Details
Mission and objectives
Le Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés (HCR) a pour mandat de diriger et de coordonner l’action internationale visant à protéger les réfugiés. Il a pour but premier de sauvegarder les droits et le bien être des réfugiés. Il met en œuvre ses programmes de protection dans le monde entier et sensibilise le grand public à la situation des personnes réfugiées dans le monde.
Le HCR Mauritanie fournit protection et assistance à quelque 65 000 réfugiés maliens dans la région aride du sud-est où se trouve le camp de réfugiés de Mbera, et à quelque 9 000 réfugiés urbains et demandeurs d'asile dans les villes de Nouakchott et Nouadhibou. La situation sécuritaire au Mali est toujours instable et des retours à grande échelle ne sont pas attendus. Les Maliens continuent d'arriver en Mauritanie dans le cadre de flux de population mixtes.
Le HCR Mauritanie fournit protection et assistance à quelque 65 000 réfugiés maliens dans la région aride du sud-est où se trouve le camp de réfugiés de Mbera, et à quelque 9 000 réfugiés urbains et demandeurs d'asile dans les villes de Nouakchott et Nouadhibou. La situation sécuritaire au Mali est toujours instable et des retours à grande échelle ne sont pas attendus. Les Maliens continuent d'arriver en Mauritanie dans le cadre de flux de population mixtes.
Context
Mauritania is a signatory to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, as well as the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. A draft law on asylum is still pending. Despite this, the Mauritanian authorities are determined to maintain an open-border policy towards refugees. Mauritania currently hosts close to 280,000 refugees, including around 20,000 in urban areas and over 115,000 in the Mbera camp and surrounding villages in the Hodh Chargui region. In support of the Mauritanian government and in the absence of a national asylum system, UNHCR continues to register asylum seekers and determine refugee status. The UNHCR operation in Mauritania has a staff of around 180, divided between a country office in Nouakchott, two sub-offices in Bassikounou and Nouadhibou, and a field unit in Néma. The objectives and initiatives of the UNHCR operation in Mauritania are aligned with UNHCR's global strategic priorities for 2017-2021 and the Global Compact for Refugees. The Mauritania operation thus focuses on the core priorities of protection and response, but also on those aimed at ensuring sustainable livelihood solutions for people of concern. Under Objective 2, "Include, Empower and Solve", the UNHCR operation in Mauritania carries out advocacy and initiatives aimed at including refugees in national protection systems.
These include social protection, health, water and sanitation, urbanization, education and access to employment. The operation also implements initiatives to ensure peaceful coexistence between host communities and refugees, with a particular focus on young people. The results and impact of these initiatives will contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15 and 17, as well as the objectives of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and the government’s pledges at the Global Refugee Forums of 2019 and 2023, in particular to alleviate pressure on the host country and empower refugees.
These include social protection, health, water and sanitation, urbanization, education and access to employment. The operation also implements initiatives to ensure peaceful coexistence between host communities and refugees, with a particular focus on young people. The results and impact of these initiatives will contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15 and 17, as well as the objectives of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and the government’s pledges at the Global Refugee Forums of 2019 and 2023, in particular to alleviate pressure on the host country and empower refugees.
Task description
Under the supervision of the Senior Development Officer, the Associate Settlement Planning Officer (ASPO) will perform a variety of functions related to the design, management and coordination of humanitarian settlement and infrastructure projects across various settlement typologies. This will be done within the context of The Masterplan Approach to Settlement Planning, the Operational Strategy of Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability, the Shelter and Sustainability Guide and the Sphere Standards.
Working in coordination with other colleagues in the field such as, protection, health, community services, WASH, livelihoods, education, energy and environment, the incumbent acts as focal point for maintaining effective coordination with any established settlement sector working group.
In addition, s/he is responsible for the strategic management and monitoring of the implementation of settlement and urban planning (for the region of Hodh Chargui, Mberra camp and out-of-camp) activities, and for collaboration with Administration, Finance and Programme on all programmatic issues.
S/he shall be working closely with other sections on settlement and general infrastructure related activities and provides functional technical guidance to the team as well as to the technical experts in the Field.
Capacity development for geodata management and site planning to increase resilience of communities, including climate change adaptation and access to basic services.
The ASPO provides specialised support to emergency and protracted operations in designing and developing sustainable settlements to host forcibly displaced people to UNHCR.
A settlement should take into consideration the spatial allocation of functions while addressing the needs of the population, the availability of resources, the enhancement of living conditions, the provision of services, enhancing transportation networks as well as provision of recreational spaces. The incumbent will therefore be expected to analyse a variety of settlement options urban, rural, formal or informal and ensure that spatial allocation of lands is decided in support of the protection, access to basic services, livelihoods, and socio-cultural life of displaced people and the host community.
The ASPO will ensure that management of multi-sectorial assistance and services in refugee sites are handled effectively and efficiently among all the stakeholders, through a strong collaboration with the Field unit and relevant field staff. The incumbent will contribute in inter-agency coordination structures set up for settlement planning and land related issues within the description of tasks.
Relatedly, the ASPO will contribute to capacity development for geodata management and site planning to increase resilience of communities, including climate change adaptation and access to basic services.
