Associate External Relations 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.

Against this backdrop, UNHCR’s strategy in the region aims to support a gradual shift in the Western Balkans from a region of transit and humanitarian response to one that offers meaningful protection and viable solutions for refugees and asylum-seekers. UNHCR in Albania is supporting the national structures by providing assistance related to protection, reception and local integration and inclusion benefiting asylum seekers and refugees. Albania hosts around 100 refugees and persons with subsidiary protection status. Among these nearly half originate from Kosovo and have resided in Albania for 20 years.

UNHCR, in partnership with three NGOs and one National Human Rights Institution, advocates for access to territory and for the identification of asylum-seekers and persons with specific needs for appropriate referrals; for a strengthened national asylum system including an overall quality of procedures in terms of fairness and efficiency; for access to basic rights and services; and for enhanced local integration prospects for people who are granted international protection.

The 2021 Law on Asylum brings Albania, an EU candidate country since 2014, closer to international and EU standards. UNHCR supports the national asylum authority to improve the quality of the asylum process and decision-making through a regional (Western Balkan) quality assurance initiative. UNHCR coordinates its asylum support with the EU Agency for Asylum.

In 2019 and 2020, with UNHCR support, Albania made noteworthy progress towards eliminating the risk of statelessness through a significant legislative reform. The 2021 Law on Aliens establishes a statelessness determination procedure, which serves to identify stateless persons to ensure that they enjoy the rights to which they are entitled until they acquire a nationality.

In line with the Global Compact on Refugees, UNHCR works in partnership with concerned authorities, EU institutions and agencies, IOM and relevant UN agencies, civil society organizations etc. UNHCR supports the Albanian government to make progress in delivering on their pledges made at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum, and considering the way forward to the next Forum in 2023.

Under the direct supervision of the UNHCR Representative, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments in the area of forced displacement and humanitarian operations. • Contribute to UNHCR’s engagement in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, in particular drafting UNHCR inputs for reviews, reports, etc.
• Assist the implementation of a communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR’s operations from external partners (e.g. the general public, governments, partners, media, academia, NGOs, private sector and persons of concern). • Through a consultative process, draft a resource mobilization strategy together with an action plan on how to approach donors in finding additional resources. • Assist in the dialogue with donors and embassies and provide relevant information on UNHCR operations and financial requirements by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and missions and responding to donors’ requests for information on ad hoc basis. • Through a consultative process with headquarters, disseminate information on UNHCR’s global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement programmes and projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for persons of concern in the country operation. • Draft, and coordinate inputs to the drafting of, situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles, etc. • Draft narrative and financial reports on contributions in compliance with specific donor requirements. • Monitor earmarking level of funding for UNHCR Country operation and ensure appropriate visibility for donor contributions in compliance with UNHCR guidelines and specific donor requirements. • Participate on behalf of the Representative and other senior colleagues in inter-agency cooperation and communication strategies, initiatives and tools. Contribute to the UN Country Team-UN Communications Group communications strategy and annual communications workplan. • Assist in the management of information flows within the country operation by identifying priority matters, securing, analyzing and disseminating documentation and information to support the country operation and corporate communication processes and priorities. • Consolidate information on UNHCR’s country operation and identify appropriate messages for campaigns and appeals.

Results/Expected Outputs: • The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

• Integrity and professionalism • Accountability • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Communication • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement

a field related to external relations, communications, media relations. • Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel and Power Point essential), exposure to graphic design software. • Fund-raising and programming/programme management experience. • Excellent communication skills. • Experience of working with social media. • Excellent drafting skills in English • Fluency in another UN languages will be considered an asset.

The UN Volunteer will reside in Tirana, which is a family duty station, with a variety of accommodation, restaurants and leisure activities.

As is the case for UN staff and partners, the volunteer will make his/her own arrangements for housing and transportation to and from work. International personnel living in Tirana tend to rent furnished or unfurnished apartments found using real estate agents or by word-of-mouth through colleagues. The quality of apartments in Tirana, also the country’s capital, varies depending on the area. A one-bedroom apartment in Tirana’s city center ranges between US$ 280-600, whereas outside of center, it ranges between US$ 200-400.

Personnel in Tirana and its vicinity usually use their own cars, bicycle, public transport and/or taxi for travel. Internationals who want to arrive or leave the country can either enter through “Mother Theresa” International Airport in Rinas (17 km northwest of Tirana) or by ferry to Durrës and/or Vlora from Bari in Italy, to Saranda from Corfu, Greece, as well as by coach from different cities in Greece, Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia.

The health care sector is divided into public health services and private ones. The public health sector is accessible to all. Sophisticated medical care, including for children, is available in hospitals and clinics throughout Tirana as well as in larger cities. Primary and secondary education is available for the children of international personnel in Tirana.

There are different mobile service providers in Albania. “Vodafone Albania” is the mobile company used by most of UN agencies in Tirana, while “Telekom Albania” and “ALBtelecom” are also available with similar coverage.

Albania has a Mediterranean climate with each season offering distinct- yet pleasant weather. Some features of the climate vary by region: The coastal areas have a Central Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The alpine areas have a Central Continental climate with cold, snowy winters and temperate summers. The lowlands have mild winters, averaging about 7°C, and summer temperatures average 24°C. Lowland rainfall ranges from 1,000 mm to more than 1,500 mm annually, with greater rainfall in the north. Nearly 95% of rainfall occurs in the winter and rainfall in the upland mountain ranges is heavier. Time zone is GMT +2 hours.

A visa required for foreign citizens, who seek to stay in the Republic of Albania for more than 90 days for 180 days. Holders of passports (or in certain cases ID cards) of the following 88 jurisdictions (attached see the table with the specified visa regime for each foreign country: Visa regime for foreigners) can enter Albania without a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days (unless otherwise noted).

For more practical and relevant information on the living conditions in Albania see the “Albanian National Tourism Agency”: http://albania.al/.

UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances: The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos) and use the entitlement calculator (https://app.unv.org/calculator) for the most up to date information