Community Outreach and Referral Officer
Organizational Context
UNFPA has been active in Yemen since the early 1970s, shifting to a humanitarian response in 2015 due to a Level 3 emergency. The agency focuses on reproductive health, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, and fulfilling youth potential. In Yemen's complex humanitarian crisis, characterized by conflict and displacement, UNFPA's GBV program is scaling up its emergency response. Community UN Volunteers are deployed with mobile outreach units to connect affected populations with life-saving protection services.
Job Purpose
This role supports UNFPA's emergency GBV response in Yemen, specifically in Aden, Taiz, and Lahj governorates. The Community Outreach and Referral Officer will act as a crucial link between affected communities and essential protection services. Working within IDP sites and host communities, the officer will facilitate early identification of individuals at risk, provide safe and confidential referrals to medical, legal, and psychosocial support, and conduct ground-level awareness campaigns. The objective is to strengthen outreach, improve service mapping, and ensure timely referrals, thereby enhancing the protection of women and girls in a challenging humanitarian environment.
Responsibilities
Conduct community outreach and awareness sessions on GBV and available support services in IDP sites and host communities. Engage local networks and women's groups to promote referral options. Serve as a community entry point for safe, voluntary, and confidential referrals to verified service providers for medical, legal, and psychosocial support. Provide operational support to UNFPA's mobile outreach teams and Women and Girls' Safe Spaces (WGSS), ensuring dignity, data protection, and survivor-centered standards. Monitor the safety environment for women and girls, maintain updated service maps, and identify emerging protection risks or operational bottlenecks to report to the supervisor. Collect non-sensitive, aggregated quantitative and qualitative data on activities and submit regular reports on outreach reach and progress.
Work Experience
No prior experience is required. However, 2 years of relevant experience is desirable, particularly in community outreach, protection, and possessing a strong local community network and trust. Familiarity with humanitarian protection principles is also beneficial.
Skills
Core competencies include accountability, adaptability, flexibility, creativity, judgment, decision-making, planning, organizing, professionalism, and self-management. Specific expertise in emergency preparedness and crisis response is essential. A strong local community network and trust are also key skills for this role.