Associate Field Officer (Protection)

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).

The project aims at reducing violence and intercommunal conflict in greater Jonglei State and Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) by preventing the abduction of women and children and facilitating their release. Current violence in Jonglei and Greater Pibor Administra-tie Area (GPAA) is a far cry from traditional models of intercommunal violence and involves heavily armed civil defense groups using military-style tactics. The proliferation of small arms following decades of armed conflict has reduced traditional authority, while military and political actors - motivated by rivalries and/or economic interests – have shifted cattle raids into a tool of political violence. Despite signing the 2018 revitalized peace agreement and the sub-sequent decrease of human rights violations involving parties to the conflict, intercommunal or sub-national violence spread, becoming the main source of violence in Jonglei/GPAA. This violence poses a threat to the peace process due to the risk of further fragmentation of the conflict. The project will be implemented by UNMISS-HRD, Save the Children and CEPO through both direct implementation and in collaboration with local partners, in the field and remotely. UNHCR will provide overall funds management, coordination, monitoring and re-porting. The incumbent is expected to establish networking and build relationships with local organizations, groups or individuals and support and /or participate in local volunteering initiatives; Encouraging, mobilizing and supporting co-workers, fellow UN Volunteers and members of the local community to play an active part in the project development on a voluntary basis; Initiating and/or participating in local volunteer groups, including assisting them in sub-mitting stories and experiences to the World Volunteer Web site; Discussing with supervisors on how volunteerism for development can be mainstreamed through the assignment and in-targeting activities that promote volunteerism for development into work plans. Building on this DOA template will ensure further advocacy through the promotion of volunteerism within the program/project and within the context of the assignment. Including in DOA gives greater recognition and legitimacy to this commitment with concerned host organizations and partners.

Under the direct supervision of 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 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 co-ordination 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. • Through relationships with persons of concern, authorities and network of partners stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to senior management. • Coordinate the promotion of international refugee law principles and standards and also IDP legislation or policies ensuring that all sectors and clusters fulfill their responsibilities mainstreaming protection; • Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of programmes ensuring that identified protection needs, including an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) approach, are adequate-ly addressed; • Provide policy guidance and operational support to UNHCR and partners on all protection related issues; • Assist in the coordinated implementation and oversight of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions 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 established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality 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 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 es-tablish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work un-der pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent pro-jects/activities. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious work-ing 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 hardship 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.

working with refugees and/or other people of concern in a protection capacity required. International experience Field experience Hardship duty station Protection Community Services Coordination / management role

Desirable Qualifications and Skills: • Knowledge of UN policies and procedures; • Good analytical skills; • Strong interpersonal and communication skills in a multi-cultural setting.

UNHCR Field Office locates in Bor town of Greater Jonglei State, a bit outskirt of Bor town near the compound of other UN Agencies and close to Bor Airport. Bor is classified as an E, non-family duty station and R&R cycle for Bor is 6 weeks. All international staff resides at provided accommodation in UNHCR compound in Bor. The accommodations, in UNHCR compound, include a bedroom, sitting room, bathroom and kitchenette equipped with all the necessary furniture and facilities. There is gym in the compound with required equipment accessible to compound residents for 24/7. In Bor, all basic foods are available in the marketplace ranging from fish, meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables, in addition a few restaurants located in town. However, all UNHCR staff has the option of eating at a cafeteria available in UNHCR compound. UN curfew in Bor is from 19:00 to 06:00. There are limited medical facilities in Bor, apart from UNMISS UN Level 1 and Level 2 clinics, that UN staff may receive health services. Staff are encouraged to bring with them adequate supply of any drugs they may be taking since it may be difficult to purchase any in Bor Town. Security Situation: The security situation has improved in Greater Jonglei State, since the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) was signed on 12 September 2018. However, between June and August 2020, inter-communal violence forced thousands of people flee their homes. The security situation in Greater Jonglei State remains fragile and fluid in a complex and unpredictable environ-ment. The security situation in Greater Jonglei State is characterized by localized armed conflict in some areas, high levels of crime, inter and intra communal conflict over a di-verse range of issues, including cattle raiding, child abduction and revenge killing. The operational context of Greater Jonglei State is also characterized by seasonal heavy floods, which cause additional displacement among population and contributes to malaria and water-borne diseases. International staff must request and receive security clearance for official and non-official travel. National personnel must request and receive security clearance for all official travel. International staff on mission must stay in either a UN facility or UN approved commercial lodging for staff members.