The ASPO should maintain regular communication with the Technical Support Section in HQ for technical advice, information, communication and access to updated global tools and resources.
Technical Guidance
• Conduct assessments and ensure selection of potential sites is done in accordance with the Master Plan approach to settlement planning taking into consideration protection concerns, national legislation, environmental considerations, appropriate density, and access to basic services including water, hydrological concerns, socio/economic issues, cultural inclusion and HLP matters.
• Ensure that settlement layouts respond to natural topography and drainage patterns of the site to reduce construction and maintenance costs.
• Ensure that safe and equitable access to basic services is provided for both the displaced and host communities while making particular emphasis on meaningful inclusion of the site community groups (women, youth, elderly and persons with specific needs) in decision-making processes including through governance structures and sectorial focal points.
• Work with the relevant technical, programme and supply colleagues in close coordination with implementing and other concerned parties to develop implementation modalities and work plans for the settlement plans. Provide technical inputs and advice to Programme in the process of Implementation Partner Selection and review of PPAs of all sector related partners and partners with construction related activities in their budget.
• Provide support in Preparedness through the development of contingency plans for population movements. Develop and update agreed response strategies (MPAs and APAs) for refugee sites, including transition/exit strategy for site consolidation and closures within the AOR.
• In close consultation with partners, conduct assessments, provide concrete initiatives and develop specific strategies to make sure that residential areas, key services and infrastructure are not susceptible to the risk of natural hazards such as flash floods and landslides.
Coordination and Leadership
• Provide strong leadership in ensuring that UNHCR’s operation within the AOR is technically sound in the field of settlement planning to best meet the needs of the displaced populations.
• Liaise with Government, line ministries and relevant authorities and counterparts to ensure strong coordination and partnership. Ensure that settlement plans are aligned with regional, national land use plans and planned developments.
Working in coordination with other colleagues in the field such as, protection, health, community services, WASH, livelihoods, education, energy and environment, the incumbent acts as focal point for maintaining effective coordination with any established settlement sector working group.
In addition, s/he is responsible for the strategic management and monitoring of the implementation of settlement and urban planning (for the region of Hodh Chargui, Mberra camp and out-of-camp) activities, and for collaboration with Administration, Finance and Programme on all programmatic issues.
S/he shall be working closely with other sections on settlement and general infrastructure related activities and provides functional technical guidance to the team as well as to the technical experts in the Field.
Capacity development for geodata management and site planning to increase resilience of communities, including climate change adaptation and access to basic services.
The ASPO provides specialised support to emergency and protracted operations in designing and developing sustainable settlements to host forcibly displaced people to UNHCR.
A settlement should take into consideration the spatial allocation of functions while addressing the needs of the population, the availability of resources, the enhancement of living conditions, the provision of services, enhancing transportation networks as well as provision of recreational spaces. The incumbent will therefore be expected to analyse a variety of settlement options urban, rural, formal or informal and ensure that spatial allocation of lands is decided in support of the protection, access to basic services, livelihoods, and socio-cultural life of displaced people and the host community.
The ASPO will ensure that management of multi-sectorial assistance and services in refugee sites are handled effectively and efficiently among all the stakeholders, through a strong collaboration with the Field unit and relevant field staff. The incumbent will contribute in inter-agency coordination structures set up for settlement planning and land related issues within the description of tasks.
Relatedly, the ASPO will contribute to capacity development for geodata management and site planning to increase resilience of communities, including climate change adaptation and access to basic services.
The ASPO should maintain regular communication with the Technical Support Section in HQ for technical advice, information, communication and access to updated global tools and resources.
Technical Guidance
• Conduct assessments and ensure selection of potential sites is done in accordance with the Master Plan approach to settlement planning taking into consideration protection concerns, national legislation, environmental considerations, appropriate density, and access to basic services including water, hydrological concerns, socio/economic issues, cultural inclusion and HLP matters.
• Ensure that settlement layouts respond to natural topography and drainage patterns of the site to reduce construction and maintenance costs.
• Ensure that safe and equitable access to basic services is provided for both the displaced and host communities while making particular emphasis on meaningful inclusion of the site community groups (women, youth, elderly and persons with specific needs) in decision-making processes including through governance structures and sectorial focal points.
• Work with the relevant technical, programme and supply colleagues in close coordination with implementing and other concerned parties to develop implementation modalities and work plans for the settlement plans. Provide technical inputs and advice to Programme in the process of Implementation Partner Selection and review of PPAs of all sector related partners and partners with construction related activities in their budget.
• Provide support in Preparedness through the development of contingency plans for population movements. Develop and update agreed response strategies (MPAs and APAs) for refugee sites, including transition/exit strategy for site consolidation and closures within the AOR.
• In close consultation with partners, conduct assessments, provide concrete initiatives and develop specific strategies to make sure that residential areas, key services and infrastructure are not susceptible to the risk of natural hazards such as flash floods and landslides.
Coordination and Leadership
• Provide strong leadership in ensuring that UNHCR’s operation within the AOR is technically sound in the field of settlement planning to best meet the needs of the displaced populations.
• Liaise with Government, line ministries and relevant authorities and counterparts to ensure strong coordination and partnership. Ensure that settlement plans are aligned with regional, national land use plans and planned developments.
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