Associate Shelter 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.

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assem-bly. 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 Associate Shelter Officer contributes to the preparation of comprehensive sectoral needs assessments in liaison with other relevant sectors such as protection, programme, community services, public health, WASH, administration and supply. To ensure the most effective re-sponse, both quantitative and qualitative data should be gathered on the profile/needs and living conditions of both the displaced population and host community. The incumbent will oversee the day to-day operations of all construction and general infrastructure projects within the Area of Responsibility (AoR) to ensure that works proceed as designed and comply with established standards and procedures for the full project cycle. In a first instance, the incumbent ensures that UNHCR Sub office is Baga-Sola is supported in carrying out shelter and infrastructure needs assessments taking into account the current situation, projected population planning figures and the expected scale of returns. Close and regular contact is also maintained with technical and non-technical staff of UN Agencies, Implementing Partners, and shelter sector members, nation-al and international NGOs and Government Authorities. The incumbent will also supports coor-dination functions in order to ensure UNHCR’s role as the Shelter Cluster (SC) Lead Agency under the Cluster Approach.The incumbent contributes to ensuring that shelter & infrastructure responses within the AoR evolve according to the changing nature of the situation, progressively working towards more durable solutions and drawing from sustainable local building practices and materials. Specialized functions to be dealt with by the incumbent include shelter and gen-eral infrastructure planning, design and construction monitoring including remote monitoring, therefore the person should have a strong academic qualification in civil engineering, architec-ture or a related discipline. In addition, regardless of the context, shelter assistance should at all times minimize the risk of harm, eviction, exploitation and abuse, overcrowded living conditions, limited access to services and unhygienic conditions. Special attention must be given to the en-vironment and low carbon approaches, attention to material selection through sustainable means to ensure a green approach to shelter delivery.

Under the direct supervision of the Associate Programme Officer in Baga-Sola, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Ensuring that UNHCR Field operations are supported in carrying out shelter needs assessments taking into account the current situation, projected population planning figures and the expected scale of returns; • Developing country level shelter strategies which are framed by UNHCR’s Global Strategy for Settlement and Shelter and take into consideration the local context, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection and the availability of local resources, including materials, capacities and existing infrastructure; • Providing clear guidance on standards for shelter and settlement, including minimum emergency standards to meet basic and essential needs; • Together with UNHCR's implementing partners, compiling, analyzing and mapping available information on shelter options in country taking into account relevant policies adopted by the Government. When planning shelter works, ensuring that the technical component reflects UNHCR minimum standards for the provision of emergency and other types of shelter assistance and is within the budgetary requirements. Due consideration should be given to standards in other relevant sectors such as water and sanitation; • Ensuring the shelter strategy is periodically reviewed to reflect the evolving situation in country and progressively transitioning to more sustainable shelter solutions. This process should be done in close collaboration with the beneficiaries and the host Government while bearing in mind the shelter needs of people upon their eventual return to their country of origin; • Ensuring that specifications, bills of quantities and drawings are produced in a technically sound and standardised manner and establish monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure that works are implemented according to plans and completed within the designated timeframe; • Promoting the sustainability of technical interventions through local capacity building and self-help in collaboration with local partners in the field. Ensure that local communities have been consulted on all activities so as not to create unnecessary tension between the displaced and host populations; • In consultation with UNHCR’s implementing partner and local communities themselves, identifying the need for community based Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) that can benefit the local and displaced communities; • The position requires regular contact with programme, protection and field staff in country in order to ensure technical support related to shelter and construction activities; • Close and regular contact with technical and non-technical staff of UN Agencies, Implementing Partners, National and International NGOs and Government Authorities, is essential to discuss matters relating to shelter and infrastructure coordination and provision; • Maintaining regular contact with the Shelter and Settlement Section in Geneva regarding all technical matters.

Expected Results

• Shelter, Infrastructure and Site Planning activities implemented, respect UNHCR and National standards and specifications; • Shelter/Infrastructure activities supported to ensure that objectives as defined within UNHCR Sub agreements are met within the year with specific emphasis on increased beneficiary targeting and participation; • Shelter/Infrastructure activities supervised, monitored and reported in a regular and consistent manner to the Sub-Office;
• Field activities and Field staff supported by increased presence of the Technical unit by regular field visits in the Camps with activities closely monitored and supervised; • Technical drawings, designs, Bills of Quantities and Specifications produced by the Technical Unit are developed and reviewed to ensure consistency/coherence accuracy and appropriateness; • UNHCR functional units such as Admin, Supply, Program, Field, and Protection provided with the required technical support in a timely manner so that objectives of the UNHCR are attained; • UNHCR Implementing Partners and the Government are supported in their implementation of technical activities for the beneficiaries by also identifying areas of capacity building that can be supported by UNHCR;
• 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 doc-umented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assign-ment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed Supports coordination functions in order to ensure UNHCR’s role as the Shelter Cluster (SC) Lead Agency under the Cluster Approach

• 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 estab-lished procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impar-tiality 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 envi-ronment. • 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 conflict-ing deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working 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, articu-late options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volun-teers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing per-sonal 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 hard-ship 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 soli-darity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core val-ues.

Relevant professional experience includes management of humanitarian shelter or settlement programs / projects or a combination of experience in the humanitarian sector and construction-related activities outside of the humanitarian sector such as supervision of construction works.

Excellent interpersonal, teamwork and negotiation skills in a cross cultural environment and the ability to assist in communication of technical and non-technical details with Government tech-nical staff as well as NGO staff and local authorities.

Knowledge of computer software (MS Word, Excel PowerPoint), as well as the capacity to use mapping tools, i.e. GPS and knowledge of construction drawing and design software (AutoCad or MS Visio, Hipanet etc) is a great added advantage.

(Baga-Sola is a `E’ category non-family duty station. Its climate is hot, dry and dusty, the average annual temperature is about 42 °C. The medical facilities are very limited. For security reasons, local markets, places of worship, playgrounds, entertainment, and other gathering places are not recommended. In terms of place for provisions, Ndjamena is the main place).

No Banking services are available in Baga-Sola, the main currency of transaction being XaF. Possibilities of accommodation renting are relatively limited in particular because of the security aspects. UNHCR has a Guest house for international staff. R&R for international staff is 6 weeks cycle. UNHAS is providing flight support to liaise with Ndjamena.