ABOUT THE COMPANY:

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, is mandated to protect and assist men, women and children forced to flee their homes due to violence, conflict or persecution. UNHCR is dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced and stateless people. The Agency provides protection, shelter, food, water, medical care and other life-saving assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers around the world.

The dream of most refugees is to return home. If and where possible, UNHCR helps refugees make this dream a reality. When refugees cannot go back home, we work to find solutions for them, to rebuild their lives in another country. Since its formation by the United Nations General Assembly in 1950, UNHCR has helped millions of refugees restart their lives and has received the Nobel Peace Prize twice.

JOB SUMMARY

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

Family

CONS International

2024-09-16

August 12, 2024

This is an international consultant position, and therefore, the vacancy is open to applications of non-nationals of Panama.

Please note that this is a 3.5 months contract with possibility of extension for 2025 subject to budget, good performance and operational needs.

The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect.

The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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.

UNHCR does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview call, processing, training or any other stage).

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

For information on United Nations salaries, allowances and benefits, visit the International Civil Service Commission web portal at:
http://icsc.un.org

Levels of language knowledge:
A1-beginner
A2-elementary
B1-lower intermediate
B2-upper intermediate
C1-advanced/proficient
C2-fluent

English and Spanish are required at a B2 level for this position.

PROJECT DETAILS

The Senior Inter-Agency HM Coordination Officer plays a crucial role in ensuring the United Nations System (SNU) Group of Human Mobility (GHM) approach to partnership and inter-agency processes are consistent, strategic and coherent. The main aim is to ensure that the GHM can fulfil its role to support the Government to lead the refugee and migrant response, coordinate other actors and adhere to inter agency commitments and agreements.

This should be done in line with the GHM decisions.

More specifically, s/he advises the GHM co-leads and the SNU Regional Coordinator Office (RCO) in Panama on inter-agency processes and related positioning, coordination, advocacy, information, resource allocation, fundraising, reporting, and communication with government entities, other UN agencies, NGOs, civil society actors, private sector media, other relevant actors through strong engagement in humanitarian inter- agency processes, but also with a focus on development processes as they impact on the GHM.

The overall goal of the position is to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of GHM roles and responses to situations affecting people of concern through an open and transparent partnership approach.

General Background of Project or Assignment, Operational Context:

For more than a decade, refugees and migrants have entered Panamanian territory through the Darien jungle on their way to the northern part of the American continent.

Over the recent years, the number of people traveling has increased exponentially, as have their profiles, nationalities and needs, which, in most cases, are the result of the risks and dangers of crossing through the jungle, situations that have unleashed a deep and complex humanitarian crisis.

Considering the importance of guaranteeing respect for human rights and peaceful coexistence, as well as providing support to the Panamanian State in the care, treatment of the population in transit, strengthening of transit communities, the response humanitarian and in the implementation of migration and international protection policies, through the coordinated decision of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and under the United Nations Cooperation Framework, the United Nations System (UNS) in Panama established a Group of Human Mobility as a UN inter agency working group (GHM SNU).

In 2023 a larger coordination group, comprised of UN and NGOs to support humanitarian response in Darien was established at central level, called the Grupo Mobilidad Humana Panama GMHP.

The GHM Panama is composed of the agencies, funds and programs (AFP) of the UNS that expressed its wish to be part of the GHM (currently UNHCR, IOM, OHCHR, OCHA, PAHO, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNODC, UN Women) and the following international and civil society organizations that maintain a presence in Panama, mainly in the province of Darién and Chiriquí that have field activities to support the humanitarian response to mixed movements, namely: HIAS, NRC, Panamanian Red Cross, RET, PADF, Global Brigades, ICRC, IFRC, Medicos del Mundo and Doctors without Borders, in the role of observer member.

The main objective of the GHMP is to maximize efforts and resources to provide a better and more solid response to the needs of refugees and migrants passing through Panama.

This through consolidation and coordination of the different efforts to support the humanitarian response provided by the AFP of the UNS, as well as the different international and civil society organizations that are part of the GHM and that participate of these actions in Panama, mainly in the provinces of Darién and Chiriquí, location of most of the population of interest.

All of this to support the prioritization of existing resources, avoid duplication of efforts, favor identification and reference of vulnerable cases and, especially, strengthen joint advocacy and advocacy actions with the authorities.

The GHMP has two levels:
a.

Political and strategic: coordination at the highest level, led by the UNS Resident Coordinator (RC) and an NGO Director with the support of IOM and UNHCR and the participation of the respective representatives of the AFP of the UNS that are part of the GHM and the Country Directors of international organizations and society civilian participants.
b.

Technical and operational: in charge of supporting the strategic role and ensuring inter-level operational and technical coordination (at headquarters and in the field), the work subgroups and the preparation of reports and reports co-chaired by IOM and UNHCR in coordination with the Office of the RC and key agencies.

The technical/operational coordination of the SNU Human Mobility Group are also co led by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The strategic coordination and the calls for joint meetings will be coordinated and led by the office of the RC together with the co-leader of one of the international organizations or civil society that are part of the GHM, the last in a rotating manner.

The IOM and UNHCR operational co-leads support the proper functioning of the GHMP as well.

As per the interagency nature of the GHMP and the GHM, it is necessary to maintain close collaboration and clear channels of coordination among the actors, ensuring proper management, transparency, consolidation, and exchange of information and improve coordination specific results.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

To support the coordination functions of the GHMP as well as any eventual humanitarian coordination arrangements in Panama and linkages with UN other inter-agency process, and thanks to the support of the donor community, a support team will be established composed of a Human Mobility Inter-Agency Coordination Officer at P4 level, and a Senior Information Management Associate at LICA7 level.

