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Background
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The Office of the
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established in 1950 by the United
Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to provide protection,
assistance, and seek durable solutions for refugees and stateless persons.
UNHCR has also been involved under certain circumstances in enhancing
protection and providing humanitarian assistance to internally displaced
persons.
Egypt is a signatory State to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of
Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, as well as the 1969 OAU Convention Governing
Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. In accordance with the
Memorandum of Understanding of 1954 concluded between UNHCR and the
Government of Egypt, all activities pertaining to registration, documentation
and refugee status determination are carried out by UNHCR. UNHCR in Egypt has
Offices in Greater Cairo (6th October City and Zamalek district) as well as a
Field Office in Alexandria.
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Duties and Responsibilities
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Under the direct
supervision of the Associate Protection Officer and the overall supervision
of the Protection Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following
tasks:
- Assist with regular field missions in the
areas of responsibilities where refugees and other persons of concern
are concentrated including to Matrouh, Damietta, Mansoura and other
relevant places approved by UNHCR.
- Aid in providing counselling to refugees and
asylum seekers in need of UNHCR’s intervention and support in the field
and ensure proper feedback is provided to persons of concern.
- Facilitate conducting regular focus
group discussions and community meetings in the field to assess the
needs of vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers and identify assistance
as required.
- Participate in monitoring the delivery of
assistance, in the field, particularly for persons with specific
protection needs and provide specific attention and services.
- Assist in exploring opportunities for
mainstreaming persons of concern into available national services and
contribute to developing communication strategies to promote these
services.
- Support community outreach meetings,
participatory assessments and other mechanisms for consultations with
persons of concern.
- Keep frequent internal contacts with
partners and staff members in the same duty station to exchange
information and with the external contacts generally with officials of
national and international institutions, representatives of the refugee
community, local population and/or Implementing Partners (IPs) on
routine subject matters under the direction of the supervisor.
- In coordination with the supervisor,
assist in monitoring visits to Community Based Organizations and
partners to oversee programme implementation and provide inputs for
further planning.
- Contribute in mainstreaming age, gender and
diversity in all of UNHCR Egypt’s activities.
- Assist in providing regular analytical and
statistical reports of activities carried out.
- Compile and enter statistical data into the
database on community services activities.
- Draft and type routine correspondence
relating to individual cases.
- Perform other relevant duties as required by
the supervisor.
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.
Results/Expected
Output:
- Weekly field missions with regular situational
assessement effectively conducted.
- 3-5 community meetings effectively conducted
per month.
- Between 2 – 4 Social/Protection Assessments
conducted per week.
- Counselling to a minimum of 100
persons of concern (POC) provided in the field or at UNHCRAlexandria
office.
- Efficient monitoring and response to POC
provided to maintain interactivity and engagement.
- Regular analytical reports on the new
features and trends produced and presented by POCs.
- Participation in regular units and
inter-agency outreach activities, quote reflections by POCs and reports
produced accordingly.
- Follow up with other functional units
and partners on the feedback process to communities on issues captured
during outreach activities done in a timely manner and quality weekly/monthly
outreach reports produced.
- 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.
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Competencies
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- Good inter-personal and communication skills
especially with people from different cultural backgrounds.
- Ability to work individually and as part of
a team
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Required Skills and Experience
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- A university degree in social
sciences, preferably in psychology, community development, sociology,
Law, Political Science.
- At least one year of professional
experience. Previous job experience related to refugees and
asylum-seekers or in the human rights field is an added asset.
- Good command of Arabic and English (written,
read, and spoken).
- Good inter-personal and communication skills
especially with people from different cultural backgrounds.
- Ability to work individually and as part of
a team.
- Basic computer skills with adequate
familiarity with word processing, spread sheet databases etc.
- Initiative, sound judgment and
dedication to the United Nations principles.
- At least 22 years of age.
- Nationality: Egyptian.
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Disclaimer
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United Nations Volunteers
is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified
professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender,
nationality and culture.
United Nations
Volunteers reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this
announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates
applying to this opening for other openings with United Nations Volunteers
with similar assignment description, experience and educational requirements.
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