Refugee Field Assistant

Volunteering Admin Crisis & Emergency Response

Overview

Assist in the daily operations supporting refugees' needs and engagement in community activities.

You have:

• Experience with humanitarian programs or activities, particularly related to refugees is an asset, as is experience working in international organizations.
• Fluency in spoken and written Ukrainian and/or Russian and working knowledge of English is required; fluency in Romanian is an advantage.
• 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 varied partners and communities.
• Willingness to work in remote field locations and conduct field-based work frequently.
• Self-motivated, ability to work independently with minimal supervision but also collaboratively with teams and stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of social media platforms used by Ukrainian communities, including Telegram, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok is an asset.
• Ability to manage UNHCR's physical inventory and coordinate deliveries with the supply team.

Contract

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

Since the start of the international armed conflict in Ukraine which has forced some 5.9 million people to flee their homes seeking safety, protection, and assistance across Europe, more than 5.3 million border crossings from Ukraine and Moldova into Romania have been recorded. The Government and various stakeholders including civil society, the private sector, volunteers, and international organizations have responded to the crisis with generosity and hospitality.

As of 30th October 2024, there have been registered 175,331 unique individuals with Temporary Protection (TP) status in Romania. At the time of writing 185,165 TP permits have been issued. In addition, Romania registered 10,156 asylum applications in 2023, and is currently hosting around 4,600 beneficiaries of international protection and subsidiary protection, including nationals from Syria, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Ukraine, Yemen, Palestine, and some stateless persons.

UNHCR supports the Government of Romania overall response in coordinating humanitarian actors under the framework of the Regional Refugee Response (RRP) and through the Refugee Coordination Forum (RCF) and sector working groups. The RRP response is aligned with and complementary to the National Plan (NP) of measures for the protection and inclusion of displaced persons from Ukraine, beneficiaries of TP in Romania, and a vision for the medium and long-term refugee response in Romania.

The UNHCR Field Office’s area of responsibility includes counties in Northern Romania where five implementing partners respond in different locations. In this regard, the Field unit as part of the Multifunctional team (MFT) in Suceava, under the guidance of the Head of Office (HOO), covers the Area of responsibility (AOR) as liaison and engages with authorities, humanitarian stakeholders, and the community, for advocacy, coordination, and monitoring, with the technical support and collaboration of the Protection team and the MFT.

Regarding Field Unit Activities, the team supports monitoring and documenting the implementation of the following components of our response: Basic Needs, Border Monitoring, Emergency preparedness, and supporting and monitoring the building of safe and sustainable humanitarian services ecosystems and narratives, facilitating access to services and official information to the refugee community, respecting their rights and dignity, with close collaboration of different Stakeholders and listening to the voices of the community. UNHCR in the field has a catalytic role in the coordination mechanics among the humanitarian stakeholders, authorities, and refugee community and monitors the complementary approach of the services and escalates or flags the services that are discontinued.

The Field Unit provides support in identifying vulnerable families during their missions and provides support in the assistance of the needs of refugees and asylum-seekers, regarding basic needs in coordination with the MFT and monitoring and triangulating information regarding the context, trends, and security incidents, including the border, that can have an impact in the community and stakeholders for the decision-makers.

The Field Unit is accountable for reporting on time and managing and controlling the repository of documents produced in the unit and with the MFT, such as Mission Reports, Meeting Minutes, or other documents related to the Field Unit.

The unit's duties are coordinated and collaborated with the local MFT and the Country Office in Bucharest when needed under the guidance of the HOO.

The Refugee Field Assistant will be involved in the day-to-day activities of the unit in the office and participate in missions when required. The position is expected to support interventions on the field related to communication (including translation when needed) with communities and stakeholders, providing feedback and information to the Office. S/he may also provide necessary assistance in the coordination of UNHCR events with the MFT, and briefing notes, and coordinating or supporting in the preparation of meetings with authorities and other stakeholders. To increase awareness of the mission of UNHCR, the position will also support activities related to public information, like the SITREP. To achieve this, the position will work with multifunctional teams and establish effective communication with stakeholders, including partners, when is requested.

Activities to be conducted:

• Support monitoring exercises in field locations, including by collecting feedback and border monitoring interviews with the persons with and for whom UNHCR works in coordination with the MFT; • Conduct field monitoring visits to assess the protection situation of the persons with and for whom UNHCR works in the Suceava Area of Responsibility, including overnight if necessary when is required, including border monitoring missions; • Support in the identification of community structures and representatives, including mapping out locations and scope of action of community and NGOs representatives across Suceava AOR with the MFT; •Support in administrative tasks such as preparation of reports and meeting minutes, and the organization of missions, need assessments, delivery of Non-Food Items, events, or other logistical aspects of the office requested, in collaboration with the MFT. •Support in the report and update of the One drive, related to missions, minute minutes, or others documents related to the position. • Contribute to the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of any further community outreach activities. • Contribute to age, gender and diversity mainstreaming in all of UNHCR Romania’s activities; • Assist in managing UNHCR's physical inventory at the office, the coordination of the delivery with the supply team as well as in filling and archiving the documents related. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

•Participate in humanitarian, social programs or activities, or other relevant programmes; experience with projects related to refugees is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; •Fluency in spoken and written Ukrainian and/or Russian and working knowledge of English is required; fluency in Romanian is an advantage; •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, promoting team spirit and mutual support among team members; •Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; •Strong knowledge of social media platforms used by Ukrainian communities, including Telegram, Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok is an asset; •Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; •Sound security awareness; •Have affinity with or interest in enabling access to services to vulnerable refugees with constant aim to assist in providing durable solutions, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System. •Willingness to work in remote field locations and to conduct field-based work much of the time.

Application to this assignment is exclusively open to individuals residing in Romania, registered as asylum seekers for at least 3 months or as refugees, or with similar protective status, including Temporary Protection.

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

Volunteer Living Allowance Refugee UNV modality (monthly payment): RON 7004.08 Entry lump sum (one-time payment) USD 400 Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract): RON 583.67 Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations in exchange rates.

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.

Medical and life insurance: • Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV-provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins from the commencement of service and normally ceases one month after the last day of the UN Volunteer contract date. • Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment.

Leave entitlements: • Annual Leave:  UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. • Learning Leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period. • Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle. • Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive 7 days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. • Maternity Leave: 16 weeks • Paternity Leave: 10 days

In an effort to ensure consistency and fair treatment of UN Volunteers in the country in terms of benefits, candidates will be required to self-declare the humanitarian assistance they are in receipt of, which, upon selection will then be assessed, and adjusted as needed.

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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org