Associate Shelter Officer at United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

Details
Mission and Objectives:

• The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly.
• The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees.
• It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.
• UNHCR has also been involved in various IDP operations at the request of the concerned countries or the United Nations General Assembly/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 settings. As a result, the staffing requirements have increased in UNHCR’s operations worldwide.
• In Nigeria, UNHCR plays the role of co-sharing with IOM the Shelter/ NFI and CCCM sector, coordination for the Protection sector working group. In the meantime, UNHCR, as a protection agency, is implementing activities to promote a favorable protection environment.
• In addition, UNHCR Nigeria continues to respond to a complex humanitarian situation in northeast Nigeria which has caused massive internal displacement and refugee outflows into the neighboring countries of Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.

Context

• UNHCR’s humanitarian response targets IDPs, IDP return- ties, and refugee returnees in this complex humanitarian environment.
• The 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) puts the number of IDPs in Northeast Nigeria at 2.2 million.
• The ongoing efforts by the Nigerian forces to liberate more areas from Boko Haram control continue to create new displacements. As the military liberates new areas, some IDPs spontaneously return to their Local Government Areas (LGAs).
• The improved situation in some areas also engendered the spontaneous returns of refugees from neighboring countries.
• The movement of the humanitarian actors to the areas outside the state capitals is through helicopters.
• In some locations, humanitarian hubs, where humanitarian workers can stay on mission for a maximum period of three days, have been established.

Task Description
Under the direct supervision of Senior Shelter Cluster Coordinator, the UN Volunteer will under- take the following tasks:

• Ensuring that shelter and NFI sector are supported in carrying out shelter needs assessments considering the current situation, projected population planning figures and the expected scale of returns.
• Developing shelter strategies which are framed by Global Strategy and take into consideration the local context, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection, and the availability of local resources, including materials, capacities and existing infrastructure.
• Work with other clusters to ensure that relevant standards are developed adapted and effectively communicates.
• Develop sound technical guidance on shelter and NFIs including emergency minimum standards with a view of long-term implications and future urban development.
• Ensuring the shelter strategy is periodically reviewed to reflect the evolving situation in the region and progressively transitioning to more sustainable shelter solutions.
• This process should be done in close collaboration with the beneficiaries and the host Government while bearing in mind the shelter needs of people upon their eventual IDPs return to their place of origin.
• Ensuring that specifications, bills of quantities and drawings are produced in a technically sound and standardized manner and establish monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure that works are implemented according to plans and completed within the designated timeframe.
• Promoting the sustainability of technical interventions through local capacity building and self-help in collaboration with local partners in the field.
• Ensure that local communities have been consulted on all activities so as not to create unnecessary tension between the displaced and host populations.
• Perform other duties as may be required.
• Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work.
• As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
• 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.
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities.
• 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.

Results / Expected Outputs

• Shelter, Infrastructure and Site Planning activities implemented, respect UNHCR and National standards and specifications
• Shelter/Infrastructure activities supported to ensure that objectives as defined within UNHCR Sub agreements are met within the year with specific emphasis on increased beneficiary targeting and participation
• Shelter/Infrastructure activities supervised, monitored and reported in a regular and consistent manner to the Sub-Office
• Field activities and Field staff supported by increased presence of the Technical unit by regular field visits in the Camps with activities closely monitored and supervised
• Technical drawings, designs, Bills of Quantities and Specifications produced by the Technical Unit are developed and reviewed to ensure consistency/coherence accuracy and appropriateness
• UNHCR functional units such as Admin, Supply, Program, Field, and Protection provided with the required technical support in a timely manner so that objectives of the UNHCR are attained
• UNHCR Implementing Partners and the Government are supported in their implementation of technical activities for the beneficiaries by also identifying areas of capacity building that can be supported by UNHCR;
• The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs)
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment
• 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.

Eligibility Criteria
Requirements:
Required Education Level:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Architecture or Civil Engineering

Required Experience:

• 3 years of experience in:
  • Managing humanitarian shelter or settlement programs or a combination of humanitarian experience and construction-related activities outside of the humanitarian sector, such as construction monitoring.
  • Working in a cross-cultural environment and assisting in the communication of technical and non-technical aspects with Government technical staffs, NGO staff, and local authorities.
• Area(s) of Expertise:
  • Development programmes, Security and protection, Social work
• Driving license
• Age: 27 - 80
• Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
• Languages: English, Level: Fluent, Required.

Competencies and Values:

• Integrity and professionalism
• Accountability
• Planning and organizing
• Communication
• Teamwork and respect for diversity

Other information:
Living Conditions and Remarks:

• 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 coming 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.
• The Rest and Recuperation (R&R) cycle in Maiduguri is 6 weeks, with the designated place of R&R being Accra, Ghana
• 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.
• The official currency is Nigerian Naira (NGN). Cash is the main means of transaction though cards are also accepted at some hotels and shops. You are encouraged to open local bank account. US dollars can be exchanged at hotels and banks, once you arrive in Maiduguri the driver can guide you on this. Below is to give you approximate idea of exchange rate in August 2021:
  • UN Rate: 1 USD = 411.33 NGN
  • Bank Rate: 1 USD = 409.11 NGN.
  • Local Market Rate: 1 USD = 520.00 NGN
• Nigeria is a unique country and Maiduguri is a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements:

• Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy