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)

C

Family

UNOPS LICA5

2024-09-01

August 4, 2024

1. General Background

Since 2019, the United Nations and other humanitarian actors have been addressing the humanitarian situation in Venezuela. To ensure a coherent and coordinated approach throughout the Humanitarian Programme Cycle, a Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) was appointed, a Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) was established, and a humanitarian coordination structure was set up in the country following international IASC guidelines. Eight clusters and two Areas of Responsibility (AoR) were officially activated by the IASC upon request by the HC.

In Venezuela, UNHCR was designated as the Lead Agency of the Shelter, Energy and NFI Cluster, reflecting the global commitment in conflict-related emergencies under the Cluster Approach, in accordance with the guidelines established by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).

When activated at the country level, the cluster takes responsibility for coordinating the response to shelter, energy, and non-food item (NFI) needs with humanitarian partners and key stakeholders (such as other clusters, government authorities, etc.). This ensures a coordinated approach to effectively meet the shelter needs of affected populations by strengthening leadership, coordination, and accountability within the humanitarian shelter sector.

As Cluster Lead Agency (CLA), UNHCR has the responsibility to ensure the six core functions of the Shelter, Energy and NFI Cluster and to be the Provider of Last resort (POLR). This means that, where necessary, and depending on access, security, and availability of funding, the CLA must be ready to ensure the provision of services required to fulfil crucial gaps identified by the cluster and reflected in the Humanitarian Response Plan.

In the country, UNHCR has designated a full time Shelter Cluster Coordinator, as well as a person for cluster information management and three focal points for subnational coordination (fulfilling dual functions).

Under the supervision of the Shelter Cluster Coordinator, the Senior Shelter Cluster Coordination Assistant will support coordination functions at national level to ensure UNHCR’s role as the Cluster Lead Agency. The incumbent will support UNHCR’s commitment to work within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach. The Senior Shelter Cluster Coordination Assistant will also contribute during the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC) implementation, including cross-sectoral coordination with key stakeholders and cross-cutting issues into the work of the Shelter, Energy and NFI Cluster, especially age, gender, diversity, HIV, and environment.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the supervision of the Shelter Cluster Coordinator, the Senior Shelter Cluster Coordination Assistant will support:

a. Coordination
– Support shelter cluster coordination services, including meetings, minutes, task forces, and sectoral and intersectoral technical working groups (TWG), in line with the Principles of Partnership, in an inclusive, effective, and results-oriented manner.
– Support effective communication and liaison with partner organizations, subnational clusters, other clusters, and key stakeholders (academia, private sector, authorities).
– Contribute to the revision of the cluster strategy that is part of the overall multi-sectoral response.
– Assist during Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC) related activities.
– Assist the administrative activities with service providers to ensure that coordination services are carried out properly.

b. Need assessments, resource mobilization and allocation
– Contribute during shelter, energy and NFI needs assessment processes at cluster or inter-cluster level within HPC, including participatory assessments at field level and secondary data review processes.
– Support to the inclusion of the cluster priorities during funding appeals and pooled fund processes.

c. Capacity building
– Contribute to the delivery of shelter, energy and NFI training activities for cluster members.
– Assist capacity building efforts of subnational coordination structures and its local partners.
– Contribute to initiatives to build shelter, energy and NFI capacity of the national and local government, partners and civil society.

d. Standard setting and implementation
– Contribute to ensuring that the shelter response is informed by appropriate relevant Technical Standards including among others Sphere, and good practices.
– Support the integration of cross-cutting issues in the work of the cluster, including age, gender, environment, diversity.

e. Information management, monitoring, evaluation and reporting
– Assist during the production of analytical shelter, energy and NFI reports, including Factsheets, SitReps, Periodic Monitoring Reports, Annual reports, etc.
– Contribute with the maintenance of an updated shelter cluster website with relevant technical documents, minutes, presentations, reports, etc.
– Support the adequate reporting and information sharing, both within the cluster and with other clusters.
– Support the monitoring of the progress and impact of the activities implemented by partner organizations.

f. Advocacy, promoting and fundraising
– Participate when requested in meetings with sectoral and external partners, authorities, donors, and other relevant interlocutors.
– Support the development of reports and advocacy statements on behalf of the Shelter, Energy and NFI Cluster.
– Promote coordination with UNHCR and other partners to maximize communication impact to donors and others on the cluster priorities.

– Perform other related duties as required.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

# of cluster coordination meetings with partners and key stakeholders supported

# of sectoral task forces/TWG meetings supported

# of participatory assessments at field level supported

# of allocations of the VHF supported

# of shelter, energy and NFI trainings/workshops organized

# of cluster partners (including local partners) assisted by capacity building activities

# of relevant institutions assisted by capacity building activities

# of technical documents/guidelines developed where cross-cutting issues are integrated in the work of the cluster

# of analytical shelter, energy and NFI reports supported (including Factsheets, SitReps, Periodic Monitoring Reports, Annual reports, etc.)

# of reports and advocacy statements on behalf of the Shelter, Energy and NFI Cluster supported

4. Qualifications and Experience

a. Education
Shelter-related sciences (e.g. civil engineering or architecture) or other coordination relevant field.

b. Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level
2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1-year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.

Essential
Relevant working experience, including collaboration with different international organizations. Good technical knowledge about construction standards and guidance.

Desirable
Knowledge on all shelter typologies utilized in UNHCR refugee responses.

Knowledge of the Humanitarian reform process and the role of the humanitarian community (UN System, Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, and NGO), preferably in shelter coordination. Knowledge of current humanitarian issues. Good knowledge of shelter-related technical guidelines and standards.

Applied knowledge in UNHCR mandate, its policies, and priorities in relation to IDPs, shelter and NFI. Demonstrated expertise in program management and reporting requirements.

c. Key Competencies

Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Technological Awareness
Planning and Organizing

a. Functional Skills

CL-Cluster Information Management Tools, Resources & Approaches
PR-Country Operations applying the Cluster Approach
ER-Inter-Agency External Relations
CO-Drafting and Documentation
CL-Shelter and Settlement Implementation
CL-Cluster Information Management Tools, Resources & Approaches

b. Language requirements
Knowledge of English and Spanish are essential, knowledge of another UN working language is an asset.

c. Travel requirements
Contractor may be required to travel 20% of the time to locations other than their assigned work location.

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

How to Apply
Step 1: Please re-read this job description from the beginning to the end.
Step 2: Click the APPLY FOR JOB button at the end of this job advert.
Step 3: After going to parent website, please read instructions carefully and ensure you apply as soon as possible.

Good luck!