Shelter Associate – G6 – Bey021- Beirut

The Syrian crisis enters into its fifth year with 1.18 M registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon who represent a significant percentage of Lebanon’s total population. Shelter remains an urgent concern, especially as refugees run out of resources to pay rent.  Eighty-two per cent of refugees pay rent for their accommodation, with the average rent being USD 200 per month.  Some 47 per cent of all rentals are for apartments, often small basic lodgings shared with other refugee families in overcrowded conditions. The remaining 53 percent live in fragile and insecure accommodation, including tents in informal settlements (18 percent) and other types of substandard shelter (35 percent) that can include garages, work site sheds and unfinished buildings. These shelters are often exposed to the wind, rains and snow and lack appropriate sanitation. The growth of informal settlements, currently home to over 191,000 individuals within 2,161 sites across the country, presents risks to refugees and increases tensions with surrounding communities. With the harsh weather condition during the winter, weatherproofing kits and site improvement are a regular requirement in those informal settlements, in order to improve the living conditions. To date the Government of Lebanon has not permitted the establishment of large, formal refugee camps whilst host communities and local authorities continue to limit the establishment of the smaller Formal Tented Settlements and collective centers. The rehabilitation of Small/Large Shelter Units with the direct involvement of the landlords in the rehabilitation tends to be an affordable solution to accommodate and integrate smoothly refugee families within host community. As the designated lead agency in the refugee response in Lebanon, UNHCR has established a sector-based structure in Beirut and in the field to support the Government. The objective of the Shelter Associate is to assist the UNHCR Shelter Unit in 4 main areas: 1) Assessment of shelter needs and capacity; 2) Development of innovative Shelter/Wash solutions, designs and approaches 3) Quality assurance and 4) Monitoring of projects implementation.   2.2 FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT. Describe the accountabilities, responsibilities and authorities associated with the position. Accountability (key results that will be achieved) Assuring the communication of clear guidance and minimum standards to all stakeholders that will build local capacities and improve the quality of shelter program; Assisting in the planning and implementation of priority activities where the basic and essential needs of the displaced population are not yet met; Facilitating the introduction of innovative solutions and their related implementation to improve the living conditions and longer term needs of the displaced population and host community; Monitoring that Shelter activities are properly implemented and reported by IPs; Assuring that lessons learnt and best practices are well documented and shared with all stakeholders.       Responsibility (process and functions undertaken to achieve results) Under the direct supervision of the UNHCR Shelter Expert deployed at field level, and/or the UNHCR Shelter Unit base in Beirut , the Shelter Associate will undertake the following tasks: At field level, assist the UNHCR Shelter Expert to implement clear guidance and standards for shelter, including minimum emergency standards to meet basic and essential needs as well as guidance for phased improvement of shelter conditions that will be necessary as the duration of the displacement prolongs. Together with UNHCR’s implementing partner, map available information on emergency shelter options in Lebanon (including host families, collective shelter, transitional and temporary shelters, cash assistance, support to vulnerable people in nomadic dwellings, formal tented settlement, transit sites and refugee camps), taking into account the policies adopted by the Lebanese government to address the issue of shelter for refugees. Assist in carrying out a joint assessment of the unused buildings (schools, warehouses, farms and other facilities) in priority locations that have been identified by the government as possible collective shelters.  Provide a technical evaluation of the site location suitability, the building capacity, the physical condition and an estimated scope of renovation works required to make the building inhabitable. Assist UNHCR Physical Site Planner and/or UNHCR Shelter expert, in carrying out a joint assessment of potential sites identified by the government for formal tented settlement, transit sites or refugee camps.  Provide a technical assessment of the sites suitability taking into consideration, cultural and sociological aspect, location, access, security, size, topography, ground conditions and proximity to services. Develop and verify any BoQ, execution plan, including defining the scope of works, preparing cost assessments, technical drawings and specifications for internal analysis; Develop technical datasheet of infrastructures and facilities (Wash, shelter, communal facilities, roads, etc.) needed for the development of formal settlements and transit centers. This includes proposition of adequate and affordable options following the context of Lebanon, establishment of related BoQ and technical specifications, cost Estimation, and price analysis.   Support supply in the market analysis of locally available construction materials and skills, promoting the use of local capacity as appropriate; Regular report on work progress of various activities and preparation of SitRep (weekly and monthly); Perform other duties as required Authority (decisions made in executing responsibilities and to achieve results) Under the supervision of UNHCR Shelter Unit Beirut and/or the UNHCR Shelter Expert, closely monitor the implementation of projects under the area of responsibility and ensure the provision of the agreements signed with the implementing partners are being complied with;