UN Volunteers
Mission and objectives
UNHCR is mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate international action for the worldwide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems. UNHCR’s primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. In its efforts to achieve this objective, UNHCR strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, and to return home voluntarily.
Context
The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was created in 1950, during the aftermath of the Second World War, to help millions of Europeans who had fled or lost their homes. We had three years to complete our work and then disband.
Today, over 70 years later, our organization is still hard at work, protecting and assisting refugees around the world.
Since 24 February 2022, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic have received nearly 900,000 refugees fleeing directly from Ukraine. While many refugees are passing through Hungary on their way to Poland, Germany, Czechia, Italy, or other countries, a growing number are remaining in Hungary, and either seeking temporary protection or applying for work visas. Hungary’s status as both a transit and a destination country necessitate a response premised on two key directions: first, providing immediate, urgently needed protection and assistance to arrivals to Hungary; and second, ensuring information about and access to legal statuses to which arrivals to Hungary may apply, alongside nondiscriminatory access to rights and services provided by the government and humanitarian actors.
This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO approved vaccine in accordance with UNHCR’s Administrative Instruction on Covid-19 Vaccination and related Safety Measures. Exceptions may be granted on medical grounds. In exceptional circumstances, the recruitment may be completed on the condition that vaccination is obtained within a specified time.
Application to these assignments is exclusively open to individuals residing in Hungary, with stateless, refugee or similar protective status, including Temporary Protection.
Official document as a proof of refugee status is mandatory to submit. The applicant with abovementioned refugee status should submit the official document as a proof of refugee status before and/or during the interview. The applications without the respective document will not be considered for this assignment.
The maximum years of service as a Refugee UN Volunteer is 4 years.
Task description
Within the delegated authority and under the overall supervision of the Senior Protection Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Refugee Field Assistant will:
• Establish regular and stable communication mechanisms with refugees and asylum seekers in order to gain a better understanding of the refugee population, their concerns and priorities;
• Assist UNHCR in disseminating information on available services and their providers, on the rights and duties of refugees and asylum-seekers in Hungary;
• Promote and support community mobilization for organizing social, cultural and recreational events among refugee and host communities;
• Provide information and referrals to refugees and asylum seekers in need of UNHCR’s humanitarian support and ensure proper feedback is provided to persons of concern;
• Assist UNHCR in organizing participatory activities and awareness-raising sessions with persons of different age groups, gender and background;
• Assist in exploring opportunities for mainstreaming persons of concern into available national services and contribute to developing communication strategies with persons of concern to access such services;
• In coordination with the supervisor, assist in monitoring visits to Community Based Organizations/Refugee-led NGOs/Initiatives and other partners to oversee programme implementation and provide inputs for further planning;
• Regularly update and share information related to areas of work, utilizing agreed data collection methods to identify gaps, assess trends and developments;
• Contribute to the planning, monitoring and evaluation of any further community outreach activities;
• Contribute age, gender and diversity mainstreaming in all of UNHCR Hungary’s activities;
• Performs other relevant duties as required by the supervisor;
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.
Results/Expected outputs:
• As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:
• Develop network with refugee groups;
• Establish communication protocol including feedback loops;
• Link refugees to services;
• Act as liaison between Refugee groups/Refugee lead NGOs/Refugee association and UNHCR and other service providers;
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment;
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.
Eligibility criteria
Age
27 – 80
Nationality
Application to this assignment is open exclusively to individuals residing in the country of assignment, with stateless, refugee or similar protective status.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in the national and/or international level in working with vulnerable people, refugees or IDPs, or other relevant programmes; experience with humanitarian work is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization;
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in enabling access to services to vulnerable refugees with constant aim to assist in providing durable solutions, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System;
• Candidate must be a refugee or a stateless person, legally residing in the country of assignment;
• Application to these assignments is exclusively open to individuals residing in Hungary, with stateless, refugee or similar protective status, including Temporary Protection;
• Official document as a proof of refugee status is mandatory to submit. The applicant with abovementioned refugee status should submit the official document as a proof of refugee status before and/or during the interview. The applications without the respective document will not be considered for this assignment.
Area(s) of expertise
Communication, Crisis and emergency response, Community development
Languages
Ukrainian, Level: Fluent, Required
English, Level: Basic, Required
Required education level
Secondary education
Competencies and values
• Professionalism
• Integrity
• Teamwork and respect for diversity
• Commitment to continuous learning
• Planning and organizing
• Communication
• Flexibility
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Hungary is located in a temperate climate zone having 4 seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter). Winters are becoming milder with average temperatures around -5 centigrade on average during the daytime. Summers are hot, occasionally reaching around 35 centigrade, especially in July and August.
Budapest currently hosts the Global Service Centre (GSC) as well as the UNHCR Representation for Central Europe This Multi-Country Office covers Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Belarus. No specific security conditions pertain to Hungary. Budapest is a safe metropolitan city, however as in any other city caution shall be exercised when using public transport to avoid pickpocketing.
Accommodation is easy to find; short-, mid- and long-term. The city offers a wide range of hotels, Airbnb, long term rents, etc. Accommodation can be fixed using the services of property agencies but online solutions are also numerous. A
s this is a Refugee UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.
UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances: The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos). For information specific to your assignment please see below:
Monthly Living Allowance (Per month) HUF: 416,000.00
Entry lump sum (one time payment) USD: 400
Travel Ticket when moving to duty station USD: 200
Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract) HUF: 34,666.67
Medical and life insurance: Cigna Private Insurance
Leave entitlements:
Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month
Certified sick leave: 30 days
Uncertified sick leave: 7 days
Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months
Maternity Leave: 16 weeks
Paternity Leave: 10 days
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO approved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds
How to apply
Applications should be submitted through the following website: https://app.unv.org/opportunities/1693145385242880
You may also find further information regarding the volunteer assignment on the dedicated link.