UNHCR seeks to recruit a Cluster Coordination Officer (Protection), N’Djamena (Chad)

UNHCR seeks to recruit a Cluster Coordination Officer (Protection),  N’Djamena (Chad)

 

• Organization: UNHCR – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
• Location: N’Djamena (Chad)
• Grade: P-3, International Professional – Internationally recruited position – Mid level
• Occupational Groups:
  • Protection Officer (Refugee)
• Closing Date: 2018-09-05

 

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Cluster Coordination Officer (Protection)

Organizational context

In complex humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters where UNHCR is designated as the Protection Cluster Lead Agency under the Cluster Approach, UNHCR performs a dedicated coordination, strategy development and advocacy function through the position of Senior Cluster Coordination Officer (Protection) and the supporting positions of Cluster Coordination Officer (Protection).

These latter P3 level positions normally report directly to the Senior Cluster Coordination Officer (Protection). The UNHCR Representative has final accountability for the performance of UNHCR as Cluster Lead Agency.

The Cluster Coordination Officer (Protection) supports UNHCR to work within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach. The position reinforces UNHCR Protection Cluster Lead Agency functions by providing support to the role of Cluster Coordination Officer (Protection) in ensuring UNHCR¿s leadership within a diverse protection community.

The Cluster Coordination Officer (Protection) is expected to facilitate the work of the Protection Cluster through the provision of analysis, organization and reporting; and to impartially represent the interests of the members of the Protection Cluster. This includes the provision of active support, as applicable, to sub-clusters or working groups of the Cluster which may be coordinated by other Agencies. As a result, the incumbent supports an inter-agency team in an environment that requires high standards of accountability, facilitation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, in which respect the principles of partnership and collaboration are essential.

The incumbent supports the Cluster Coordination Officer (Protection) in Inter-Cluster Coordination mechanisms, for advocacy and facilitation of protection mainstreaming and cross-cutting issues of age, gender and diversity in the humanitarian response and early recovery activities.

S/he works closely with and may, depending on the Office structure, directly supervise multi-functional Protection Cluster Support staff in the areas of data and information management, needs assessment, profiling, registration, reporting and advocacy.

Functional statement

Accountability

• The protection needs of populations of concern are met through timely and coordinated action by all cluster members.
• The protection of populations of concern is maximized through research, advocacy and effective consultative and feedback mechanisms.
• Effective coordination mechanisms and tools, including information management, are promoted, facilitated and maintained with cluster members, government counterparts and donors, for timely and effective needs assessment, planning, prioritization, implementation, reporting and evaluation.
• The Protection Cluster is facilitated to develop and implement strategies and activities delivered which enjoy political and/or financial support by other clusters, government, donors and other partners through effective prioritization, advocacy and resource mobilization.

  Responsibility

•  Facilitate the development of a Protection Cluster strategy following a consultative process with partners and stakeholders. Support the Protection Cluster to ensure that protection informs and shapes the overall humanitarian response and that the protection response is integrated into the Humanitarian Country Team¿s common humanitarian action plan.
• Organize and facilitate meetings in line with the Principles of Partnership, ensuring that cluster meetings are consultative and results-oriented.
•  Facilitate coordination with government counterparts and other relevant authorities.
• Support the design of transition strategies for the Protection Cluster: facilitate the development of a strategy for the cluster ensuring proper linkages with disaster risk reduction, relief, and recovery and development efforts.
• Facilitate the coordination and conduct of Protection Cluster or Inter-Cluster level protection needs assessments, including participatory assessments of all affected populations.
• Provide strategic inputs  to development of common funding criteria, resource mobilisation and prioritization within the Protection Cluster for inclusion in Consolidated Appeals and pooled funds processes
• Establish mechanisms for accountable and transparent financial resource allocation within the cluster.
• Facilitate the delivery of protection training activities for Protection Cluster members, other local partners, and relevant authorities.
• Coordinate initiatives to build the protection capacity of the national and local government, partners and civil society.
• Ensure adherence to IASC standard operating procedures for  IDP profiling.
• Ensure the integration of cross-cutting issues in the work of the Protection Cluster, including any work developed by sub-clusters or working groups.
• Ensure adherence of Protection Cluster activities to Guidelines on Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming;
• Through Cluster-wide consultative processes, provide input into the development of global protection policy and standards led by the Global Protection Cluster.
• Support reporting and information sharing within the Protection Cluster and at the inter-cluster level.
• Support and facilitate the Protection Cluster information management strategy and mechanisms.
• Ensure that the Protection Cluster produces regular updates and briefing notes on the protection concerns in the affected population, response activities, challenges and recommendations.
•  Identify core advocacy concerns for the Protection Cluster through a consultative process: Facilitate joint cluster/ inter-cluster initiatives to ensure regular and consistent advocacy.
• Help foster a consistent interpretation and application of international law and related UNHCR and IASC legal standards and protection policies.
• Promote the Protection Cluster¿s adherence to international human rights instruments, the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement as well as other relevant international and regional instruments; in cooperation with the Humanitarian Country Team support local interventions when violations of international protection standards and principles occur.
• Promote and help strengthen national legislation relevant to internal displacement and durable solutions.

  Authority

• Facilitate cluster meetings and represent the Protection Cluster in meetings with sectoral and external partners, authorities and other relevant interlocutors.
• Draft reports and prepare advocacy statements on behalf of the Protection Cluster – for clearance by Senior management.
• Organise and facilitate cluster meetings, work and cooperate with focal points sub-groups/working groups and ad hoc/task-related bodies for specific issues.
• Facilitate negotiation with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator, the Humanitarian Country Team and cluster members on the prioritization and inclusion of project proposals and common funding criteria for inclusion in inter-agency funding appeals.
• Monitor the allocation of financial and other resources within the Protection Cluster, when required, such as with regard to Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) or Common Humanitarian Funds (CHF).

