Associate Durable Solutions Officer

D

Non Family with Residential Location

Non Family with Residential Location

Accra, Ghana

NOB

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2024-01-01

January 13, 2024

Associate Durable Solutions Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Durable Solutions Officer can serve as a focal point for solutions related issues in a region, and reports to the Durable Solutions Officer, Protection Officer or, where appropriate, to the Senior Protection Officer or Head of Office. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions staff.

The incumbent is relied upon to contribute to ensuring a conducive environment leading towards finding durable solutions. The Associate Durable Solutions Officer should participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and a broad range of partners to promote durable solutions and advance the efficiency of UNHCR’s interventions. Activities to strengthen the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies are a critical element of the work.

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
– Implement activities in accordance with the comprehensive solutions strategy, with a view to finding durable solutions to the maximum number of PoCs.
– Participate in the planning of, and advise on opportunities for alternative solutions, including available regional and national legal frameworks.
– Participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and with a broad range of regional and national external partners to promote voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement.
– Meet PoC, assess their durable solutions needs and identify the most appropriate solutions for them.
– Monitor the implementation of the durable solutions strategy and provide advice for improvements.
– Analyse statistics, trends, and other documents, and draft reports.
– 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.
– Implement and contribute to the designing of national and regional comprehensive durable solutions strategies
– Engage national and local interlocutors on durable solutions issues.
– Authorize payments relating to durable solutions.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB – 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Political Science;
Social Science;
Law/International Law;
Economics;
International Relations;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Protection Learning Prg;
HCR Resettlement Lrng Prg;
HCR RSD Lrng Programme;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Good knowledge of refugee issues and Human Rights doctrine. Very good reporting and writing ability.
Desirable
Diverse field experience. Knowledge of ProGress database software.

Functional Skills
*CO-Drafting and Documentation
*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 should possess work experience in the humanitarian-development-peace nexus; must have good knowledge of refugee/IDP issues, solutions, sustainable livelihood, and development. She/he must have very good project management, reporting, writing and coordination skills. She/he must be familiar with the geo-political environment of BAY (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) States. She/he must have experience/knowledge in inter-agency coordination, and Stakeholder Engagement (strong interpersonal and communication skills for working with diverse stakeholders, including local communities, government officials, NGOs, international agencies and donors).
She/he must have a strong capacity on Data Analysis and Reporting: Competence in collecting, analyzing, and reporting on relevant data to inform decision-making and program improvement.

The desired candidate should have initiative and strong leadership skills, analytical skills, management skills, monitoring and reporting skills, and ability to use information and communication technology as a tool and resource.
The desired candidate should be willing and able to travel frequently within the BAY States and for long hours;

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Hazard: Occupational Health & Safety:

Due to the poor state of roads and reckless driving by road users across the state, road traffic accidents are being reported severally. Other causes of hazards such as flooding results in diseases such as Cholera and Yellow fever during the rainy season. COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions are no longer enforced.

Travelers should ensure that they have a valid yellow fever immunization card, as this may be requested upon arrival. For further details on occupational safety, staff members are encouraged to contact OHS Focal Persons.

There are a few UN-approved hospitals in Yola.

Travel:

There is an airport with regular flights to Abuja, Lagos, and Maiduguri. By air, Yola is approximately 1 hour travel from Abuja and 45 minutes from Maiduguri. Yola is accessed from Abuja by commercial flights. Whereas UNHAS (UN flights) fly three times in a week to Yola from Maiduguri and Abuja.

Most of the roads in Adamawa are categorized as Green, which means travel by UNSMS personnel on these roads are passable without armed escorts or other enhanced security measures. Though, it is advisable that, staff should constantly remain aware and maintain high level of situational awareness.

Travel to Mubi, the second largest commercial town located north of Adamawa State is undertaken by road with soft skin vehicles while travel to Michika and Madagali LGAs require two Armored Vehicles and certain enhanced security measures such as CONOPS and Military escort due to their security risk levels because of the occasional insurgent activities.

The security threat level for most parts of Adamawa State which is part of the Northeast Central Security Risk Management Area is graded as Level-3 Medium, except for two Local Government Areas (Michika and Madagali) that are far North bordering Borno state which continues to be impacted by insurgent activities. The two LGAs of Adamawa State have residual risk level of HIGH. The entire state of Adamawa including Yola continues to experience high level of criminal activities. These include Street Crimes, Abduction/Kidnapping, house break-ins etc. Incidents related to armed conflicts and terrorism are also occasionally reported in some parts of the state. However, overall security situation remains relatively stable.

Gender-based violence and offences related with LGBTIQ+ are also reported sometimes. All staff are advised to receive on arrival security briefings and adhere to all security risk management measures as applicable for the duty station.

Nature of Position:

The Associate durable Solutions officer is relied upon to contribute UNHCR initiatives to supporting the advancement of Durable solutions initiatives and pathways within Adamawa state, has an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework on Durable solutions both international and national level. The Associate durable solutions officer has the ability to ably Coordinate with Government relevant ministries, departments and Agencies on Durable solutions, providing technical assistance to UNHCR, partners, in translating ministerial policies, guidelines into action to enable UNHCR and partners planning according to national directives and objectives to ensure mainstreaming and inclusion of IDPs in government systems. He/She will support in the management, implementation and monitoring of all aspects of UNHCR initiatives on durable solutions, under the leadership of the Durable solutions officer and close collaboration with the Head of office Yola, and other technical field colleagues in Yola)  . He/she should participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and a wide range of partners and government counterparts to promote durable solutions and improve the effectiveness of UNHCR interventions.

Living and Working Conditions:

Yola has a tropical savanna climate that boarders on a hot semi – arid climate (Aw bordering on BSh according to the Köppen climate classification) with a dry season and a wetter season. The temperature is warm year – round, with August and September having the lowest average high at 31.3 °C (88.3 °F) and December having the lowest average at 16.9°C (62.4°F). March has as the highest average high of 42.8°C (109.0°F), while April has the highest average low at 27.0 °C (80.6 °F). The highest temperatures occur in March and April,  just before the wet season starts.

Residentials:

All the International and National staff stay in private residences in Yola town. It is recommended that staff residences should have minimum residential security measures in place prior to occupancy.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science

Certifications

HCR Protection Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR RSD Learning Program – UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Additional Information

A written test may be conducted for this position.

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance