GBV Officer at Première Urgence Internationale (PUI): Full Job Guide, Requirements & How to Apply Successfully

So you’ve come across the GBV Officer position at Première Urgence Internationale — and you’re wondering whether you’ve got what it takes. Maybe you’re already working in the humanitarian sector and this feels like your next step. Or perhaps you’re just breaking into NGO work and this role has caught your eye.

Either way, you’re in the right place. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the GBV Officer role at PUI — what the job actually involves, what qualifications matter, how much it pays, and how to give yourself the best shot at landing it.

What Is Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) and Why Does It Matter?

Before diving into the job itself, it helps to understand who PUI actually is. A lot of candidates apply for positions without fully grasping the organization behind them, and that’s one of the fastest ways to sink your chances in an interview.

PUI’s Mission and Humanitarian Focus

Première Urgence Internationale is a French non-governmental organization born out of the merger between two NGOs — Première Urgence and Aide Médicale Internationale. It’s non-profit, non-political, and non-religious in nature. Its teams show up in some of the world’s most difficult places to provide emergency relief to people affected by conflict, displacement, natural disasters, and economic collapse.

The core idea behind everything PUI does is simple: restore dignity and help people regain self-sufficiency. It’s not just about dropping aid and leaving. PUI takes a more integrated approach — combining health, nutrition, protection, and psychosocial support so that people don’t just survive, they start to rebuild.

Where PUI Operates in Nigeria and Beyond

In Nigeria, PUI has been on the ground since 2016. It started in Borno State with a field office in Maiduguri and has since expanded to deep-field locations like Monguno and Pulka. More recently, PUI extended its operations to Katsina State in the Northwest.

In Borno State, PUI supports primary healthcare facilities, manages severe acute malnutrition, provides sexual and reproductive health services, and runs integrated GBV and psychosocial support programs. The organization has received funding from major humanitarian donors including USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), and the UN’s Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF).

Beyond Nigeria, PUI works across multiple countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia — wherever humanitarian crises demand a response.

Understanding the GBV Officer Role at PUI

Now let’s get into the meat of it.

What a GBV Officer Actually Does Every Day

This isn’t a desk job. If you’re imagining yourself sitting in an air-conditioned office reviewing spreadsheets, you’re picturing the wrong role. The GBV Officer at PUI works directly at the intersection of humanitarian programming and community engagement. On any given day, you might be facilitating a session at a Women and Girls’ Safe Space (WGSS), coordinating with a Protection Supervisor on case referrals, training community outreach workers, or submitting field reports that influence program design.

The role sits under the direct supervision of the Protection Supervisor and is responsible for planning, implementing, and ensuring quality case management services to GBV survivors. You’re not just following a script — you’re making real decisions that affect vulnerable people’s lives, which is both the gravity and the reward of the job.

GBV Officer vs GBV Case Worker — What’s the Difference?

This is a question a lot of people get confused about, especially since PUI posts both roles. Here’s the clearest way to think about it:

A GBV Case Worker is typically more hands-on at the individual case level — directly working with survivors, providing psychosocial first aid, and managing case files on a daily basis. A GBV Officer has a broader mandate. You’re still close to the work, but you’re also responsible for coordination, supervision of case workers or volunteers, program monitoring, reporting, and sometimes contributing to broader strategy.

Think of the Case Worker as the frontline responder and the GBV Officer as the person ensuring that frontline work is being done properly, consistently, and in line with international standards.

Who Does the GBV Officer Report To?

The GBV Officer at PUI works under the direct supervision of the Protection Supervisor. You’ll be expected to report regularly — weekly and monthly — on activity progress, challenges, and outcomes. You’re also expected to flag any difficulties or delays immediately, which means you need to be someone who communicates proactively rather than waiting to be asked.

Key Responsibilities of a GBV Officer at PUI

Let’s break down the actual work in detail.

Case Management and Survivor-Centered Support

Case management is the heartbeat of this role. You’ll be responsible for ensuring that GBV survivors receive quality, timely, and dignified services. This includes initial assessments, safety planning, referrals to medical or legal services, and follow-up to make sure people aren’t falling through the cracks.

The survivor-centered approach isn’t just a buzzword at PUI — it’s a guiding principle. It means every decision is made based on what the survivor wants and what keeps them safest, not what’s most convenient for the program. You’ll need to demonstrate that you genuinely understand and can operationalize this principle.

You’ll also be expected to actively promote Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards within PUI and among the communities you serve. This is non-negotiable across all PUI roles.

Community Outreach and Awareness Campaigns

GBV prevention isn’t just about responding after harm has been done — it’s about changing the conditions that allow it to happen. As a GBV Officer, you’ll be involved in designing and leading community awareness sessions, working with community leaders, women’s groups, and youth to shift attitudes and increase access to services.

You’ll also support the management of Women and Girls’ Safe Spaces — ensuring they’re functioning, accessible, and providing meaningful support to participants.

Coordination With Internal and External Stakeholders

You’ll represent PUI in coordination forums, including GBV sub-working group meetings, inter-agency coordination meetings, and community dialogues. This means you need to be comfortable speaking up in a room full of other humanitarian professionals and community leaders.

Internally, you’ll coordinate with health teams, nutrition staff, livelihood officers, and other protection colleagues to ensure protection is mainstreamed across all of PUI’s sectors. A referral pathway that actually works depends on these relationships being maintained consistently.

Data Collection, Reporting, and Documentation

This is where a lot of GBV professionals underestimate the workload. You’ll be collecting data from field activities — household surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), awareness sessions — and storing it in a database. You’ll analyze trends, prepare written reports, and share findings with your supervisor and the M&E team.

Sensitive protection information must be stored securely and managed in line with international confidentiality standards. Breaching this is one of the most serious professional and ethical failures you can make in GBV work.

Capacity Building and Staff Training

Part of your job is making sure everyone around you is better equipped to handle protection issues. You’ll provide training to Protection Volunteers, community outreach workers, and sometimes other sector staff on GBV basics, child protection, protection mainstreaming, and confidentiality principles.

Good trainers aren’t just people who know the content — they’re people who know how to make content accessible and relevant for the specific audience in front of them. If you’ve done this kind of training before, highlight it. If you haven’t, it’s worth investing in before you apply.

Qualifications and Skills You’ll Need

Let’s be honest — job descriptions can be intimidating. Here’s what actually matters.

Educational Background

Most GBV Officer roles at PUI and similar organizations require at minimum a Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field. Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Public Health, or a related discipline are all appropriate. Some organizations accept Diploma holders with significantly strong practical GBV experience, so if your academic credentials are lower but your field experience is deep, that’s worth mentioning upfront.

Work Experience Requirements

Typically, you’ll need at least two to four years of experience in protection programming, with specific experience in GBV prevention or response. Experience in humanitarian or emergency settings is a strong advantage — if you’ve worked in conflict-affected or displacement contexts before, say so clearly.

Previous experience facilitating community sessions, managing GBV cases, or supervising outreach workers will all strengthen your application considerably.

Language and Technical Skills

For PUI Nigeria roles, fluency in English is mandatory. Knowledge of Hausa is typically required for Northwest Nigeria positions (Katsina State), while knowledge of Kanuri is an asset for Borno State roles. Local language proficiency isn’t just a box-ticking exercise — it directly affects your ability to do the job well.

Technical skills include computer literacy, particularly Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as familiarity with database management for case tracking. You’ll also be expected to understand GBV information management systems and referral pathways.

Soft Skills Nobody Tells You About

Here’s what the job description doesn’t say but hiring managers absolutely look for:

Emotional resilience. You’ll be working with people who have experienced significant trauma. You need to be able to hold space for that without taking it home with you in ways that destroy you. This doesn’t mean being detached — it means having healthy boundaries and self-care strategies.

Cultural sensitivity. In communities in northern Nigeria, gender norms are complex, and trust takes time to build. You need to understand how to operate within local contexts without imposing external frameworks in ways that alienate communities.

Problem-solving under pressure. In humanitarian settings, plans change constantly. Supplies don’t arrive, security situations shift, and community dynamics evolve. You need to be adaptable and creative without losing your ethical footing.

Salary and Benefits for the GBV Officer Role at PUI

Salary at PUI varies depending on the position level and location. For comparable PUI roles in Nigeria, monthly salaries have ranged from approximately ₦312,000 to ₦520,524 per month depending on the grade and responsibilities involved.

It’s important to note that PUI provides humanitarian compensation packages that may also include health coverage and other staff welfare provisions depending on the contract type. Before applying, check the specific vacancy announcement for the salary details tied to that particular posting — they do vary.

Is the salary negotiable? Generally, NGO salaries at PUI are set within predefined salary scales and aren’t typically open to individual negotiation in the same way a private sector job might be. However, your experience level will determine which grade you’re offered, so don’t undervalue yourself when presenting your qualifications.

How to Write a Winning Application for the PUI GBV Officer Position

You can be the most qualified candidate in the room and still lose to someone who applied better. Here’s how to avoid that.

Crafting a Cover Letter That Stands Out

Don’t write a cover letter that just rehashes your CV. Your cover letter is where you explain why this specific role, at this specific organization, in this specific context makes sense for you. Reference PUI’s work in Borno or Katsina. Show that you understand the population they’re serving. Talk about a real experience where you applied survivor-centered principles and what the outcome was.

Keep it to one page. Use clear, direct language. Hiring managers in humanitarian organizations read dozens of applications — they’ll appreciate a letter that gets to the point quickly without being cold or generic.

Tailoring Your CV to the PUI Job Description

Read the job description carefully and mirror the language back in your CV — not by copying it word for word, but by using the same terminology in describing your own experience. If the JD talks about “case management for GBV survivors,” your CV should describe your past experience using similar framing.

List specific, measurable achievements where you can. “Managed caseload of 45 GBV survivors” is much stronger than “provided case management services.” Numbers matter. Impact matters.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Sending a generic CV without adaptation. This is the most common error. Every application you send should be tailored.

Ignoring the language requirements. If the role requires Hausa and you have it, mention it prominently. If you don’t have it, don’t pretend you do.

Applying past the deadline. PUI enforces closing dates strictly. Set a reminder and submit at least two days early to avoid technical issues.

Skipping the cover letter. Some candidates submit only a CV. In GBV roles, where interpersonal communication is central to the job, a missing cover letter signals poor attention to detail.

The PUI Selection Process — What to Expect

Stages of the Recruitment Process

PUI’s recruitment typically involves an initial application review, shortlisting, a written test or assessment in some cases, and then interviews. The process can take a few weeks, especially if the position is in a field location requiring security clearances or logistical coordination.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear back within a week. Humanitarian organizations deal with competing operational priorities, and HR processes can move slowly.

Interview Tips for GBV Roles in Humanitarian Settings

Expect competency-based questions. You’ll likely be asked things like: “Tell me about a time you handled a difficult GBV case — what was your approach?” or “How do you ensure confidentiality when working in a small community where everyone knows each other?”

Prepare concrete examples from your actual experience. Use the STAR method — Situation, Task, Action, Result — to structure your answers. Be honest about challenges you’ve faced and what you learned from them. Interviewers in the protection sector value self-awareness and ethical grounding over perfection.

Also be ready to discuss your understanding of key GBV concepts: the survivor-centered approach, do no harm principles, PSEA, and the GBV referral pathway. These aren’t just theoretical — you should be able to speak about them practically.

Career Growth After the GBV Officer Role

The GBV Officer position is a solid mid-level entry into humanitarian protection work. From here, there are several directions you can move:

Protection Officer or Senior Protection Officer roles that oversee broader programming. GBV Specialist or GBV Coordinator positions that carry strategic and technical advisory responsibilities. Protection Project Manager or Protection Coordinator roles that bring in budget management and multi-sector oversight. National or international roles with larger organizations like UNHCR, IRC, UNICEF, or UNFPA, where the GBV programming frameworks are often larger in scale.

