Field 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.

The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was created in 1950, during the aftermath of the Second World War, to help millions of Europeans who had fled or lost their homes. We had three years to complete our work and then disband.

Today, over 70 years later, our organization is still hard at work, protecting and assisting refugees around the world.

Since 24 February 2022, Romania has received nearly 2.472.306 refugees fleeing directly from Ukraine or coming from Moldova. While many refugees are passing through Romania as transit country on their way to Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, or other countries, a growing number (over 109 000 at the beginning of February 2022) are remaining in Romania, and either seeking temporary protection, with over 100 000 temporary protection status provided, or applying for work visas. Romania’s status as both a transit and a destination country necessitate a response premised on three key directions: first, providing immediate, urgently needed protection and assistance to arrivals to Romania; second, ensuring information about and access to legal statuses to which arrivals to Romania may apply, alongside non-discriminatory access to rights and services provided by the government and humanitarian actors, and third, ensure accountability and effective two way communication with the refugee population.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Assistant Field Officer, and in close cooperation with the other relevant Units, the UNV Field Assistant will:

• Assist the Timisoara Field Unit in the development and implementation of monitoring plans for activities implemented through partnerships and those under direct implementation. • Contribute to the review and analysis of operations plans, mid-year and year-end reports, ensuring quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards. • Engage the refugee community in two-way communication, provide support to the implementing partner in smoothly implementing refugees’ feedback trough tailored-made assistance. • Contribute to age, gender and diversity mainstreaming in all of UNHCR Romania’s activities. • Contribute to the planning, monitoring and evaluation of any further community outreach activities with UNHCR’s Partner. • Assist in drafting reports, English and Romanian routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling statistics. • Assist in managing UNHCR's physical inventory at the ETC, as well as in filling and archiving. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

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 and utilize the UNV Online Volunteering service providing themselves and their organizations with flexible, free of charge, Online Volunteer capacity to support their efforts. Information and promotional material can be found in the onsite kit.

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: • Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; • Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; • Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time and quality standards; • 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.

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

community engagement or demonstrated ad hoc experience at the national and/or international level; experience with Community Based Organizations and participatory methods is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization. • Good knowledge of the Microsoft Office package. • Excellent drafting skills. • Strong capacity to work with individuals from different ages, genders and backgrounds. • 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. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines. • Have affinity with or interest in working with refugees and volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO approved vaccine in accordance with UNHCR’s Administrative Instruction on Covid-19 Vaccination and related Safety Measures. Exceptions may be granted on medical grounds. In exceptional circumstances, the recruitment may be completed on the condition that vaccination is obtained within a specified time”.

Romania is located in a temperate climate zone having 4 seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter). Winters are becoming milder with average temperatures around -2 centigrade on average during the daytime. Summers are hot, occasionally reaching around 35 centigrade, especially in July and August. Bucharest is a safe metropolitan city, however as in any other city caution and good judgement shall be exercised.

Accommodation is relatively easy to find although more challenging in the last few months; short-, mid- and long-term. The city offers a wide range of hotels, Airbnb, long term rents, etc in areas not immediately neighbouring UNHCR Office. Accommodation can be fixed using the services of property agencies but online solutions are also numerous.

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

Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances: The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos). For information specific to your assignment please see below:

Monthly Living Allowance (Per month): RON 6414 Entry lump sum (one time payment) USD 400 Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract): RON 534.50 Medical and life insurance Cigna Private Insurance

Leave entitlements: Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: 30 days Uncertified sick leave: 7 days per 12 months of service and 4 for shorter assignments Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months Maternity Leave: 16 weeks Paternity Leave: 10 days