Mission and objectives

UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East. Over seven decades, the Agency has contributed, through its services, to one of the most successful human development endeavour in the region, benefitting millions of Palestine Refugees. Through its humanitarian and development services, the Agency plays an important role for the stability of the region and the quest for peace. UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance, development services and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency’s area of operations, namely the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. As a direct public like service provider, UNRWA helps millions of Palestine Refugees, one of the most vulnerable communities in the Middle East, to achieve their full potential in human development Its quality and inclusive services encompasses education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. The Agency also plays a key role in advocating for the rights of Palestine refugees and supporting their well-being until a just and lasting solution to their plight is found. UNRWA operates 711 elementary and preparatory schools in its five fields of operation, providing free basic education for some 540,000 Palestine refugee children. UNRWA’s schools promote human rights, tolerance, and gender equality. UNRWA Health programme delivers comprehensive primary health care services, both preventive and curative, to Palestine refugees, and helps them access secondary and tertiary health care services. UNRWA has 140 primary health care facilities, covering more than 6.9 million annual patient visits across all fields. It is estimated that 1.2 million live in absolute poverty, and 700,000 in abject poverty, unable to meet their most basic food needs. UNRWA provides emergency food and cash assistance to 1.8 million Palestine refugees. In Gaza, the Agency operates today as the backbone of the international humanitarian response. The protection of Palestine Refugees lies at the core of UNRWA’s mandate. UNRWA recognizes that Palestine Refugees are best protected through the realization of their human rights, including their right to health, education, food, shelter, culture, and non-discrimination. While the primary responsibility to protect, respect, and fulfil human rights lies with States, UNRWA plays a key role both as a provider of core services and as an advocate on behalf of the Palestine refugee population with duty bearers. UNRWA works towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Palestine Refugees. Its programmes foster human capital and nurture peaceful development, consistent with UN principles and values, supporting the stability of a region buffeted by crisis and facing multiple complex and overlapping development challenges.

Context

UNRWA’s Executive Office (EO) is responsible for providing support to the Commissioner-General and the two Deputies Commissioner-General in executive planning, formulation and coordination of all aspects of UNRWA management. The EO oversees field offices, representative offices in Brussels, Cairo, New York and Washington D.C, HQ programmes and support departments. The EO leads and sustains organizational change Agency-wide, manages high-level strategic decision-making, serves as a catalyst for cooperation Agency-wide, and manages sensitive issues and diverse risks deriving from both the external and internal environment. The work of the Executive Office encompasses the following interrelated and interconnected spheres of work: 1) providing vision, leadership and strategic direction to the Agency, 2) leading organizational design, 3) governance and decision-making, 4) policy, 5) operational oversight, 6) internal stakeholder engagement and 7) advocacy and external stakeholder engagement. The Deputy Commissioner-General for Programmes and Partnerships (DCG/PP) provides leadership and oversight of the Agency’s Field Offices (in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria) and a number of HQ departments/divisions, including the departments of Education, Health, Relief & Social Services, Microfinance, External Relations and Communications, and the Protection division. The DCG/PP leads and coordinates UNRWA’s efforts to protect and ensure timely and effective provision of services to Palestine Refugees during times of crises, such as conflict and/or public health emergencies, ensuring effective preparedness and response throughout the Agency. The DCG/PP oversees the Agency’s humanitarian response and emergency response mechanisms, including for the current crisis in Gaza and Lebanon. The DCG/PP represents the Commissioner-General at senior/ministerial level with host and donor Governments, at international, regional, and inter-agency meetings, seminars, and conferences, and with government and intergovernmental bodies, such as the General Assembly and its committees. Additional information: International UN Volunteers are entitled to: • Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of USD 2,507.69 (subject to change in monthly Post Adjustment Modifier). • Entry lumpsum, Exit lumpsum; and Travel Allowance • Annual and learning leaves; • Free Medical and life insurance; and • Free access to different learning platforms. For more information on UN Volunteer benefits, entitlements and support, please visit: https://www.unv.org/become-volunteer/volunteer-abroad

