Durable Solutions Associate

D

Non Family with Residential LocationNon Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Addis Ababa,Eth Fed Dem Rep

GS6

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2023-08-01

May 27, 2023Durable Solutions Associate Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Durable Solutions Associate reports to a more senior Durable Solutions or Protection colleague. The incumbent is relied upon to contribute to the implementation of a durable solutions strategy. S/he works closely with protection, programme and field staff, contributes to fostering an environment to enhance partnerships is a critical element of the work, as are activities designed to strength the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. Duties - Provide counselling to refugees and other persons of concern (POC) to identify the most appropriate durable solution and to enable them to make a well-informed decision. - Interview candidates for voluntary repatriation and prepare documentation for their return, in line with Voluntary Repatriation SOPs. - Interview and prepare Resettlement Referral Forms (RRF), in line with Resettlement SOPs. - Interview candidates for local integration and prepare the appropriate documentation for onward submission to local authorities or partners, in line with Local Integration SOPs. - Assist in updating the electronic database for resettlement, voluntary repatriation and local integration, in line with Standard Operating Procedures. - Process documentation to ensure that POC receive the documents required for their durable solutions in a timely manner. - Prepare statistical and ad-hoc reports to ensure accurate information is available and shared with relevant offices and partners. - Interview and advise on the appropriate durable solution to be provided to POC. - Prepare documents relating to durable solutions. - Enter information into available database, in line with SOPs. - Draft and submit reports relating to durable solutions. - Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher Field(s) of Education Not applicable. Certificates and/or Licenses HCR Protection Learning Prg; HCR Resettlement Lrng Prg; HCR Protection Induction Prog; (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Not specified. Desirable Diverse field experience. Experience in interviewing. Functional Skills DM-Database Management IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. 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.

The desired candidate for this role should have:

Diverse field experience in refugee and IDP settings.
Experience in interviewing and/or engaging with persons we serve.
Previous experience in managing the framework for identification of vulnerabilities as a protection and assistance targeting tool which enables identification of potential cases outside of regular referrals.
Good understanding of protection issues including, child protection, GBV and the application of the Age, Gender and Diversity Policy is an asset.
Demonstrated analytical and communication skills and ability to work as a team. Strategic thinking and good drafting skills are an asset.
Knowledge of Refugee Status Determination (RSD)-Resettlement Learning Programme, Protection Induction an asset.
Good knowledge of MS Word, Excel and database management.
Completion of Protection Learning Programme (PLP) is an added advantage.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Durable Solutions Associate has a significant responsibility to the Protection Solutions and reports to the Head of the Field Office in Semera Office.

In Afar, since the onset of the conflict, approximately 800 000 persons have been uprooted per regional Afar authorities’ account. Over half of them returned to their homes shortly after their displacement in the first half of 2022, while 366,000 persons remained forcibly displaced. Return movements that have been unorganized during the first half of 2022, increased steadily with the involvement of the Afar Return Task Force where UNHCR leads as Return Focal Point jointly with OCHA and DRMFSC. Return areas, however, remain fragile, with none or limited infrastructure rehabilitation and reconstruction, and in some places continued fear of the resumption of the conflict (e.g., Abala, Megale, Berhale and Konneba woredas). As of March 2023, the Afar-Issa conflict triggered the displacement of 100 000 persons, while flash floods displaced another 30 000 persons.

The Durable Solutions Associate has a significant responsibility to the Protection Solutions and reports to the Head of the Field Office in Semera Office. The UNHCR Field Office Samara consists of two Field Units; UNHCR Field Unit Aysaita, and UNHCR Field Unit Serdo. UNHCR office in Semera covers three refugee camps (Berhale, Serdo and Aysaita) and leads the response to the IDP crisis triggered early 2022, following the outbreak of the conflict in Northern Ethiopia. Prior to the IDP crisis, the region has already been hosting Eritrean refugees for over a decade, with currently approximately 60,000 refugees registered of whom 26,000 in Aysaita Refugee Camp, 26,149 in Berhale Refugee Camp, while 3,000 reside in Serdo Refugee Site. A large refugee population lives with host communities in various zones in Afar, most notably, Zones 1, 2 and 4. Aysaita is 70 km away from Samara, Serdo is about 40 km away from Samara while Berhale Refugee Camp is located 480 km from Samara.  

Since July 2021, UNHCR has scaled up its interventions in Afar Region following the conflict in Tigray Region and subsequent internal displacements. With its partners, UNHCR is responding to the emergency caused by internal displacement by distributing core relief items, and emergency shelter kits; enhancing its protection activities and actively participating to the coordination of the response together with the UN Sister Agencies, (I)NGOs as to support the regional authorities of Afar to respond to the multiple and urgent needs.

The incumbent of the position will contribute to the implementation of a durable solutions strategy. S/he works closely with protection, programme, and field staff, contributes to fostering an environment to enhance partnerships is a critical element of the work, as are activities designed to strength the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies.

The incumbent will have daily contacts with POCs and staff in the various functional units at the Field Office.

Living and Working Conditions:

Staff members should be prepared to operate under challenging conditions with limited resources in the Samara UNHCR Field Office.

The Field Office deals primarily with several local camp environments with inherent risks to staff safety and health. Regardless of information campaigns, there are realistically few, or no COVID-19 protocols adhered to by the camp(s) population. Staff wear masks but will often work within large groups of refugees who do not. There are several clinics and pharmacies within a 5 km radius of Samara that offer basic services. The nearest hospital, run by the government, is located 10km away. It is recommended that staff with prescriptions should come with at least 3 months of prescription medication. There are, however, daily one -hour flights to the capital city, Addis Ababa, which could facilitate the replenishment of medical and other supplies.The region is extremely hot, especially from May to September. Consequently, the region is open for business from 7:00 am until 6:00 pm with most commercial and government entities closing between 12:00 noon to 03:00 pm.

Presently, being a newly opened office, the Samara Field Office does not offer guest house services. Staff will have to rent in nearby hotels or subject to availability, seek accommodation in the WFP guest house.
Banking services including ATM, Visa and Mastercard services are available in this town.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

DM-Database Management, IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software

Certifications

HCR Protection Induction Prog - UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program - UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position is open to Ethiopian nationals only.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Candidates will be required to sit for a written test and an interview.
Knowledge of Afariffa language is an asset.

This position doesn't require a functional clearance