Associate Field Officer

Volunteering Communications & PR Security

Overview

Coordinate and support refugee assistance programs in Yumbe, Uganda.

You have:

• Work experience with refugees and/or other people of concern in a protection capacity required
• International experience required
• Field experience
• Hardship duty station
• Non-Food Items (NFI) experience
• Protection
• Community Services
• Coordination / management role
• Excellent knowledge of Office Package (Word, Excel, Power Point)

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 Bidi bidi Refugee Settlement was established in August 2016 to host South Sudanese refugees fleeing a conflict that erupted in Juba in July 2016. It has since become one of the largest refugee settlements in Uganda and Africa as a whole. As of March 25, 2024, the settlement has a population of 206,662 South Sudanese refugees and encompasses five large zones covering an area of 250 square kilometres (km²). The UNHCR Field Office in Yumbe has implemented a streamlined Coordination Mechanism in collaboration with the Yumbe District Local Government through a Partner Framework Agreement (PFA). This arrangement allows the district to conduct support supervision and oversight across all sectors, ensuring that government standards are upheld in the refugee programs while also benefiting the host community. The line ministries involved include the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Water and Sanitation (WASH), the Ministry of Agriculture and Production (Livelihoods), the Ministry of Energy and Environment, and the Ministry of Justice. Protection services fall under the purview of the Ministry of Gender and Social Development, including the probation office. The Yumbe Field Office works closely with UNHCR-funded partners, which include Windle International Uganda (WIU), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Water Mission Uganda (WMU), Dan Church Aid (DCA), the African Initiative for Relief and Development (AIRD), the Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation (TPO), Action Against Hunger (ACF), the Yumbe District Local Government (YDLG), and the Uganda Refugee and Disaster Management Council (URDMC). Together, these partners provide support to the refugee population by addressing critical needs in various areas, including protection, durable solutions, education, livelihood opportunities, economic inclusion, energy and environmental conservation, health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. The Field Office is also collaborating with seven Refugee-Led Organisations (RLOs) to promote peaceful coexistence, digital learning, and the distribution of non-food items (NFIs). These organisations include I CAN South Sudan (I CAN), Sinaloketa, Similar Grounds (SG), the Afri-Youth Network (AYN), Youth Focus for Community Transformation (YFTC), Community Empowerment for Creative Innovation (CECI), and Community Network for Change (CNC). These RLOs are distributed across the five zones of the Bidibidi settlement.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Field Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake 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 arrangements 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 co-ordination with implementing partners, handle the reception, registration and provision 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 authorities.

• Participation in needs assessment as a member of the Multi-Functional team

• In close coordination with programme and project control, monitor project implementation and provide feedback on the progress to the relevant units/sections

• Undertake other relevant duties as required.

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNHCR; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNHCR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • 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 environment. • 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 conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • 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; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • 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.

Work experience with refugees and/or other people of concern in a protection capacity required - minimum 3 years - International experience required - Field experience - Hardship duty station - Non-Food Items (NFI) experience - Protection - Community Services - Coordination / management role

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

UNHCR staff in Yumbe, Uganda, generally enjoy decent living conditions, especially since the completion of new office and accommodation facilities in 2019. These facilities, built within the same compound, have significantly improved the staff's working and living envi-ronments. However, ensuring staff welfare, including access to adequate healthcare and emergency evacuation options, remains a priority in this operational area. The organisation emphasises maintaining satisfactory working and living conditions for its staff despite the constraints of the operational area.

UNHCR ensures that all security measures for office and residential compounds are up to date, and any security breaches are reported immediately to the UN security coordinator. It is crucial to maintain current information on local healthcare facilities and evacuation options for staff welfare, especially during medical emergencies.

While the new facilities represent a positive development, the overall operational area in Yumbe, including the large Bidibidi refugee settlement, presents unique challenges related to logistics and resource management. Although UNHCR staff in Yumbe have benefited from improved living conditions, ongoing efforts are necessary to address broader operation-al challenges and ensure the well-being of both the staff and the refugee population they serve.

Yumbe is classified as a Category E family duty station with a 12-week rest and recuperation (R&R) cycle.

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Potential interview questions

Added 9 months ago - Updated 9 months ago - Source: unv.org