The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assem-bly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.

The UN Refugee Agency in Niger acting within its mandate of protecting persons in need of international protection, and in partnership with the Government of Niger has established the Evacuation Transit Mechanism (ETM). The mechanism aims at evacuating persons of con-cern with acute protection needs from Libya to Niger, where they undergo RSD and are di-rected to appropriate durable solutions. Most of these evacuees come from Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia and are victims of severe human rights violations during their journey.

UNHCR supports the government in providing a response to refugees and IDPs from the Central Sahel countries and Nigeria and to the mixed movement situation from Niger through Algeria and Libya to Europe via the Central Mediterranean Route. In this regard, UNHCR host a total population of 940,447 persons of concern to UNHCR as of 30 June 2025. This population is mainly composed of 433,575 refugees and asylum seekers, 459,585 internally displaced persons, and 47,287 other persons of concern. These populations are mainly distributed in six regions and grouped into three situations the Lake Chad Basin situation with Nigerian refugees in the regions of Diffa, Maradi and recently in Tahoua, the Sahel situation with Malian refugees in the regions of Tahoua and Tillabéri, the Urban situation with refugees and asylum seekers in Niamey, including the evacuees from Libya to Niamey by humanitarian flights (Emergency Transit Mechanism - ETM), and the mixed migration where we have refugees and asylum seekers in Agadez region.
Since September 2019, non-state armed groups killings, looting and kidnappings in Nigeria’s North-Western states has forced thousands of people to seek refuge in Maradi region, Niger. They were 23 000 in April 2020 only. The total number of biometrically registered and un-registered refugees in the region exceeds 63 000. In addition, repeated incursions of non-state armed groups in Niger have triggered the internal displacement of over 19,000 people.
In September 2019, UNHCR opened a sub-office in Maradi to coordinate registration, protection, education, health, housing and access to WASH services. A key feature of the UNHCR response is the relocation of refugees to villages of opportunity away from the border, to ensure their safety and ease the pressure on host populations. This program also contributes to the development of rural areas which lack basic infrastructure and services, in line with the humanitarian-development nexus.
The Maradi Sub-Office provides protection and assistance to Nigerian refugees located to Maradi, Diffa and Nigerien IDPs, through respectively an integrated services approach aimed at promoting the autonomy of persons of concern, the policy of alternatives to camps and a humanitarian coordination mechanism where UNHCR is leading two clusters (Protection, refugee Coordination). It operates, with the support of the National Commission for Eligibility of Refugees Status (CNE) and implementing partners even in the logistic function.
As of January 31, 2026, the Maradi and Diffa regions host a total of 205,930 refugees and asylum seekers. This population includes 120,316 individuals in Diffa (residing in the Sayam Forage camp and host communities) and 85,614 in Maradi (distributed across three 'villages of opportunity' and local host villages).

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of Field-Office or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Associate Supply Officer will undertake the following tasks:

Strategy:
• Prepare plans for sourcing of relief items and services according to operational needs;
• Establish co-operation with operational and implementing partners to ensure that supply and support activities are coordinated and integrated appropriately.

Operational Support:
• Apply UNHCR's procurement strategy when planning for purchase of important commodities and services;
• Assist in all activities pertaining to the procurement function within his/her area of responsibility in line with UNHCR procedures;
• Evaluate purchase requisitions to ensure that specifications, delivery dates and all other requirements are in order;
• Draft and dispatch quotation requests and/or tenders, assist in the evaluation of offers and draft bid-tabulations, and the selection of suitable suppliers and prepare proposals for award of contracts to the Committee on Contracts;
• Prepare Purchase Orders, confirmations, requests for inspection and other correspondence;
• Maintain and update the roster of UNHCR suppliers;
• Monitor the manufacture/transport of ordered goods to ensure timely delivery;
• Analyze matters relating to procurement activities, and provide timely information on all procurement activities within area of responsibility;
• Provide guidance and advice on UNHCR procurement policies and procedures to support and assist requesting sections.

Infrastructure Support:
• Identify partners for supply chain projects based on objectives, priorities, strengths and resources of the implementing partner and/or contractor, according to criteria consistent with UNHCR rules and regulations;
• Analyze the quality of commodities and services delivered in line with the needs of the location and agreed standard of quality;
• Establish a local quality assurance process.

Business Support:
• Analyze the existing supply infrastructure and ensure that it is optimally aligned with the operational needs;
• Implement practical projects to improve supply performance that has clear objectives, timescales, tasks and resources defined;
• Monitor the project implementation and report on the progress;
• Monitor the quality and accuracy of supply chain related data in relevant business systems. Compile and analyze statistical information, identify trends and developments in supply chain related matters that will assist in decision-making;
• Promote commitment to and monitor compliance with UNHCR's global policies, standards and guidance on supply chain management;
• Ensure effective information flow in the supply chain and adapt local process to the prevailing environment.

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 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.