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

• Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Law, International Law, Political Sciences or related field with good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law plus minimum 6 years relevant professional experience of which 2 years in the field. Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) plus 5 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 4 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
• Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Desirable qualifications & competencies

• Coordination Learning Programme.
• Tri-Cluster Knowledge and Coordination Skills Training.
• Protection Learning Programme.
• Training on Protection in Natural Disaster Situations.
• Knowledge of additional UN languages.

  This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Cluster Coordination Officer (Protection) positions. 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. C001L3

• Accountability Level 3
  C002L3 – Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
  C003L3 – Communication Level 3
  C004L3 – Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
  C005L3 – Client & Result Orientation Level 3
  C006L3 – Organizational Awareness Level 3
  M001L3 – Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
  M006L3 – Managing Resources Level 3
  M005L3 – Leadership Level 3
  M002L3 – Managing Performance Level 3
  M003L3 – Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
  X007L3 – Political Awareness Level 3
  X001L3 – Analytical Thinking Level 3
  X008L3 – Stakeholder Management Level 3 <p>The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>

For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific security and welfare profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services – Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). These profiles have been specifically designed to answer some of the key questions (on security conditions, medical provisions, staff welfare, living and working conditions) potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care. This project is still in the pilot phase, and as such some of the information leaflets are being produced as we speak and might not be available yet. They will be soon, so keep checking.

The responsibility of the Cluster Coordinator Officer is to support UNHCR Chad to lead the Shelter/CCCM/NFI Cluster. The Shelter/CCCM/NFI Cluster Coordinator (hereinafter referred to as “the Coordinator”) will work under the direct supervision of the Country Representative in N’Djamena Branch Office with intensive travel to the field. In collaboration with other concerned UNHCR staff, other clusters, national and international NGOs and humanitarian actors, as well, as the government and representatives of the beneficiaries and in line with international humanitarian principles, the Cluster Coordinator will undertake the following duties:

Ensure appropriate coordination with all relevant cluster stakeholders including national and local authorities, non-government & civil society organizations, donors and representatives of affected populations, granting that meetings are managed in line with Cluster’s standards and the Principles of Partnership.
Ensure strategic decision making on CCCM, shelter and NFI related interventions per governorate, taking into account numbers of IDPs and affected communities, criticality of needs, accessibility of beneficiaries, cooperation of local authorities and availability and performance of local partners. Share information with the relevant departments at UNHCR HQ (specifically FICSS/CCCM & SSS departments) and utilize these departments as a resource when required.
As may be appropriate, lead early warning, contingency planning and emergency preparedness efforts for the Cluster and ensure adequate participation in inter-cluster preparedness activities.
In collaboration with the Cluster team, prepare, and revise it whenever the is the need to, a Shelter/CCCM strategy to assists the people in affected by the crises, undertake capacity mapping and gap identification as well as training needs and communicate them to the agreed stakeholders.
Ensure that the Humanitarian Response Plan of the cluster is updated regularly according to evolving needs and that it establishes indicators by which performance of the cluster can be measured. Prepare the cluster core documents as defined by the Global Shelter and CCCM Clusters guidance: strategy, technical standards, and updated factsheet. These documents will be prepared with support and inputs from cluster partners. Ensure common standards and tools among cluster partners.
Facilitate adequate reporting and information sharing, within the cluster. Attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram since 2015 have affected some 20 million people resulting in the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Chad¿s Lake region. Hence, the UNHCR operation in Chad has in this operational context expressed the need to continue to strengthen the quality of the protection and assistance concerns and analysis in order to ensure a timely and effective protection and assistance response for affected people. Following the internal displacements of the population in that region and the influx of refugee triggered by the above mentioned attacks, the Organisation opened an office in Bagasola. The latter has amongst its responsibilities the implementation of a multisector assistance programme covering the most urgent and priority needs of the refugee population and IDPs in terms of shelter/infrastructure, water, hygiene and sanitation, food and non-food items, livelihood activities, health and nutrition. Taking into account the complexity of the operation and its operative requirements in terms of evaluation and analysis for effective assistance planning as well as the monitoring of its quality and effectiveness, a need to strengthen the staff of the operation has been recently experienced. Hence a recruitment a cluster Coordinator Officer is required. N¿Djamena is an expensive city. Finding good accommodations remains a challenge. However there are a number of supermarkets where local and foreign goods are available and expatriates frequent a number of restaurants offering Lebanese, Chinese, French and other foods. N¿Djamena is a security level 2 duty station. While security in N¿Djamena is, at present, stable, due to criminality staff are discouraged from walking in the streets, taking taxis, staying out late at night and visiting public places alone. Physical integrity of UNHCR staff. UNHCR staff are always reminded the need to strictly respect all norms of security. Given the considerable and diverse work load, it is important that the applicant be motivated, hard-working, organized and fluent in French (written and spoken). Working knowledge in French, especially written, is required as more and more reports, internal as well as external, are requested in French. Other additional desirable factors are as follows:

• CCCM Training
•  Training on Cluster Coordination {Shelter Cluster Coordination training or Coordination and Leadership training).
• Applied knowledge in UNHCR programme management, project formulation, its programme cycles and reporting standards.
• Previous exposure to cluster approach, preferably both at the global policy level and with a field implementation approach.
• Expertise in planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting on humanitarian operations.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add.4 to March 2018 Compendium is Wednesday 5 Septembe 2018 (midnight Geneva time).