UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency Careers

Duties

• Maintain financial records for project or other office accounts for which responsibility is assigned.
• Record receipts and payments, assure accuracy of computation and completeness of documents and maintain continuing status of allotments against obligations.
• Prepare recurring reports on assigned accounts, noting problems resulting from excess cost or less-than-expected receipts.
• Prepare special reports to clarify problems or as requested for other reasons.
• Calculate and compile cost estimates and projected budget requirements and assist in preparation of budget statements for area of assignment.
• Prepare routine correspondence and maintain contracts with others to discuss matters concerning accounts and related assignments.
• Maintain contacts with local banks to clarify questions pertaining to office bank accounts.
• Brief and assist new staff on basic financial procedures and requirements with respect to payments, entitlements, banking and currency provisions and other requirements relating to accounts and finance.
• Initiate correspondence to verify data, answer queries and obtain additional information on accounts and financial transactions, as required.
• 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
Education & Professional Work Experience

• For G5 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Duties

• Provide general clerical support to the work unit and, if required, visiting staff members.
• Maintain the records in the work unit, create files for correspondence, reports, including confidential files.
• Manage conference room booking and ensure that the facilities are well arranged and prepared with adequate supply to cover number of intended guests.
• Maintain a proper record and inventory of stationary items in the work unit and ensure a well-stocked office.
• Sort and prioritize incoming correspondence, reports, etc. and direct to other responsible staff members where necessary.
• Arrange and forward records for archiving and maintain records of files sent for archiving.
• Maintain calendar of appointments and schedules of meetings and travel for the supervisor, perform such clerical tasks as the completion of travel authorization requests, stationery request forms, etc.
• May be required to prepare drivers¿ work schedule and maintain shift system.
• May be required to organize and maintain mail delivery (Pouch) and tracking system between offices.
• 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
Education & Professional Work Experience

• G31 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Duties

• Assist in the recruitment, assignment, reassignment and separation of local service staff. Prepare documents for the interview panel for the recruitment of local staff.
• Process local staff members' contracts, entitlements and benefits in accordance with Staff Rules and established HR procedures.
• Update personnel related information in MSRP/HR module where this activity has been rolled out from PAS to the respective office.
• Advise staff members on their rights, obligations, benefits and entitlements, and assist them in interpreting UN/UNHCR staff rules and regulations.
• Assist newly-arrived international staff with administrative formalities related to their accreditations, security/ground passes, submission of completed forms and related documents to headquarters, arrange travel and hotel reservations
• Assist with shipment of their personal effects in coordination with the logistics section.
• Administer UNHCR medical insurance plan for locally recruited staff. Provide administrative support to staff and dependants in case of medical evacuations, as well as security evacuations/relocations. Maintain daily tracking record of staff and families to provide accurate information in case of emergency.
• Maintain personnel records in the office, including maintenance of the attendance, overtime and leave records.
• Initiate calculations for payments related to personnel issues such as settlement of travel claims, overtime claims, hazard pay, MIP reimbursements, medical and security evacuations, shipment costs.
• Initiate routine correspondence on HR matters for the authorizing officer's approval.
• 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
Education & Professional Work Experience

• For G5 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Duties

• Drive UNHCR vehicle mainly for the Head of Office and other high ranking officials.
• Drive UNHCR vehicles for the transport of authorized passengers, deliver and collect documents, and other items.
• Meet official personnel at airports or other locations and facilitate immigration and customs formalities as required.
• Perform day-to-day maintenance of the assigned vehicles; check oil, water, battery, brakes, tires, etc. and ensure that the assigned UNHCR vehicles are road or waterway worthy and maintained up to the established security standards.
• Perform minor repairs and arrange for other repairs and ensure that the vehicle is kept clean.
• Ensure that the steps required by rules and regulations, or other local requirements, are taken in case of involvement in an accident.
• Log official trips, daily mileage, gas consumption, oil changes, greasing, etc. and prepare reports on usage as required.
• Ensures valid documentation for passengers, items or cargo in vehicle.
• In the absence of an interpreter, assist with basic interpretation services.
• 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
Education & Professional Work Experience

• For G3D 2 years relevant experience with Completion of Primary Education or High School Diploma or higher

Duties
Technical Guidance

• Develop and periodically update a suitable shelter approach within the AoR, taking into consideration area-based multi-sectoral approaches, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection and the availability of local resources, including materials, capacities and existing infrastructure.
• Carry out comprehensive sectoral needs assessments while liaising with other relevant sectors such as protection, programme, community services, WASH, administration and supply. Engage with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the beneficiary selection process prioritises the shelter needs of the most vulnerable Persons of Concern (POC) are addressed.
• Provide support in developing shelter strategies and periodically review them to reflect evolving situations and ensure alignment with national and global level policies and guidelines including: Global Compact on Refugees, Sustainable Development Goals, Relevant Global Strategies and Policies.
• Provide support in developing shelter responses that are developed in line with the Master Planning Principles and designed to adapt to an area-based approach in implementation.
• Review, identify and monitor shelter programmes within the AoR and initiate responses to address the gaps in collaboration and coordination with key UNHCR technical staff, operational partners and authorities as required.
• When planning shelter solutions, work closely with other relevant sectors such as water and sanitation, infrastructure for reception, education and health so that implementation is synchronised and coordinated.
• Oversee all construction and infrastructure projects within the AoR ensuring that works are carried out in compliance with established UNHCR and national standards/best practices for the full project cycle.
• Work with established clear guidance and detailed standards for coordinated shelter assessments, specific to the operational context in line with emergency standards and long-term durable shelter solutions.
• Monitor and follow up the design and construction of infrastructure and other facilities (schools, health centres, reception centres, drainage and roadworks etc) to confirm these are approved by the relevant authorities, technically sound, supplemented with accurate drawings, detailed BQs and specifications.
• Provide technical information on the SIP (settlement information portal), ensure shelter dashboards are populated with relevant data and prepare mission reports and debrief.
• Advice UNHCR's implementing partners on sound technical shelter and settlement issues while ensuring compliance with global, national and operational strategies and guidance.
• Work with appropriate internationally accepted shelter standards, best practice and guidelines and disseminate this information among partners within the AoR to meet quality and oversight expectations

Coordination

• Support the supervisor in ensuring that UNHCR's operation is technically sound in the field of shelter, construction and infrastructure development within the AoR to best meet the needs of POC.
• Coordinate UNHCR's shelter and infrastructure interventions in a timely, cost-effective, inter-sectoral manner providing adequate delivery of technical interventions and services to support operational needs. Work with the government and relevant authorities and counterparts to ensure strong coordination and partnership within the AOR.
• Where activated, provide support to a close and operational leading role in the Shelter Cluster so that UNHCR's operational footprint is aligned with the agency goals. In refugee operations, take on the role of the coordination of shelter and settlement activities in line with the Refugee Coordination Model within the AoR.
• Participate, as technical focal point for shelter/infrastructure, in coordination meetings with various stakeholders including Government counterparts to ensure UNHCR's interests and those of the POCs are adequately reflected and disseminate information to all stakeholders in a timely, efficient manner.
• Coordinate with partners to assess, analyse and map available information on shelter options in the AoR considering relevant policies, guidelines and plans adopted by the Government.

Collaboration

• Provide support to Programme in reviewing technical components of the Project Partnership Agreements that contain any construction and infrastructure projects. Provide technical inputs and support Programme colleagues during Implementing Partner Selection of shelter sector partners.
• Actively work with Programme as a member of the Multi-Functional Team in the Operation and regularly participate in multi-sectoral activities to ensure protection and assistance needs of the population are met.
• Work with the Supply team to advise on matters related to the procurement of construction, infrastructure and other sector related works and services, including the development of technical specifications, BoQs, drawings, etc. for bid documents.
• Carry out technical evaluation of the received bids as well as review/inspection of the quality of shelter and infrastructure products/works during implementation and at completion.
• Work in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders including local authorities, implementing and operational partners and affected communities on issues related to the shelter and settlement programme, while ensuring full participation of them in all work in order to achieve optimum levels of adequacy in the shelter response, for enhancement of skills development and income generating opportunities.
• 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 P2/NOB 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Duties

• Provide counselling to refugees and other persons of concern (POC) about their durable solutions needs.
• Interview candidates for voluntary repatriation and prepare documentation for their return, in line with Voluntary Repatriation SOPs.
• Interview candidates for local integration and prepare the appropriate documentation for onward submission to local authorities or partners, in line with Local Integration SOPs.
• Participate in identifying resettlement needs of refugees, in line with Resettlement SOPs.
• Assist in updating the electronic database for resettlement, voluntary repatriation and local integration, in line with Standard Operating Procedures.
• Process documentation to ensure that POC receive the documents required for their durable solutions in a timely manner.
• Prepare statistical and ad-hoc reports to ensure accurate information is available and shared with relevant offices and partners.
• Interview and advise on the appropriate durable solution to be provided to POC.
• Prepare documents relating to durable solutions.
• Enter information into available database, in line with SOPs.
• 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

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level

• For G5 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Duties

• Prepare written documentation for resettlement submission; ensure that records / files of individual cases are updated in a systematic and timely manner.
• Assess and review individual resettlement cases and prepare individual / group submission for scrutiny by the supervisor.
• Follow-up on cases from time of submission to final decision and departure.
• Comply with UNHCR's standard operating procedures on resettlement, ensuring timely action on cases.
• Assist in logistical arrangements of selection missions by resettlement countries.
• Coordinate travel and departure arrangements for refugees accepted for resettlement.
• Assist in maintaining and updating proGres or Consolidated Online Resettlement Tracking System (CORTS) database.
• Occasionally, assist in carrying out preliminary interviews and initial assessments, to process refugees for resettlement following established procedures.
• Occasionally, provide counselling to persons of concern (PoC).
• Provide administrative support for resettlement-related training activities, including organization of resettlement workshops and meetings as required.
• Assist in maintaining accurate resettlement statistics as well as up-to-date records on individual cases; assist in the preparation of reports.
• Draft / type routine correspondence to Field Offices / Multi-Country Offices / Headquarters.
• Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
• Assist in mitigating resettlement fraud by reporting suspected fraud.
• Provide counselling to PoC.
• 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

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

• G4 - 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Certificates and/or Licenses

• International Relations, International Law
• (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Desirable

• Good knowledge of resettlement issues and UNHCR resettlement policies and operational applications.
• Completion of UNHCR specific learning/training activities.

Functional Skills

• PR-Refugee Resettlement programs
• PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures
• CO-Cross-cultural communication
• UN-Analysis of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications
• (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.

Data collection and economic analysis and coordination

• Facilitate collaboration with the World Bank, the Joint Data Centre (JDC), Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), academia and other stakeholders on a range of bespoke economic analyses, such as economic impact assessments, poverty and welfare measurement, socioeconomic profiling and country economic trend analysis. This includes serving as focal point between UNHCR and these institutions when collaborating on producing socioeconomic data on refugees.
• Contribute to innovative area-based approaches to solutions and strategies for refugee inclusion, for example, using socioeconomic analysis to inform the Shirika Plan, KISEDP, GISEDP and UNHCR’s annual reporting and planning cycles.
• Provide oversight, vision, and guidance on the collection of raw primary and secondary datasets and the preparation of final datasets for analysis.
• Facilitate development and operationalisation of roadmap for Refugee Resource Centre (RRC). 
• Contribute relevant socioeconomic data inputs to corporate and country reports, such as the Global Compact Indicator Report, COMPASS, and Multi-Year Strategic Plans.
• Provide technical guidance to research teams and UNHCR sector colleagues and sub-offices (Kakuma, Dadaab) on (i) research design, (ii) data analysis plans, (iii) the preparation of descriptive statistics and regression analysis, and (iv) the preparation of various outputs such as briefs, presentations and academic papers.
• Preparation of economic briefs and policy notes 
• Prepare presentations, technical reports and non-technical reports to communicate the findings of economic analyses from socioeconomic research such as the Kenya Analytical Program on Forced Displacement (KAP-FD).
• Translate technical products into products and approaches (e.g., knowledge briefs, blogs, talking points, launch events) to communicate research findings clearly and simply for non-technical audiences.
• Prepare cutting edge economic briefs and policy notes on various topics relevant to the provision of asylum, the protection of persons we serve and the pursuit of durable solutions in line with the GCR and the Shirika Plan.
• Learning and knowledge management 
• Leverage and enable the academic research community in Kenya.
• Generate in-depth knowledge products from socio-economic data for PoCs and their hosts, such as the Kenya Longitudinal Socioeconomic Study of Refugees and Host Communities (K-LSRH), relevant for programming and policy for both humanitarian and development actors. 
• Identify new research opportunities and contribute to proposals for research partnerships and funding.
• Participate in official missions and deliver capacity-building and training activities for UNHCR, partners and governments.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

Measurable Outputs

• Number of economic analyses completed: This indicator tracks the Economist's completion of various analyses such as economic impact assessments, poverty and welfare measurements, socioeconomic profiling, and country economic trend analysis.
• Datasets prepared: This metric monitors the Economist's progress in overseeing and guiding the collection and preparation of raw primary and secondary datasets, ultimately contributing to final datasets ready for analysis.
• Knowledge products generated: This measure assesses the creation of in-depth knowledge products derived from socioeconomic data, including resources like the Kenya Longitudinal Socioeconomic Study of Refugees and Host Communities (K-LSRH), useful for informing programming and policy decisions for both humanitarian and development stakeholders.
• Economic briefs and policy notes produced: This metric tracks the number of presentations, technical reports, non-technical reports, briefs, blogs, talking points, and other materials completed.
• Research proposals and funding applications: Monitoring the number of research proposals and funding applications, reflecting contributions to identifying new research opportunities and partnerships.
• Milestones
• Operational roadmap for Refugee Resource Centre (RRC): Development and implementation of this roadmap signifies a significant milestone in leveraging the academic research community within Kenya.
• Integration of refugees into Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey (KIHBS): Successful integration, achieved through partnerships with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the World Bank, and the UNHCR-World Bank Joint Data Centre (JDC), marks a crucial step towards comprehensive data collection.
• Regular contributions to reports: Timely submissions of relevant socioeconomic data to corporate and country reports, including the Global Compact Indicator Report, COMPASS, and Multi-Year Strategic Plans, demonstrate ongoing progress.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Quality of economic analyses: Measured through peer reviews, stakeholder feedback, and the impact of findings on policy and programs.
• Timeliness of data collection and analysis: Evaluated based on adherence to project timelines and the ability to provide timely insights for decision-making.
• Utilisation of research findings: Tracked by the adoption of recommendations from economic analyses in UNHCR and partner programming.
• Level of stakeholder engagement: Assessed through the strength of partnerships with organisations such as the World Bank, KNBS, academia, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Effectiveness of capacity-building initiatives: Measured through feedback from training participants and the observable improvement in the capacity of UNHCR staff, partners, and government officials to utilise socioeconomic data.

Reporting Requirements

• Regular progress reports: Submitted to the Strategic Partnership Adviser, outlining key activities, achievements, challenges, and future plans.
• Presentations to stakeholders: Sharing key findings of economic analyses with relevant audiences, including UNHCR senior management, government officials, and partner organisations.
• Contributions to UNHCR publications: Providing inputs for articles, reports, and other publications that highlight the importance of socioeconomic data in understanding and responding to forced displacement situations.

Qualifications and Experience

Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)

• Six (6) years relevant experience with and undergraduate degree, or five (5) years’ relevant experience with a graduate degree, or four (4) years’ relevant experience with a doctorate degree in Economics, Statistics, or a relevant area. 

Work Experience 

• At least six (6) years of demonstrated experience in economics, analysing data and conducting research. Familiarity with processes of the World Bank, the African Development Bank or other international financial institutions, bilateral development agencies or research institutions.

Duties

• Support the implementation of communications strategies for countries, situations and special projects within the area of responsibility; help identify thematic priorities and target audiences to meet UNHCR's global, regional and country-level communications objectives of leading the narrative, generating empathy and mobilizing action for forcibly displaced and stateless people.
• Monitor news and popular trends to insert UNHCR's messaging into ongoing conversations; identify key moments for proactive communications.
• Help forge strategic partnerships with individuals and organizations who can help produce and promote UNHCR content, activities and messaging as well as provide research insights to improve communications; promote the work of engaged businesses and civil society actors.
• Support the development of news-driven and authoritative content to lead the narrative on forced displacement and show UNHCR's impact (e.g. interviews, press releases, flagship reports, speeches), create emotive storytelling to generate empathy (e.g. stories, multimedia content) and mobilize action by signposting concrete steps people can take to help refugees (e.g. digital diplomacy, action-driven campaigns, fundraising).
• Help ensure that content created reaches maximum impact by supporting the development of strategies for distribution from the outset, boosting the visibility of out content on relevant UNHCR channels and placing it on external channels.
• Help monitor the implementation of communications projects and adjust accordingly.
• Assist in research, preparation, editing and production of professional media and communications materials for target audiences and ensure their timely dissemination via UNHCR's communications channels, ensuring highest quality standards.
• Continually maintain and upgrade communications skills, keeping abreast of emerging platforms and tools, and systematically reviewing media impact results and other measurement tools for learning purposes.
• May be required to assist in implementation of campaigns, events and other initiatives in support of UNHCR's strategic objectives, including its need for a leading share of voice on refugee and related matters.
• May be required to undertake missions and field trips with media and other official visitors in support of UNHCR and its work.
• 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 G6 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher