Associate Durable Solutions Officer – UNV  

Mission and objectives

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (the UN Refugee Agency, also known as UNHCR) is an intergovernmental organization with a mandate to protect refugees and stateless persons worldwide. Since 1950, the agency has helped tens of millions of people restart their lives. Today, a staff of more than 15,000 people in 130 countries continues to help and protect millions of refugees, returnees, internally displaced and stateless people. UNHCR provides lifesaving assistance, protection, shelter, food, clean water, education and medical care to some of the world’s most vulnerable. UNHCR also provides assistance to refugees who want to return home when it is safe to do so and helps integrate refugees within their local host country or resettle to a third country when returning home is no longer an option. Non-governmental organization (NGO) partners work with UNHCR around the globe to assist and protect refugees and internally displaced people.

Context

The UNHCR project “Promotion of economic inclusion and sustainable integration of the refugee population through collaboration with the private sector and the “Servicio Nacional de Empleo” in Mexico City has a country-wide reach. The International UN Volunteer will support the implementation of the project in El Bajío (Aguascalientes, Querétaro, León, Silao, Irapuato, San Luis Potosí), as well as Guadalajara, Monterrey and Saltillo The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to contribute to the promotion of international cooperation as well as the sound development of Japanese and global economy by supporting the socioeconomic development, recovery or economic stability of developing regions. JICA, with its partners, will take the lead in forging bonds of trust across the world, aspiring for a free, peaceful and prosperous world where people can hope for a better future and explore their diverse potentials. JICA dispatches experts and overseas volunteers to developing countries, and in return welcomes government officials and specialists as training participants and overseas students. People-to-people connections established through human resource development are the foundations of trust between developing countries and Japan.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Durable Solutions Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Strengthen the Country Office’s capacity to mobilize private sector actors, supporting socioeconomic inclusion programming in Mexico. • Support the Country Office in mobilizing Japanese organizations such as JICA, which face human resource shortages in the Central part of Mexico, in particular within El Bajío. • Support the Country Office in monitoring the needs of private sector companies, that partner with the local integration programme, maintain a fluent communication and capitalize on shared interests for advocacy purposes. • Travel to the destinations of the Local Integration Program with all the security measures applicable to all United Nations personnel in Mexico. Results/Expected Outputs • Consolidate UNHCR’s Local Integration Program in Mexico. • A permanent dialogue with chambers of commerce, private sector companies and local authorities guaranteed an efficient match between profiles of relocated refugees and the needs of the labour market. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • 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; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • 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.

Eligibility criteria

Age

27 – 80

Additional eligibility criteria

This assignment is funded by JICA, therefore only former Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JICA-JOCV) who could get recommendation by JICA-JOCV Secretariat are eligible to apply. Please check your application eligibility on the JICA website (https://www.jica.go.jp/volunteer/obog/career_support/unv/index.html). The assignment is planned to start October/November 2023.

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in working with Japanese private sector companies and/or working with UN institutions, JICA or the Japanese Foreign Service • Demonstrated interest and/or experience in socio economic inclusion, financial inclusion, human rights, refugee law, humanitarian-development nexus is an asset • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly desirable. • Experience working in community organization and/or development cooperation pro-jects. • Understanding or familiarity with political and drivers of violence in Latin America and Mexico will be considered an asset. • Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills. • Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team dedicated to serve others. • Flexible and open to learning and new experiences. • Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living condi-tions. • Computer skills (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others).

Area(s) of expertise

Development programmes, Economics and finance, Legal affairs

Driving license

–

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required Spanish, Level: Basic, Desirable

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Human Rights, Peace Studies, International Law, Developmental studies, International Relations, Political Science, Economics or related areas. Master degree is desirable

Competencies and values

Accountability Adaptability and Flexibility Building Trust Client Orientation Ethics and Values Integrity Respect for Diversity Technological Awareness

 Other information

Living conditions and remarks

Mexico City (also known as CDMX) is the capital of the United States of Mexico. It is a category A, family duty station and has a high-level infrastructure: -Health: Mexico City has a highly ranked medical infrastructure with many internationally acclaimed hospitals. -Education: There is plenty of Govt and private schools. Most private schools are bilingual (English-Spanish), and there are US, British, German, Japanese, and French schools. -Housing: Apartments can be rented both furnished and unfurnished, and services of real estate agents are widely available. All international staff members must present their residential places for UN security inspection BEFORE signing the lease contract. There is a large seismic area in Mexico City that is restricted for the selection of residences by UN staff. -Currency and exchange: Mexican Peso. Dollars, Euros, and traveler’s checks can be exchanged at a currency Exchange office. -Communications: Internet is available everywhere, but in houses and offices, a contract has to be made to access to this service. -Transportation: There are public buses, subway, and if taxis are to be taken, it is recommended to take “taxis de sitio”. Uber is also available. Mexico City belongs to Security Risk Management area, Central SRM area, with the current General Threat Level 02, LOW. Status Approved by DO by Peter Grohmann, 20 Dec 2023. Time Frame 01 Dec 2023 – 30 Nov 2024. There are no known direct threats to UNHCR, yet UNHCR personnel may be affected by crime. Mexico City has high rates of crime, among them: street robbery with or without violence, vehicle theft; burglary, house thefts, and business robbery, telephone extortions and intimidation, frauds, kidnapping. Also, gender violence is high. Civil protests often reported in the city center, but rarely violent. It is expected that 2024 will observed augmented violence in relation to the electoral process due to a high number of contested positions at the local level, the proliferation of criminal organizations, and their diversification of illicit economies. Due to travels of the candidate to the Bajío region: El Bajio (Aguascalientes, Querétaro, León, Silao, Irapuato, San Luis Potosí), as well as Guadalajara, Monterrey and Saltillo. The Bajío is a geographic, historical, economic, and cultural region in central-western Mexico. This territory includes metropolitan areas and regions with an important industrial corridor that today houses national and multinational corporations and their industry. -Health: In the metropolitan areas there are first-level private and public hospitals. In the areas of Irapuato and Silao, you will have to travel for 1 hour to have access to this type of health services. However, you will find private and public medical services in Irapuato and Silao. – Education: Metropolitan areas have first-class universities: Most private schools are bilingual (English Spanish). Silao and Irapuato are 1 hour away. El Bajio belongs to Security Risk Management Areas North, South, and Center, with the current General Threat Level 3, MODERATE, and 1 LOW with Crime specific category at High level. There are no known direct threats to UNHCR, yet the UNHCR personnel may be affected by opportunistic crime, to include: homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and Residential burglary. Organized crime is on the rise and the violence caused by cartel activities can indirectly affect UNHCR staff and activities. Several drug cartels are present in the region. The UNHCR personnel must remain security aware and vigilant at all times, apply personal security measures and avoid movement after darkness. The crime incidence at night hours is high. Perform activities in daylight.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO approved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds

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