Associate External Relations and Reporting Officer

This opening expired 11 months ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UNHCR - UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Open positions at UNHCR
Logo of UNHCR

Application deadline 11 months ago: Sunday 16 Apr 2023 at 00:00 UTC

Open application form

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 re-solve 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). Repeated cycles of violence and conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) have had spill over effects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the two countries sharing a 1,500km border. In 2021, UNHCR biometrically registered 73,645 CAR refu-gees and asylum-seekers who had fled violence and insecurity following the 2020 presi-dential election, seeking safety in northern DRC. Small population movements involving people fleeing ongoing disarmament operations by the CAR government and its allies, or inter-ethnic conflicts in some prefectures of CAR causing forced displacements con-tinue to be reported by local authorities. As of 31 May 2022, about 209,495 CAR refu-gees have found refuge in the DRC. About 25 per cent of all CAR refugees live in five camps, while 75 per cent are spread across remote and hard-to-reach border villages in the provinces of North Ubangi (114,792), Bas Uele (49,305) and South Ubangi (44,910), while about 400 others are in the capital - Kinshasa and a couple of other provinc-es. In 2021, UNHCR and partners began implementing the alternative to camps policy that aligns with the Global Compact on Refugees. This policy seeks to strengthen pro-tection and assistance to refugees as well as support the communities hosting them through a series of activities aimed at improving access to social and economic ser-vices. In line with this policy, UNHCR has identified 10 villages in North and South Ubangi provinces to serve as development hubs. Four of these hubs are progressively being operationalized. They are Sidi, Nzakara, Wenze and Modale to which a total of about 16,404 refugees have already been relocated. UNHCR and partners have also continued to pursue durable solutions for CAR refugees in northern DRC, notably through voluntary repatriations since 2019. As of 30 June 2022, about 13,998 persons have been repatriated from Inke, Mole and Boyabu camps in North Ubangi and South Ubangi to parts of CAR where the security situation has been confirmed as stable. UN-HCR plans to facilitate returns for 20,000 persons in 2022. About 3,344 refugees have already gone back home since the relaunch of the operation in May. The Sub-Office manages one Field Office in Libenge, one Field Office in Yakoma et one Field Unit in Bili with approximatively 80 workforce.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Sub Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • 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: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under estab-lished procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impar-tiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented. • Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations. • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work envi-ronment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflict-ing deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, re-mote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hard-ship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

Field related to the external relations, communication, media relations or reporting

Staff members may either live at UNHCR Guesthouse or in town where limited accommodation may be found. Gbadolite has a population of about some 180,000 inhabitants (latest 2018 data) and is located 25 kilometers south from Mobayi which is a town established at the Ubangi River. The Ubangi is the border with the Central African Republic and Gbadolite is situated at some 1,150 kilometers northeast of Kinshasa. Gbadolite was the ancestral home and residence of Joseph-Desire Mobutu (President of Zaire from 1965 to 1997) but also the area of Bemba. There is electricity thanks to the dam at Mobayi but it happens the electricity supply breaks down for some days or weeks and generator back up is required. The quality of the water is poor and most of the time is not available at nighttime. Housing opportunities are also very poor and ex-pensive for rather low quality. The climate for most of the year is characterized by humid and hot temperatures while the rainy season brings into surface crawling reptiles and insects. There are very limited medical facilities in Gbadolite that are not equipped to deal with serious medical cases. Evacuation opportunities are limited since there are only 2 flights per week. However, air ambulance evacuation can be organized for life threatening emergencies during day time. Candidates with conditions requiring regular treatment or medical supervision should be appropriately advised. Malaria is the most common disease. As a general advice, applicants for the post should be psychologically prepared for the aforementioned context. The Office is of the view that, all things being equal, the two-year SAL should be upheld to avoid burnout. There is an R&R cycle of 8 weeks. There is one good banking facility at Gbadolite and good network from the office, PAMA and Wifiease complete with the required information as per country Living Conditions)

Added 1 year ago - Updated 11 months ago - Source: unv.org