Senior Regional 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.

Senior Regional Livelihoods Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Senior Regional Livelihoods Officer will work closely with colleagues in related technical sectors including education, cash, SGBV, durable solutions, protection, food security and nutrition, energy & environment, innovation, health, community services, shelter, water and sanitation, and gender and age. S/he will coordinate and provide technical support to a regional network of country-level livelihood focal points in the region. Additionally, s/he will ensure that all livelihood programmes in the region are in line with the UNHCR Global Strategy for Livelihoods. S/he will proactively seek out new appropriate livelihood programming and approaches, including those being implemented by the private sector and development actors and determine how best to incorporate into UNHCR operations, in consultation with DPSM/Livelihoods Unit. S/he should identify and participate in regional fora focused on building rural and urban economies and strengthening livelihoods. 

The incumbent will liaise with UNHCR country offices, DPSM/Livelihood Unit, and Regional Bureau/Desk. S/he supports and provides guidance to the network of UNHCR Livelihood focal points and officers as well as to Implementing and Operational Partners, National Governments, relevant ministries, UN agencies. Moreover, the Livelihoods Officer will maintain and help to establish close and effective regional/local partnerships with Government/Ministries, UN agencies, international organisations, bilateral development agencies, international NGOs, research institutions and universities and the private sector. The incumbent will work closely with technical teams within the Office as well as HQ Livelihoods Unit on issues related to promoting self-reliance and to development of public/private partnerships.

S/he will provide policy and guidance on livelihoods, provide information on specific technical guidelines, briefings, training, provide input on evaluation documents, carry out assessments, to facilitate contact with relevant partner agencies, advise on local agreements, review reports, support the design and implementation of localized versions of the Global Livelihoods Strategy and initiatives, including pilots, support advocacy and support fundraising. In order to respond to the regional challenges related to self-reliance, the incumbent will implement.

S/he will coordinate approaches and strengthen/develop strategic partnership with  a strong focus on developing partnerships with highly qualified companies and NGOs, development actors (e.g. UNDP, ILO, the World Bank, UNIFEM, UN DESA, Regional Economic Communities, and the International Trade Centre) and relevant ministries/national institutions (e.g. related to Labour, Economic Development, Education/Technical Education and Vocational Training, Social Affairs), to share information and experiences, carry out joint assessments, produce joint technical guidelines, implement joint pilot projects, seek new opportunities for interagency collaboration on energy, seek financial and technical support for refugee operations, conduct joint trainings and research.

The Livelihoods Officer will supervise livelihoods teams and consultants working on different livelihoods project, trainings, and on field-based assessments, strategic planning, review, evaluations and reporting.

The incumbent will report to the Assistant Regional Representative (Programme) and be responsible for countries under the area of responsibility within in the region.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability:

- Roll-out and implementation of the Global Strategy for Livelihoods in the region is ensured.
- Regional Office maintains and develops strategic partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders; including private sector companies, UN agencies, government institutions, international and local civil society organizations, Regional Economic Communities in order to maximize the impact and efficiency of operations and to accelerate the realization of shifting from direct assistance to a developmental approach for refugees and their host communities that recognized UNHCR's comparative advantages.
- Livelihoods programmes in the region are innovative and flexible in accommodating changes in the surrounding environment, particularly at the economic and political levels, while seek to expand the enabling environment for refugee self-reliance.
- The impact of implemented interventions is maximized through effective data-collection, monitoring and evaluation processes and ensure best practices are disseminated to the UNHCR Livelihoods Practitioners Community.
- Capacity of Implementing Partners and Livelihoods Staff is strengthened particularly in relation to data-collection, impact-monitoring and market-based livelihoods programming.

Responsibility:

- In line with the Global Strategy for Livelihoods, improve and fine tune the local self-reliance strategies in the region, focusing on the development of clear operational plans and livelihoods projects for the upcoming three years, indicating the comprehensive needs and setting clear annual operational targets.
- Ensure dissemination and implementation of internationally accepted standards, policies and guidelines within UNHCR and among partner.
- Provide technical guidance to UNHCR field operations, in line with UNHCR tools and guidelines for livelihood programming, and ensuring technical integrity is maintained.
- Assist field operations in sourcing external expertise (consultants, deployments under stand-by agreements, and technical counterparts from operational partners) required for livelihood assessments, strategic planning, project design, reviews and evaluations exercises. Monitor the work of technical experts and contribute to reviewing draft reports/outputs, ensuring quality in methodologies used in particular for assessment and analytical tasks.
- Oversee the implementation of Global Livelihood Programmes, and advise field operations on designing projects on entrepreneurship building, and technology access for education and livelihoods.
- Mainstream into livelihoods activities, the use of relevant innovative approaches and the "Graduation Model" to graduate vulnerable refugees out of poverty and into continued degrees of self-reliance.
- In line with a market-based approach, design and implement livelihoods activities tailor-made to and targeting different segments of the refugee population according to their potential for reaching self-reliance (educational level, work-experience, previous skills training, etc.)
- Oversee the process of conducting a risk assessment for the livelihoods interventions undertaken by UNHCR and propose risk mitigation alternatives.
- Facilitate access to online livelihoods and educational opportunities in line with the Community Technology Access (CTA) programme.
- Continuously monitor changes in the context to guide the directions of the livelihoods programmes; particularly with regards to the transfer of basic services to the government and maintain updated information on issues and policy changes that may affect livelihood opportunities for refugees, as well as ongoing measures by the Government and other institutions that can affect or contribute to the achievement of strategic goals for refugee livelihoods.
- Develop a solid monitoring and evaluation system with clear indicators to monitor the impact of the livelihoods programming on refugees.
- Review and provide technical guidance to project proposals submitted by Implementing Partners (IPs), and guide and monitor livelihoods activities/programmes for refugees in line with the global livelihoods strategy.
- Identify opportunities and implement solutions to challenges identified through livelihoods relevant assessments (Household Economy Approach/Baseline, market and value-chain).
- Participate in joint needs assessments.
- Lead and guide the processes of improving the methodologies and operational procedures adopted by the livelihoods implementing partners.
- Emphasize the capacity building of IPs through technical assistance, institutional assessment, training and coaching.
- Support the regular sharing of livelihoods related information among different humanitarian, developmental and governmental stakeholders.
- Conduct research and ensure active internal UNHCR knowledge sharing on refugee livelihoods with the UNHCR Livelihoods Practitioners Community (on UNHCR-learn.org).
- Proactively seek new opportunities for effective partnership building and resource mobilisation amongst highly qualified companies and NGOs, as well as development actors and donors.
- Promote cooperation with national institutions in supporting the inclusion of refugees in e.g. vocational training, access to finance, labour market.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Authority:

- Decide when and how to orient livelihoods operations in i) conducting assessments ii) developing comprehensive multiyear strategic plans, iii) implementing coherent programmes through suitable partners, iv) designing and implementing specific livelihood-support interventions, and expanding or halting pilot initiatives, and v) defining phase-out and hand-over strategies.
- Set standard on what resources are required for livelihoods operations to do the above, in terms of technical expertise, staffing capacity, partner capacity, technical tools/guidelines, time and budgets, and ensure that critical resource requirements are communicated to managers as appropriate.
- Make judgments on the quality of project proposals coming from implementing partners, on the quality of CVs screened for field deployments and on the quality of material/outputs submitted by consultants.
- Make decisions with regards to the allocation of resources (funds, staffing, and partners) needed to meet the Livelihood objectives of the office.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) in Economics, Socio-Economic Development, International Development, Development Planning, Financial Management, Rural Development, Agronomy or other related fields plus minimum 8 years of previous job experience relevant to the function or a related field. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 9 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 7 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Technical competencies in at least two sub-sectors relevant to livelihood programming e.g. social finance, employment promotion, entrepreneurship building, private sector development, local economic recovery/poverty-reduction strategies, agriculture/livestock/natural resource management, Vocational and Technical Education and Training (VTET).
- Knowledge of sector assessments using quality social-science methods and tools, and in developing at least one comprehensive multi-year strategic plan for livelihoods support at field-level.
- Experience in working effectively with NGOs, UN organisations, or government authorities at national level.
- Excellent networking skills with private and public sector institutions.
- Excellent computer skills.
- Excellent knowledge of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES:

- Proven experience in developing and influencing organizational policy development on areas related to livelihood/economic programming.
- Working knowledge of a second UN language. 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
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking 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 them – before deciding to apply- to read the country specific security and welfare country 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). Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care.

Staff after having applied to High Risk Duty Stations will have access to country specific information webinars with Field Safety Section (FSS) and Staff Welfare Section (SWS) colleagues and provided with a tool to test their psychological preparedness for serving in High Risk Duty Stations. Applicants who applied for a position in a High Risk country will receive, after the deadline for applications has expired, a joint invitation from the Staff Welfare Section (SWS) and the Field Safety Section (FSS) to participate in these webinars. During the Webinars, latest updates on security and well-being will be provided, and FSS and SWS will address questions raised by participants. Applicants are highly encouraged to benefit, when applicable, from all measures as they provide most up-to-date security and well-being information helpful to assess staff’s readiness to serve in a High Risk Duty Station. A Staff Welfare Officer will also be available, if and when required, to discuss with interested applicants the results of the psychological preparedness tool as well as readiness for assignment in High Risk Duty Stations.

The incumbent is expected to have strong capabilities in sustainable and market-based livelihoods programming, assessments as well as extensive knowledge and skills in other technical areas, such as economic development, poverty reduction, employment and self-employment/entrepreneurship, social finance, access to financial services, etc. The incumbent should have strong expertise in advocacy, policy dialogue and networking.

The Livelihoods Officer will build a strong relationship with relevant stakeholders to enhance economic inclusion of UNHCR persons of concern. This includes working with economic development agencies to adapt their programmes to become inclusive of UNHCR persons of concern, working with the private sector to enhance inclusion of UNHCR person of concern in their labour force and supply chains, working with financial service providers to enhance  financial inclusion, and working with public and private sector services providers to include UNHCR persons of concerns in supporting services (business development, micro-finance, training, saving accounts, poverty alleviation and social protection, etc.).

The incumbent will work closely with technical teams within the Office as well as HQ Livelihoods Unit on issues related to promoting economic inclusion and to development of public/private partnerships. The Livelihoods Officer will supervise livelihoods staff and consultants working on different livelihoods project, trainings, and on field-based assessments, strategic planning, review, evaluations and reporting.

Managerial competencies, including strategic planning and leadership, are critical to succeed in the role. The job requires a candidate with the maturity and strong interpersonal skills to negotiate and deal with government counterparts  and other stakeholders. The Regional Representation in Pretoria has responsibility over 14 countries in the region (7 with a UNHCR country office and 7 without UNHCR presence). UNHCR `s programmes have a focus on advocacy and capacity building towards strengthening national asylum systems. The region includes both urban and rural operations and CRRF and/or comprehensive solutions strategies are developed and pursued in most countries. The Regional Office is strategically endeavouring to improve the self-reliance in the sub-region as well as to introduce CBI in an increasing number of country operations.

In order to respond to the regional challenges related to self-reliance and economic inclusion, the incumbent will implement a localized version of the global livelihoods strategy 2019 ¿ 2023, by emphasizing market-based approaches, leading to private sector employment or self-employment.

The incumbent supports assessments of legal frameworks for the right to work and rights at work and recommends advocacy initiatives and policy reform to improve UNHCR persons of concern¿s economic inclusion. He/she will build on existing data to support the regular information sharing and coordination among different humanitarian, developmental and governmental stakeholders. This includes supporting the implementation of socioeconomic and wealth ranking surveys to inform targeting, monitoring and facilitation the engagement of development programmes.

The Livelihoods Officer will strengthen, guide and monitor the livelihoods interventions and ensure compliance with good practices and standards (i.e. Minimum Economic Recovery Standards). Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province in South Africa. It is one of the country¿s two capital cities serving as the executive (administrative) and de facto national capital. The other is Cape Town, the legislative capital. The Central Business District (CBD) of Pretoria has been the traditional centre of government and commerce, although today many corporate offices, small businesses, shops and government departments are situated in the sprawling suburbs of the city rather than the CBD. The city has a population of approximately 1,985,997 with an influx of foreign nationals. Pretoria has over the years had very diverse cultural influences and this is reflected in the architectural styles that can be found in the city. The main languages spoken in Pretoria are Pedi, Afrikaans, Tswana, Tsonga, Zulu and English. Ndebele and Sotho are also widely spoken. The living class in Pretoria can be classified as middle to high income earners. Currently the Security level is at 3.  Security clearance is mandatory. Since the incumbent of the post will be expected to ensure high quality reporting on activities and liaise with internal and external stakeholders  in the region, he/she must have a strong command of written and oral English.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2018 Compendium is Thursday 18 October  2018 (midnight Geneva time).