Country: Uganda
Closing date: 19 Feb 2018
General Background
UNHCR Uganda is currently hosting over 1.2 million refugees and asylum seekers (according to OPM statistics) in twelve settlements across the country. Arua as a Sub Office manages 4 settlements of Bidibidi, Rhino & Rhino extension, Imvepi and Lobule with a total population of 526,815 as of 16th November 2016.
Uganda has an exemplary refugee protection environment, providing refugees with freedom of movement, the right to work and establish businesses, the right to documentation, access to social services, and allocation of plots of land for shelter and agricultural production through a generous asylum policy (the Refugee Act of 2006 and the Refugee Regulations of 2010). The country pursues a non-camp settlement policy, by which refugees are allocated relatively large plots of land that are stretched out over vast territories, which allows for both shelter and agricultural production. Typically, the settlement approach incurs higher up-front costs than that of a camp environment, when basic life-saving provision is being established. However, over time, the settlement approach encourages innovative self-reliance opportunities for refugees that are otherwise not feasible in a camp setting.
Yumbe Field Office manages the worlds biggest refugee settlement called Bidibidi. As of 17th August the population of Bidibidi settlement is 285,969.
Shelter is one key element in the protection of refugees. While refugees construct shelter on their own, persons with specific needs (PSNs) require support. Standardization of shelter and its materials requires the support of shelter officer. UNHCR Arua has one shelter officer on deployment who is managing all the four settlements including the support to developmental projects. There are more than 200,000 PSN who require immediate support on shelter. Shelter Officer for Yumbe will manage the shelter technical and coordination activities in for Yumbe Field Office. He will be required to coordinate the activities of the partners, review bill of quantities for infrastructure developments in the settlements, support in the development of a shelter strategy, support projects for the host communities that are implemented under the CRRF framework and also train partners on UNHCR shelter guidelines, rules and polies.
UNHCR supports refugees with protection issues related to health, SGBV, child protection, legal assistance, WASH, shelter, food assistance, registration and infrastructure development.
Role and responsibilities :
The role of the Shelter Officer is:
1. The Shelter Officer will conduct comprehensive sectoral needs assessments in liaison with other relevant sectors such as protection, programme, community services, Public Health, WASH, administration and supply.
2. To ensure the most effective response, both quantitative and qualitative data should be gathered on the profile/needs and living conditions of both the refugees and host community.
3. The shelter officer will support the review of shelter proposals, budgets and reports submitted by partners
4. Provide inputs for the country operations plan (including budgets, staffing levels and structures) as well as prepare funding submissions, appeals and reports related to shelter activities
5. Guide and train UNHCR as well as implementing partners (IP) staff in UNHCR standard procedures related to the Shelter strategies and standards
6. Ensure that UNHCR partners are supported in carrying out shelter needs assessments taking into account the current situation and projected population planning figures.
7. Assist in developing sustainable shelter strategies which are framed by UNHCR’s Global Strategy for Settlement and Shelter (2014-2018) and take into consideration the local context, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection and the availability of local resources, including materials, capacities and existing infrastructure.
8. Provide clear guidance on standards for shelter, including minimum emergency standards to meet basic and essential needs as well as guidance for phased improvement of shelter conditions that will be necessary as the duration of the displacement prolongs.
9. Together with UNHCR's implementing partners, compiling, analyzing and mapping available information on shelter options in the five settlements taking into account relevant policies adopted by the Government. When planning shelter works, ensuring that the technical component reflects UNHCR minimum standards for the provision of emergency and other types of shelter assistance and is within the budgetary requirements. Due consideration should be given to standards in other relevant sectors such as water and sanitation.
10. Ensuring the shelter strategy is periodically reviewed to reflect the evolving situation in the five settlements and progressively transitioning to more sustainable shelter solutions. This process should be done in close collaboration with the beneficiaries and the host Government while bearing in mind the shelter needs of persons of concern upon their eventual return to their country of origin.
11. Ensuring that specifications, bills of quantities and drawings are produced in a technically sound and standardized manner. Establish monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure that works are implemented according to plans and completed within the designated timeframe.
12. Through participation in ReHope meetings and monitoring activities, ensure that local communities have been consulted on shelter activities so as not to create unnecessary tension between the displaced and host populations.
13. Monitor all shelter and infrastructure activities through Implementing Partners and ensure compliance with strategies and guidance provided and agreed.
14. In consultation with UNHCR’s implementing partners and local communities themselves, support the District Local Governments in identifying the need for community based Community Support Projects (CSP) and Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) implemented through ReHope project that can benefit the local and refugee communities.
15. When identifying beneficiaries, ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable population of concern (POC) and host families are addressed. UNHCR’s vulnerability indicators should be applied in a participatory manner during the beneficiary selection in coordination with protection section.
16. When planning shelter works, ensure that the technical component reflects UNHCR minimum standards for the provision of emergency and other types of shelter assistance and is within the budgetary requirements. Standards for other sectors such as water and sanitation should be taken into consideration also.
Monitoring & Progress Control
1. Ensuring that specifications, bills of quantities and drawings are produced in a technically sound and standardized manner. Establish monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure that works are implemented according to plans and completed within the designated timeframe. **
2. Through participation in ReHope meetings and monitoring activities, ensure that local communities have been consulted on shelter activities so as not to create unnecessary tension between the displaced and host populations.3. Monitor all shelter and infrastructure activities through Implementing Partners and ensure compliance with strategies and guidance provided and agreed.
Qualifications & Experience
1. Degree in Architecture or Civil-Engineering **
- Minimum 5 years of relevant (international) experience with graduate degree (equivalent of Master’s), 6 years with undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS)
- . Proficiency in English is required.*Work experience*
At least 8 years relevant experience in the related field, including collaboration with different humanitarian organizations (Field experience in responding to emergencies working with relevant governmental technical departments and various organizations in identifying, designing, and implementing shelter solutions).
Prior experience of implementing shelter and settlement projects in humanitarian context and large scale emergencies coordinating with operational partners governmental technical departments.
Prior experience in designing and implementing a shelter strategy, including refugee situations, collective shelter and camp settings, in emergency while considering the transition to more sustainable solutions.
Project formulation, planning, supervision and management skills.
Strong analytical, drafting and diplomatic skills, and proficiency in basic computer software’s, including engineering (AutoCAD, Infraworks 360, etc) and GIS tools (GPS usage).
Previous involvement in implementation processes (including development of bill of quantities, analysis of local capacity and local markets, cost estimations etc.)
Prior experience in settlement site planning including layout of shelter plots, roads, communal infrastructures and basic services.
Prior experience in designing and implementing shelter strategies.
Knowledge of UNHCR standards and criteria for site selection, including consideration of cross sectorial issues related to protection, WASH, environment, land property issues etc.
Experience of construction management (including site supervision, monitoring, quality control, evaluation etc.) including application of participatory approaches to facilitate active participation of communities into the project cycle and into the construction process.
Experience in developing shelter and settlement need assessments and undertaking gap analysis for development of shelter programs.
Good coordination and communication skills
Experience in building on existing local capacity and transfer knowledge as appropriate. 14. Excellent working knowledge of English is essential. >
How to apply:
Please submit your application before the 19th of February 23h55, EAT (Nairobi) via : http://unhcrjobs.imuganda.com