Central African Republic: General Coordinator of the Program Setting up a Holistic Care Center for Victims of Sexual Violence

Sep 16, 2019 | Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation
View Original

Context of the mission area:

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country bordering Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo Brazzaville. Despite its natural wealth, it is among the poorest nations in the world (188th1 out of 189 countries according to the HDI, Human Development Index). The expectancy of life of Central Africans is 53.5 years2. The country has 4.6 million inhabitants, including 600,000 in Bangui, its capital. The official languages ​​are French and Sango and the main religions are Animism, Christianity and Islam. The security context is very volatile and the humanitarian needs are far from being covered.

The CAR has been in conflict for almost twenty years. Since 2012, the country has experienced one of the most serious political and security crises in its history. While the Khartoum Accords, signed on February 6, 2019, must contribute to strengthening peacebuilding in the Central African Republic, the political and security situation remains very critical.

In this context, gender-based violence must be given special attention. They come in different forms, including sexual violence. If victims of conflict-related sexual violence are numerous, the impunity surrounding the commission of these crimes and the decay of social structures (family, community etc.) suggest an increased risk of sexual violence in the years to come

Objective of the program to set up a center for the holistic care * of victims of sexual violence and gender-based violence in Bangui:

This program will enable victims of sexual violence and gender-based violence in Bangui and the provinces to access quality care, in a coordinated, accompanied and comprehensive way, through the establishment of a health center. One Stop Center (OSC) located in the Hospital of Friendship and Association of Women Lawyers of Central Africa (AFJC) in Bangui. This project will also contribute to the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence in the country. Facilitated by four international partners who will form a consortium, it is based on a south-south transfer of skills between Congolese actors and Central African actors. The project will also strengthen the capacity of a public hospital and a recognized local association,

History of the implementation of the program:

The Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation, the Panzi Foundation DRC, the Pierre Fabre Foundation and the Francophone Institute for Justice and Democracy, which will form the Consortium of the program, joined forces two years ago to promote the taking into holistic burden of victims of sexual violence and gender-based violence. Together, they signed a Letter of Agreement on May 2, 2017 that highlights each organization's commitment to achieving common goals. Thus, the four international partners of the project are already implementing a joint program of care for victims of sexual violence and gender-based violence in the Bulenga Hospital (South Kivu, Minova region) since May. 2018.

* The holistic model of Panzi, on the initiative of Dr. Mukwege (Nobel Peace Prize 2018) and his team, aims at a complete care of the person, his needs and how these different factors influence each other . It is structured around four pillars, which respond to the victim's essential healing and empowerment needs: medical, psychological, legal and socio-economic pillars.

Description of the consortium partners and contributions from each:

The Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation denounces the use of sexual violence in armed conflict. It calls on the international community to establish a legally binding red line against rape as a weapon of war, to end impunity, increase state accountability and provide justice for victims. It supports the replication of the holistic care model implemented at Panzi Hospital in Bukavu and other conflict areas.

In this program, the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation will bring its expertise in the holistic model, support advocacy and the development of the survivor network.

The Panzi Foundation DRC was founded almost ten years ago by Dr. Denis Mukwege to support the hospital where thousands of rape victims are rescued in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo ravaged by Conflicts. The hospital and the Panzi Foundation DRC have acquired special expertise in the treatment of gynecological and psychological injuries through an integrated model of multisectoral care.

In this program, the Panzi Foundation DRC will transmit its experience and expertise in the field of care and holistic care of victims of sexual and gender-based violence including training the medical staff of the Hospital of Friendship .

The Pierre Fabre Foundation (FPF) is a recognized foundation of Public Utility by decree of the Conseil d'Etat of April 6, 1999. Its mission is to enable the populations of the least developed countries and those of emerging countries in the world, as well as populations exceptionally plunged in situations of serious crises, of political, economic and / or natural origin, to have access, as well in quality as in volume, to the care and more particularly to the drugs of common use. especially defined by WHO as essential to human health. It has structured its activities around 5 priority areas: the training of drug professionals, access to quality care for vulnerable populations, the fight against sickle cell disease, dermatology and health.

In this program, the FPF will be the lead of the consortium. The FPF will provide medical and scientific expertise and will provide administrative and financial management of the program.

The Francophone Institute for Justice and Democracy (IFJD)is a French association that pursues the activities of the Varenne University Institute and the Francophone Transitional Justice Association. It is responsible for promoting the dissemination of knowledge both academically and in the context of operational activities. It has developed a major focus on victims of sexual and gender-based violence including publications and research, training, expertise and support for legal and judicial assistance, focusing on the holistic model of victim assistance. With a scientific and operational vocation, the IFJD promotes the production and transmission of knowledge, support for scientific and academic research and action in the field
In this program, the IFJD will bring its expertise concerning both transitional justice in general, and the specific problematic of sexual violence. The IFJD intervenes in the Central African Republic, alone or in partnership, since November 2015. It will be, within the framework of the holistic assistance center of Bangui, in technical support to the legal and socio-economic aspect.

TYPOLOGY OF POSITION:

Mission Location : Bangui, Central African Republic.

Contract of employment : with the Dr Denis Mukwege Foundation.

Conduct of the mission: in close coordination with the Administrative and Financial Manager (RAF) of the program based in Bangui.

MISSION AND MAIN ACTIVITIES:

External representation:

  • Act as representative of the consortium.
  • Ensure external representation of the consortium vis-à-vis local, national and other program stakeholders.
  • Participate in cluster-type VBG sectoral meetings and other working groups bringing together all stakeholders involved in the health sector and gender-based violence.
  • Coordinate and collaborate with key stakeholders and partners, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society organizations, community groups and government counterparts to implement the various activities.
  • Identify opportunities for collaboration with other organizations and ensure proper program coordination.

General coordination of activities:

  • Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of a multi-year, multi-stakeholder and multisectoral project.
  • Write the procedures for implementing the project and coordinate their application.
  • Ensure the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the program on a daily basis.
  • Ensure the good quality of the services implemented.
  • Provide weekly, monthly and half-yearly technical reporting of activities.
  • In liaison with the administrative and financial manager: o Prepare reports for the Consortium. o Organize the steering committees, the consortium coordination committees and the coordination meetings.
  • In order to transfer skills, ensure the training process to the holistic model and the dissemination of advocacy.
  • Ensure that ethical, robust systems of data collection and information management are in place for appropriate analysis, planning, evaluation and advocacy.
  • Coordinate research activities and collaboration with academic institutions, at home and abroad.
  • Coordinate advocacy and awareness work on the four pillars.
  • Ensure that the voices of survivors are at the heart of the project, ensuring meaningful participation of survivors in all stages of the program cycle and liaising with the strengthening of the existing survivor movement in the Central African Republic.
  • Liaise with the administrative and financial manager based in Bangui on the tasks assigned to him.
  • Ensure liaison and the correct transmission of information to the consortium.

Management:

  • Manage relationships with different partners to ensure coordinated and optimal implementation of activities.
  • Ensure coordination between the staff of the different pillars (medical, psychosocial, legal and socio-economic).
  • Accompany the Panzi Foundation's seconded staff in the implementation of the activities.
  • Work daily in close coordination with the administrative and financial manager of the program based in Bangui.

Management of the security aspects of the program:

  • Senior interlocutor with the French Embassy for security aspects.
  • Ensure a daily watch of the evolution of the security context in Bangui and in the country.
  • Ensure that the safety rules, which have been transmitted by all the staff, are correctly observed.
  • Take the necessary measures in case of emergency in coordination with the Embassy of France and inform the consortium.

Site supervision :

  • Supervision of the rehabilitation of the gyneco-obstetrics and maternity service in connection with the Hospital of Friendship and the Panzi Foundation.
  • Supervision of the construction of an emergency shelter in connection with the Association of Women Lawyers of Central Africa and the Francophone Institute for Justice and Democracy.

EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS

Experiences:

  • Master level training.
  • Proven experience in project management (minimum 5 years) on major development programs, preferably multi-actor and multicultural.
  • Knowledge and experience in the area of ​​sexual violence and gender-based violence.
  • Work experience in a developing country.

Qualities of the candidate:

  • Excellent writing and communication skills.
  • Total control of the Office Pack.
  • Ability to evaluate and train staff project management skills.
  • Professional rigor.
  • Knowledge of procedures of major donors
  • Very good listening skills.
  • Interpersonal skills.
  • Synthesis capacity.
  • Ability to prioritize priorities.
  • Ability to work in an intercultural environment and to be flexible.
  • Patience and tenacity.
  • Having already worked in a volatile and under pressure security context.
  • Knowledge of the area of ​​assignment.

languages

  • Perfect mastery of French (oral and written).
  • Fluency in English is a plus.

SALARY CONDITIONS: depending on the profile.

DURATION OF THE PROJECT: 4 years

SECURITY :

  • Mission that is part of a constrained framework given the security context. Obligation to respect a security protocol.

PRE-REQUISITES:

  • Passport valid for more than 6 months at the time of departure
  • Up-to-date vaccination booklet / ability to travel.
  • Mandatory medical examination before taking a job.