Building your skills in data analysis, MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning), and grant reporting alongside your technical GBV expertise will make you a stronger candidate for senior roles.

What It’s Really Like Working in GBV in a Field Context

It would be dishonest to only talk about the professional rewards without acknowledging the realities.

The Emotional Reality of GBV Work

Working directly with GBV survivors — hearing their stories, navigating their fears, and sometimes not being able to do as much as you wish you could — takes a toll. Secondary traumatic stress is real and documented among humanitarian workers in protection roles. It doesn’t make you weak to acknowledge it. In fact, organizations like PUI increasingly recognize the importance of staff wellbeing, and talking openly about these challenges is now seen as a sign of professional maturity.

How to Protect Your Mental Health on the Job

Set boundaries between work and personal time wherever the context allows. Use peer support networks — your colleagues understand what you’re going through in ways that friends and family outside the sector may not. Pursue regular supervision and debriefing sessions. If your organization offers an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) or counselling services, use them. And document your own needs: rest, community, creativity, physical activity — whatever keeps you grounded.

Burnout in the humanitarian sector is extremely common. The ones who last and thrive are the ones who take their own sustainability seriously from day one.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between a GBV Officer and a GBV Case Worker at PUI?

A GBV Case Worker works directly with individual survivors to provide case management services. A GBV Officer has a broader mandate that includes supervision, coordination with other sectors and stakeholders, capacity building, program monitoring, and reporting. The Officer role typically requires more experience and carries greater organizational responsibility.

Can I apply for the GBV Officer role without prior GBV-specific experience?

It’s difficult. While some organizations will consider candidates with strong general protection or social work experience, the GBV Officer role at PUI is a specialized position. You’ll have better odds if you have at least some direct GBV programming experience — even at the field or volunteer level. Consider starting with a GBV Case Worker role to build that experience first.

What is the salary range for a GBV Officer at PUI in Nigeria?

PUI Nigeria salaries for mid-level protection roles have ranged from approximately ₦312,000 to over ₦520,000 per month depending on the grade, location, and funding source. Always check the specific vacancy announcement for the exact salary attached to a given posting.

How do I apply for PUI jobs in Nigeria?

PUI advertises its positions on its official website, as well as on platforms like MyJobMag, HotNigerianJobs, NGO Job Site, and ReliefWeb. Applications typically involve submitting a CV and cover letter to a specified email address or an online application portal. Always follow the exact instructions in the job advertisement.

What language skills are required for PUI GBV Officer roles in Nigeria?

English fluency is mandatory across all PUI Nigeria positions. For Katsina State roles, Hausa proficiency is typically required. Knowledge of Kanuri is an asset for Borno State positions. Language ability is not a box-ticking formality — it’s directly tied to your effectiveness in the role.

What certifications can strengthen my GBV Officer application?

Certifications or training in GBV case management, the GBVIMS (Gender-Based Violence Information Management System), Sphere Standards, PSEA, and psychological first aid are all valuable. Online courses from providers like UNHCR’s learning portal, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), and the Humanitarian Leadership Academy can add credibility to your profile.

Is the GBV Officer role at PUI suitable for early-career professionals?

It’s better suited for candidates with at least two years of relevant experience. If you’re early in your career, consider starting as a Protection Volunteer, GBV Case Worker, or Protection Intern to build practical skills before applying for Officer-level positions. The experience you gain at entry level will make you a far stronger candidate when you do apply upward.

What does a typical day look like for a GBV Officer working with PUI in the field?

A typical day might involve reviewing case files from the previous day, coordinating a morning briefing with outreach workers, facilitating or observing an awareness session in the community, attending a weekly coordination meeting with other protection stakeholders, updating databases with new case information, and writing a section of the weekly activity report. Every day is different, which is one of the things people either love or struggle with in this work.