Connectivity for Refugees National Coordinator

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.

During times of displacement, we provide critical emergency assistance in the form of clean water, sanitation and healthcare, as well as shelter, blankets, household goods and sometimes food. We also arrange transport and assistance packages for people who return home, and income-generating projects for those who resettle.

[The Connectivity for Refugees National Coordinator will play a critical role in establishing the initiative, driving forward country level activities on Connectivity for Refugees in South Sudan

The incumbent will report directly to Senior Development Officer and have dotted line reporting to the Senior Innovation Officer overseeing the Connectivity for Refugees initiative in UNHCR Innovation Service. The incumbent will participate in regular bilaterals with the supervisor, and joint meetings with the dotted line management to the Innovation Service monthly to prioritize and review agreed-upon deliverables for the period. Additionally, in order to help support the Refugee Connectivity initiative, the incumbent will join multistakeholder meetings with key partners held on a regular basis in order to align and coordinate efforts on projects within the initiative. 

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Senior Development Officer or her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Connectivity for Refugees National Coordinator will:

• Support the establishment of the global Refugee Connectivity initiative in South Sudan using established mechanisms, engaging on all relevant elements of delivery as required.

• Establish relationships with key stakeholders including Government and Regulators, Connectivity Service Providers (Mobile Network Operators, Internet Service Providers, others), civil society et al and facilitate strong coordination through establishment of regular meetings.

• Develop country level strategy and approach in liaison with local, regional, and global counterparts.

• Oversee country level assessments and connectivity mapping, in liaison with global and local partners.

• Support in the design of Connectivity solutions plans in country and overseeing delivery.

• Coordinate with relevant UNHCR colleagues spanning Protection, Education, Livelihoods, Development, ICT et al. on relevant aspects of the initiative and how it supports their portfolios or where they are well positioned to contribute.

• Monitoring and evaluation of connectivity solutions and interventions in county to support with donor reporting.

• Support in development of national fundraising initiatives and mechanisms around Connectivity for Refugees, positioned for support from different stakeholder audiences including private sector, development actors, governments.

• Manage knowledge around the Connectivity for Refugees initiative in country, compiling data, creating reports etc.

• Liaise with support structures on Connectivity for Refugees both within UNHCR through the Innovation Service, and through the wider initiative coordination.

• Support linkages of South Sudan GRF pledges and refugee connectivity.

• Support on other activities / interventions as required.

• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).

• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.

• Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities.

• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/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 or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

13. Results/expected outputs:

• As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, 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 during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed.