Grade

GS7

General Service

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

H (no hardship)

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2025-01-01

2025-12-31

October 27, 2024

Standard Job Description

Senior Field Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Field Associate is normally supervised by the (Senior) Field Officer or Head of Office and performs a variety of functions related to Field activities within the office. The supervisor defines general work objectives and the incumbent completes the work independently. Work is controlled for meeting expected results and conformity to policy and procedures by the supervisor. The Senior Field Associate normally supervises some General Service support staff.
The incumbent keeps frequent internal contacts with staff members in the same duty station to exchange information, to establish understanding of respective needs; to ensure provision of services and resolution of problems and with the external contacts generally with officials of national and international institutions, leaders of the refugee community, local population and/or Implementing Partners (IPs) on subject matters which may be of importance to the Organization.

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
– Undertake regular visits to various sites in order to assess needs of persons of concern, with particular attention to vulnerable groups.
– Advise the supervisor on programme requirements and formulate project submissions, including community development and self-reliance activities, where applicable, in collaboration with authorities and implementing partners.
– Monitor and supervise the implementation of UNHCR programme including the delivery of all assistance items and monitoring of infrastructure and make the necessary recommendation for its improvement.
– Keep regular contacts with local authorities and implementing partners as requested by supervisor.
– Act as interpreter when required.
– Contribute to the preparation of status and progress reports by providing info, preparing tables, etc.
– Monitor refugee movements related to repatriation and other inter-camps transfers.
– Inform and act on the reports received on persons of concern within the refugee community or from the local authorities.
– Handle, in coordination with implementing partners, the reception, registration and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
– Negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
– Represent UNHCR in physical monitoring of projects.
– Provide inputs for the country operations plan and other submissions and reports.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G7 – 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
Business Administration, Law, Political Science
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Knowledge of International legal affairs relating to asylum, migration and related issues.

Desirable
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position.
UNHCR field experience.

Functional Skills
*IT-Computer Literacy
CO-Drafting and Documentation
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
(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.

The position is open to internal and external applicants.

Operational Context

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is a global organization protecting people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We work in over 130 countries, helping millions of people with life-saving support, safeguarding fundamental human rights, and helping them build a better future (see www.unhcr.org).

UNHCR in Latvia has a small presence in Riga, and works closely with Government authorities, civil society – including a number of partner organizations – as well as other relevant stakeholders to promote the rights and well-being of refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons. The UNHCR office in Latvia reports to the UNHCR’s Representation for the Nordic and Baltic countries, which is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Latvia used to receive a relatively modest number of asylum applications each year. In August 2021, Latvia faced an increase of arrivals of asylum-seekers and migrants coming via Belarus. Most of the admitted persons applied for asylum in Latvia. Main countries of origin were Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq. Since February 2022, Latvia has received thousands of refugees from Ukraine including many who transited through the country and continued towards other countries. In total, as of September 2024, almost 50,000 refugees from Ukraine have received temporary protection in Latvia, representing almost 3 per cent of Latvia’s population. It is estimated that about 27,000 holders of temporary protection remain in Latvia. From the outset of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the Latvian Government swiftly adopted the special law to offer effective protection and facilitate access of refugees from Ukraine to rights and services on equal footing with Latvian citizens. Despite the whole-of-society approach and tailored assistance focused on basic needs, inclusion, and services available for persons with specific needs, refugees from Ukraine are still facing challenges with decent employment, access to healthcare and inclusion in education in Latvia.

Following the large increase in the number of refugees due to the full-scale war in Ukraine, UNHCR stepped up its response and operations in Latvia. Since 2023, Latvia has been included in the Regional Refugee Response Plan for the Ukraine Situation, complementing the government-led response. The plan is coordinated by UNHCR and has been developed by 14 humanitarian organizations in Latvia.
In addition to refugees from Ukraine, there are approximately 1,400 refugees from other countries, mainly Syria, Russia and Afghanistan.

There are two more groups of concern to UNHCR: 1) the “non-citizens” (more than 187,000 persons), and 2) stateless persons determined in the Statelessness Determination Procedure (160 persons). While the “non-citizens” in Latvia are entitled to rights generally beyond the minimum rights prescribed by the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons.

Organizational setting and Responsibilities

The UNHCR office in Latvia, a small office with three staff, reports to the UNHCR Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries located in Stockholm, Sweden. UNHCR assists asylum-seekers, refugees, and stateless persons in Latvia through partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGO).

The Senior Field Associate will be based in Riga, Latvia. The Senior Field Associate will work under supervision of the Government Liaison Officer and perform field activities to monitor the situation of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, identify needs and protection issues of asylum-seekers, refugees and stateless persons, and seek sustainable solutions to their problems. The Senior Field Associate will undertake regular visits to various reception sites, accommodation centers and host communities to assess the situation and needs of asylum-seekers, refugees and stateless persons with particular attention to persons with specific needs (persons with disabilities, older people, children and women at risk, survivors of trauma, etc.). To ensure the involvement of forcibly displaced persons in decision-making that affect them, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with refugee communities, local authorities and NGO partners. The Senior Field Associate will also be actively engaged in needs and participatory assessments, protection surveys, communication with communities, and public awareness campaigns.

Minimum Qualifications: 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher degree.

Field(s) of Education: Business Administration, Law, Political and Social Science.

Relevant Job Experience: Knowledge of human rights and other legal aspects relating to asylum, migration and related issues. Considering the current operational needs, information and data management, as well as experience with data collection and analysis tools are an asset.

Language requirements: Knowledge of English and Latvian is essential. Fluency in other UN working languages and Ukrainian is an asset.

IMPORTANT:
– No late applications will be accepted.
– Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.
– Shortlisted candidates may be subject to a written test.
– UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
– The applicant must demonstrate a proof of residency and/ or work permit for Estonia at the time of application.

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.

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.

Please note that successful candidates may be subject to a written test as a part of the selection process.

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

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Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, CO-Drafting and Documentation, IT-Computer Literacy, PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)

Education

Certifications

Business Administration – Other, Law – Other, Political Science – Other

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