Interpreter Assistant

E (most hardship)

Non Family with Residential Location

Non Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Accra, Ghana

GS4

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2024-04-01

January 12, 2024

Interpreter Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Interpreter Assistant normally report to a higher level local or international staff. The incumbent supports the operation with translation and interpretation related activities.

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
– Interprets and/or translates from newspapers, written reports, magazines etc.
– Interprets oral conversations, discussions and interviews especially when attending meetings with high ranking officials, diplomats and others.
– Travels with international staff on their missions to the field for interpretation and other assistance, as needed.
– Arranges meetings, both internal and external, some involving high-ranking officials and takes minutes/notes.
– Meets official personnel at the airport and facilitates immigration and customs formalities.
– Responds to queries relating to the area of responsibility.

– 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

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G4 – 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Business Administration Secretarial
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Frequent contacts involving the exchange of a wide range of information, some of which may be complex.

Desirable
Not specified.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
(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.

• Required language Proficiency: Kanuri, Hausa, Shuwa Arabic.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The interpreter is a member of the Protection Unit and reports to the Assistant Protection Officer or the GBV Officer. The incumbent serves as a linguistic bridge with forcibly displaced populations, receiving information and professionally giving feedback to forcibly displaced persons ensuring accurate and culturally sensitive interpretation during interactions, including with callers on the UNHCR toll-free line. His/her roles/responsibilities shall include maintaining an up-to-date referral database of services available and providing clear communication to both the protection staff and individuals accessing services. The Interpreter plays a pivotal role in maintaining confidentiality of all information collected, empathy, and professionalism in their work, thereby contributing to the overall success of UNHCR programs, including the toll-free line in addressing the diverse needs and concerns of those seeking protection assistance. S/he works closely with the Protection Unit staff to follow-up on referrals to services made, disseminate information, translate materials and other related assignment duly given. S/he must ensure protection standards, operational procedures, and practices in translating, reviewing documents, receiving calls/giving.

Other duties shall include: Maintaining a spreadsheet log of all calls, SMS and Instant Messages received on the UNHCR toll-free line with the names of the caller/complainant, his/her sex and age, location of the caller, the displacement status of the caller and other items. Provide information to the caller/complainant as per the standard procedures, seek consent for referrals and ensure real-time information flow to duty bearers. Follow-up on calls/messages. Work with the Program and Admin Units to ensure top-up the mobile phone airtime credit and facilitate the payments of accumulated bills on the toll-free line. Prepare a monthly narrative report and dashboard of the calls/messages received for the review/analysis and guidance from the CFM Focal Point. Participate and support with the organizing of UNHCR activities that require linguistic support.

The position will be based in Maiduguri, Borno State, but the incumbent will be covering other LGAs.

Living and Working Conditions:

Maiduguri has a tropical savanna climate that boarders on a hot semi – arid climate with a dry season and a wet 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 43.8°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.

Security Considerations

Borno State is a high-risk area and continue to be the epicenter of the insurgency with Maiduguri town as its state capital. Most parts of the NE region are mainly affected by armed conflicts and terrorism. Crimes including abductions/kidnapping for ransom are also prevalent in many areas.

Missions to the deep field where most IDPs have been residing is dependent on UNHAS helicopters that fly to various deep field locations mostly with UN Hubs. Official movements within the town are safe and carried out with armored vehicles. For now, movement by road out of Maiduguri town has been suspended due to high risk of abductions/kidnappings perpetrated by None State Armed Groups (NSAGs). There are eight humanitarian hubs located in deep field. One UNHCR Field Office is located at Yola in neighboring Adamawa state. One staff member is based at Damaturu, capital city of Yobe state. Being a Level 5 High-Risk Duty station, mandatory adherence to all SRM measures is vital for safety and security of UNHCR personnel and/or assets and operations.

There is an UN Clinic located in Maiduguri. A few civil health facilities are also available in the city. Should there be any need for referral to bigger hospitals, patents are usually referred to the capital city Abuja, that hosts several good ones.

National staff reside in Maiduguri town. For their own security and that of dependent family members, staff are advised to ensure residential security measures in their accommodations.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Certifications

Business Administration – Other, Secretarial – Other

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Additional Information

A written test maybe conducted for this position

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance