UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
In complex humanitarian emergencies where UNHCR is designated as the Shelter Cluster (SC) Lead Agency under the Cluster Approach, the Senior Shelter Cluster Coordination Officer performs a dedicated coordination, strategy development and advocacy function. The incumbent reports directly to the UNHCR Representative who has final accountability for the performance of UNHCR as Cluster Lead Agency. The incumbent liaises with the Global Shelter Cluster Coordinator who has global responsibility for the performance of UNHCR as Global Cluster Lead Agency.
The Senior Shelter Cluster Coordination Officer effectuates UNHCR’s commitment to work within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach. The UNHCR SC Lead Agency functions, embodied in the role of the Senior Shelter Cluster Coordination Officer, are critical in ensuring UNHCR¿s leadership within a diverse shelter community. The incumbent is expected to perform UNHCR’s lead role in the SC and to impartially represent the interests of the members of the Shelter Cluster, including the provision of active support, as applicable, to sub-national clusters which may be coordinated by other Agencies. As a result, the incumbent leads an inter-agency team in an environment that requires high standards of accountability and demonstrable leadership, coordination, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, and in which the principles of partnership and collaboration are essential.
The Senior Shelter Cluster Coordination Officer represents the SC in Inter-Cluster Coordination mechanisms. The incumbent ensures appropriate cross-sectoral coordination with other related clusters such as WASH, CCCM, Protection (HLP) and others, advocates for shelter in the humanitarian response, leads the mainstreaming of early recovery activities in the Shelter Cluster, and spearheads the integration of cross-cutting issues into the work of the Shelter Cluster, especially age, gender, diversity, HIV, environment. The Senior Shelter Cluster Coordination Officer works closely with and/or directly supervises a multi-functional SC Support team, including, but not limited to, the areas of information management, needs assessment, technical support, shelter recovery, reporting and advocacy.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
Strategic Direction and Coordination
– Ensure that UNHCR delivers on its commitments and accountability as lead of the Shelter Cluster. Manage the team deployed or hired in country to coordinate the Shelter Cluster.
– Ensure that strong working relationships are established with all cluster members at national and in all sub-national locations in order to facilitate effective collaboration and communication. Upon consultations with SC members, take final decision over format and frequency of meetings, designation of focal points and the establishment of a strategic advisory group, sub-national clusters, Technical Working Groups and ad hoc/task-related bodies for specific issues.
– Ensure that coordination services, including meetings, are provided in line with the Principles of Partnership, ensuring that cluster coordination is inclusive, consultative and results-oriented at national level and in all the different sub-national locations.
– Under the framework of the Inter-Agency contingency Plan, lead the development of contingency plans, the revision of existing contingency planning and emergency preparedness measures and ensure they are updated and developed.
– Develop an SC Strategy in a consultative process with SC partners including the local government and ensure that the shelter response is driven by this strategy. Update as appropriate the SC Strategy: ensure proper linkages with disaster risk reduction, relief, and recovery and development efforts.
– Ensure that the SC Strategy is integrated into the Humanitarian Country Team¿s common humanitarian action plan.
– Promote accountability to affected population, participation of local and national stakeholders such as civil groups, and ensure coordination with government counterparts and other relevant authorities.
– Ensure that appropriate transitional measures are in place for handing over to the government or recovery and development actors.
– Ensure the establishment and maintenance of the cluster structure including the cluster core documents as defined by the Global Shelter Cluster guidance: Strategy, Technical Standards, and Factsheet.
– Lead the evaluation of the cluster¿s performance. Based on the feedback of this evaluation, work with Shelter Cluster members to develop a plan of response to improve the cluster¿s performance. Needs Assessment, Resources Mobilization and Allocation
– Lead, coordinate and conduct within the SC or at Inter-Cluster level shelter needs assessments, including participatory assessments.
– Set up a system to ensure the timely availability of data to inform operational decisions by partners and strategic decisions of the Humanitarian Country Team.
– Ensure that the SC covers all identified shelter needs of the affected population and not only those relating to the specific mandate of individual members of the Shelter Cluster.
– Provide transparent strategic direction to the development of common funding criteria, resource mobilisation and prioritization within the SC for inclusion in Consolidated Appeals and pooled funds processes.
– Establish mechanisms for accountable and transparent financial resource allocation within the cluster.
Capacity Development
– Ensure capacity building of the government counterpart or the organization that will take over the coordination of the cluster once this is phased out.
– Coordinate the delivery of shelter training activities for SC members, other local partners, and relevant authorities.
– Coordinate initiatives to build the shelter capacity of the national and local government, partners and civil society.
Standard Setting and Implementation
– Ensure that the shelter response is informed by appropriate relevant Technical Standards including among others Sphere, and good practice.
– Ensure appropriate collaboration with shelter response-related clusters of CCCM, Early Recovery, Education, Health, Logistics, Protection and WASH in the work of the Shelter Cluster.
– Coordinate the integration of cross-cutting issues in the work of the Shelter Cluster, including age, gender, environment, diversity.
– Through Cluster-wide consultative processes, provide input into the development of global shelter policy and standards led by the Global Shelter Cluster.
Information Management, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
– Ensure that the SC has a functional information management strategy and mechanism to report and share information within the Shelter Cluster, with the other clusters, with the government, with the overall humanitarian community including donors, with UNHCR internal mechanisms, and with the Global Shelter Cluster.
– Ensure that the SC produces analytical shelter reports, including the Factsheet. Promote that information on affected population is disaggregated by sex and age. Implement decisions on indicators to measure impact and performance of SC members.
– Ensure that the SC maintains an updated website and produces regular updates on the shelter concerns of the affected population, the response by the shelter actors, the gaps, challenges and recommendations.
– Promote and ensure monitoring and evaluation of the impact of operations carried out by cluster members and the performance of the coordination team.
– Appraise the performance of any directly supervised personnel of the SC coordination team.
Advocacy, Promotion and Fundraising
– Identify core advocacy concerns for the SC through a consultative process: develop joint cluster/ inter-cluster initiatives to ensure regular and consistent advocacy.
– Represent the SC in meetings with sectoral and external partners, authorities, donors and other relevant interlocutors.
– Issue reports and make advocacy statements on behalf of the Shelter Cluster.
– Negotiate with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator, the Humanitarian Country Team and cluster members the prioritization and inclusion of project proposals and common funding criteria for inclusion in inter-agency funding appeals. – Direct transparent and accountable financial and other resource allocation within the Shelter Cluster, when required, such as with regard to CERF or CHF.
– Approach donors and other potential sources of funding to explain the SC strategy, challenges, and progress, and to advocate for funding for the overall shelter sector.
– Coordinate with UNHCR and other partners to maximize communication impact to donors and others on the SC priorities.
– Ensure a consistent interpretation and application of international law and related UNHCR and IASC legal standards and policies for the adequate provision of shelter.
– Ensure the Shelter Cluster¿s adherence to international human rights instruments, the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement as well as other relevant international and regional instruments; in cooperation with the Humanitarian Country Team. – Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience 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 Shelter-related sciences (e.g. civil engineering or architecture) or other relevant field. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses CCCM Cluster Coordination HCR Coordination Lrng Prog HCR Management Lrng Prg UNHCR Tri-Cluster Knowledge and Coordination Skills Workshop UNHCR Workshop on Emergency Management (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Work experience in an international capacity preferably working in shelter or with the SC. Excellent knowledge of the Humanitarian reform process and the role of the humanitarian community (UN System, Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, and NGO). Extensive knowledge of current humanitarian issues. Experience in the implementation of shelter programmes. Good knowledge of shelter-related technical guidelines and standards. Preferable good understanding of UNHCR with regard to global policies as well as operational and administrative issues. Good managerial and communication skills. Desirable Applied knowledge in UNHCR mandate, its policies and priorities in relation to IDPs, shelter and NFI. Demonstrated expertise in program management and reporting requirements.
