Associate External Relations and Reporting Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

Keep abreast all developments in operations to prepare appropriate briefings and reports.

Prepare periodic reports, i.e. donor updates, internal sitreps, briefing notes for senior managers, and activity-specific reports as required.

Prepare funding submissions for donors, and draft any required after-action reports.

Develop and maintain working relationships with the government, NGOs, and UN agencies to ensure cooperation in inter-related activities.

Support the UNHCR-led Cluster activities by preparing and distributing minutes, assisting in the organization of meetings; occasionally chairing meetings, and serving as the general secretariat for the relevant Cluster.

Support the supervisor in preparation for meetings and missions drafting of talking points.

Organize and accompany missions for VIP visitors, delegates to visit refugee sites or the activities of UNHCR implementing partners.

If there is no Public Information (PI) focal point in country, serve as PI focal point, contributing to and coordinating press events, interviews, PI missions and other activities related to information dissemination to the general public to promote UNHCR activities.

• Integrity and professionalism • Accountability • Planning and organizing • Communication • Teamwork and respect for diversity

International Relations, Political Science, Journalism, Communications, Business of Public Administration

Demonstrated skills in oral and written communication.

Knowledge of Microsoft applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint

UNHCR’s Melkadida office is located in the Liben zone, Somali region of Ethiopia. It is 67km from Dollo Ado, which is located just 2km from the border with Somalia. It is serviced by Dollo Ado and Melkadida airstrips, which have regular scheduled services to Addis Ababa, through an UNHAS 3 flights a week, excluding weekends. Melkadida office location has limited recreational facilities and is located in an enclosed setting. The successful IUNV candidate should be prepared to live and work in an enclosed office, with daily field travels and limited re-sources.

In Melkadida, secure housing is provided for international staff, within UNHCR compound. There may be cases of sharing, in extenuating circumstances. Despite the border-related in-security, all areas of Melkadida/ Dollo Ado are assessed as Security Level 3 (Moderate expo-sure to threats) by the UN Department of Safety and Security.

Within Ethiopia, the basic infrastructures – roads, utilities, and telecommunications – are be-low standard, as are medical faculties, which are still largely inadequate, although a few pri-vate clinics and hospitals provide reasonable good routine care. There is UN health facility in Melkadida compound but limited in scope of services. There is a UN Clinic in Addis Ababa, but for very serious conditions/surgery, United Nations staff may be treated elsewhere. The vaccinations required are: yellow fever, typhoid, meningitis, hepatitis A&B, diphtheria, tetanus, and polio.

Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for trips outside of Addis Ababa. There are lots of tourist attractions to visit around the country, although the amenities are often poor to average. All staff based in Melkadida are expected to answer to daily radio checks, and all vehicles and staff movements to and from the camps are strictly monitored and reported in compliance with MOSS (Minimum Operating Security Standards) attendant to a security level 3 duty station. Travel to and from Addis Ababa is made easy by the availability of UNHAS flight on 3 times weekly expect Weekend/Official Holidays. Road transport may also be organized though less preferred and three days would be required for the journey.