UNV Executive Assistant (Reporting) in Tunisia

UN VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT TUNR000120--Executive Assistant (Reporting) The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long- established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

General Information

Country of Assignment Tunisia

Host Institute UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Volunteer Category International Specialist

Number of Volunteer 1

Duration 12 months

Expected Starting Date 01-11-2017

Duty Station Tunis [TUN]

Assignment Place

Family Duty Station

Assignment Place Remark

Living Conditions

It will be important for the UN Volunteer to understand and respect traditions and customs of the country.

Geography and climate

Tunisia, the smallest country on the North African coast, has the most diversified economy in the region. With a population of slightly over 10 million and about 60% living in urban locations, it has one of the highest standards of living 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). It is located just six miles (ten kilometers) from the Gulf of Tunis, and sits on the shores of a lake that connects with the Mediterranean Sea. Being a small country, all destinations within Tunisia can be reached in a day's drive. Tunisia is bordered in the southeast by Libya and in the west by Algeria. The coastline between the city of Bizerte and the border of Algeria has secluded beaches, small bays, and steep cliffs. It is also marked by small villages. Southern Tunisia, where the Sahara begins, is semi-desert. In some parts, there are oases with giant palm trees and small market gardens.

Tunisia has a Mediterranean climate. Along the coast of northern Tunisia, summers are hot and dry, and winters are warm and rainy. Yearly rainfall in this coastal region is about 17 inches (43.18 cm). The mountain ranges typically experience more annual rainfall, about 34 inches (86.36 cm). In the northwest, there is occasional snowfall in the mountains. In southern Tunisia, it is hotter 19 Oct 2017 Page 1 of 6 and drier. There is little rainfall, especially along the edge of the Sahara Desert, and some areas of the desert will not get rain for years. Central Tunisia is characterized by varying weather patterns.

Language

The official language of Tunisia is Arabic. French is also widely spoken and understood by most of the population. About one

percent of the population speaks Berber. English is becoming another language spoken by many Tunisians. Other European

languages, such as Italian, are also spoken in commercial and tourist areas of the country.

Religion

Most Tunisians are of Berber lineage and regard themselves as Arabs. About 99 percent of the population is Muslim with the major

and state religion being Sunni Islam. Tunisia also has a small Christian population, which is made up of Roman Catholics, members

of the Greek Orthodox Church, and French and English Protestants. In addition, there is a small population of Sephardic Jews living

in Tunisia.

Economy

The country does not have vast reserves of hydrocarbons like its neighbors 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 run public transport system reliable and cost effective.

Safety and security

Although Tunisia is considered a medium threat for security, all of the rules you would follow in any foreign country apply. The crime

rate is low, but there have been cases of theft in resort hotels, mostly due to staff leaving attractive items in plain view. Walking

alone during daylight hours is permitted, but the buddy system is required for walking at night and you must always carry

communication (mobile phone).

Tunisia is still undergoing a critical period of democratic and social transition. Movements from the extreme left (liberals) to the

Salafists are surfacing and requesting legal status. 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. Regular security advice is therefore sent systematically by UNDSS and UNHCR security

staff.)

Assignment Details

Assignment Title Executive Assistant (Reporting)

Organizational Context & Project Description

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. 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

(www.unhcr.org).

Tunisia acceded to the 1951 Convention relating to Status of Refugees in 1957, and its 1967 Protocol, in 1968 but the country has

no national legal framework governing asylum and refugee issues in place yet. Positive developments, however, are taking place

recently as a national asylum law has been developed, and currently under final review. The political situation has been challenging,

due to high turn-over. Since the formal Cooperation Agreement between Tunisia and UNHCR was signed in June 2011, UNHCR

Tunisia had to deal with 5 different governments. Within above operational environment, the office will continue to implement the

elements of its protection and operations strategy which include, (1) establishing of the national asylum system, (2) implementing

19 Oct 2017 Page 2 of 6 direct protection and assistance activities including Refugee Status Determination, (3) identifying durable solutions; (4) developing capacity of government to progressively assume protection functions, (5) enhancing capacity of the government on rescue-at-sea,

and emergency response. So far, UNHCR succeeded in maintaining protection space and good level of cooperation with authorities.

As of 31 July 2017, there were 638 persons of concern, i.e., 595 refugees and 42 asylum seekers in Tunisia. The majority of

refugees are Syrians (541) and the rest represent some 23 nationalities, including Algerians, Palestinians, Sudanese, Somalis and

Eritreans. Women represent 41 per cent of the caseload and children 35 per cent. Urban refugees in Tunisia are settled across the

country. Tunisia is not a major country of asylum, however, the country is facing important migration challenges due to its location

and the unstable situation in the region and sub-Saharan African countries, in particular Central Africans, Eritreans, Somalis and

Sudanese. Many of these people arrive through Libya either by land or by sea. In addition, there is a large number of Libyan and

Syrian nationals residing in the country but not registered with UNHCR.

Sustainable Development Goals 16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

UNV Focus Area Peace building

Task description

The Executive Assistant is a member of the Executive team in duty station in Tunis, Tunisia and will play a pivotal role in the

management of information. External contacts are generally with a broad range of officials from national and international

institutions, media or general public on matters to importance to the organization.