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Special Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner General for Programmes and Partnerships (DCG/PP), the UN Volunteer will: • Ensure optimal preparation of and follow up to meetings and engagements of the DCG/PP with internal and external interlocutors; • Provide substantive and practical support, serving as secretariat in meetings chaired by the DGC/PP • Draft and prepare correspondence, briefing notes, background documents, reports, talking points, speeches, presentations, social media posts, etc. • Follow up on the implementation of decisions and on other matters referred by the DCG/PP to HQ departments and field offices • Contribute to the optimal flow of information to, from and within the Executive Office; • Colle ct, analyse, and present data and other information gathered from diverse sources to support decision making; • Support the substantive preparation of and follow up to missions by the DCG/PP • Support the maintenance of an effective system of information management • Serve as the EO focal point for specific subjects and/or departments and field offices reporting to the DCG/PP • Perform any other related tasks as required or assigned by the Special Assistant to the DCG/PP.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism • Integrity • Adaptability and flexibility • Communication • Analysing • Planning and organising • Team work

Living conditions and remarks

Location: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is located in the Middle East. Bound by Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, Red Sea to the south and the Palestinian National Authority to the west. Weather: Jordan’s climate can be classified as semi-arid (Bsh) on the Koeppen-Geiger classification. It features a hot, dry climate characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. The climate is influenced by Jordan’s location between the subtropical aridity of the Arabian desert areas and the subtropical humidity of the eastern Mediterranean area. January is the coldest month, with temperatures from 5°C to 10°C, and August is the hottest month at 20°C to 35°C. Daily temperatures can be quite hot, especially in the summer; on some days it can be 40°C or more, especially when a hot, dry southerly wind blows. Such winds can sometimes be very strong and can cause sandstorms. About 70 percent of the average rainfall in the country falls between November and March; June through August are often rainless. Rainfall varies from season to season and from year to year. Precipitation is often concentrated in violent storms, causing erosion and local flooding, especially in the winter months. Safety and Security: Jordan is a relatively stable country. The potentials for internal or external armed conflict are considered very unlikely in the current political environment. Peaceful demonstrations, and sometimes road blockages, do occur in Jordan, motivated by domestic factors such as unemployment, deprivation of resources and development or for regional issues such as solidarity with the Palestinian cause or with the Syrian crises. Most of these events are driven by civil society unions and Islamic parties. Domestic tribal civil unrest sometimes turns violent, especially outside main cities, due to tribal disputes or socio-economic reasons. In all occasions law enforcement agencies usually manage to contain the situation rapidly. Road traffic accidents are the primary threat against UN personnel in Jordan. Poor road conditions and bad driving behaviours are the main reasons for the high rate of traffic accidents. Amman is a category A duty station with security level 1. Transportation and housing: Taxis as well as ride-hailing services (Uber and Careem) are abundant and affordable in Amman. Medical facilities are generally very good, particularly in Amman where there are several modern, well-equipped public and private hospitals. Public minibuses are the most common form of public transport. They normally only leave when full, so waiting times of an hour or more are inevitable, especially in rural areas. The larger air-con buses offer a speedy and reliable service, departing according to a fixed schedule. Housing is readily available with rents for one- to two-bedroom apartments ranging between 500 and 800 JD (1 JD = 0.708 USD) depending on the location. Health Services: Medical facilities are generally very good, particularly in Amman where there are several modern, well-equipped public and private hospitals. Almost all doctors (and most pharmacists) speak English; many have studied abroad. Language: The official language of Jordan is Arabic, but English is widely spoken – especially in the cities. Many Jordanians have travelled or have been educated abroad so French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken, but to a lesser extent. Learn more about Jordan from the Ministry of Tourism’s website: https://www.mota.gov.jo/Default/En