Refugee External Relations Assistant (GCR Implementation)

Contract

This is a UNV Refugee contract. More about UNV Refugee contracts.

This Refugee UNV assignment is part of UNHCR’s efforts to strengthen UNHCR’s engagement and partnership with persons under its mandate, by providing support to the GCR Coordination Team in promoting meaningful engagement of refugee-led organizations in GCR process, as well as bringing his expertise to the planning and development of the 2023 GRF, all of which require engagement and consultations within UNHCR and with Member States and external partners.

This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO approved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds. Note that this is a home-based position, so would be subject to the requirements of the country where the Refugee UNV resides.

Assignment Place Remark:

Important, please read Important, please, read before applying. - This assignment is open only for the application of refugees; who are recognized as Refugees by the competent authorities responsible for granting of Refugee status in the Country of resi-dence/refuge, or person has been recognized as a Refugee in accordance with UNHCR mandate and has right to reside legally in the country of refuge.

• Official document as a proof of refugee status is mandatory to submit. The applicant with abovementioned refugee status should submit the official document as a proof of refugee sta-tus before and/or during the interview. The applications without the respective document will not be considered for this assignment.

• Duty Station and Entitlements: The selected candidate’s contracting duty station & entitle-ments will be where the candidate is recognized with a refugee status in the country of current residency. There will be no re-location to Geneva.

• This RUNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO ap-proved vaccine unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this re-quirement on medical grounds.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the UNHCR Associate Protection Officer working with GCR Coordination Team, the UNV Refugee External Relations Assistant (GCR Implementation) will: • Support global-level engagement with organizations led by displaced and stateless people in the design, planning and implementation of the 2023 Global Refugee Forum (GRF); • Support efforts to ensure refugee engagement in pledge follow-up and cultivation within specific regions covered by UNHCR in the lead-up to the GRF; • Coordinate between Divisions and Bureaux, as well as external partners, on the identification of organizations led by displaced and stateless persons that can participate and pledge at the GRF; • Draft articles for the Digital Platform on pledge implementation and engagement of displaced and stateless people in the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR); • Prepare briefing kits and presentations for displaced and stateless people engaging in GRF processes; • Participate in the UNHCR’s Task Team on Engaging with Organizations led by Displaced and Stateless Persons; • Engage with GCR initiatives to mainstream meaningful refugee participation; • Support the preparation of key events related to the Global Compact on Refugees, including the GRF preparatory meetings, by supporting key planning processes, modalities, and arrangements for the safe travel of refugee participants to Geneva; • 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 the GCR Coordination Team and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: o Participation of persons with lived experience of displacement or statelessness in the GRF; o Publication of articles on the GCR Digital Platform reflecting pledge implementation and meaningful refugee participation; o Organization of meetings with displaced and stateless persons in preparation for the GRF; o Collection of feedback submitted by organizations led by displaced and stateless persons on the GCR implementation and GRF programme; o Reports on GRF-relevant issues discussed at the meetings of UNHCR’s Task Team on Engaging with Organizations led by Displaced and Stateless Persons.

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.

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Planning and organizing • Communication • 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.

the national and/or international level in coordination with displaced and stateless communities to ensure their views are adequately represented in different fora; • Lived refugee experience is a requirement; • Fluency in spoken and written English is required; • Strong oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, and reporting skills; • Attention to detail 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; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; and office technology equipment.

Education: • Completed Secondary Education is a must. Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in a relevant area, (e.g., social work, law, anthropology, development studies or any other relevant field) is an asset.

Desirable Experience • Experience with organizations led by displaced and stateless persons and/or Community-Based organizations as any experience working with the UN or other international organizations; • Understanding of the Global Compact on Refugees; • Experience managing multi-stakeholder relationships and coordinating information across internal (inside the organization) and external (external to the organization) stakeholders; • Experience with organizing consultative processes, ideally with displaced persons; • Have affinity with or interest in the protection of people who have been displaced or stateless, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable approaches to complex challenges; • Familiarity with database management; and; • Working knowledge of a second UN Language (French, Spanish or Arabic).

The legal framework of the modality is governed by UNV’s Conditions of Service for Refugee UN Volunteers, which provides the refugee volunteers with the same entitlement package as that of National UNVs. Like any other UN Volunteer, as a recognition for their volunteering contribution, the RUNVs are entitled to receive the Volunteer Living Allowance, set by UNV.

This Refugee UNV assignment is under teleworking arrangement and a full-time role with working hours starting from 09.00 am to 17:00 CET from Monday to Friday (40 hours per week).

As this is a Refugee UN Volunteer assignment under the teleworking arrangement of UNHCR, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their housing and other living essentials.

This assignment is for candidates with recognized refugee status in the country of current residency and the duty station will be revised according to the current residency of the selected candidate.

The RUNV will be selected from any location in the world, except from Headquarter (H) duty stations and locations where there are no United Nations developmental or humanitarian activities or locations which are in countries which are members of the European Union. (H duty stations include the follow-ing countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America)

In an effort to ensure consistency and fair treatment of UN Volunteers in the country in terms of benefits, selected candidate will be required to self-declare the humanitarian assistance she/he is in receipt of, which, upon recruitment will then be assessed, and adjusted as needed.