PSEA Officer

Mission and objectivesUN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls worldwide.

ContextThe ongoing war in Ukraine continues to deepen gender inequalities, with women and girls disproportionately affected by displacement, poverty, and protection risks. Over 2.7 million women have fled the country, 2.8 million are internally displaced, and 1.4 million live in temporarily occupied territories. The destruction of civilian infrastructure, collapse of the care economy, and demographic crisis have intensified women's vulnerability, particularly those from marginalized groups such as Roma, disabled, elderly, and female-headed households. Gender-based violence (GBV), conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and human trafficking are growing concerns, while women’s representation in political decision-making remains limited. Structural barriers—such as lack of childcare services, gender stereotypes, and exclusion from traditionally male-dominated sectors—compound these challenges, despite a critical national demand for skilled workers. Nonetheless, opportunities exist to advance gender equality and implement Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) commitments. The Government of Ukraine has made normative progress through legislative reforms and strategies, including the Istanbul Convention, UNSCR 1325 NAP, and the Law on Regional Policy. Coordination platforms, such as the Platform for Gender Mainstreaming and Inclusive Recovery and the Alliance on Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery, have garnered international support. Women’s rights organizations (WROs) have emerged as trusted actors but face persistent funding and access barriers. Aligned with the 2025–2029 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and the humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) nexus, UN Women’s programming aims to strengthen institutional ownership, expand support for WROs, and promote gender-responsive recovery, accountability, and inclusive development in partnership with government and civil society actors. All forms of sexual exploitation and abuse are incompatible with the universal human rights framework, national legislation, values, humanitarian principles, and standards that underpin UN Women and the entire UN Country Team in Ukraine. The PSEA core principles apply to all three outcome areas of the UN Women Strategic Note. Therefore, the UN Women CO Representative is looking to appoint a PSEA Officer. Bearing in mind the evolving security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and given the complexity of our work, the CO activities, and the requirements of the 2025 Ukraine Action Plan to Prevent and Respond to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, the PSEA risk assessment and risk management should mirror the Country-level Action Plan for the UNCT in Ukraine and encompass the PSEA-related obligations of the Management and Accountability Framework (MAF) for the dual accountability system based on individual mandates, organizations and as part of the PSEA Country structure (UNCT). This UNV assignment will support the implementation of UN Women commitments for preventing and responding to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, with a specific focus on the risk assessment and risk management of UN Women partners and grantees.

Task DescriptionIn close collaboration with the Senior Gender Advisor, the PSEA Officer serves as the PSEA Focal Point for the office, coordinates PSEA activities within UN Women, and executes assigned activities related to risk assessment and risk management of partners, from implementation to reporting. • Conduct capacity assessment and follow up of partners with low/medium capacity before starting a partnership or renewing contracts, including development of capacity building plans, and liaising with relevant project staff and partners on their implementation. • In close collaboration with the Senior Gender Advisor, provide inputs on the PSEA risk assessments, mitigation and capacity building plans at organizational and inter-agency levels. • In close collaboration with project teams, provide the required analysis and technical guidance in the implementation of PSEA prevention, risk mitigation, and put in place response measures during planning, project development, and programming. • Develop, organize, and facilitate training sessions on PSEA in different formats for staff, implementing partners, grantees, and responsible parties operating under a partnership agreement, and guide them through the capacity assessment. • Develop, produce, and facilitate the dissemination of PSEA awareness communication materials to field offices, project sites, as well as contractors/implementing partners in coordination and collaboration with the project teams. • When needed, represent UN Women Ukraine, attend and follow up on the requests of the Inter-Agency PSEA Network in collaboration with the Senior Gender Advisor. • Supports the drafting of PSEA action plans, reports, inclusively by collecting analytical data and liaising with the relevant stakeholders. • Propose initiatives that will raise UN Women CO's organizational capacity on PSEA, including but not limited to mapping and improving existing SEA complaints and reporting mechanisms, prevention and mitigation measures, and staff confidence in reporting. • Develop, conduct, and coordinate with the relevant internal and external stakeholders awareness raising activities/sessions for local communities across the country on PSEA and reporting pathways, with support and guidance from the Senior Gender Advisor and the Inter-Agency PSEA Network. • Support the Senior Gender Advisor in AOB.

Competencies and valuesCore Values: • Respect for Diversity • Integrity • Professionalism Core Competencies: • Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues • Accountability • Creative Problem Solving • Effective Communication • Inclusive Collaboration • Stakeholder Engagement • Leading by Example

Living conditions and remarksAs it is a national UN Volunteer's assignment, the UN volunteer shall organize his/her accommodation by themselves. The contract lasts for the period indicated in the vacancy with the possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. This is a full-time contract. Allowances: • Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) USD 2076 (equivalent in UAH) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses. This includes Well-Being Differentials for the period while the ICSC applies hardship classification to duty stations in Ukraine as “E”. • USD 400 entry lump sum, one-time payment. Medical and life insurance: • Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV-provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins from the Commencement of Service and normally ceases one month after the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract date. • Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment. If a UN Volunteer dies during the UN Volunteer assignment, the eligible designated beneficiaries will be entitled to receive a life insurance lump sum. Leave entitlements: • Annual leave: UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave may not be carried over in case of reassignment or a new assignment. • Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period. • Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle. • Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period.