Functional Skills MG-Coordination PR-CCCM Technical Guidelines and Standards CL-Cluster Information Management Tools, Resources and Approaches PR-Country Operations applying the Cluster Approach CO-Drafting and Documentation SP-Shelter and Infrastructure Coordination SP-Global Shelter Cluster Strategy (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.
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate Profile
The recent access to north-west Syria has highlighted the immense needs, but also many opportunities to realign and strengthen existing programs to be more focused, and targeted, and supports the internally displaced population more robustly and consistently. We are therefore looking for an individual who is proactive, solutions oriented, and has strong verbal and written communication skills. Importantly, the successful candidate will be able to identify opportunities to strengthen the shelter cluster response and has the confidence and ability to motivate the cluster to collectively strengthen its response.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
Desired languages
Arabic
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Nature of Position:
After over 12 years of conflict, humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate in north-west Syria due to the ongoing hostilities, a worsening economic crisis, and the impact of the February 2023 earthquakes. North-west Syria has a population of approximately 4.5 million and since the start of 2023, at least 4.1 million rely on humanitarian aid to meet their most basic needs. Of these, 2.7 million are internally displaced with around 1.9 million living in camps and collective shelters. Additionally, approximately 80% are women and children who are particularly vulnerable to many risks, including sexual and gender-based violence.
For the past years, the UNSC Resolution on humanitarian cross-border aid was renewed annually, with the last two renewals for only six months allowing aid to pass through one border crossing point. This severely restricted the ability of UNHCR to develop a robust strategic plan for operational and programmatic engagement and response in north-west Syria. However, since 14 February 2022, UNHCR staff have been able to physically access north-west Syria through two additional crossing points. This has enabled UNHCR to visit project locations to better identify and determine needs, and review assistance provided. While the current political and operational environment may change, there is a clear window of opportunity for UNHCR to learn more about the operating environment inside north-west Syria, strengthen its coordination leadership role, and realign the existing programme and operational response to deliver more and better humanitarian assistance to the persons we serve. Currently, there are more than 200 organizations, including locally registered Syrian organizations and international NGOs, involved in Cross-boarder (XB) activities; most of them are active in the cluster coordination system and there has been a conducive funding environment for NGOs due to high donor focus on the XB operations. UNHCR plays a pivotal role in supporting the coordination in the three Protection, S Non-food Item (NFI), and Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) clusters to address the protection and assistance needs of Internally Displaced (IDPs) in Syria.
Living and Working Conditions:
• On 6 February, two major earthquakes of 7.7 and 7.5 magnitude in Kahramanmaraş Province impacted eleven provinces in Türkiye’s southeast region and neighbouring Syria. Numerous aftershocks, including deadly ones, are continuing to negatively impact the situation in the region.
• A 3-month state of emergency was declared for 11 provinces affected by the earthquake on 7 February (Adiyaman, Gaziantep, Kilis, Hatay, Malatya, Diyarbakir, Adana, Osmaniye, Kahramanmaras and Sanliurfa as well as the province of Elazig).
• Turkish government is leading the response through coordination by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) and several humanitarian organisations are working alongside AFAD. The Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) is coordinating the response with regards to refugees and asylum-seekers, among others.
• On 9 February, UNHCR declared a level 2 emergency which will remain in force for a period of six months until 8 August 2023.
• In alignment with the Türkiye Earthquakes UN Flash Appeal, which was launched on 16 February, UNHCR issued its Earthquake Emergency Supplementary Appeal covering requirements for Türkiye amounting to USD 150 million. The overall aim of UNHCR’s action is to improve living conditions of earthquake-affected people, and to assist those with specific needs, including among refugees, in finding and accessing necessary services including documentation and social protection.
Following the publication of the Flash Appeal, a coordination structure has been established under OCHA, with a limited duration, after which the 3RP coordination mechanisms will resume.
Location of the position is in Gaziantep. While in normal circumstances the duty station is classified as B category, following the earthquake a temporary classification as category E duty station was accorded to all locations in the southeast Turkiye. This temporary reclassification will be reassessed by June 2023. Two out of 13 Gaziantep districts (Islahiye and Nurdagi) have been badly hit during the earthquake, but the central parts of Gazinatep were largely spared of significant destruction, although a limited number of buildings in the city have also collapsed, and some others damaged.
The infrastructure and utilities in Gaziantep are largely preserved, and the city continues to benefit from efficient public transport system and smooth delivery of gas, water and electricity. Gaziantep is a regional industrial and trade hub, with thousands of businesses that have continued operating after the earthquake.
Gaziantep has a good network of health facilities, including both public and private hospitals, some of which offer more sophisticated services. Housing in Gaziantep is widely available, but due to economic downfall in most of 2022 and following the earthquake, rental prices have significantly increased.
Gaziantep also has a well-developed network of schools and is home to one of the largest universities in Turkiye. There are several private universities as well. However, education with international curricula is very limited and it may be challenging for families with younger children in need of adequate educational facilities in foreign language. English is not widely spoken, which may be challenging at times. However, people in Gaziantep are hospitable.
Current operational circumstances may require long working hours due to ongoing emergency mode.
Proximity to the Syrian border has led to a sensitive security in South-eastern Turkey since the Syrian conflict began. However, the level of general criminality is low. During the recent period the security situation in Southeast Turkey has been largely stable, with isolated incidents of deteriorated situation due to evolving security situation along the border with Syria. Following an increased engagement in the Syrian conflict by the Turkish Government the number of incidents targeting Turkish security forces has somewhat increased, but number of cross border incidents is rather limited in scale and frequency of occurrence.
The current security levels in Southeast Turkiye is Level 2, with some parts of the AOR (10 Km distance from the border area, plus Reyhanli and Mardin in the east) at Level 4. There are no known direct threats towards the United Nations and its staff in the area but vigilance and awareness is required in the changing security environment. Due to the relatively recent developments at the border areas, the UN staff in Gaziantep are advised to increase their precaution measures in general. Area Security plans and Security levels are being updated.
Gaziantep is a base for three UNHCR separate facilities- the SO Gaziantep (refugee operations), Resettlement Hub inaugurated in Dec 2022, and the Cross Border Operation that is engaged in the humanitarian interventions in Northwest Syria. SO Gaziantep provides support to Resettlement and Cross Border Operations through Admin and logistics functions, with occasional expansion to other types of support from various units in the office.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
CL-Cluster Information Management Tools, Resources and Approaches, CL-Modalities to meet shelter & household needs, e.g.in-kind distributions, tech advice, CL-Shelter and Settlement Implementation, CL-Shelter and Settlement Technical Guidelines and Standards, MG-Coordination
Education
BA: Architecture (Required), BA: Civil Engineering (Required), BA: Shelter-related sciences (Required)
Certifications
CCCM Cluster Coordination – UNHCR, Emergency Management Workshop – UNHCR, HCR Coordination Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Management Learning Program – UNHCR, Tri_Cluster Knowledge/Coord Skills – Other
Work Experience
Annual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Number of Persons of Concern Served, Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Internally Displaced Persons, Working with Persons of Concern: Others of Concern, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned IDPs, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Stateless
Competencies
Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium
Add. 1 to March 2023 Compendium – Part B
Additional Information
Functional clearance
This position requires Functional Clearance
How to apply
For a full job description and to apply, interested candidates are requested to visit
bit.ly/427wmwG
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).
Closing date of receipt of applications: 15 May 2023 (midnight Geneva time)
We would like to call your attention on the eligibility of International Professional (P) category:
According to our Recruitment and Assignments Policy, P staff members will not normally serve in the country of their nationality, and the first regular appointment in the P category must be outside the staff member’s country of nationality.
In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of.