Profile Shelter Officer

Shelter Officer Profile

Various Locations

Grade: For Junior (P2), Mid (P3) and Senior (P4) Level Positions

The Shelter Officer conducts comprehensive sectoral needs assessments in liaison with other relevant sectors such as protection, programme, community services, Public Health, WASH, administration and supply. To ensure the most effective response, both quantitative and qualitative data should be gathered on the profile/needs and living conditions of both the displaced population and host community. In a first instance, the incumbent ensures that UNHCR Field operations are supported in carrying out shelter and settlement needs assessments taking into account the current situation, projected population planning figures and the expected scale of returns.
 
The Shelter Officer also ensures that the development of shelter strategies take into account the local context, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection available resources and skills. In addition, the incumbent ensures that shelter responses evolve according to the changing nature of the situation, progressively working towards more durable solutions and drawing from local building practices and materials.

Within an urban context, it is essential that shelter responses take into consideration urban planning strategies, including an analysis or residential areas, housing affordability and availability. In addition, regardless of the context, shelter assistance should at all times minimize the risk of eviction, exploitation and abuse, overcrowded living conditions, limited access to services and unhygienic conditions. 

Specialized functions to be dealt with by the incumbent in this post include shelter planning/design and construction monitoring, which imply that the person should have a strong academic qualification in civil engineering or architecture.


RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: 

- Ensuring that UNHCR Field operations are supported in carrying out shelter needs assessments taking into account the current situation, projected population planning figures and the expected scale of returns. 
- Development of country level shelter strategies which are framed by UNHCR's Global Strategy for Settlement and Shelter (2014-2018)  and take into consideration the local context, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection and the availability of local resources, including materials, capacities and existing infrastructure. 
- Provide clear guidance on standards for shelter, including minimum emergency standards to meet basic and essential needs as well as guidance for phased improvement of shelter conditions that will be necessary as the duration of the displacement prolongs.
- Together with UNHCR's implementing partners, compiling, analysing and mapping available information on shelter options in country taking into account relevant policies adopted by the Government. When planning shelter works, ensuring that the technical component reflects UNHCR minimum standards for the provision of emergency and other types of shelter assistance and is within the budgetary requirements. Due consideration should be given to standards in other relevant sectors such as water and sanitation.
- Ensuring the shelter strategy is periodically reviewed to reflect the evolving situation in country and progressively transitioning to more sustainable shelter solutions. This process should be done in close collaboration with the beneficiaries and the host Government while bearing in mind the shelter needs of people upon their eventual return to their country of origin. 
- Ensuring that specifications, bills of quantities and drawings are produced in a technically sound and standardised manner. Establish monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure that works are implemented according to plans and completed within the designated timeframe. 
- Promoting the sustainability of technical interventions through local capacity building and self-help in collaboration with local partners in the field. Ensure that local communities have been consulted on all activities so as not to create unnecessary tension between the displaced and host populations. 
- Monitor all shelter and infrastructure activities through Implementing Partners and ensure compliance with strategies and guidance provided and agreed. 
- In consultation with UNHCR's implementing partners and local communities themselves, identifying the need for community based Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) that can benefit the local and displaced communities. 
- When identifying beneficiaries, ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable population of concern (POC) and host families are addressed. UNHCR's vulnerability indicators should be applied in a participatory manner during the beneficiary selection. 
- When planning shelter works, ensure that the technical component reflects UNHCR minimum standards for the provision of emergency and other types of shelter assistance and is within the budgetary requirements. Standards for other sectors such as water and sanitation should be taken into consideration also. 
- The position requires regular contact with programme, protection and field staff in country in order to ensure technical support related to shelter and construction activities.
- Close and regular contact with technical and non-technical staff of UN Agencies, Implementing Partners, National and International NGOs and Government Authorities, is essential to discuss matters relating to shelter and infrastructure coordination and provision.
- Maintaining regular contact with the Shelter and Settlement Section in Geneva regarding all technical matters.


Minimum qualifications and professional experience required:

For positions at the P2 level 

Requirements:

- Education: University degree in Architecture or Civil-Engineering 
- Job experience: Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience with Advanced University/Master's Degree (4 years with University/Bachelor's Degree).
- Languages: Excellent knowledge of English and good working knowledge of another UN language. French/English is particularly desirable (dependant on official language of country).


For positions at the P3 level

Requirements:

- Education: University degree in Architecture or Civil-Engineering 
- Job experience: Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience with Advanced University/Master's Degree (8 years with University/Bachelor's Degree) of which a minimum of 2 years of international field experience
- Languages: Excellent knowledge of English and good working knowledge of another UN language. French/English is particularly desirable (dependant on official language of country).

For positions at the P4 level 

Requirements:

- Education: University degree in Architecture or Civil-Engineering.
- Job experience: Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience with Advanced University/Master's Degree (12 years with University/Bachelor's Degree) of which a minimum of 4 years of international field experience
- Languages: Excellent knowledge of English and good working knowledge of another UN language. French/English is particularly desirable (dependant on official language of country).


To apply

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity and to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.