Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)E (most hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Non Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA5
Target Start Date2024-11-27
Deadline for ApplicationsDecember 17, 2024
Terms of Reference• The candidate is expected to have strong expertise in livelihoods, economic inclusion, and facilitation of financial inclusion, alongside an in-depth understanding of Syria's socio-economic context.
• The candidate also expected to have strong analytical experience for integrating returnees and forcibly displaced populations into national services systems, with a particular focus on identified agriculture and non-agriculture value chains relevant to Syria. It requires expertise in designing and implementing skills development, initiatives, and improving access to microfinance and other financial services.
• In light of ongoing and planned collaborations with a wide range of stakeholders, excellent communication and coordination skills are essential for this role.
• Excellent computer skills and knowledge of MS Office applications.
• Experience in working with vulnerable and marginalized groups in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, ideally in varied field contexts.
• Experience in working in partnership with private sector, NGOs, UN organizations, development actors, or government authorities.
• Knowledge of refugee protection principles and framework. Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific trainings relevant to functions of the position.
Operational context
In 2024, 15.4 million people in Syria are in need of Early Recovery and Livelihoods assistance – an increase from 15.3 as compared to 2023 –with needs increasingly exacerbated by the worsening economic situation, significant income-expenditure gaps, Lack of jobs, services, and assistance.
Surveys from 2023-2024 emphasize the urgent need to scale up livelihood support, particularly for women, youth, and other vulnerable groups, to rebuild resilience and foster economic inclusion.In response to these challenges, UNHCR Syria has been supporting Livelihoods with the aim of promoting self-reliance and improved protection outcome for internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and returnees. The livelihood programmes are implemented through UNHCR sub-/field-offices and network of partners whose activities extend across fourteen governorates in Syria. The livelihoods and economic inclusion strategy includes five key objectives:
1. Foster reintegration of vulnerable displaced people into their communities through enhanced livelihoods opportunities and support.
2. Reduce engagement of vulnerable people in harmful coping mechanisms.
3. Create synergies with other expert partners to build livelihoods and resilience programmes
4. Facilitate economic inclusion in partnership with other stakeholders, such as financial service providers.
As part of this strategy, UNHCR Syria aims also to expand livelihood initiatives, through financial inclusion programs with microfinance banks and targeted projects to build market linkages. The role will involve ensuring these efforts are contextually appropriate and aligned with early recovery strategy in Syria.
Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview.
Senior Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Assistant
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Assistant will be part of the livelihoods unit within the Operation. The incumbent will support 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. S/he will contribute to the objectives of the unit under the direct supervision of the (Senior) Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer.
The Senior Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Assistant will collaborate closely with UNHCR livelihoods partners, government agencies, private sector and financial services providers as well as other relevant stakeholders to enhance the economic inclusion and improve self-reliance of both persons of concern (PoC) and host community members. The incumbent will also be expected to deliberately explore opportunities of collaboration with other UNHCR cross cutting areas such as protection, education, cash, partnerships, research and analytics, GBV, solutions, complementary pathways and more. To document good practices, results and to generate knowledge, the Senior Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Assistant will work closely with the supervisor to build on UNHCR databases and support regular information sharing and coordination among different humanitarian, developmental and governmental stakeholders. S/he will assist to mobilize refugees of different age, gender and background and to ensure that all stakeholders well understand the potential of economic inclusion of refugees and host community members, and to help communicate opportunities to PoC.
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
- Explore partnerships with relevant stakeholders to enhance economic inclusion of UNHCR PoC. This includes working with economic development agencies to adapt their programmes to become inclusive of UNHCR PoC, working with the private sector to enhance inclusion of UNHCR PoC in their labour force and supply chains, working with financial service providers to enhance financial inclusion, and working with public and private sector service providers to include UNHCR PoC in supporting services (business development, micro-finance, training, saving accounts, poverty alleviation and social protection, etc.).
- Support work with the multi-functional team, more specifically with the Protection Unit, to collect information about the legal framework for the right to work and rights at work.
- Support the implementation of socioeconomic and wealth ranking surveys to inform targeting, monitoring and facilitation of the engagement of development programmes.
- In case UNHCR is implementing specific livelihoods activities, work closely with and provide technical assistance on 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.
- Prepare field reports and other relevant reports relating to livelihoods and make recommendations for interventions that enhance refugee economic inclusion to the designated officer.
- Provide overall support to the supervisor including assistance in the organization of meetings, workshops and working sessions.
- Organize and participate in workshops, training programmes, monitoring visits and working groups with regards to livelihood programming.
- Draft routine documents, contribute to assessments, and participate in inter-agency meetings.
- 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 G5- 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Business Management, Socio-Economics Development Economics/International Economics Rural Development
Financial Management Agriculture
or other related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
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 in partnership 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 of refugee protection principles and framework. Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position.
Functional Skills
LV-Strategic Planning and Advocacy for Refugee Socioeconomic Rights
(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.
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SkillsLV-Strategic Planning and Advocacy for Refugee Socioeconomic Rights
Education
CertificationsAgriculture - Other, Development Studies - Other, Economics - Other, Financial Management - Other, Rural Development - Other
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
Home-BasedNo