CONSULTANCY - TERMS OF REFERENCE

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5.5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.**

Protection and Neutrality Coordinator

(International - ISP)

BACKGROUND

In Lebanon, the economic crisis is exacerbating long-term vulnerabilities Palestinian refugees have faced in accessing their rights, making their situation yet more difficult. Palestine refugees in Lebanon (PRL) live mostly within 12 official camps and 156 gatherings across the country; since 2013, Palestinian Refugees from Syria have also been hosted within these communities. UNRWA is the primary service provider for these populations in Lebanon.

The Protection and Neutrality Coordinator works closely with UNRWA’s other programmes and with mainstreaming, GBV, Child Protection and MHPSS coordinators, to improve programmes response to the protection situation; he/ she works closely with field staff based in the areas to respond appropriately to protection cases, support individuals to access services and identify trends in barriers, to monitor the protection situation, and to design and implement appropriate responses, with a focus on GBV and Child Protection. The post holder should work closely with the Protection and Neutrality team leader and advocacy colleagues to identify advocacy needs and opportunities.

UNRWA is in the process of moving from a focus on neutrality in its installations to a focus on humanitarian principles. The post holder will work with other members of the team to ensure that installations are safe and accessible for all the community, and that they meet and promote humanitarian principles. It will also work with colleagues to promote humanitarian and protection principles across all UNRWA’s programmes. As such, while this position is currently named as Protection and Neutrality, it is expected to have an increased focus on humanitarian principles rather than on the single principle of neutrality.

UNRWA expects to recruit two Protection and Neutrality Coordinator positions between October and December. One will support staff in the South of the country, based in Saida or Tyre; one will support staff in the North, Beirut area and Beqaa, and be based in Beirut with weekly travel to other areas. During recruitment processes, one post holder may be required to cover all five areas. The job-description below covers both roles, but ultimately is expected to be divided between two post holders.

This consultancy is short term and may be renewed. However, UNRWA intends to recruit both coordinator positions as Temporary Appointments (Tas)- expected in the coming months. Successful candidates for this consultancy would be considered for, but are likely to need to re-apply for, the TA position.

Description of Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Protection and Neutrality Team Leader, the Protection and Neutrality Coordinator will perform the following duties and responsibilities:

Protection monitoring

· Support 5 area-based Protection and Neutrality Associates (PNAs) to undertake monthly protection monitoring, build on community level relationships, and design and implement a response plan working together with other UNRWA and community stakeholders

· Strengthen links between UNRWA’s community-based protection interventions and protection monitoring approaches and response

· Support team leader in the overall management, implementation and ongoing monitoring of the Protection monitoring file.

· Liaise with CAOs, UNRWA programmes and Protection unit on activities related to Protection monitoring to ensure smooth implementation.

· Write quarterly protection monitoring report, including highlighting any response to Q1 and 2 reports; lead on response to key issues (eg workshops on response within UNRWA, strategies for sharing information)

· Provide monthly context updates for the Protection working group, and contribute to adhoc updates and advocacy products

Outcomes

o 5 area level and one national level response plans, updated at the end of Q3; progress reviewed

o Q3 Protection Monitoring report

o 2 monthly reports for the Protection Working Group

Individual cases

· Support area-based staff to respond to individual cases as they arise, offering guidance and technical advice, liaising with other UNRWA protection staff and departments, and external actors, as necessary.

· Complete mapping of referral services and ensure this is known and shared appropriately, working closely with UNRWA protection staff and other departments

· Develop systems for regular outreach to PRS – extended to other vulnerable groups as possible

Outcomes

o Front line staff are confident in their work and feel supported

o Finalised referral mapping completed and shared

o Structure in place and established for regular reaching PRS and monitoring their situation

Coordination

· Proactively promote sharing of protection analysis across UNRWA at an area and national level, working across departments to encourage coordinated response

· Participate regularly in internal coordination meetings, supporting and building on alliances across programmes

· Link area concerns to the national level

· Support area staff to strengthen local coordination - build on existing activities, support information gathering as necessary….

· Represent UNRWA in the Core Protection Working Group and other protection fora when requested by the Team Leader

Outcomes

o Strong awareness of protection analysis across UNRWA departments

o Clear information flow in both directions between field staff and national level, and between different departments on protection context

Neutrality

· Ensure that inspections are carried out in all areas, working closely with UNRWA staff who carry out inspections

· Follow up with relevant are level UNRWA staff on issues raised and work towards addressing them

· collate and analyse data for end of year report.

Outcomes

o All neutrality inspections are carried out in timely fashion

o End of year neutrality report

o Clear follow up and report on actions following 1st 2021 neutrality report

minimum Qualifications and Experience

· Advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in law, political or social sciences, or related field; a first-level university degree in combination with an additional year of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree

· At least five years of relevant work experience in protection including at least 3 years of direct implementation and management of protection monitoring or programmes working closely with communities, either for UN agencies or NGOs;

· Excellent command of written and spoken English language

COMPETENCIES

UN Core Values *of Professionalism, Integrity and Respect for Diversity and Core Competencies of Communication, working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. Default managerial competencies may apply.*

· Applying Technical Expertise

· Empowering others and building trust

· Persuading and Influencing

· Planning and Organizing

· Excellent analysis skills

· Communication skills

· Negotiations skills

dESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

· Working knowledge of Arabic

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

· The duration of the consultancy is 3vmonths with the expected start soon.

· Remuneration for this consultancy is equivalent to P3, will depend on the qualifications and experience of the candidate;

· The incumbent will be based in Beirut, Lebanon Field Office.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants should submit a cover letter and CV or UN Personal History Form demonstrating clearly the knowledge and experience required to meet the consultancy requirements via consultancyLebanon@unrwa.org indicating the title of this consultancy “**Protection and Neutrality Coordinator**” in the subject line of the message. The deadline for the submission of applications is 28/9/2021.**

UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from both women and men. UNRWA encourages applications from qualified women. Only those applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted. UNRWA is a non-smoking environment.

15/9/2021

This vacancy is archived.

Recommended for you