Associate External Relations and Reporting Officer

Title: Associate External Relations and Reporting Officer

Duty Station: Brazzaville

Duration: 9 months

Contract Type: International UN Volunteer Specialist

Closing date: 08/02/2022

Start date: 01/04/2022

Organisational context

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 (www.unhcr.org)).

Context

In the Republic of Congo, UNHCR operates from three locations: Brazzaville, Bétou, and Gamboma supporting the protection needs of refugees, IDPs, host communities, and people at risk of statelessness. IDPs, host communities, and people at risk of statelessness. In the context of a relatively welcoming legislative framework, refugees in Congo can move around without restriction and have access to social services (health, education) as well as to the judicial system in the same way as the Congolese population, as well as to employment (albeit with some restrictions). This generosity is reflected in Development Policy Letter 609.17 / MPSIR / CAB, through which the government of the Republic of Congo committed as early as August 2017 to promote the socio-economic integration of refugees and improve the delivery of basic services for their host communities. UNHCR in Congo works at the intersection of the recent CAR emergency response, protracted situations, and development under the Global Compact for Refugees. In 2017, the government committed to promoting the socio-economic inclusion of refugees and improving the provision of basic social services to their host communities and has since shown interesting results. In this context, UNHCR is strongly committed to strengthening partnerships with the government, humanitarian actors, development partners, and the private sector to further enhance refugees’ inclusion in national systems and access to solutions. The Republic of Congo is at the forefront of the global fight against statelessness and could become one of the first countries to eradicate statelessness. UNHCR is actively supporting the government to achieve this through awareness raising and capacity building, in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice. The UN Volunteer will be based in Brazzaville and will be an integral part of the UNHCR Country Office

Duties and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of Country Representative, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Keep abreast all developments in operations to prepare appropriate briefings and reports.

• Prepare periodic reports, i.e. donor updates, internal sitreps, briefing notes for senior man-agers, and activity-specific reports as required.

• Prepare funding submissions for donors, and draft any required after-action reports.

• Develop and maintain working relationships with the government, NGOs, and UN agencies to ensure cooperation in inter-related activities.

• Support the UNHCR-led Cluster activities by preparing and distributing minutes, assisting in the organization of meetings; occasionally chairing meetings, and serving as the general sec-retariat for the relevant Cluster.

• Support the supervisor in preparation for meetings and missions drafting of talking points.

• Organize and accompany missions for VIP visitors, delegates to visit refugee sites or the ac-tivities of UNHCR implementing partners.

• If there is no Public Information (PI) focal point in country, serve as PI focal point, contributing to and coordinating press events, interviews, PI missions and other activities related to infor-mation dissemination to the general public to promote UNHCR activities.

• Assist in the dialogue with donors and embassies and provide relevant information on UN-HCR operations and financial requirements by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meet-ings and missions and responding to donors’ requests for information.

• Prepare situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and reports as required.

• Develop and maintain working relationships with the Government, NGOs, and UN agencies to ensure cooperation in inter-related activities.

• Propose events and initiatives to promote the work of UNHCR and take action as appropriate.

• Prepare and distribute minutes of meetings.

Results/Expected Outputs:

• Timely and good quality situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, and other reports drafted.

• Leads effectively the production of good quality donor proposals and reports.

• Timely and accurate information systematizing shared with stakeholders to promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNHCR.

• Leads effectively the production of good quality donor proposals and reports.

• Timely and accurate information systematizing shared with stakeholders to promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNHCR.

• Open communication with colleagues at the national level as well as at the sub-offices maintained.

• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.

• Effective professional relationships developed and maintained with a wide variety of public and private donors, operational and implementing partners, UN agencies, and oth-er stakeholders to gather, analyse and disseminate information about activities of UN-HCR and its partners.

• Maintains integrity and professionalism; accountability; commitment to continuous learning; teamwork and respect for diversity.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

Required experience

3 years of experience in a field related to external relations, communications, media relations or reporting. Computer skills: Knowledge of Microsoft applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint • Demonstrated skills in oral and written communication.

Area(s) of expertise

Communication

Driving license

–

Languages

French, Level: Fluent, Required English, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in International Relations, Political Science, Journalism, Communications, Business or Public Administration.

Competencies and values

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of speciality and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented.

• Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.

• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflict-ing deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.

• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;

• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

Location

The successful candidate will be based with the team in Brazzaville

Conditions

Living conditions and remarks

The incumbent of the position will be required to work most of the time in Brazzaville, though it is expected that she/he would have to go on mission in other regions were UNHCR operations are unfolding. Brazzaville is the Republic of the Congo’s capital and largest city. It is situated on the northern side of the Congo River, immediately opposite the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s capital, Kinshasa. Since the country is located on the Equator, the climate is consistent year-round, with the average day temperature a humid 24ºC (75ºF) and nights generally between 16ºC (61ºF) and 21ºC (70ºF). The dry season is from June to August, while in the majority of the country the wet season has two rainfall maxima: one in March-May and another in September-November. Brazzaville is a beautiful colonial city, with a vibrant art scene and welcoming locals. The population is 1.5 million. Accommodation is very expensive in Brazzaville. There are several Supermarkets in town but consumer items are generally very expensive (as everything is imported). For food, local markets offer a much cheaper alternative. Brazzaville is considered family duty station. Transport in Republic of the Congo includes land, air and water transportation. Taxis are a popular mode of transport for getting around the city. The Duty Station was classified B, despite lack of Good health facilities. In the Congo, business culture is influenced by French traditions. French is the language of business. International schools are the preferred option for many expat families in Brazzaville. The Lycee Saint-Exupery offers a curriculum taught in French. The American International School of Brazzaville established in 2012, provides teaching in English. The schools organize a wide range of after school activities, including sports, dancing, crafts and cookery. The unit currency of the Congo is the Franc BEAC (XAF). US dollars and travel checks are exchanges. Payments by credit cards are accepted in supermarkets and hotels. ATMs are functional. In addition to French, there are two major spoken languages in RoC, namely Lingala and Kituba. Security issues: The current UN security level for Brazzaville is Level 2 and upon arrival, all UN staff are required to attend a security briefing conducted by both UNDSS Security section. As a reminder, all UN staff members are required to complete the UN security course Basic Security in the Field (BSITF).