Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)C
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA4
Target Start Date2024-04-01
Job Posting End DateMarch 20, 2024
Terms of ReferenceTitle: Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Assistant
Project: UNHCR – Integración Socioeconómica
Duty station: Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Section/Unit: Field Unit Esmeraldas
ICA Level: Local Support, LICA, Level 4
Duration: From 01 April 2024 to 31 December 2024
Supervisor: Ms. Luz Arpi, Snr Programme Assistant, Esmeraldas
1. General Background
Ecuador is part of the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, as well as the major international and regional human rights instruments recognizing the right to asylum. It is also a party to the 1954 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 United Nations Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The asylum procedure in Ecuador is regulated by the Organic Law of Human Mobility, in effect since February 6, 2017.
According to estimates from the R4V Coordination Platform (2023), approximately 7.3 million people have fled Venezuela, of which 6.1 million Venezuelan individuals have settled in 17 countries in the region. Ecuador is the third destination country for Venezuelan population after Colombia and Peru, hosting 474,945 refugees and migrants from Venezuela. It is also important to mention that Ecuador is the country that has recognized the highest number of refugees in the region, with around 70,000 historically recognized individuals from over 80 countries. Colombian citizens constitute the main foreign group granted international protection as refugees (97%). In recent years, Ecuador has seen the arrival of new groups seeking international protection, especially Venezuelan citizens.
UNHCR's operation in Ecuador began in 2000 as part of the organization's strategy to protect and assist victims of the Colombian conflict. The operation aims to support the Ecuadorian Government in (i) developing protection mechanisms, (ii) strengthening the national asylum system, and (iii) identifying durable solutions for refugees. UNHCR has its headquarters in the city of Quito and is present in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Sucumbíos, Guayas, Pichincha, Imbabura, Carchi, El Oro, Azuay, Tungurahua, and Manabí.
UNHCR Ecuador works closely with governmental authorities, non-governmental organizations, and communities to provide protection and sustainable solutions for the ongoing arrival of Colombian and Venezuelan populations in need of international protection. UNHCR aims to design response mechanisms that alleviate pressure on host communities, promote self-sufficiency among persons of concern, and enable access to solutions such as local integration and resettlement.
UNHCR's operation in Ecuador has a multi-year Protection and Solutions Strategy, covering legal, economic, and social dimensions of refugee protection in Ecuador, with a decisive role for gender, ethnicity, age, and other diversities.
Improving livelihoods through economic inclusion is a key component for achieving protection and solutions for refugees. Economic inclusion involves access to labor markets, finance, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunities for all, including host communities. Economic inclusion contributes to refugees rebuilding their lives with dignity and in peace. UNHCR identifies partnerships with the private sector to design programs and adapt services that improve access and expand opportunities for refugees and migrants in both the labor market and entrepreneurship, in a sustainable manner and as a real contribution to the local and national economy.
Esmeraldas is a province located in northwestern Ecuador, bordering southern Colombia. It was opened in 2008 for the attention and response to Colombian refugees, and since 2018, it also provides protection responses to Venezuelan individuals under UNHCR's mandate. Insecurity has exacerbated protection responses, with the main risks being forced recruitment of adolescents and young people by organized criminal groups, dropping out of the educational system, extortion, among others. Considering the concentration of population under UNHCR's mandate in the province of Esmeraldas and Pedernales canton, since 2017, the Field Unit in these locations has intensified attention and response in socio-economic integration, consolidating partnerships with Decentralized Autonomous Governments, facilitating marketing spaces, strengthening associative enterprises, facilitating access to credit and financial education, supporting green entrepreneurship initiatives, and climate change prevention actions.
In this context, UNHCR seeks a person committed to humanitarian principles with functionally relevant work experience in local integration, livelihoods, and economic inclusion. UNHCR seeks to have a technical position capable of adapting to the changing context of the province of Esmeraldas and providing particular support to activities carried out through direct implementation.
The candidate must analyze, adapt, and work effectively in a variety of situations, often in demanding conditions, and deal with the unexpected. Team spirit and result-oriented performance are also required. Previous experience in implementing initiatives with young people from an age, gender, and diversity perspective is highly desirable. Finally, the position requires skills in alliance building and coordination with social actors, academia, private sector, NGOs, and government.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
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.
Under the direct supervision of the Senior Program Assistant at the UNHCR office in Esmeraldas and under the strategic guidance of the Livelihoods Unit, the Economic Inclusion Assistant will be responsible for:
• Include a community-based protection approach in livelihood interventions through strengthening community-based organizations, solidarity economy perspectives, productive associations, among others, benefiting vulnerable populations (women, SGBV survivors, LGBTI+ individuals, at-risk youth).
• Adapt and propose concrete actions to mitigate the effects of the security context with a particular focus on youth, linking community leadership processes with job opportunities and income generation.
• Provide technical assistance to partners, strategic allies, and other stakeholders to strengthen their capacities in implementing livelihood projects with an inclusive market approach, ensuring sustainable interventions and lasting solutions.
• Accompany and participate in monitoring of UNHCR partner livelihood projects. In coordination with the programs unit, provide support in the participatory evaluation of programs and projects with an Age, Gender, and Diversity focus.
• Map opportunities and establish links with financial service providers for productive and/or associative credit options, as well as financial education for the target population.
• Identify and consolidate strategic partnerships with the private sector, decentralized autonomous governments, economic development agencies, social organizations, institutional and community networks, and other actors in the local productive ecosystem.
• Advocate for existing public and private policies, programs, and services to have a human mobility approach that strengthens the refugee population's care route and improves their local integration strategy.
• Contribute to building the capacities of partners and allies regarding the economic inclusion of refugees through technical training in partnership with specialized actors (Social Security Institute, GADs, Port Authority, financial institutions, universities, local MDV working group, other relevant groups and actors).
• Be part of the multifunctional UNHCR team in the field and work collaboratively with different units of the field office, particularly protection, and with the National Livelihoods Unit. Also, strengthen the local Livelihoods team, providing continuous support and accompaniment to activities carried out directly by UNHCR.
• In collaboration with the Public Information team, participate in communication activities, collect results from flagship livelihood projects, stories, and initiatives for advocacy activities.
• Conduct field visits as part of support, monitoring, and follow-up functions for livelihood programs and projects.
• Prepare progress reports, collect indicators, and analyze data in coordination with the field/programs unit, and report directly to the assigned supervisor. Support in the preparation of reports required by the field office: monthly situation reports, Weekly Highlights, documents, and presentations, among others.
• Contribute to creating a community of best practices within UNHCR Ecuador through self-learning, exchanging experiences among livelihood teams in the field, active participation with feedback, opinions, and recommendations.
• Provide assistance in administrative and logistical matters required as part of the direct implementation processes of the Livelihoods Unit.
• Perform other duties as required by the Office related to and inherent to the position.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
- Monthly progress reports.
- Monitoring system and indicators to report results of the actions developed.
- Final systematization of the actions developed.
4. Qualifications and Experience
a. Education
University Degree (4 years) in Economics, Engineering, Business Administration, Political Science, International Relations, Socio-Economic Development, Rural Development, Finance, Gender Studies or related fields. Postgraduate studies will be considered.
b. Work Experience
- 1-year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher.
- At least 1 year of experience in work related to the development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and follow-up of productive and economic inclusion projects in urban and rural areas.
- Work experience in livelihood generation and strengthening employment or self-employment/entrepreneurship.
- Experience of socioeconomic integration of women, refugee population or groups in vulnerable situations, development of economic and social inclusion, humanitarian-development-peace nexus.
c. Key Competencies
- Market-based programming and management of productive projects.
- Analytical capacity to generate technical reports and periodical reports.
- Initiative, organizational and logistical skills.
- Ability to work within an international and multicultural environment.
- Ability to coordinate with different professional and multifunctional teams present in the location.
- Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information in a professional manner.
- Excellent command of computer packages, database, statistical software for data processing and analysis.
- Excellent command of Spanish (oral and written), intermediate level English desirable.
Functional Skills
- LV-Partnership for Economic Inclusion
- IT-Computer Literacy
Core Competencies
- Accountability
- Communication
- Organizational Awareness
- Teamwork & Collaboration
- Commitment to Continuous Learning
- Client & Result Orientation
Cross-Functional Competencies
- Analytical Thinking
5. Submission of applications
A. English Desirable. Level intermediate (B2).
B. The shortlisted candidates may sit a technical examination.
C. Foreign candidates, to be considered eligible for this position, must have a temporary or permanent residence in Ecuador that allows them to carry out work activities in the country.
D. If hired, the candidate must submit a current and updated RUC Unique Taxpayer Registry and a voluntary contribution certificate to the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security IESS. Voluntary IESS securities will be covered by the staff member. The salary offered is in net terms.
E. If you wish to be considered for this vacancy, please submit your application according to the following instructions:
- CANDIDATES WITH ACCESS TO THE WORKDAY: In order to apply, you must first create your profile in the WORKDAY system.
- EXTERNAL CANDIDATES:
Candidates who do NOT have access to the WORKDAY system must submit their application through UNHCR's official site for applications: https://www.unhcr.org/careers.html
NOTE
UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).
If you are a person with a disability and need additional assistance during the application and/or recruitment process, please contact us by email: ecuquhr@unhcr.org
CVs WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY EMAIL. ONLY THOSE APPLICATIONS SENT BY THE SYSTEM WILL BE CONSIDERED.
Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Assistant
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Assistant will be part of the livelihoods team 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 Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Assistant will participate in the collaboration 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 support the 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 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
- Support the partnerships with relevant stakeholders to enhance economic inclusion of UNHCR PoC.
- Support work with the multi-functional team, more specifically with the Protection Unit, to compile information about the legal framework for the right to work and rights at work.
- Contribute to the implementation of socioeconomic surveys to inform targeting, monitoring and facilitation of the engagement of development programmes.
- Work closely with relevant teams and provide assistance on livelihoods interventions.
- Contribute to the preparation of field reports and other relevant reports relating to livelihoods and make recommendations for interventions that enhance refugee economic inclusion to the designated officer.
- Assist in organization of meetings, workshops and working sessions.
- 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 G4 - 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Business Administration, Development Studies, 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 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 organisations, development actors, or government authorities.
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-Partnership for Economic Inclusion
IT-Computer Literacy
(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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SkillsIT-Computer Literacy, LV-Partnership for Economic Inclusion
Education
CertificationsAgriculture - Other, Business Administration - 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