UNV Interpreter English/Somali and AmharicOromo/Tigrinya/Arabic

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.

The UN Refugee Agency acting within its mandate of protecting persons in need of international protection is evacuating and resettling persons of concern at high risk from Libya to UNHCR Transit Centers in Niger and Rwanda and to Resettlement countries in Europe and North America. Most of the evacuees and refugees considered for resettlement come from the Horn of Africa (Eritrea, Somalia, Ethiopia) and are victims of Human Trafficking, smuggling and severe human rights violations on their way towards Europe.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of The Durable Solutions Officer or The RSD Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV [interpreter] will:

Be assigned to work with one of the Protection Units, namely either RSD, Resettlement, Child Protection/BID or Community Based Protection. The interpreter will report to the Head of the pertinent Unit. The Interpreter and Translator will provide remote operational support to protection, refugee status determination, resettlement, child protection/BID through language support services for persons of concern to UNHCR Libya. The Interpreter will translate oral statements remotely on TEAMs/Skype between English and Somali for RSD, RST, BID interviews as well as for counselling sessions. The interpreter/translator may be asked to translate written documents or statements as necessary. The interpreter will also be requested to support with interpretation/translation in at least one of the following languages: Amharic/Oromo/Tigrinya/Arabic.

Major Responsibilities:

Act as an interpreter during RSD, RST and BID interviews, training, and counselling, including counselling, for UNHCR Libya. The interviews take place remotely from Tunisia via Skype/TEAMs with the persons of concern in Libya. The interpreter will also translate documents from target languages (Somali and one of the following languages: Amharic/Oromo/Tigrinya/Arabic) to English and/or Arabic and vice versa as necessary. In the fulfilment of his/her duties the interpreter must abide by relevant standards. In particular:

The interpreter is required to read, understand and comply with UNHCR’s Code of Conduct and realizes that he/she shall be expected to work in the spirit of the principles set forth therein.

The interpreter is required to read and understand the Undertaking of Confidentiality and Impartiality and understands that he shall be expected to respect the principle of confidentiality and remain impartial in his/her wo

, Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Building Trust, Client Orientation, Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Empowering Others, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Knowledge Sharing, Leadership, Planning and Organizing, Respect for Diversity, Self-Management, Working in Teams

At least 2 years of relevant professional work experience at the national and/or international level; experience working for a humanitarian organization or related activities required, experience working as an interpreter and/or translator strongly preferred.

The UNV will be based in Tunis, Tunisia, but working for the UNHCR Libya operation. Should there be a need for missions outside Tunis, these will be arranged with full security clearance and MOSS compliance.

Geography and Climate: Tunisia, the smallest country of the North African coast, with a population of slightly over 10 million of which about 60% live in urban locations, has one of the highest living standards on the continent. Tunis is the capital of the country and the largest city (population of approximately two million in and outside the city proper). As a small country, all destinations within Tunisia can be reached in a day drive. Tunisia borders with Libya (Southeast) and with Algeria (West).

Tunisia has a Mediterranean climate. Along the coast of northern Tunisia, summers are hot and dry, and winters are warm and rainy. In the northwest, there is occasional snowfall in the mountains. In southern Tunisia, it is hotter and drier. Southern Tunisia, where the Sahara begins, is semi-desert. In some parts, there are oases with giant palm trees and small market gardens.

Religion: About 99 percent of the population is Muslim, especially Sunni Islam, as it is the major and state religion. Tunisia has also a small Christian population, composed of Roman Catholics, members of the Greek Orthodox Church, and French and English Protestants. In addition, there is a small population of Sephardic Jews.

Economy: The country does not have vast stocks of hydrocarbons like its neighbours Algeria and Libya but has prospered under long-standing government policies to develop manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture. At the same time, social programs limit population growth, provide a high standard of education, and ensure a relatively decent standard of living for all. The largest percentage of Tunisia’s exports are agricultural and mining products, which generate over 11 billion dollars a year. Tunisia's biggest export partners are France and Italy. Tunisia is a member of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), the Arab Monetary Fund, and the Union of the Arab Maghreb (UMA).

Public transportation: In addition to the private taxi services, the state runs a reliable and cost effective public transport system.

Safety and security: The crime rate is low, but there have been cases of theft. Walking alone during daylight hours is permitted, but you may want to be more careful at night. Tunisia is still undergoing a critical period of democratic and social transition. The heated political debate has, at times, developed into a localized confrontation among ideological opponents. Although these tensions are unrelated to foreigners, it is nevertheless important to remain updated on the political situation. Therefore, security advice is sent systematically by UNDSS and UNHCR security staff. Since 2015, there have not been terrorist attacks in Tunisia.