Snr Field Coord Support Off

Senior Field Coordination Support Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Working closely with DESS, DIP, DPSM and DER, the Senior Field Coordination Support Officer is accountable for technical knowledge and operational guidance to support the coordination of refugee sites and/or identified alternatives in UNHCR operations. This coordination may be in support of UNHCR¿s or national authorities¿ leadership in site based responses in order to ensure the integration of protection principles, engagement with affected populations (refugees and host communities), and effective coordination of services by the management teams. 

When in the field, the incumbent will work with stakeholders to identify the overall requirements in responding to site-based situations (camps, spontaneous sites, dispersed settlements, reception centres, or other hosting alternatives) and augment their capacity to facilitate multi-sectoral coordination, meet minimum standards, and ensure that activities are carried out quickly and effectively.

This role will remain with the Field Information and Coordination Support Section (FICSS) in order to maintain close alignment with Information Management, CCCM, and other technical sectors within DPSM. The incumbent of the position is directly supervised by the Chief of Section (FICSS). 

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- Capacity for a comprehensive displacement site response is developed and delivered.
- Guidance, advocacy, and tools are in place for multi-sectoral responses to assist and protect displacement site populations, particularly for refugee situations, but also for other displacement contexts.

Responsibility
- Work closely with Programme and relevant sectoral colleagues to ensure inclusion of relevant indicators and budget considerations for coordination and/or implementation of site-based responses, including key aspects related to camp and site management and coordination.
- Improve the understanding, and communicate the importance of site relevant IM systems and tools in the field such as site needs assessments and analysis, 4W, site maps, etc., and ensure that all relevant partners are involved.
- Support field operations in the development of response strategies and action plans for refugee sites and ensure that these are adequately reflected in overall operational strategies.
- Provide guidance to ensure site designs support protection and assistance of women, men, girls, and boys.
- Provide guidance on how to coordinate activities in sites such as; cueing/ticketing systems, distributions, child friendly spaces, etc.; paying particular attention to gender, age and diversity dimensions.
- Provide guidance on contingency planning based on worst-case and most likely scenarios in terms of population movements and accommodation requirements.
- Ensure integration of agreed priority cross-cutting issues in sectoral needs assessment, analysis, planning, monitoring and response (e.g. age, diversity, environment, gender, HIV/AIDS and human rights); contribute to the development of appropriate strategies to address these issues; ensure gender sensitive programming and promote gender equality; ensure that the needs, contributions and capacities of women and girls as well as men and boys are addressed.
- Support field operations in the mapping of operational requirements for a site response; and identify and establish (where necessary) standards and guidelines that facilitate interoperability to ensure that activities are carried out.
- Support operations to adapt relevant policies and guidelines and technical standards to context of crisis.
- Ensure that stakeholders are aware of relevant policy guidelines and technical standards.
- Ensure that responses are in line with existing policy guidance and technical standards and relevant government, human rights, and legal obligations.
- Ensure adequate monitoring mechanisms are in place to review impact and progress against implementation plans.
- Ensure adequate reporting and effective information sharing amongst all partners; including but not limited to site managers, other sector leads and national authorities, disaggregating data by sex and age.
- Ensure that humanitarian responses for site management build on local capacities, context specific strengths and national response capabilities.
- Ensure appropriate links with national and local authorities, State institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors (e.g. peacekeeping forces) and ensure appropriate coordination and information exchange with them, including in relation to site management and coordination; and
- Promote the capacity building of relevant authorities in site management.
- Work closely with Protection colleagues to ensure the complementarity of activities in HQ and the field, particularly in regard to site management related issues.
- Facilitate the provision of security and law enforcement by the national authorities and other relevant actors such as civilian police.
- When possible, organize affected population¿s participation in site governance and community mobilization with particular emphasis on women¿s decision-making role and on persons with specific needs (such as the elderly and the physically-challenged).
- Ensure transparent site governance and effective access to justice for camp residents that conforms to relevant human rights standards.
- Advocate for the mobilization of resources to support site management and coordination in field operations.
- Promote strategies to build up and strengthen confidence within camps/collective centres between residents and surrounding/host communities.
- Identify core advocacy concerns at the global level and contribute key messages to broader, multi-sectoral advocacy initiatives.
- Advocate with authorities to ensure that aid workers working in camps/collective centres are able to conduct their work independently and in an environment that allows for confidentiality of sensitive information.
- Promote and support relevant trainings in site management for NGOs, UN agencies, local government officials and members of displaced and host communities.
- Support operations in the consolidation and down-sizing camps/collective centres as needed.
- Activate camp/collective centre closure and rehabilitation of areas formerly occupied by camps/collective centres, including the development of appropriate site closure guidance and policies addressing relevant issues including questions of compensation to private landowners and disposal of assets such as water pumps, shelter materials etc.
- Ensure integration of a camp/collective centre management response elements into transition and early recovery frameworks.
- Ensure appropriate coordination with all humanitarian partners (including national and international NGOs, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, IOM and other international organizations), as well as with national authorities and local structures who are working in sites, particularly but not exclusively in sites hosting refugee populations.
- Ensure the establishment/maintenance of appropriate sectoral coordination mechanisms in sites, including working groups at the national and, if necessary, local level.
- Define the nature and extent of overlap and coordination between camp/collective centre management and other sectors particularly shelter, protection and WASH.

Authority
- Represent the UNHCR in meetings with sectoral and external partners, authorities and other relevant interlocutors.
- When in the field, negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern, under the overall supervision and guidance of relevant operations manager(s) in the field.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Advanced University degree in Social Sciences (Anthropology), International Humanitarian Law or other relevant field.
- Minimum 10 years of previous relevant work experience.
- Experience in implementing field coordination and protection at the point of delivery.
- Strong drafting and skills and experience with developing policy, advocacy messages, and tools.
- Strong negotiation skills.
- Strong capacity building skills.
- Experience in dealing with multiple crises and diverse field experience.
- Experience in conducting AGDM and participation in multi-functional assessment teams.
- Strong leadership, coordination, organization, and field protection skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage a team and coordinate with Field Offices.
- Consensus teambuilding and cultural sensitivity.
- On-the-job coaching and mentoring experience.
- Experience in Multi-agency co-ordination and dealing with the public.
- Excellent knowledge of English and French.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Computer skills.
- Good knowledge of refugee and international humanitarian and human rights law.
- Good knowledge of UNHCR¿s programmes, policies, standards and practices.
- Good knowledge of standards and practices for site management and coordination.
- Excellent drafting and communication skills.
- Strong facilitation and training skills.