Emergency Response Support Officer
Support activities related to cross-border movement and community engagement.
Overview
Support activities related to cross-border movement and community engagement.
You have:
- Experience with working with refugees is an asset.
- Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
- Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
- Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners.
- Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment.
- Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications, email, and internet.
- Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; solid time management skills with ability to work with tight deadlines.
- Solid coordination skills with functional units and partners are desirable.
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.
As of June 2025, the Arab Republic of Egypt, which continues to be an important destination and transit country for migratory movements in and beyond North Africa, hosts 1,002,524 refugees and asylum-seekers. Particularly following the outbreak of hostilities in neighbouring countries, Egypt has witnessed a large influx of third country nationals. This has affected Egypt's previously stable situation and low security risks, which had facilitated UNHCR activities through considerable access and community acceptance. The socio-economic environment in Egypt remains challenging, especially for vulnerable refugee families. Limited income-generating opportunities and restricted access to public services have heightened vulnerabilities. With the conflict evolving, it is expected that the number of people fleeing into Egypt will continue to grow.
Under the supervision of the Associate Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer, the UN Volunteer will primarily support activities related to the cross-border movement. S/he will play an essential role in advancing solutions by maintaining strong and consistent communication with the affected communities. In close coordination with the Community-Based Protection (CBP) team, the volunteer will support the planning and organization of focus group discussions (FGDs), assist during the sessions by taking detailed minutes, and contribute to the drafting of initial reports summarizing key findings and concerns raised by participants.
The volunteer will also assist with the logistics for the implementation of the perception survey, ensuring that activities are carried out smoothly and efficiently. S/he will also be responsible for monitoring trends and developments within the community, including those circulated in the news and on social media circulated by UNHCR’s external relations team, and will highlight relevant issues to inform programmatic responses. The role further entails drafting various reports as required and providing timely support to the supervisor on urgent matters requiring follow-up. Through these tasks, the volunteer will contribute to the evidence-based planning and implementation of protection and solutions-oriented interventions for refugees.
• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management
• Experience with working with refugees is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; ability to quickly familiarizing with new database. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; solid time management skills with ability to work with tight deadlines; • Desirable: solid coordination skills with functional units and partners • Have affinity with or interest in humanitarian affairs and refugee rights, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.
Cairo, Egypt is a family duty station with a wide range of services (health, education and leisure) and good living conditions. It has long been a center of the region’s political and cultural life, with high levels of tourism. Like other similar cities, Cairo offers good quality of life in terms of access to shopping centers, banks, medical services, educational facilities, cultural events, etc. The Arab Republic of Egypt has a unique geographical position in Northeast Africa, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, on the Mediterranean and Red Sea, and its connection to Sub Saharan Africa through the Nile Valley. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.
Potential interview questions
| Describe a situation where you effectively communicated with a vulnerable community. | This question assesses your communication skills and how you handle sensitive situations. | Share a specific example that highlights your ability to connect and communicate effectively. |
| How would you approach organizing a focus group discussion in a culturally diverse environment? | The interviewer wants to know how you handle diversity in discussions. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you give an example of a time you had to adapt to a challenging working environment? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies would you employ to ensure accurate documentation of community feedback? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe your experience working with international teams or organizations. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you manage your time and prioritize tasks under tight deadlines? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you discuss a time when you identified a key issue affecting a community? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What motivates you to work in humanitarian affairs and support refugee rights? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |