Field Officer (Livelihoods-Infrastructure) – Roving, UNOPS IICA-2, Kabul

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a Field Officer (Livelihoods-Infrastructure) – Roving position within the Shelter Unit in CO Kabul, Afghanistan.

UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 125 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.

• Title: Field Officer (Livelihoods-Infrastructure) – Roving
• Duty Station: CO Kabul, Afghanistan
• Duration: Six Months
• Contract Type: UNOPS – IICA II (equivalent to P3)
• Start date: as soon as possible
• Closing date: 16 June 2022

Organizational context

Afghanistan is a high-risk country with a very complex operational environment, characterized by uncertainty and frequent security incidents. Movement by all personnel is restricted, coordinated and monitored by the security officers. UNHCR in Kabul is located within the ICON Compound on the Supreme road of the Police district 9. It occupies 40 MOSS compliant rooms for staff accommodation with each room having its own washroom and other facilities. Offices are within the ICON compound. UNHCR and UN agencies jointly run JMS Level 1 medical clinic and satellite located in ICON. S/M on special prescription should travel with sufficient quantity. Medical facilities in Kabul include German Clinic, French Medical Institute for Mothers & Children (FMIC), Blossom Health Center and Iqarus International (AMC). COVID-19 MTF was established in ICON. Outdoor air quality is a health concern in Kabul. The degree of exposure and concentration of air pollutants can be detrimental to breathing problems, development of chronic diseases and deterioration of health status in individuals with chronic diseases. Air pollution contributes to comorbidities that are known to worsen outcomes among those infected with COVID-19. Air pollution can impair lung development in infants and children; increase probability of preterm birth and delivery of new-borns with low birth weight. office provides air purifiers both in the office and accommodation. Health problems contributing to years lost to illness, disability, or premature death in the country include diet, tobacco use, high fasting glucose and high blood pressure; as well as environmental risks such as pollution and water-borne disease. Road crash, conflict, terror are major causes of injuries. security situation is unstable, volatile, unpredictable with rise 2020-2022. A daily radio check is mandatory. All movements is strictly by Armoured Vehicle or by air and no road. A 4-week R&R cycle, staff are highly encouraged not to delay. Considering the serious restrictions on staff movement, it is crucial to demonstrate a record of maintaining a positive attitude whenever confronted with adversity and restraints in social life. Staff interested in the position should be mentally, psychologically, and physically fit and ready to face situations when required to be locked down in compound bunkers for an extended period due to security incidents.

The position

Since beginning of the year 2022 some people started to return their original places or settled in new safe areas where they can find lands. As a cluster lead agency UNHCR will aim to provide shelter, Infrastructure support together with livelihood projects to uplift the living condition targeting 5,000 families displaced in urban areas with a budget of USD 20 million. The objective of the livelihood community-based projects and infrastructure programme will be to provide essential support to uplift their living conditions and provide long term sustainable systems for extremely vulnerable individuals and protection cases assisting through community-based livelihood projects and giving households more flexibility and mobility in choosing their living areas. UNHCR will also provide training centers, craft centers, carpet producing centers with community-based programmes to displaced populations residing in new formal and informal settlements. UNHCR will engage a qualified international a Roving Field Officer (community Based) to ensure effective implementation of the community-based activities full programme related to the infrastructure and livelihood projects coordinating activities between the technical, Field team and the community, in close collaboration with the Government and other partners.

Field officer (Livelihoods-Infrastructure) Roving will conduct a series of regular on-site monitoring of community-based interventions in Jalalabad, Mazar, Kandahar, Herat and Bamiyan or other requested location to coordinate with technical and field teams to ensure the planned community-based projects are implemented after completion the construction of the respective supporting structure in the settlement areas.

Duties and responsibilities

The Field Officer (Livelihoods-Infrastructure) position will work under direct supervision of Shelter Officer to assume the following responsibilities:

• Work in close coordination with all functional Units in UNHCR (Protection, Programme, Community Services, Field, Administration, and Supply) for all issues related to protection, population of concern figures and assistance, and work in close coordination with the Shelter.
• Assist UNHCR office with any other shelter and settlement related issues where communication and consultation need with the person of concern to identify their issues related to the program implementation and identify feasibility of the implementation as required by the Supervisor.
• Assisting the technical team in analyzing value of the project implication and to review the project proposals and to review the project proposals and concept notes to finalize the technical review (including development and preparation of concept notes, project proposals and agreement between the community and the authorities, review/inspect quality of the project proposals as requested), and assist in fund raising efforts (provision of information and preparation of project proposals, and participation in negotiations) and other publicity endeavors;
• Provide clear guidance on standards and best practices for community bases intervention projects.
• Ensure that after the completion of the construction work the planned community-based intervention project is implemented, and beneficiaries received the expected outcome of the project.
• Monitor, follow up regularly with the relevant units (protection, CBP) and implementing partners about the progress of all implemented community-based intervention and activities according to the plan
• Together with UNHCR’s implementing partners, UNHCR field teams and the technical team, compile, analyze and map available information on community-based livelihood support options in country considering relevant policies adopted by the Government. When planning community-based livelihood projects, ensure that the technical component reflects UNHCR minimum standards. Due consideration should be given to standards in other relevant sectors such as CBP.
• Prepare the project implementation work plans and maintain the tracking sheets in close coordination with UNHCR technical and CBP units.
• Coordinate with the affected committees, local authorities, and other partners the identification of potential needs related to identified projects need identification is coordinated among all the actors.
• Coordinate provision of technical inputs for formulation of project submissions to address the needs, taking into consideration the technical standards (UNHCR/ Sphere/ National) and UNHCR protection mandate and policy priorities, such as environment, women and children, with specific needs etc.
• Regularly liaise and maintain close working relationship with Sector Specialists at Branch Office, through different coordination and information sharing mechanisms.
• Ensure regular monitoring and evaluation of community-based activities, providing inputs for situation reports and reporting back to the country office on progress and standards.
• Promote the sustainability of community-based interventions in collaboration with local partners in the field and Coordinate capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights with relevant units and stakeholders.
• Ensure that participatory approaches are taken to consult with the person of concerns on all activities, so their needs are cover considering AGD approach.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

The ideal candidate will have:

• Advanced University Degree (Master) in Law, Social Sciences; Development Studies, Community Development; or other relevant field or other relevant discipline and 5 years of experience or University degree and 6 years of experience
• At least 3 years relevant experience in the related field, including experience in community-based protection, field, protection, livelihood.
• Experience in developing and implementing CBP, conduct need assessments and undertaking gap analysis for development of community-based programmes.
• Experience working in other organizations (government, UN, and NGO) in a community-based protection and/or coordination capacity.
• Experience in strategic advocacy and coordination of multiple stakeholders on high-profile refugee situations