland and therefore specific criteria apply:

• Candidates must be Irish citizens or a European Economic Area nationals with an unrestricted right to reside in Ireland or have a declaration of refugee status from the Minister for Justice and Law Reform.
• EEA nationals applying for the position must provide proof of their right to reside in Ireland. Applications will only be considered upon submission of the required documentation.

APPLICATION

• You may apply to a maximum of three assignments and indicate the order of preference in the ‘Additional remarks’ field when filling in the application form.
  • Preference will be given to candidates who have not served as UN Volunteers funded by Ireland before
• Application deadline: 22 November 2026

SELECTION

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The selection will be done by the UN Host Entity at the level of the country of assignment.

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Assignment requirements

• Relevant experience: 3 years
• Languages: English, Level: Fluent, Required
• Required education level: Master's degree in Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Gender Studies, Human Rights, International Development ,Social Sciences, or a closely related field

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Building Trust
• Commitment and Motivation
• Communication
• Empowering Others
• Integrity
• Judgement and Decision-making
• Knowledge Sharing
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
• Working in Teams

Skills and experience

• Progressively responsible experience in gender equality, gender mainstreaming, human rights, and/or women’s empowerment programming, preferably in contexts with strong customary law and patriarchal norms.
• Work experience in development programming, with specific focus on gender equality, GBV and/or girls’ empowerment
• Prior experience in developing countries and knowledge of rights-based approaches will be an asset
• Experience with gender equality, girls’ empowerment and rights-based programming
• Good knowledge of advocacy for gender equality and girls’ empowerment in the context of sustainable development; and working experience in communication and advocacy
• Fluency in English and ability to write clearly and concisely
• Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members from different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills

Area(s) of expertise

Gender, women's rights, Human rights, Communication, advocacy, public information

Driving license

Other information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living conditions and remarks

Freetown is the capital city of Sierra Leone, situated on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. The country is generally safe, the security level is low, and the society is religiously tolerant. Freetown is a family duty station. The cost of living for expatriates is generally reasonable, and there are supermarkets, restaurants, and hotels available. Communication services, including mobile and internet services, are available. Local and regional banks deal in both local and foreign currencies. ATMs are available, and credit cards are accepted in some establishments. However, this is generally a cash economy. Freetown has a tropical climate, with very high rainfall in the rainy season, Sierra Leone boasts the finest beaches in West Africa, within easy reach of Freetown, with excellent seafood, surfing, and sunshine.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

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