Associate Field Officer

Volunteering Legal

Overview

Support community-based protection for refugees in Slovakia

You have:

• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective to form a firm basis for planning.
• Experience with community-based protection principles and approaches.
• Very good drafting and reporting skills in English.
• Experience working with volunteers.
• Ability to coordinate with local authorities and partners.
• Knowledge of tools and approaches for communications for development.
• Understanding of integration of refugees into national systems.

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.

Slovakia’s status as both a transit and a destination country requires an approach that is fo-cused on immediate service provision for those on the move and first arriving in Slovakia, and second area of supporting the longer term stay for those fleeing Ukraine. Both areas re-quire the timely delivery of accurate, verified and relevant information on legal status, ser-vices available and how to receive urgent protection and assistance. Refugees, including children and youth, also need information on how to stay safe and avoid the many risks they are encountering, such as trafficking and GBV. For those staying in Slovakia, they will need easy access to information on integration, services in the locations where they are and sup-port on integration into Slovak communities. In areas relevant to preventing, risk mitigation and response to gender based violence, UNHCR works closely with relevant national authori-ties and specialised service providers within the context of refugee response plan. Communi-ty engagement and community-based and led approaches to facilitate this will be essential to reach individuals of diverse ages, genders and backgrounds in the appropriate formats that they prefer. Supporting initiatives directly led by refugees and Slovak communities will be a key part of this strategy to further promote self-reliance and ensure active roles for communi-ties in the response. Engagement of Slovak communities is also essential to promote social cohesion.

UNHCR Protection Strategy in Slovakia aims to support community centres and other struc-tures and use community-based protection approaches and tools to ensure that refugees have full access to their rights, become self-reliant and integrated in Slovakia. The response aims at reinforcing accountability to affected people through communication with communi-ties and community-based approaches, increasing access to information and awareness-raising for refugees on their rights and access to assistance and services through their pre-ferred and trusted channels. Additionally working to support the participation and capacity of community-based actors including refugee and women-led organisations . This encompasses establishing community-based feedback and response mechanisms that are able to handle sensitive complaints, and inform programming and interventions. It furthermore involves en-gaging with refugees through participatory assessments and establishing refugee advisory boards as part of the national coordination mechanisms along with, mapping and empower-ing community-based structures and initiatives.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Protection Officer, the UN Volunteer will un-dertake the following tasks: • Ensure that UNHCR’s policies, standards and procedures are constantly and coherently applied in the Area of Responsibility (AoR). • Ensure that the needs of persons of concern in the AoR are assessed and analysed in a participating manner and using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective to form a firm basis for planning. • Ensure that protection incidents and gaps in assistance are immediately identified and addressed. • Identify vulnerable groups or individuals who may need special attention or special ar-rangements and make recommendations on the needs of different groups of refugees. • Assess protection and assistance needs of refugees and asylum-seekers in the region and monitor implementation of refugee assistance programmes. • In coordination with implementing partners, handle the reception, registration and provi-sion of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR. • Provide inputs for project submissions and periodic narrative and financial reports for the annual programme. • Develop and maintain relations with local authorities ensuring smooth negotiations in all aspects of UNHCR's mandate for the benefit of refugees. • Monitor the security situation in the area and intervene as appropriate with the local au-thorities. • Participation in needs assessment as a member of the Multi-Functional team • In close coordination with programme and project control, monitor project implementa-tion and provide feedback on the progress to the relevant units/sections • Undertake other relevant duties as required.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by read-ing relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected Outputs: • The needs of persons of concern in the country are assessed and analysed in a participa-tory manner and using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective to form a firm basis for planning. • Inputs are provided for the country operations plan (including budgets, staffing levels and structures) as well as for funding submissions, appeals and reports. • Enforced compliance with UNHCR’s global strategies, protocols and guidelines. • The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counter-parts, 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 as-signment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

or with refugees and/or other people of concern in a protection capacity required. Community Services.

This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO ap-proved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds.

Desirable Qualifications and Skills: • Solid communication and interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;. • Experience with implementation of community-based protection principles and ap-proaches in practice and understanding of the importance of communities as rights holders and agents of change. • Strong coordination skills. • Very good drafting and reporting skills in English. • Experience with working with volunteers. • Experience with inclusion/integration of refugees or foreigners into national systems as an asset.

Computer skills: Office Package (excellent knowledge of Word, good knowledge of Excel and Power Point) and Internet browsing.

Slovakia is a developed country with an advanced high-income economy. It also performs favourably in measurements of civil liberties, press freedom, internet freedom, democratic governance, and peacefulness. The country maintains a combination of a market economy with a comprehensive social security system, providing citizens with universal health care, free education, and one of the longest paid parental leaves in the OECD. Slovakia became an independent state on 1 January 1993 after the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia. It has, nevertheless, remained a close partner with the Czech Republic. Both countries co-operate with Hungary and Poland in the Visegrád Group. In 2019, Zuzana Čaputová became Slovakia's first female president. The country has the beautiful Tatra Mountains, the Danube river and many historical places, including eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Bratislava offers good living conditions with a wide range of hotels, Airbnb and apartments and flats. Accommodation can be sourced using the services of property agencies, as well as through various online websites. International schools are available. Health care is relatively good, but there is a shortage of professionals in many occupations, including doctors and medical staff, making access to health care somewhat challenging. No specific security conditions pertain to Slovakia. Bratislava is a safe metropolitan city, however, as in any other city, caution shall be exercised when using public transport to avoid pickpocketing. Political protests can happen at short notice and may turn violent. Large gatherings must be avoided.

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Coronavirus Please refer to Slovakia travel advice

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). For information specific to your assignment please see below:

Monthly Living Allowance (Per month): USD 2100.56 Entry lump sum (one time payment): USD 4000 Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract): $225 Medical and life insurance: Cigna Private Insurance

Leave entitlements: Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: 30 days Uncertified sick leave: 7 days Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months Maternity Leave: 16 weeks Paternity Leave: 10 days

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org