CBP Assistant

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

Mauritania hosts more than 10,000 refugees and asylum seekers in urban areas, mainly in Nouakchott. These refugees come mainly from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, Mali, Syria and the Central African Republic are among the most represented nationalities because of the internal conflicts raging in these countries.

In order to protect urban refugees and provide them with support in Mauritania and mainly in urban areas for these refugees, UNHCR carries out community-based protection activities. The CBP Assistant is supervised by the Head of CBP unit and works closely with the rest of the Protection team.

Under the overall direction of the Protection Unit, and in coordination with partners and other stakeholders, the incumbent works directly with communities of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. S/he supports the application of community-based protection standards, operational procedures and practices in community-based protection delivery at the field level. To fulfil this role, the Community-Based Protection Assistant is required to spend a substantial percentage of the workday outside the office, building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern (PoC). The development and maintenance of constructive relationships with PoC that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming and results, form the core of the work of the incumbent.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Protection Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will:

• Through relationships with persons forced to flee 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 the protection team. Understand the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the persons forced to flee and advise the protection team accordingly, highlighting the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, marginalized groups.
• Support implementing and operational partners as well as displaced and local communities to develop community-owned activities to address, where applicable, the social, educational, psycho-social, cultural, health, organizational and livelihood concerns as well as child protection and prevention and response to GBV.
• Assist in working with host communities to involve national civil society groups in improving the protection of persons forced to flee.
• Assist in the analysis that identifies the capacities of communities of concern and risks they face.
• Support participatory assessments and ongoing consultation with persons we serve.
• Support communities in establishing representation and coordination structures.
• Ensure community understanding of UNHCR's commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its response.
• Collect data for monitoring of programmes and budgets from an AGD perspective.
• Assist in the enforcement of participatory AGD sensitive analysis as an essential basis for all of UNHCR’s work.
• Identify and recommend which individuals or groups to prioritize for counselling and field visits based on agreed criteria.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/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:

• As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • 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 peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

Experience with asylum seekers and refugees desirable. Experience in protection field desirable. Knowledge of interviewing techniques with vulnerable persons desirable. Being able to take initiatives when necessary.

Skills Good computer skills. Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work in a team. Flexible and able to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

Languages Fluency in French and Arabic or English required.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials