Assistant Shelter Officer -Jijiga, Ethiopia

Job Description

Standard Job Description

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Assistant Shelter Officer contributes to the preparation of comprehensive sectoral needs assessments in liaison with other relevant sectors such as protection, programme, community services, public health, WASH, administration and supply. To ensure the most effective response, both quantitative and qualitative data should be gathered on the profile/needs and living conditions of both the displaced population and host community.

The incumbent will oversee the day to-day operations of all construction and general infrastructure projects within the Area of Responsibility (AoR) to ensure that works proceed as designed and comply with established standards and procedures for the full project cycle. In a first instance, the incumbent ensures that the Operation is supported in carrying out shelter and infrastructure needs assessments taking into account the current situation, projected population planning figures and the expected scale of returns. Close and regular contact is also maintained with technical and non-technical staff of UN Agencies, Implementing Partners, and shelter sector members, national and international NGOs and Government Authorities.

The incumbent will also participate in discussions relating to shelter and infrastructure coordination and provision. The Assistant Shelter Officer normally reports to a more senior shelter colleague or Technical Coordinator and maintains a strong collaboration with the Shelter and Settlements Section in HQ.

The incumbent contributes to ensuring that shelter & infrastructure responses within the AoR evolve according to the changing nature of the situation, progressively working towards more durable solutions and drawing from sustainable local building practices and materials. Specialized functions to be dealt with by the incumbent include shelter and general infrastructure planning, design and construction monitoring including remote monitoring, therefore the person should have a strong academic qualification in civil engineering, architecture or a related discipline. Within an urban context, it is essential that shelter responses take into consideration urban planning strategies, including an analysis of residential areas, housing affordability and availability.

In addition, regardless of the context, shelter assistance should at all times minimize the risk of harm, eviction, exploitation and abuse, overcrowded living conditions, limited access to services and unhygienic conditions. Special attention must be given to the environment and low carbon approaches, attention to material selection through sustainable means to ensure a green approach to shelter delivery.

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

Technical Guidance – Assist in developing and periodically updating a suitable shelter approach within the AoR, taking into consideration area-based approaches, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection and the availability of local resources, including materials, capacities and existing infrastructure.

– Participate in comprehensive sectoral needs assessments while liaising with other relevant sectors such as protection, programme, community services, WASH, administration and supply.

Engage with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the beneficiary selection process prioritises the shelter needs of the most vulnerable Persons of Concern (POC) are addressed.

– Contribute to shelter strategies and periodically review them to reflect evolving situations and ensure alignment with national and global level policies and guidelines including: Global Compact on Refugees, Sustainable Development Goals, Relevant Global Strategies and Policies.

– Oversee all construction and infrastructure projects within the AoR ensuring that works are carried out in compliance with established UNHCR and national standards/best practices for the full project cycle.

– Review, identify and monitor shelter programmes within the AoR and initiate responses to address the gaps in collaboration and coordination with key UNHCR technical staff, operational partners and authorities as required.

– When planning shelter solutions, work closely with other relevant sectors such as water and sanitation, infrastructure for reception, education and health so that implementation is synchronised and coordinated.

– Work with established clear guidance and detailed standards for coordinated shelter assessments, specific to the operational context in line with emergency standards and long-term durable shelter solutions.

– Monitor and follow up the design and construction of infrastructure and other facilities (schools, health centres, reception centres, drainage and roadworks etc) to confirm these are approved by the relevant authorities, technically sound, supplemented with accurate drawings, detailed BQs and specifications.

– Support implementing partners on sound technical shelter and settlement issues while ensuring compliance with global, national and operational strategies and guidance.

– Work with appropriate internationally accepted shelter standards, best practice and guidelines and disseminate this information among partners within the AoR to meet quality and oversight expectations. Coordination

– Support the supervisor in ensuring that UNHCR¿s operation is technically sound in the field of shelter, construction and infrastructure development within the AoR to best meet the needs of POC.

– Participate in coordination and management of UNHCR¿s shelter and infrastructure interventions in a timely, cost-effective, inter-sectoral manner providing adequate delivery of technical interventions and services to support operational needs. Work with the government and relevant authorities and counterparts to ensure strong coordination and partnership.

– Where activated, provide support to a close and operational leading role in the Shelter Cluster so that UNHCR¿s operational footprint is aligned with the agency goals. In refugee operations, take on the role of the coordination of shelter and settlement activities in line with the Refugee Coordination Model within the AoR.

– Participate, as technical focal point for shelter/infrastructure, in coordination meetings with various stakeholders including Government counterparts to ensure UNHCR’s interests and those of the POCs are adequately reflected and disseminate information to all stakeholders in a timely, efficient manner.

– Coordinate with partners to assess, analyse and map available information on shelter options in the AoR considering relevant policies, guidelines and plans adopted by the Government. Collaboration

– Support Programme in reviewing technical components of the Project Partnership Agreements that contain any construction and infrastructure projects. Provide technical inputs and advise Programme colleagues during Implementing Partner Selection of shelter sector partners.

– Actively work with Programme as a member of the Multi-Functional Team in the Operation and regularly participate in multi-sectoral activities to ensure protection and assistance needs of the population are met.

– Support Supply team on matters related to the procurement of construction, infrastructure and other sector related works and services. Draft complete sets of bid documents for all construction and infrastructure projects including technical specifications, BoQs, drawings, etc.

– Carry out technical evaluation of the received bids as well as review/inspection of the quality of shelter and infrastructure products/works during implementation and at completion.

– Work in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders including local authorities, implementing and operational partners and affected communities on issues related to the shelter and settlement programme, while ensuring full participation of them in all work in order to achieve optimum levels of adequacy in the shelter response, for enhancement of skills development and income generating opportunities.

– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level

• For P1/NOA – 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree;
• or no experience with Graduate degree;
• or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

• Architecture; Civil Engineering; Structural Engineering; Construction Management; or other relevant field.
• (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses

• Not specified

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

– Hands-on technical support including experience in assistance delivery in emergencies and relief operations.

– Knowledge of SPHERE standards and ability to use basic survey equipment, digital cameras, GPS receivers and computer equipment.

– Knowledge of AutoCAD and other tools forming a part of the UNHCR settlement planning toolkit

Desirable

– Knowledge of UNHCR system and operating modality.

– Understanding of the humanitarian architecture.

Functional Skills

• IT-Computer Literacy
• CO-Drafting and Documentation
• SP-CAD 3D modeling for Settlement Analysis (eg. Infraworks, Civil 3D)
• SP-Shelter and Infrastructure Coordination
• *SP-Autocad for Settlement Planning (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.

Location of Assignment: Bokh

The incumbent of the position will be based in Bokh not in Jijiga, which is the exact location of the contractual assignment of this position.

Additional language skills in Somali and Amharic are a desirable.

Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Living and Working Conditions:

Bokh town is located in Doolo zone of the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia and is the headquarters of the Bokh woreda (District), with an estimated population of 50,000 people. It is situated 170 kms away from Wardher, the Doolo zonal capital, 780km from Jijiga, 80-100 km from the Ethiopia-Somalia border and 1,400 kilometers away from Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa.

Kebridehar is the nearest big town located on the main asphalt road from Jijiga that has an airport providing air transport from Addis Ababa to the region. However, the distance from Kebridehar to Bokh via Wardher is about 305 kms, but this takes about 7 hours due to the rough nature of the road.

Bokh and its surrounding areas are characterized by moderate, dusty, and dry weather. The temperature varies from 30–38 degrees Celsius and can rise up to 40 degrees Celsius, thus creating a very hot and uncomfortable environment. The rainy season is normally during the months of June to September and although it reduces the warm temperature, it creates a perfect condition for insects to fertilize, especially mosquitoes.

The currency used in Doolo zone is the Ethiopian Birr (ETB). There are no banking services in Bokh town. The nearest banking facility if the branch for the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in Wardher, the zonal capital. It is recommended to carry cash before arriving at the Bokh UNHCR Satellite Office.

Services like electricity and water are very limited. Electricity for the town is supplied for a few hours a day from a big generator and some residents have invested in solar power. Water is provided from two main boreholes whose capacity does not satisfy the entire town population, with proposed rehabilitation and construction of new boreholes by the district authorities.

Network coverage is unreliable in Bokh. In commercial hotel accommodations, there is no access to the internet at all. Sometimes staff use mobile phone data to check their emails. Connection to wireless networks and other ICT needs is under preparation by UNHCR ICT colleagues. VSAT equipment are being prepared for installation in Bokh and some ICT emergency kits have recently been delivered in Bokh to facilitate staff office activities.

Currently, accommodations are being provided by two private commercial hotels (Shobane and Rambo) with the price varying between ETB 500-600 per night. UNHCR is planning to rent a property for staff accommodation which will then provide a standard accommodation rate in accordance with the Policy on UNHCR-Provided Accommodation in the Field. However, due to the numbers of humanitarian workers arriving in Bokh, accommodation has recently been scarce. UNHCR has dispatched some 50 tents and mattresses to set up a tented camp for staff accommodation to complement available hotel spaces.

Most accommodations do not have private bathrooms, air-conditioning, closets, or other additional house furniture.

Upon arrival at the UNHCR Satellite Office in Bokh, a security briefing is required. Official working hours are Monday through Thursday: 08:30 – 17:30 hours, with a one-hour lunch break from 12:30 to 13:30 hours; while on Friday: 08:30 – 14:00 hours, with no lunch break.

• This position requires Functional Clearance

Skills

• CO-Drafting and Documentation,
• IT-Computer Literacy,
• SP-Autocad for Settlement Planning,
• SP-CAD 3D modeling for Settlement Analysis (eg. Infraworks, Civil 3D),
• SP-Shelter and Infrastructure Coordination

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