Both positions will be administered by UNHCR and will report to the SNU RC/O as the strategic and political coordinator of the GHMP and to the GMHP co-leads (UNHCR and IOM) as technical coordinators.

The selection of both positions will be done through an inter-agency panel to be organized for this purpose.

The Senior Inter-Agency Coordination Officer plays a crucial role in supporting the GHMP approach to partnership and inter-agency processes for their consistency, strategic and coherence.

The main aim is to ensure that the GHMP can fulfil its role to support the Government to lead the refugee and migrant response, coordinate other actors and adhere to inter agency commitments and agreements.

This should be done in line with the GHMP decisions.

More specifically, s/he advises the GHMP RC/O and co-leads in Panama on inter-agency processes and related positioning, coordination, advocacy, information, resource allocation, fundraising, reporting, and communication with government entities, other UN agencies, NGOs, civil society actors, private sector media, other relevant actors through strong engagement in humanitarian inter- agency processes, but also with a focus on development processes as they impact on the GHMP and the UNCT more widely.

The overall goal of the position is to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of GHMP roles and responses to situations affecting people of concern through an open and transparent partnership approach.

a) Duties

• Strengthen coordination and collaboration among member agencies and organizations within the Group of Human Mobility Panama, namely:
o Update and consolidate TORs from the different levels of coordination and work groups.
o Organize regular coordination meetings.
o Draft and consolidate the minutes of the meetings of the different levels of coordination of the GHMP.
o Coordinate the development of joint action plans to address gaps and enhance collaboration.
o Support the GHM co-leads and the RCO to be prepared and implement any future coordination mechanisms strengthening exercises.
o Support the establishment of information exchange actions with other coordination spaces such as R4V, Pact for Migrations, and RedLAC.
o Support strengthening of the humanitarian-development Nexus strategy with the UNCT and others relevant actors.
o Support the implementation of Executive Committee’s recommendations/guidance on coordination mechanisms.
• Facilitate information sharing, communication, and joint planning to address the needs of people within mixed movements transiting through Panama.
o Establish a shared platform for data exchange.
o Develop a communication strategy for timely updates in consultation with the key members of the UN Communications Group (UNCG)
o Prepare, in coordination with the UNCG, communication material (Q&A, factsheets, press releases, briefs, reports and key messages)
o Coordinate the consolidation of information about intervention and activities executed by the GHM in the field to prepare periodically reports.
o Support the coordination with regional mechanisms at LAC level and linkages with Costa Rica and Colombia coordination groups for cross border information sharing/coordination.
o Ensure timely and effective needs assessment, appropriate planning, prioritization, implementation, reporting and evaluation and develop joint appeals.
• Coordinate activities to enhance advocacy efforts and partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
o Provide requested support to the GHMP to engage with government officials, civil society, and donors.
o Foster approaches with other coordination mechanisms locally to enhance information sharing and joint advocacy.
o Support RCO and UN AFPs liaising with the focal points of the AFPs and NGOs part of the GHM.

o Stay abreast of political, social, economic, and cultural developments that have an impact on the human mobility situation in Panama and provide advice to the Political and Strategic level of the GHM.
o Participate and coordinate field support and advise missions as appropriate with donors and other relevant stakeholders.
• Perform other related duties as required.

b) Expected Results for the post/coordination support team:

1.

Regular joint situational and response analysis: Support monitoring systems on the situation related to mixed movements, collect all the necessary information to support joint analysis of trends and needs between UNS, NGOs and partners.

Ensure coherence of the proposed interventions of humanitarian responders in the field by avoiding duplication and ensuring accountability.
2. Collective information management and reporting: Ensure the creation and/or best use of monitoring of IM tools, joint situation reports, operational maps and dashboards, together with advocacy material and guidance specifically on communications and sensitive issues.
3.

Response planning and resource mobilization: Assist the Human Mobility Group Panama partners in the preparation, organization and production of inter-agency response plans or appeals for international assistance when needed and monitor financial situation of the response.
4.

Collective advocacy: Support the preparation of common key messages for public and private advocacy, as well as ensure feedback look to HMG partners on advocacy efforts undertaken in coordination with different groups.
5. Effective coordination meetings and follow-up: Organize, prepare and facilitate regular meetings of the HMGP, follow-up agreements and ensure compliance of the tasks necessary for the overall functioning of the group.

Support the RC and HMG co-leads when required, in meetings with Government, donors and key partners.
6.

Strengthened strategic and operational linkages between local and national coordination forums: Strengthen the liaison between coordination mechanisms on the ground in Darien and/or Chiriqui with the HMGP and similar structures at national and regional level. Establish effective communication channels, accompany/support the discussions and develop recommendations to address specific topics in each structure. Ensure all key partners’ pertinent concerns and issues are integrated in the response plans.

Requirements:
Minimum years of Experience / Degree Level
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:
– University degree in Law, Political Science, Economics, International Relations, Business Administration, Social Science or other relevant field.

Field of expertise, competencies:
Essential
Experience of working in an inter-agency environment at field or Headquarters level.

Experience of liaising with governments and/or the donor community.

Demonstrated experience and understanding of refugees and migrant issues.
Thorough understanding of humanitarian coordination processes and recent inter-agency developments related to the IASC and the broader UN.

Desirable
Knowledge of Panamanian context. Inter-agency coordination role. Drafting joint appeals. Experience with UN agencies or partner organizations.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

Spanish

,

English

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No

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