Under the direct supervision of the Representative in Tunisia, the UNV volunteer will be responsible for the following:

.

Manage the flow of information to the Representative, identify priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the

Representative and propose actions: analyze supporting documentation and summarize most relevant points for the

supervisor; ensure that appropriate action is taken by responsible Unit Heads on matters brought to the attention of the

Representative.

Follow up policies and instructions presented by Representative. Keep the Representative aware of developments in

UNHCR’s major world-wide operations and of policy issues related directly to UNHCR or to humanitarian issues under the

boarder UN system.

Assist the Representative in the preparation of statements that represent UNHCR’s overall policies and which highlight

specific areas of concern. Propose and draft substantive correspondence for the Representative.

Confer with Unit Heads to secure timely and authoritative information relevant to matters requiring action, decisions or the

signature of the Representative.

Ensure that the Representative is prepared for meetings and on missions by drafting talking points, by researching relevant

information, and by establishing contacts (within and outside UNHCR) on the subject matters to be discussed.

Accompany the Representative to meetings and on missions in order to prepare notes on the discussions, ensure follow-up in

matters raised, and support the Representative with any relevant input.

Support the UNHCR-led Cluster activities by preparing and distributing minutes, assisting in the organization of meetings;

occasionally chairing meetings, and serving as the general secretariat for the relevant Cluster.

Support the Representative in efforts to raise the profile of UNHCR and the agency’s concerns within the context of the

broader United Nations system in Tunisia. This includes ensuring that UNHCR is on the agenda of important meetings and

events, and assisting the Snr. Protection Officer and/or the Reporting Officer with input from the representative policies and

activities.

May assist the Representative in drafting regular information notes to the Bureau Director/HQ providing briefing on areas of

concern to UNHCR Tunisia and suggesting actions to be taken by the office.

Work with the Representative in developing, reviewing and proposing new policies and practices, or adaptations to existing

ones. Monitor development of this policies and practices.

Coordinate drafts of position papers and other documents relevant to the activities of the Office.

19 Oct 2017 Page 3 of 6 Ensure that visitors are appropriately addresses, that they receive background information as necessary, and that protocol is respected.

Prioritize tasks and organize work independently.

Selected and make pertinent abstracts and search for information.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:- Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerismby

reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNVactivities (for instance in events that mark International

Volunteer Day)- Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms ofvolunteerism in the host country- Reflect on the type

and quality of voluntary action that they areundertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities- Contribute

articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNVpublications/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,

orencourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV OnlineVolunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected Outputs

It is expected that through the output of the Executive Assistant, Representative’s Office will be professionally managed.

Confidentiality is upheld in all aspects of assignment in view of the confidential nature of matters involving the Executive office.

The Government and the entire UN mission in Tunisia.

Effective and efficient functioning of the Representative’s Office in handing day-to-day contacts through provision of effective

communication support and timely management of flow of information.

Maintenance of protocol procedures for high level dignitaries notably Heads of Agencies, Ambassador/Donors and other High

level UNHCR missions.

Establish, build and sustain effective relationships within the office and more importantly with external contacts namely, UN

Agencies, NGOs and the Government counterparts.

UNV activities supported on a regular basis.

Capacities of the Volunteer increased in the area of work.

• The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including

supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counter-parts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); • Age, Gender and Diversity

(AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final

statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development dur-ing the assignment, such as reporting on the

number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

Qualifications/Requirements

Required Degree Level Bachelor degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments

University degree in Political Science, International Relations, International Law or other related fields.

Years of Required Work Experience 24 months

Experience Description

professional job experience of which at least 1 year should be in refugee context b) Background knowledge about protection

is highly desirable c) excellent communication, drafting and editorial skills d) Ability to work individually and as part of a team

ENGLISH, FRENCH AND ARABIC MANDATORY: FLUENT

Language Skills

19 Oct 2017 Page 4 of 6 ENG (Mandatory) , Level - Fluent

AND - FRE (Mandatory) , Level - Fluent

DoA Expertise

Protection of refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs Mandatory

Additional Requirements for Area of Expertise

Need Driving Licence No

Competencies & Values

Accountability

Integrity

Planning and Organizing

Conditions of Service and other information

Condition of Service Click here to view Conditions of Service

Conditions of Service for International Specialist:

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and

satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) which is composed of the Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family

Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three).

The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and

other basic needs. The VLA can be computed by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate of US$ 1,587. The

VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis

according to the cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty

stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is

published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website http://icsc.un.org.

For example, kindly enter the link Calculator

In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a

Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the

duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty

station.

19 Oct 2017 Page 5 of 6 UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements).

UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit and for the final

repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment.

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful

candidate.

Application Code TUNR000120-2314

Application procedure

If you have not yet registered in the UNV Talent pool, please apply by registering your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup.

Important: Once you have created your UNV account by validating your email address, please complete all sections of your profile. Go to

‘My Page’ section of your profile, click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink and select the special call you would like to apply. If you are

registered in the UNV database, please update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/ Go to ‘My Page’ section of your profile, click on the

‘Special Calls’ hyperlink and select the special call you would like to apply.

Application deadline: 31-10-2017

Disclaimer

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We

arecommitted to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture.

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