Field Assistant – (Community Mobiliser – Teknaf & Ukhiya)-Two positions

Community security is an increasing concern in Cox’s Bazaar District. The influx of more than 740,000 Rohingya refugees since August 2017 has created security dynamics. It has also amplified pre-existing issues, such as drug smuggling and human trafficking. The situation in the refugee camps is especially troubling, given an increase in murders and kidnappings in 2019. Camp residents face a range of safety issues, such as theft, lack of lighting, drug use and smuggling, human trafficking, disputes over aid distribution, and gender-based violence. As the situation becomes more protracted, security issues in the camps and the rest of the district will become increasingly interconnected. The host communities are also facing the problem of enormous drug and human trafficking, disputes over livelihood and resource allocation, and domestic and gender-based violations. After successfully implementing the Community Recovery and Resilience (C2RP) Project for the host communities, it has been found that there is a critical need to support the host communities to ensure their safety and easy access to formal and informal justice and establishment of amicable coexistence between host and camp community. 

Based on the achievements, and lessons learnt of the C2RP Project in host communities, in 2020 the UNDP implemented a joint pilot programme in consultation with the UNHCR and IOM to support the camp communities. In this context, UNDP, UNHCR, and IOM have developed a community safety mechanism to strengthen the partnership and coordination among the APBn forces, District Police, District Administration, Judiciary and CiC’s and identify the issues related to security and social tension that need to be reduced and defend the criminal activities in camps and host communities. UNDP, UNHCR, and IOM successfully implemented the pilot programme and considering the lessons of the pilot programme, it is found that it has importance to work with the District Judiciary and District Legal Aid Committee to ensure legal protection, equitable access to both formal and informal justice mechanism of the vulnerable host and camp communities.

Therefore, the Enhancing Community Safety, Peaceful Coexistence and Access to Justice Project (CSPC) will hire 2 Field Assistants (Community Mobiliser – Ukhiya and Teknaf) to support programme functions on behalf of the Project in Ukhiya and Teknaf to successfully deliver operations services. Also, the “Field Assistant” will support the Enhancing Community Safety, Peaceful Coexistence and Access to Justice Project (CSPC) under the overall supervision of the Project Manager – CSPC, UNDP Sub-Office, Cox’s Bazar. 

The objective of this assignment would be on the project’s relevant programme implementation support. The Field Assistant will be  responsible  for communicating with all targeted local level stakeholders including the government and non-government entities, communicating with the local representatives, mobilize host communities and implementing NGO partners and project management and supporting to preparation of programme planning, budgeting, and implementation, organise field visit for the Project and donor, data collection, analysis and reporting, and preparing a draft event /programme/project report. The Field Assistant will be expected to provide technical input to design future activities based on the needs of the communities and activity-based programme support concerning the ongoing events for the project. Furthermore, the Field Assistant will also be responsible for the following duties and provide urgent support as per the requirement of the UNDP management. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the Project Team by coordinating and facilitating consultations and dialogues with governmental and non-governmental actors, host communities, forums, and project partners in Ukhiya and Teknaf.
• Maintain regular communication and advocacy with host community leaders such as the Community Policing Forums (CPF), Mediators Forum, Union Legal Aid Committees, Upazila and Union administration, as well as other local stakeholders and beneficiaries. Identify needs and provide technical input for designing field-level activities for the communities.
• Assist in the planning and budgeting of field-level activities aligned with the project’s annual plan.
• Contribute to the planning and implementation of workshops, training sessions, consultations, awareness-raising campaigns, and other community outreach initiatives for local mediators, UP representatives, students, youths, and host communities in Ukhiya and Teknaf.
• Provide technical support in designing and producing outreach content, including awareness-raising content, case studies, success stories, and promotional items for both host and camp communities.
• Assist the Union Mediators Forum and Union Legal Aid Committee in documenting and managing records for resolved disputes through mediation and case referrals for Government Free Legal Aid Support.
• Support the project team in preparing beneficiary/stakeholder databases, event reports, meeting minutes, correspondence and other documentation as required by project management.
• Support in  organizing events for UNDP and donor visits and high-level field missions in Ukhiya and Teknaf.
• Assist International and National consultants in communication with local representatives, and government officials, organize meetings, and provide support in data collection as required by UNDP management.
• Assist in monitoring and supervising  r the performance of forums in terms of accountability and transparency, ensuring the optimal utilization of logistics provided to local authorities, mediators, and partners for the benefit of the communities.
• Assist the Project Team in gathering field-level data, conducting analysis, and reporting on the evaluation of the ongoing Community Policing, Mediation, and Legal Aid Programme for future project design.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

 Institutional Arrangement

The ‘Field Assistant will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager – Enhancing Community Safety, Peaceful Coexistence and Access to Justice Project (CSPC), and in close coordination with the Operations unit of UNDP Sub-Office, Cox’s Bazar. The Project Manager will be the contract administrator for the assignment and will supervise the activities, and evaluate her/his performance and approve the deliverables.

• Secondary Education or completion of High school diploma is required or
• University Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
  

Min. years of relevant Work experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with secondary education) or 2 years (with bachelor’s degree) of working experience in community development work, project management, reporting, programme implementation & documentation, budgeting, stakeholder communications and advocacy in the area of community mobilization, informal dispute resolution mechanism, humanitarian or development sector/projects with I/NGOs.
  

Required skills and competencies:

• At least 2 (Two) years of experience in working with local-level government and non-government stakeholders – including union parishad elected representatives/local leaders/community policing forum/mediators forum/legal aid actors/police/youths.
• At least 2 (Two) years of solid experience in conducting and coordinating community activities and events at the grassroots level.
• At least 2 (Two) years of working experience with donor agency, INGO or NGOs
• Experience in working with all Microsoft Office programmes

 
Desired additional skills and competencies:

• At least 2 (Two) years of experience in working with local-level government and non-government stakeholders in the areas of community conflict resolution/ADR, peacebuilding and conflict management and legal aid.
• At least 2 years of solid experience in partnership building with communities and mobilising communities to organise activities in the areas of community conflict resolution/ADR, peacebuilding and conflict management and legal aid.
• Experience of working in the Refugee context in Cox’s Bazar will be an advantage.
• Previous experience in the same field or related work for a donor organization, or INGO will be an advantage

Required Language(s) (at working level):

• Fluency in English and Bangla is required.
• Fluency in the Local Chittagonian language will be given preference