Interpreter at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Job ID: 17007
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Grade: GP
Posting Type: External
Contract Duration: 8 months

Background
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.
 
In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of vol-unteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.
 
In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social reali-ties, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to provide protection (in-cluding assistance) and seek durable solutions for refugees. UNHCR has also been involved in vari-ous IDP operations at the request of the concerned countries or the United Nations General Assem-bly/Secretariat General (UNGA/SG).
Further to the humanitarian reform in 2005, UNHCR has been appointed to ensure the leadership of Protection, Shelter/NFI and Camp Management and Camp Coordination Clusters in emergency set-tings. As a result, the staffing requirements have increased in
UNHCR’s operations worldwide.
 
In Nigeria, UNHCR plays the role of coordination for the Protection Sector Working Group and co- sharing with IOM the CCCM, Shelter and NFI sector.
The UNV will be expected to provide consecutive interpretation on field missions or in support of op-erations at the office. Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the direct supervision of Protection Officer the national UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Provides translation/interpretation for UNHCR staff, partners or missions, or any other inter-views UNHCR deems necessary to carry out its protection mandate;
• Provides interpretation for persons of concern during individual or group meetings or discus-sions;
• Interprets during meetings, workshops, and any other ad hoc gatherings as the case may be.
• Undertake missions to the field for interpretation and other assistance as needed.
• Translates documents, reports, video etc from and into English, Kanuri or Hausa, as may be required.
• Provides administrative support with organisation of workshops, assessments and travel plans, to include completing, typing and processing necessary forms.
• Performs any other tasks as requested.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading rele-vant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host coun-try;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participa-tion in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/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.

Results/Expected Output:

• Favourable Representation of UNHCR through adherence to the Code of Conduct and application of Humanitarian Principles in the day to day execution of duties.
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Competencies

• Networking and building relationships with local organizations, groups or individuals and sup-porting and/or participating in local volunteering initiatives;
• Encouraging, mobilizing and supporting co-workers, fellow UN Volunteers and members of the local community to play an active part in development on a voluntary basis;
• Initiating and/or participating in local volunteer groups, including assisting them in submitting stories and experiences to the World Volunteer Web site;
• Discussing with supervisors on how volunteerism for development can be mainstreamed through the assignment and integrating activities that promote volunteerism for development in-to work plans.
• Building on this DOA template will ensure further advocacy through the promotion of volunteer-ism within the programme/project and within the context of the assignment. Including in DOA gives greater recognition and legitimacy to this commitment  with concerned host organizations and partners.

Living Conditions
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country on the coast of West Africa, bordered by Benin, Came-roon, Chad, and Niger. It has an estimated population of 186,9 million making it Africa's most popu-lous country and an area of 923,768 square kilometres. Capital city is Abuja located in the centre of the nation, while Maiduguri is the capital and the largest city of Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria. Spoken languages are English (official), Hausa, Fulani, and others. The prevailing climate in Maidu-guri is known as a local steppe climate with little rainfall during the year. Temperatures are generally between 25 and 38 °C. Driest month is January, and May is warmest one.

Security environment in the North East continues to be a cause of concern due to ongoing armed conflict between security forces and insurgents. Despite some recent gains by security forces, Boko Haram insurgent group remains resilient and continues to resort to asymmetrical warfare resulting in collateral damage among civilian population.
 
UN Security Level-3 is currently in place in Maiduguri, and it is non-family duty station. This implies that official and private road travel by staff is limited as per the MOSS and all official missions in this region should not begin before 07:00 and be in a secure location no later than 18:30. Security escort is not required for travel within the city. However, police escorts are required as per MOSS for travel by road for most of the directions outside Maiduguri city. Most of the areas of responsibilities are accessible by UNHAS helicopters. Manual security clearance as well as TRIP system clearance should be obtained from UNDSS for all travels by road/air within North-East of Nigeria. Traveling from Maiduguri to major cities (Abuja, Lagos, Yola, etc.) can be on several UN cleared commercial air carriers, as well as UNHAS.
 
UNHCR Maiduguri has a guest house for the international staff assigned, and for all other staff com-ing on mission. The guest house is the best so far in the city, and provides basic facilities namely TV, hot shower and a clean room.
 
There is a UN Clinic in Maiduguri, and other UN recommended hospitals. Although these hospitals are not up to internationally acceptable standards; they provide basic health care services.
 
Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers

• A 8 month contract; with subsequent contract extensions subject to availability of funding, operation-al necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the as-signment.
• Travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment
• A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA)  is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allow-ance for satisfactory service.

Required Skills and Experience

• Degree level: Secondary Education
• Years of work experience: 3 years relevant to the job
• Language: English, Hausa and Kanuri (All fluently)
• Computer skills: Knowledge of MS Office applications.