D

Family

Family

NOB

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2025-01-01

November 26, 2024

Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer will be key in operationalizing the strategic vision to align livelihoods and economic inclusion efforts with the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), which underscores the need to mobilize additional actors and to adopt a whole-of-society approach to strengthen refugee self-reliance and help ease pressure on host countries. Promoting economic inclusion of refugees is a key development area that will enable the achievement of these objectives and contribute to the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Leveraging the growing global momentum, UNHCR is working to translate the objectives of the GCR into impactful results for persons of concern (POC). Contributing to this global roll-out of the GCR, the Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer, with support from the Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Unit in the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS), works towards the following objectives:
1) improve the enabling environment for refugees to work through advocacy on the right to/at work, access to economic opportunities and service;
2) seek new and strengthen existing partnerships including with the private sector, development actors, government institutions and specialized agencies to advance economic inclusion of refugees; and
3) enhance ongoing livelihoods and economic inclusion programming through evidence-based and market-driven approaches to improve economic inclusion outcomes.

The Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer should be proactive, always looking for new opportunities and persuasive in mobilizing donors and new partners around new models of economic and social integration.
The incumbent will interact with the government counterparts and other stakeholders with specific mandate in livelihood activities as well as with the refugee communities. Within UNHCR, the Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer will work under the supervision of the head of livelihoods and closely with multi-functional teams on matters including but not limited to protection, education, cash, partnerships, research and analytics, GBV, solutions, complementary pathways and more. S/he will support the office’s involvement with livelihoods and economic inclusion, working with relevant external stakeholders from government line ministries, development actors, private sector, UN agencies, international organisations, NGOs, research institutions and universities.

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
– Maintain close contact and cooperation with partners to facilitate the economic inclusion of refugees, such as line ministries, private sector and development actors in accordance with UNHCR Global and Country level policies, priorities, and strategies, in particular the Global Compact on Refugees. This includes advocating with public and private sector services providers to include UNHCR POC in supporting services (business development, micro-finance, training, saving accounts, poverty alleviation and social protection, etc.).
– Work with the multi-functional team, more specifically with the Protection Unit, to assess the legal framework for the right to work and rights at work and recommend/implement advocacy initiatives and policy reforms to improve UNHCR POC’s economic inclusion, rights and access to work.
– Build on UNHCR databases to support regular information sharing and coordination among different humanitarian, developmental and governmental stakeholders. This includes supporting the implementation of socioeconomic and wealth ranking surveys utilising community-based strategies to inform targeting, monitoring and facilitation of development programmes.
– Conduct necessary assessments in collaboration with relevant private and public stakeholders, including impact assessments on local economies and surveys that help to identify investment and funding opportunities that enhance the economic inclusion of UNHCR POC.
– In case UNHCR is implementing specific livelihoods activities, strengthen, guide and monitor the livelihoods interventions to help ensure they are market-based, and that the role of UNHCR has been strategically determined in consideration of its comparative advantage vis-à-vis other partners.

– 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

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB – 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Business Management;
Socio-Economics Development;
Economics/International Economics;
Rural Development;
Financial Management;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Technical competencies in sub-sectors relevant to livelihoods programming e.g. financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education, and training, etc. Experience in facilitating the economic inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, ideally in varied field contexts. Experience in working with and developing partnerships with private sector, NGOs, UN organisations, development actors, and government authorities in sub-sectors relevant to livelihood programming e.g. financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education and training, etc.

Desirable
Knowledge about latest development in the livelihoods sector, including broader UN processes on the SDGs and the Global Compact on Refugees.

Functional Skills
LV-Strategic Planning and Advocacy for Refugee Socioeconomic Rights
MG-Project Management
SO-Networking
CO-Drafting and Documentation
(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.

• Problem-solving and decision-making- The ability to identify and assess issues and problems, determining the cause of the problem; identifying, prioritizing, and selecting alternatives for a solution; and implementing a solution.
• Analytical and critical thinking- The ability to assess issues appropriately and adequately and analyze relevant information to form an opinion or take an individual or a collective decision.
• Planning and organizing- The ability to plan and organize tasks in order to fulfil the job responsibilities satisfactorily within a given time and appropriately for a complex environment and situation.
• Communication- Communicate effectively orally, in writing (within UNHCR and across sectors) actively listen to others in diverse environments.
• Collaboration and teamwork -The ability to work in diverse teams effectively and respectfully, assuming shared responsibility for outputs and demonstrating willingness and flexibility. The ability to identify and acknowledge the experiences, and viewpoints of others.
• Conflict resolution and negotiation- The ability to reach a consensus between conflicted parties and influencing others to cooperate, thereby resolving disagreement or dispute.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Bhasan Char was established by the Government of Bangladesh to host up to 100,000 Rohingya refugees. Aimed at addressing the overcrowding in Cox Bazar and improving living conditions, the project is led by the Government with relevant ministries and agencies actively involved, as well as national NGOs. UN involvement on Bhasan Char is aimed at supplementing and complementing the humanitarian activities of the national NGOs in support of this national led effort.

On 9 October 2021, the Government of Bangladesh and UNHCR (on behalf of the UN agencies working in Cox’s Bazar) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that established a common protection and policy framework for ongoing and future refugee relief efforts on Bhasan Char. The MoU affirmed a joint commitment to ensure that refugees would move to the island voluntarily, based on a free and informed choice, and that they would have opportunities to move between the island and the mainland. The MoU also confirmed that the current and future refugee population on Bhasan Char has access to services including protection, shelter, food and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, health, education, and the ability to engage in livelihoods and capacity building activities.

As of January 2023, 29,340 Rohingya refugees reside on Bhasan Char. The majority 55% are children under the age of 18 years, while 2% are elderly (aged 60 years and above). Women and girls represent 51% of the overall refugee population. A total of 2,171 refugees from 2,036 families, representing 7.9% of the total refugee population on Bhasan Char, were identified as persons with specific needs (PSNs), including 260 individuals with disabilities and 107 individuals suffering from serious medical conditions.

The Inter-Agency efforts in 2021-2022 have contributed to an increase in protection space and a coordinated assistance programme mainly focused on providing lifesaving humanitarian assistance, including health, education, setting up community-based protection mechanisms, capacity building, etc.

The Livelihoods and Skills Development Sector on Bhasan Char and UNHCR’s strategic work on livelihoods is informed by the GoB/UN Skills Development Framework (endorsed by the National Task Force in August 2022), which emphasizes the importance of access to livelihoods activities in ensuring the long-term viability of the Bhasan Char project and reducing reliance on humanitarian assistance. Sector work will be guided by four key pillars: i) skills and capacity building for Rohingya commensurate with opportunities available in Myanmar to prepare for voluntary and sustainable repatriation and reintegration in Myanmar; ii) livelihood opportunities based on the skills gained with compensation, iii) food security at household level, such as homestead gardening, fishing within the designated island area, poultry, and animal husbandry; and iv) ecosystem conservation.

The sector will work closely with other relevant sectors such as primarily education and protection, as well as WASH, Site Management and Food Security.

Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer is a new position on Bhasan Char to support the Skills Development and Livelihoods Sector, contribute to the strategic discussions on livelihood on Bhasan Char. and support the implementation of the UNHCR Skills and Livelihoods interventions on the Bhasan Char Island. –The incumbent will report to the Head of Bhasan Char Field Office and Senior Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Officer CXB, Senior Development Officer in Dhaka and work closely with the other sectors on Bhasan Char.

The incumbent of the position will be stationed in Cox’s Bazar with regular and frequent missions to Bhasan Char that can take several weeks. The position will be eventually transferred to Bhasan Char as a permanent duty station.

Living and Working Conditions:

Bhasan Char was formed within the last 20 years by the silt at the mouth of the Meghna River, the island currently has 120 brick-built cluster villages and 120 cyclone shelters.

The staff members will be working on this island for several weeks under the arrangement of mission travel from Cox Bazar. During the mission, staff are accommodated in private guest houses. Each has rooms with equipped bathrooms and common areas. Electricity relies on the generator and solar system. In addition, staff members should be prepared to operate under challenging transport arrangements from Bhasan Char to Chittagong weekly two times through a Navy ship. There is one general hospital in Bhasan Char supported by Bangladesh Govt, staff are receiving basic primary treatment from there.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, LV-Strategic Planning and Advocacy for Refugee Socioeconomic Rights, MG-Project Management, SO-Networking

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration/Management, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Financial Management, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Rural Development, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Socio-Economic Development

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the Assessment Exercises, which may include Written/Technical tests and/or Interviews, as applicable for the recruitment of the position.

This position requires Functional Clearance

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements