IUNV Specialist, Associate Field Officer

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UNHCR - UN High Commissioner for Refugees

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Friday 31 Dec 2021 at 00:00 UTC

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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.

Colombia continues to be the country receiving the highest number of Venezuelans, with a total of over 1.74 million by early 2021 (representing approximately 37% of the 4.6 million Venezuelans in the region). Additionally, an estimated 845,000 Colombians (including those with dual nationality) have returned to Colombia from Venezuela in recent years, which may include those who return on a temporary basis. According to Migración Colombia, around 56% of Venezuelans in Colombia are estimated to be in an irregular situation and thus more exposed to protection risks. Such irregular movements come with a heightened risk of violence (especially gender-based violence), sexual exploitation, trafficking and smuggling, child recruitment and family separation. In February 2021, the Government of Colombia issued a Temporary Protection Status (TPS) that is likely to benefit the 1.74 million Venezuelans already in Colombia as well as those who arrive through official border points over the next two years. The TPS provides a 10-year protection status and access to a full range of rights including healthcare, education, formal employment, and financial inclusion. However, xenophobia against Venezuelans has considerably increased in the last year, and it is projected to worsen with the introduction of the TPS. Misinformation and the perceptions that Venezuelans will take away job opportunities from Colombians, fuel general discontent and makes it even more difficult for refugees and migrants to secure a job. Nonetheless,

Under the direct supervision of Protection Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

· Ensure that UNHCR’s policies, standards and procedures are constantly and coherently applied in the Area of Responsibility (AoR). · Ensure that the needs of persons of concern in the AoR are assessed and analysed in a participating manner and using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective to form a firm basis for planning. · Ensure that protection incidents and gaps in assistance are immediately identified and addressed. · Identify vulnerable groups or individuals who may need special attention or special ar-rangements and make recommendations on the needs of different groups of refugees. · Assess protection and assistance needs of refugees and asylum-seekers in the region and monitor implementation of refugee assistance programmes. · In co-ordination with implementing partners, handle the reception, registration and provi-sion of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR. · Provide inputs for project submissions and periodic narrative and financial reports for the annual programme. · Develop and maintain relations with local authorities ensuring smooth negotiations in all aspects of UNHCR's mandate for the benefit of refugees. · Monitor the security situation in the area and intervene as appropriate with the local au-thorities. · Participation in needs assessment as a member of the Multi-Functional team. · In close coordination with programme and project control, monitor project implementation and provide feedback on the progress to the relevant units/sections · Undertake other relevant duties as required.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

· 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; · Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; · Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/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:

· The needs of persons of concern in the country are assessed and analysed in a participa-tory manner and using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective to form a firm basis for planning. · Inputs are provided for the country operations plan (including budgets, staffing levels and structures) as well as for funding submissions, appeals and reports. · Enforced compliance with UNHCR’s global strategies, protocols and guidelines. · The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counter-parts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); · 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 development during the as-signment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

· 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 inde-pendently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objec-tively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented. · Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organi-zational 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 environment. · Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and abil-ity 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 conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent pro-jects/activities. · Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious work-ing 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 presenta-tions, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommenda-tions; ability to communicate and empathize with staff. · Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods.

Work experience with refugees and/or other people of concern in a protection capacity required. Field experience.

Living Conditions:

The climate of the city of Monteria is warm tropical with a dry season and a rainy season throughout the year. The city's average annual temperature is 28 °C with peaks above 40 °C during the rainy season. The average relative humidity is 78%.

It is a city with an outstanding urban, commercial and road development, and is also known as La Ciudad de las Golondrinas (The City of Swallows). It is the cattle capital of Colombia.

This land, with one of the most fertile valleys in the world, has had an agricultural voca-tion since its beginnings. Its people, history and exotic beauty make it a destination that attracts tourists all year round. In addition, it has a cultural richness given by the mixtureof different indigenous tribes with foreigners and Afro-descendants that give that flavor and identity to the beautiful capital of Cordoba

Conditions of Service for international UN Volunteers:

The duration of your assignment is 31.12.2022 .

A volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) which is composed of the Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three).

The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA can be com-puted by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate of US$ 1,571. The VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty sta-tion/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis according to the cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website (http://icsc.un.org). For example, if the PAM for the current month is 54.6%, then the VLA for that month will be (US$ 1,571 x 54,6 /100) + 1,571= US$ 2,429. Moreover, a Family Allowance (FA) is added in accordance with the number of recognized dependents: US$ 250 if the UN Volunteer has 1 recognized de-pendent, and US$ 450 if the UN Volunteer has 2 or more recognized dependents. Ac-cordingly the VLA will be US$ for a volunteer without dependent; US$ for a volunteer with one recognized dependent and UD$ for a volunteer with two or more recognized dependents.

In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the as-signment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station.

UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements).

UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit and for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment.

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Ser-vice, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unv.org