UN High Commissioner for Refugees
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time position at its UNHCR Sub-Office, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The Position will be functioning with the different protection units, including the community-based protection unit, and externally with all sectors on how to engage Rohingya refugees in the response and provide relevant suggestions for the Collective AAP Framework and Action Plan which is under development.
Title: Senior Livelihood and Skill Officer (Coordination)
Duty Station: Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Duration: 6 months (01 September – 28 February 2023)
Contract Type: UNOPS, IICA-3 (equivalent to P-4)
Closing date: 17 August 2022
Start date: as soon as possible
Organizational context:
The Skills and Livelihood Sector is a newly established sector in the Rohingya refugee response. It will draw upon existing initiatives supported by other sectors such as Food Security Sector and the Education Sector and consolidate these initiatives. The Sector will also help coordinate, develop and implement new initiatives, establish technical standards, and undertake other relevant activities.
The sector will work closely with the Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) that coordinates the refugee response in Cox’s Bazar that is host to over 900,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar residing in 33 camps. In 2022, it comprises staff from seven organizations who work to coordinate and support over 100 national and international NGOs and UN agencies to (1) work towards the sustainable repatriation of refugees (2) strengthen the protection of refugees (3) deliver life-saving assistance (4) foster the well-being of Bangladeshi host communities and (5) strengthen DRR and combat climate change. The ISCG works closely with the Government of Bangladesh in Cox’s Bazar, the nine UN agencies, the numerous international and national NGOs, the sectors and working groups, and the donor community. While transitioning from an emergency to a protracted crisis, this operation is not stagnant, but rather, remains vibrant, agile, yet challenging.
The Senior Skills and Livelihoods Coordinator – a new position in Bangladesh to lead the Skills and Livelihoods Sector – is funded by Global Affairs Canada for a period of two years. It will be housed in UNHCR. S/he will have a functional reporting line to the UNHCR Head of Operations, alongside a secondary reporting line in relation to coordination with the ISCG Principal Coordinator*.** The position will work closely with the ISCG and other relevant sectors.*
Duties and responsibilities :
Under the supervision of the UNHCR Operations Manager and in close coordination with the ISCG and relevant sectors:
- COORDINATION AND COOPERATION
- Establish the Livelihoods and Skills Sector its activities and deliverables. This includes consolidating efforts already taken forward by other sectors.
- Serve as the central focal point to coordinate efforts in multi-agency, multi-sectoral efforts in Cox’s Bazar and Dhaka to enable system change in delivering skills and livelihoods programmes for the Rohingya refugees and host communities.
- Coordinate the existing Skills Development Working Group and strengthen the network of sectors and UN agencies, international and Bangladeshi NGOs, development agencies and donorson related issues including though not limited to:
- Ensure refugee have access to quality skills development and supportive services for apprenticeship, mentorship, business and enterprise development, and job matching services in Cox’s Bazar district for the host communities and within the refugee camps;
- Advocate for innovative approaches for refugee skills development, host community livelihoods and market driven jobs;
- Provide strategic engagement for advocacy, resource mobilization, policy and planning – in host and refugee communities.
- Facilitate the operationalization of the draft Skills Development Framework in close coordination with skills programmes in Cox’s Bazar.
- Liaise with the relevant local government authorities to advocate for and implement livelihoods and skills development activities for Rohingya refugees.
- Be responsible for the coordination of regular reporting of the results of the livelihoods and skills sector: what is being done, where, when, donors, partners, and upcoming pipeline project activities – to map all activities within the Sector to assist overall coordination, avoid duplications, and maximize synergies within the sector and with other relevant sectors, e.g. when required develop and implement inter-sector workplans to reinforce linkages to Protection, Basic Needs and Food Security etc.
- Keep abreast of relevant policy dialogue on skills and livelihoods for Rohingya refugees at national and Cox’s Bazar levels.
- Closely work with key partners engaged in Rohingya and host communities initiatives, such as the ILO/UNHCR/BRAC Skills and Livelihoods Initiative to coordinate efforts and look for opportunities for synergies of similar efforts/ initiatives.
- Ensure that quality technical support is provided to partners including advising on the necessity and feasibility of implementing livelihoods programmes,
- Develop and maintain partnerships with specialized institutions, UN agencies, international and Bangladeshi NGOs, donors and other institutions to enhance livelihoods and skills activities in the Rohingya refugee response.
- Provide quality presentations and briefings to Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar based coordination forums.
- Make recommendations with regards to the allocation of resources (funds and partners) needed to meet humanitarian community’s objectives in relation to livelihoods and skills development.
- Coordinate closely with the Development Pillar of the ISCG, including sharing of data, information, and strategic guidance so as to: support the mapping and coordination of skills and livelihoods development initiatives in the district; developed operational plans in livelihoods and skills incorporating development stakeholders and resources; and directly support initiatives to mobilize IFI financing for livelihoods and skills for the refugee population and CXB district
- DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIES, TOOLS, M&E
- Identify needs, gaps and develop comprehensive multi- year strategy and work plan for the Livelihoods and Skills Sector.
- Lead joint livelihoods and skills assessments and analyses; link assessments with key technical stakeholders and dissemination of accurate reports to all stakeholders; facilitate and encourage joint implementation.
- Undertake a mapping of all ongoing livelihoods and skills activities and capacities within the sector as well as across other sector as a basis for guiding the sector and setting future priorities.
- Regular monitoring and review the implementation of both Refugee and Host Communities components of Livelihood and skills Sector outputs. Seek to strengthen resilience-based approaches for all activities and track the improvements in the approaches being developed and implemented through relevant Monitoring and Evaluation Tools, Capacity Development, Data collection and analysis.
- Develop a cross cutting advocacy strategy on livelihoods and skills development in the Rohingya refugee response on behalf of the humanitarian and development communities in Cox’s Bazar.
- Identify relevant issues in consultation with stakeholders and develop relevant lessons learned and study guidelines.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required:
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P4/NOD – 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Business Management;
Socio-Economics Development;
Economics/International Economics;
Rural Development;
Financial Management; or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
UNHCR Protection Learning Programme (PLP)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience in facilitating the economic inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups and managing and advising on development processes in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, ideally in varied rural and urban contexts. Demonstrated experience in working with and developing partnerships with private sector, NGOs, UN organisations, development actors, and government authorities in sub-sectors relevant to livelihood programming e.g. financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education and training, etc. Proven experience in developing and influencing organizational policy development on areas related to livelihoods programming. Proven experience in conducting sector assessments using quality social-science methods and tools, and in developing at least one comprehensive multi-year strategic plan for livelihoods support.
Desirable
Experience in drafting technical guidance, research/review reports.
Functional Skills
LV-Microfinance and Banking sector analysis
LV-Livelihood Project Development and Implementation
MG-Project Management
MG-Management Planning
SO-Networking
CO-Drafting, Documentation
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
Competency Requirements:
Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Managerial Competencies
Empowering and Building Trust
Judgement and Decision Making
Leadership
Managing Performance
Managing Resources
Strategic Planning and Vision
Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Planning and Organizing
Stakeholder Management
Location:
The successful candidate will be based with the team in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
Conditions:
The duration of contract is 6 months. This is a full-time role with working hours starting from 8.00am to 5.00 pm Sunday to Thursday (40 hours per week).
How to apply
For a full job description and to apply, interested candidates are requested to visit https://bit.ly/3QkDiA7
Closing date of applications: 17 August 2022.
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.
Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).