Livelihoods Officer

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Livelihoods Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Livelihoods Officer has a key role in the implementation and consolidation of Refugee Livelihoods Strategy. S/he will be an important member of UNHCR office in the country that is involved in the implementation of livelihoods programmes and explore new livelihoods opportunities. S/he should be proactive, always looking for new opportunities, having economic and social sensibility; convincing in donor and partner mobilization, and able to take initiatives. The incumbent will provide much needed local knowledge to develop the local livelihoods strategies and social infrastructure to develop and sustain Refugee Livelihoods.

The Livelihoods Officer will receive guidance and direction from the Representative / Head of Office and normally report to the Assistant Representative (Programme) or a Senior Programme or Operations Officer.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- UNHCR's country operation has sufficient support in the field of livelihoods thus better able to meet the needs of persons of concern.

Responsibility (process and functions undertaken to achieve results)
- Develop and implement UNHCR Livelihoods Strategy in the area of responsibility.
- Conduct, facilitate and support wealth ranking surveys for refugee population.
- Advocate with public and private services providers operating in the country to provide services to UNHCR persons of concerns i.e. business development services, micro-finance institutions, training institutes, banks, business incubators, poverty alleviation programmes etc.
- Support the regular sharing of livelihoods related information among different humanitarian, developmental and governmental stakeholders.
- Strengthen, guide and monitor the different livelihoods interventions under the UNHCR programme and ensure compliance with UNHCR Minimum Criteria for Livelihoods programming.
- Utilize efficient targeting techniques to graduate vulnerable refugees out of poverty.
- Design and implement, in cooperation with national government, implementing partners, and UNHCR representation office, a custom-made annual operation plan within the framework of the approved livelihoods strategy.
- Build a strong relationship with the relevant government stakeholders to enhance their ownership of the livelihoods programme initiated by UNHCR.
- Maintain close contacts with partners both in public, private and NGO sectors in order to harmonize activities relating to promotion of livelihoods activities.
- Perform any other related functions as required.

Authority
- Enforce livelihoods strategies and guidelines.
- Represent UNHCR in the meetings and for a related to the functions.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Economics, Business Administration, Socio-economic Development, rural Development, Financial Management or other related fields plus minimum 6 years of previous work experience relevant to the function. Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) plus 5 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 4 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Technical competencies in sub-sectors relevant to livelihoods programming e.g. microfinance, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education and training, etc.
- Experience in working effectively with private sector, international and national NGOs and UN organisations, and with government authorities at national level.
- Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

***For National Officer positions, very good knowledge of local language and local institutions is essential.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Completion of UNHCR Protection Learning Programme (PLP) and/or the Operations Management Learning Programme (OMLP).
- Experience with UNHCR standards and indicators, and/or projects related to the millennium development goals.
- UNHCR Field experience.
- Knowledge and exposure to the social and cultural values of the region concerned.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Livelihoods Officer positions. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates. C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3 <p>The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity 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.</p>
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
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For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific security and welfare profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). These profiles have been specifically designed to answer some of the key questions (on security conditions, medical provisions, staff welfare, living and working conditions) potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care. This project is still in the pilot phase, and as such some of the information leaflets are being produced as we speak and might not be available yet. They will be soon, so keep checking. 

Proficiency in French and English is mandatory while Arabic language is desirable.
Experience in designing and implementing livelihood strategies in a context of forced displacement;
Knowledge of UNHCR Minimum Criteria for Livelihoods programming is desirable;
Experience in coordinating UNHCR and partners activities to support refugee and host community resilience and self-reliance;
Experience in conducting wealth and vulnerability ranking surveys in a refugee population;
Experinece in using efficient targeting techniques to graduate vulnerable refugees out of poverty; Experience in working with public and private service providers incl. business development services, micro-finance institutions, training institutes, banks, business incubators, poverty alleviation programmes etc.
Strong analytical skills and ability to come up with solutions to challenges;
Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills;
Good planning and organizational skills to deal with multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines;
Strong drafting skills in French and English.
Knowledge of the resettlement process and previous experience submitting cases is an asset. The 2012 crisis in Mali followed by the international military intervention in 2013 caused a large number of Malians to seek refuge in Mauritania. The country now hosts more than a third of those displaced by the Malian crisis. Malian refugees are mostly accommodated in a camp in the Hodh Elchargui region (Wilaya) in the arid southeastern corner of Mauritania. At the end of June 2018, Mbera refugee camp, hosted more than 56,000 refugees. This number is continuing to increase as Malians continue to flee instability in northern Mali.
The Representation in Mauritania has 2 offices, one in Bassikounou, close to the border between Mali and Mauritania, protecting Malian refugees camp and one in Nouakchott which protects urban refugees. The Representation is temporarily opening a Field Unit in Nouadhibou to assess the trend of the mixed migration including asylum seekers and refugees.

Malian refugees enjoy freedom of movement and have access to natural resources such as land, pasture and water. They also refugees have the opportunity to work and trade. Some refugees have been able to continue their regular livelihood activities such as pastoralism and artisanal production.

UNHCR activities for refugees for the next 5 years are reflected in the 2018-2022 United Nations¿ Sustainable Development Partnership Framework (CPDD), which integrates UN agencies¿ humanitarian and development interventions. It includes a strategy to strengthen peaceful coexistence and self-reliance for refugees and host communities in Mauritania. The CPPD was elaborated in line with the sustainable development strategy elaborated by the Mauritanian government (Stratégie de Croissance Accélérée et de Prospérité Partagée (SCAPP)) In Nouakchott, most goods and services are available, but health services are limited;
International French and English speaking schools are available.
Leisure and recreational activities are limited but nice beaches are within the vicinity of the city;
Willingness and ability to undertake support missions to Bassikounou, where working and living conditions are difficult but meet UNHCR standards for security and comfort. Bassikounou (including Hodh El Charghi province): Moderate (level 3)
Although no terrorist act has been reported since 2011, terrorism remains the major threat in the country. The security situation is relatively calm in the sense that no major incident has seriously disturbed the situation since more than 3 years.
However, the persistence of crime in the capital and other cities of the country should be mentioned. It is characterized by violent crime, armed robbery, assault, rape, kidnapping, intrusion into residences, etc. The Livelihood officer will report to the HOSO in Bassikouno, however, all the operational and implementation of the livelihood strategy will be directly reported and coordinated with the Deputy Representative.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add.4 to March 2018 Compendium is Wednesday 5 Septembe 2018 (midnight Geneva time).