Associate Settlement Planning Officer
Provide technical support for shelter and settlement programs for displaced persons
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Overview
Provide technical support for shelter and settlement programs for displaced persons
You have:
- Experience in refugee programmes, or similar humanitarian operations including planning sites for refugee settlement, camp infrastructure and related technical issues.
- Technical knowledge in shelter and settlement design, development, and implementation.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Proficient in use of computer applications and knowledge of settlement planning tools e.g. AutoCAD & GIS.
- Ability to work collaboratively within a team from various backgrounds.
- Self-motivated and able to work with minimum supervision.
- Ability to meet tight deadlines and maintain high accuracy in work.
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.
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).
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Operation Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Associate Settlement Planning Officer will undertake the following tasks:
• Provide technical support related to shelter and settlement programs to facilitate the feasibility of setting up camps /settlements for forcibly displaced persons in accordance with international recognized criteria of accessibility including construction standards, fire safety, safer building technologies and more. • Develop site planning and produce drawings (Master plan) including infrastructure based on field data collection using GPS. • Ensure that shelter design takes into consideration protection concerns including secure and health living environment with privacy and dignity according to geographic context, climate, cultural practice, and habits as well as accessibility to adequate construction materials and local availability of skills within the affected population at large in any given location; • Enhance UNHCR capacity to design and develop settlement that reduce forcibly displaced persons vulnerability taking into consideration the needs of the population, the availability of resources, economic dynamics, the amelioration of living condition, the provision of services and access to recreation spaces to address the needs of the community at large with the active involvement of affected population, partners, and all sectors. • Ensure that technical factors related to natural resources, local law, land property and local communities land issues are included in any assessment. • Provide cost estimations of technical activities, including development of bill of quantities for construction, rehabilitation works and perform other related duties as required. • Develop adequate tools for monitoring activities and provide regular monitoring and evaluation reports including Contractor performance report, handover note to relevant authority, record of site meeting, project final acceptance inspection report among others. • Work in close coordination with relevant local Government Ministries and relevant Departments to establish a strong network of individuals and agencies that can discuss, share experiences and collaborate on new initiatives to support the technical aspects of shelter programming;
As a UNHCR team member, the Associate Settlement planning officer is an active individual with expertise and interest in all shelter and settlement technical programming aspects of humanitarian shelter and settlement response in support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: - Support the Country Operation to ensure that forcibly displaced persons and others of concern to UNHCR have the right to adequate shelter in all stages of displacement cycle prior to, during and after displacement. - Ensure that camp and settlement are planned in a multi-sectoral integrated manner including security of tenure, affordability, habitability, accessibility, location, cultural suitability and availability of services, materials as well as infrastructure. - Ensure access to safe and adequate shelter for women, girls, men and boys in each step of a shelter program considering different needs and “do no harm” principles.
• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Communication • Integrity, Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Working in Teams
refugee programmes, or similar humanitarian operations including planning sites for refugee settlement, camp infrastructure and related technical issues. Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Proficient in use of computer applications and knowledge of settlement planning tools e.g. AutoCAD & GIS. • Ability to collaboratively work a team of various background • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision, ability to work with tight deadlines
Lilongwe is a medium sized, peaceful and green city. It has limited opportunities in terms of shopping and entertainment, but the surrounding countryside and especially Lake Malawi provide good opportunities for holiday and weekend trips. Lilongwe has a small but lively expatriate community, which makes it easy to settle in. Housing options are limited but most of UN staff is able to find suitable accommodation within a few months after arrival. In general terms there is a very basic infrastructure as well as leisure and recreational facilities. Basic supplies are available in major cities. Good schools are available in Lilongwe. Lilongwe is a Family duty station categorized as a B. There have been reports of some incidents of criminality and assaults in Lilongwe, UNDSS has designated certain areas of Lilongwe where UN staff can live in. In general, with some minor precautions, it is possible to have a normal lifestyle. https://www.unv.org
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe a time when you had to design a shelter under challenging conditions? | This question assesses your problem-solving and design abilities in difficult contexts. | Focus on the challenges you faced and how you overcame them while ensuring the safety and comfort of residents. |
| How do you prioritize competing demands when planning a settlement or camp? | This question evaluates your ability to manage and prioritize tasks effectively. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies do you use to engage local communities in the settlement planning process? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you ensure compliance with international standards in your shelter designs? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a situation where you had to coordinate with multiple stakeholders for a project. How did you manage the relationships? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
Added 1 year ago
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Updated 1 year ago
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Source:
unv.org
