Senior Shelter Officer

Operational Context

Prior to the August 2017 emergency, the estimated number of Rohingya refugees was around 300,000. Following attacks in Myanmar on police and military posts by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on 25 August 2017, security operations in Rakhine State triggered the largest and swiftest refugee exodus in the region in recent decades, 688,000 crossing the border since 25 August (most during the first 100 days of the emergency). UNHCR declared a Level 3 emergency which remains in effect. An estimated 900,000 Rohingya refugees have sought safety and security in Bangladesh in different settlements (refugee camps, makeshift camps, settlements).

Over 570,000 refugees reside in the Kutupalong mega-camp, making it the largest camp in the world, also one of the most precarious in terms of terrain and risks.  This camp (and many other smaller camps with over 300,000 persons) is situated on rolling hills with steep angles, which are highly prone to flooding and landslides. It is certain that major landslides and floods (and relocation) will occur during monsoon rains and cyclonic season, which typically start in late April or May.  Add to this an ongoing diphtheria outbreak, endemic cholera risks and substantial public health and WASH-related risks in the highly crowded camp (which is also prone to fire hazards) and a highly complex range of new emergency scenarios emerges.

Rohingya caseload is a diverse and resilient population. Protection concerns emanated, in the first instance, from a highly oppressive environment in Rakhine State pre-flight, which was exponentially exacerbated by a brutal crackdown on the population by military actors, militia groups and their surrogates. Given refugees’ lack of freedom of movement, lack of recognized legal status and the scarcity of available land where refugees are allowed to settle, the sites where most of the refugees are living are overcrowded, which creates a wide range of protection risks. Protection is central to the refugee response, with focus on community-based approaches to empower refugees and support their resilience. Also targeted interventions are required to address protection concerns and trauma emerging from the extreme and widespread incidence of violence suffered by refugees pre-flight.

Legal and physical protections concerns, GBV and child protection issues, among other challenges in the camps and settlements of Bangladesh, also dictate the establishment of systems to support survivors and effectuate diverse protection interventions. Protection and gender mainstreaming across the humanitarian response are key priorities for all humanitarian actors.OM has been given a leading role in the refugee response.  UNHCR faces challenges, in some instances fully carrying out its mandated functions. Effective inter-agency coordination and collaboration in a highly complex and politically charged operational environment are required. 

The Office works closely with government authorities and the national office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner which is located in CXB, but Dhaka-level ministries and task forces expert considerable influence in the operational theatre which must be understood and managed. The Office engages with an evolving and complex coordination structure which is different than the traditional Refugee Coordination Model. UNHCR is tasked with directly and indirectly managing the engagement of almost 100 international and national NGOs in the operational theatre, in addition to a division of Bangladeshi military troops and several battalions of Bangladeshi border guards.  

The operation is one of the highest profile refugee operations in the world, with regular visits of high-ranking foreign government officials, UN special envoys and rapporteurs, high-ranking UN and regional body officials, ambassadors and celebrities, considerable time is spent engaging in representational, external relations and PI functions.

Aim of the Mission

The primary objective of the role is to lead the Cox’s Bazar shelter and settlements Unit of UNHCR comprising of national and international specialists in Shelter/Physical Planning while ensuring strong cross sectoral synergies with WASH, Public Health, Nutrition, Cash, Environment and mainstreaming protection. The shelter officer should also act as focal point maintaining effective coordination with ISCG Shelter/NFI/Site management sector groups. In addition, strategic management of implementing partners and contractors externally and in-house collaboration with administration, finance and program on all programmatic issues.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate, manage and support the UNHCR shelter and settlements team in Cox’s Bazar in a timely, cost-effective, inter-sectoral manner providing adequate delivery of technical interventions and services to support operational needs.
• Review, identify and assess progress of UNHCR Shelter/NFI/Site management programs and initiate responses to address the gaps in collaboration and coordination with key UNHCR technical staff, operational partners and authorities as required to ensure timelines, agreed interventions are addressed and comprehensive timely response to constraints are identified and solutions proposed as required.
• Participate as technical focal point for shelter/settlement/nfi and site management, in coordination meeting with various stakeholders including Governmental and the ISCG to ensure UNHCR’s interests and those of our POCs are adequately reflected and disseminate information to all stakeholders in a timely, efficient manner.
• Support the development of comprehensive multi-sector integrated settlement plan following best international practice (macro settlement development plan).
• Adapt standard technical coordination support and working environment that are consistent with the operational needs. Ensure effective information flow within and from the various technical units / operational locations.
• Support with HR planning and management to establish and maintain an efficient and skilled technical workforce that is capable of supporting on-going operations.
• Support the team through the development and periodically updating of appropriate shelter / settlement strategies which are framed by UNHCR’s Global Strategy for Settlement and Shelter 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.
• Manage the review, update and dissemination of internationally accepted standards and environmental guidelines within UNHCR and among partners.
• Together with UNHCR's implementing partners, compiling, analyzing and mapping available information on shelter options in country taking into account relevant policies adopted by the Government. When planning infrastructure 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. Due consideration should be given to standards in other relevant sectors such as water and sanitation.
• Coordinate technical specialists to ensure adequate monitoring and evaluation so that UNHCR’s technical interventions are produced in a technically sound and standardized manner and establish monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure that works are implemented according to plans and completed within the designated timeframe.
• Coordinate with program to advise on matters related to the procurement of sector related responses or equipment, including the development of technical specifications for bid documents, technical evaluation of bids, review/inspection of the quality of products/works.
• Work in close coordination with all functional Units in UNHCR (Protection, Programme, Community Services, Field, Administration, and Supply) for all issues related to protection, population of concern figures and assistance.
• Work in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders including, local authorities, relevant partners and affected communities on issues related to the shelter and settlement programme.
• Prepare mission report and debrief.
• Be a service provider for other units requiring the construction of infrastructures (Education, community services, health etc.)
• Maintain regular contact with the SSS/DPSM Section in Geneva and support regular technical updates.

Minimum Qualifications and Professional Experience Required

• Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) in Civil or Structural Engineering or Architecture or other appropriate construction related discipline plus at least 8 years of previous relevant job experience including three years in technical/managerial international position. 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.
• Prior experience of implementing shelter and settlement projects in humanitarian context and large scale emergencies coordinating with operational partners governmental technical departments.
• Prior experience in designing and implementing a shelter strategy, including host family situations, collective shelter and camp settings, in emergency while considering the transition to more sustainable solutions.
• Previous involvement in implementation processes (including development of bill of quantities, analysis of local     capacity and local markets, cost estimations etc.).
• Experience of construction management (including site supervision, monitoring, quality control, evaluation etc.) including application of participatory approaches to facilitate active participation of communities into the project cycle and into the construction process.
• Experience in developing shelter and settlement need assessments and undertaking gap analysis for development of shelter programmes.
• Experience in managing a large diverse team, including architects, site planners, engineers, etc.
• Proficiency in English.

Desirable Qualifications and Competencies

• Knowledge of UNHCR shelter standards, as well as standards related to land use.
• Knowledge of a range of shelter assistance options, including sensitivity to cultural and gender specific needs to ensure that the social and cultural background of the refugees is taken into account while designing and developing shelter options.
• Knowledge of relevant Shelter and physical site planning tools such as GIS, AutoCAD, modelling systems.
• Knowledge of disaster preparedness and response mechanisms and best practice.
• Knowledge of UNHCR programme is a plus.

Application

Interested candidates should submit their application to the Shelter Officer Profile (ID 12404) here, highlighting in the Letter of Interest that they are applying to Senior Shelter Officer Temporary Appointment.

Deadline for applications: 29 November (midnight Geneva time).

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.