JOB DESCRIPTION

U (unclassified)

No designation

No designation

GS6

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-09-15

August 26, 2025

Field Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The 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 provides necessary advice and guidance. The Field Associate may supervise 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
– Monitor the situation in the AoR, collect data and other information relevant to UNHCR and report to the supervisor accordingly.
– Monitor the implementation of UNHCR programme including the delivery of all assistance items and monitoring of infrastructure.
– Undertake regular visits to various sites in order to assess needs of persons of concern, with particular attention to vulnerable groups.
– 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.
– Assist in administrative tasks as required such as preparation of reports and meeting authorized personnel and assisting them during field missions.
– Inform and act on the reports received on persons of concern within the refugee community or from the local authorities.
– In coordination with implementing partners, assist in 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.

– 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 G6 – 3 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
Not specified

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 of Field Associate is a key position in the Field Unit. The incumbent should have a solid knowledge in field related working experience including in Protection, CCCM, NFI, Shelter and WASH capacity. S/He should also possess experience in engaging with local communities, local authorities, IDPs, refugees and partners (implementing and operational), experience in monitoring partners activities, experience in identifying and addressing specific vulnerabilities such as gender-based violence (GBV) and specific protection need. Knowledge of the IASC cluster system and experience in legal protection, civil documentation and Housing, land and property, reintegration, solutions and livelihoods for IDP returnees. Knowledge of local languages is an asset.

Portuguese

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English

,

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is an international organization with the mandate to assist persons in need of international protection; asylum seekers; refugees; statelessness; and internally displaced persons. The UNHCR operation in Mozambique has its main office in Maputo, field office in Nampula, sub-office in Pemba and field units in Cabo Delgado. The working language in the UNHCR offices in Mozambique is English.

Cabo Delgado faces a parallel situation of continued mass displacements resulting from sustained attacks by non-state armed groups (NSAGs) in its northern districts, as well as mass spontaneous returns to some areas of origin that have undergone varying levels of stabilization as a result of operations by international security forces. According to IOM DTM Round of July 2024, Cabo Delgado hosts 580.000 IDPs while returnee numbers increased from 391,785 to 540,958. But since the beginning of 2025, various security incidents have triggered new displacement of populations. As we await the latest round of DTM, UNHCR’s population planning figure for 2025 is 1.769.198 individuals.

Even in relatively limited number, refugees and asylum seekers are present in the province and face quit similar protection risks and needs. The latest verification provided a total of 700 individuals who reside mostly in specific districts for agriculture or mining purpose.

Both IDPs and refugees continue to face severe protection risks and needs such as lack of civil registration and civil documentation; impediment to HLP rights; insecurity and limited perspectives for durable solutions; limited community engagement; and more specifically gender-based violence (GBV), sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), yet GBV prevention and response services are extremely limited. In the second half of 2024 and beginning of 2025, UNHCR and humanitarian actors have faced several incidents in the field in relation to community acceptance. Despite community engagement efforts, the risk remains, exacerbated by the reduction of resources.

Mueda and Mocímboa da Praia are both displace areas and return locations for many of the people who displaced from conflict zones in the northern districts. To be closer to the populations and apprehend better the local dynamics, UNHCR opened two field units in the Mueda and Mocímboa da Praia in 2024. The two field units also serve as an UN Hub for Agencies that are operating in the northern districts. UNHCR is currently running a guesthouse in Mueda while assessing the possibility of opening one in Mocímboa da Praia.

The Field Associate is supervised by the Head of Field Unit and performs a variety of functions related to Field activities within the office. The supervisor defines general work objectives and provides necessary advice and guidance. The Field Associate may supervise 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.

Living and Working Conditions:

The duty station is Mocímboa da Praia, a coastal district in the Cabo Delgado province of northern Mozambique. It is classified as a D, non-family duty station, reflecting the hardship and the risk involved.

Tropical, hot, and humid, with rainy seasons from October to April and mild winters from June to August. Extreme weather events such as Cyclone Kenneth (2019) and Cyclone CHIDO (2024) have significantly impacted the area.

Since 2017, Cabo Delgado has faced ongoing armed conflict by non-state actors. Although Mocímboa da Praia was recaptured from insurgents, sporadic attacks and insecurity persist. The area is under UN security level 4, and compliance with security protocols is mandatory.

Health infrastructure is critically limited, with 88% of health facilities non-functional. No banking or ATM services are available locally; basic services exist in the neighboring Palma district (78 km away). Accommodation is available in UNDSS-cleared facilities, though seasonal demand and security may affect availability. Transport access includes road connections (R698/N380), limited public transport, and regular UNHAS flights.

This assignment entails long working hours, frequent field movements, and a high-stress environment. Resilience, adaptability, and strong self-care practices are essential.

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Certifications

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

Competencies

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

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance