Mission and objectives

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org)..

Context

With over 765,000 registered refugees, including some 90% from Syria, Jordan is among UNHCR’s largest operations. The operation moves at high speed and requires regular adaptability and flexibility. Zaatari camp was established on July 27, 2012, as a temporary home for Syrian refugees fleeing their home country. The camp hosts more than 80,000 refugees. The Refugee UN Volunteer Site Assistant is considered the first line of staff covering the community needs, takes the overall responsibility for camp management-related issues in the Zaatari camp, and reports the needed information to the UNHCR Field unit under the direct supervision of the Field officer; this involves receiving queries from the camp refugees, getting the proper action from the field unit staff to provide feedback, supporting the field unit differently and helping deliver services, among other tasks as assigned by Her/his supervisor. Average computer knowledge and good experience in reporting are required. The assigned Refugee UN Volunteer must exercise great diplomacy in his/her tasks and enable harmonization in assistance across the operational area. S/He should also proactively assist the office’s units in projecting needs with requesters and participate in planning and unit service delivery strategy. The working conditions at the field level require flexibility, service-oriented, and excellent interpersonal skills to ensure a solid team spirit. Availability that his/her likeness appears on media, social media, photos, and videos as it will be impossible for UNHCR to prevent such appearances on the public or external occasion s/he will perform duties. S/He will need to understand that her/his picture will possibly be seen on the internet. Qualified Refugee candidates are highly encouraged to apply. Additional information: UN Community Volunteers in Jordan are entitled to: • Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of JOD 440.66 • 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/volunteer-your-country-conditions-service

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the Field Officer, the Refugee UN Volunteer will: • Support the frequent addressing verification process addressed by the registration unit or other UNHCR units. • Receive queries from the camp refugees about shelter, get the proper answer from the UNHCR field officer to provide feedback, and follow up as necessary. • Facilitate awareness sessions based on the information provided by UNHCR and share information on the shelter with the community. • Support the caravans’ distribution operation by helping the field team deliver the newly donated, constructed, or retrieved shelters. • Support the Field unit in monitoring and reporting any infrastructure establishment or ongoing maintenance in the camp. • Support in shelter monitoring and in reporting any current events in the camp 24/7, like fire incidents, shelter vandalisim, caravan trading, violations,…etc. • Receive and answer all shelter eligibility and distribution queries after consulting with the field officer. • Follow up with all district relocation requests and monitor the implementation by consulting with the field officer. • Follow up on the rules and regulations regarding shelter trading and report any incident to the field officer to follow up accordingly. • Follow up and update the waiting list for caravan distribution and the priority/ eligibility of the refugee families to receive extra/new caravan/s. • Support in reviewing/updating the caravan distribution priority/ eligibility list criteria. • Consider the first liners in case of a winterization emergency, and report any areas in the camp affected by the harsh weather to the field officer for proper action. • Support fire awareness plans and report any fire incidents. • Report empty, vacant, or closed shelters to the field officer for proper action. • Support in prioritizing, reviewing, and discussing the response action for the shelter-related issues referred by different UNHCR units. • Support any UNHCR unit requests in the field as needed. • Follow up on the illegal extensions done by the refugees in the camp. • Follow up on any cases facing problems in the Mobile Wallet services and needing a home visit to check. • Supporting the Field unit with the data entry and helping contact the camp refugees to collect the field-related information needed. • Reach out to the refugees facing shelter relocation challenges to support them as needed. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the field officer. Desirable Skills and experience: • Professional work experience at the national and/or international level in camp management-related issues. • Excellent interpersonal skills, cultural and social sensitivity, and the ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with various partners, including grassroots community members, youth organizations, and authorities at different levels, are required. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness. • Have affinity with or interest in UNHCR volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development and the UN System.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Living conditions and remarks

The position is based in Sub Office Mafraq, presently a B category duty station. Compared to other governorates, working conditions in the north of Jordan are harsh. Sub Office Mafraq and Field Office Azraq are hot and dry desert, dusty environments with extreme daily temperature fluctuations. The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. A candidate living inside or very close to the camps is a plus as this will help us to achieve fast response times in case of emergencies or any urgent works