Associate Inter-Agency Coordination Officer – Nob – Hr348 - Beirut

  2.1ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT. Define the role of the position within the team, describing its leadership role, if any, it’s external/internal work relationships or contacts, the contextual environment in which it operates and the scope of supervision received, and where applicable, exercised by the incumbent.   As of July 2014, Lebanon hosted more than 1.1 million registered refugees from Syria compared to 576,000 just over a year prior. The Syrian refugee population in Lebanon is the largest in the world and also represents a significant percentage of Lebanon’s total population.  With no sign of a political solution in Syria, UNHCR continues to register up to 9,000 refugees per week.   There are no camps in Lebanon and refugees are found across more than 1,700 locations across the country. Some 57% of refugees rent basic apartments or homes, half of which are overcrowded with several refugee families sharing limited space. Over 30% live in substandard and insecure conditions in makeshift shelters, tents, unfinished buildings, garages, warehouses and worksites. Ensuring access to basic services is a constant challenge.   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 structure brings together 11 UN agencies, 54 national and international NGO partners in identifying and agreeing on the strategic priorities to address the needs of Syrian refugees and other affected populations.   Moving forward, partners are making significant efforts to ensure that available resources reach the most vulnerable including through the targeting of assistance across all sectors and new programming efficiencies such as the introduction of cash assistance. UNHCR is also integrating direct support to government institutions and communities most impacted by the refugee influx into programming to ensure continued social cohesion and receptivity towards refugees   UNCHR assumes a critical role in the overall coordination of the inter-agency response, with other UN agencies and NGOs playing critical roles according to their respective expertise.  The Associate Inter-Agency Coordination Officer (AIACO) assists the Inter-Agency Coordinator and the Senior Inter-Agency Coordinator in the day-to-day management of the inter-agency response to the needs of Syrian refugees, Palestine refugees (including Palestine refugees from Syria), Lebanese returnees and vulnerable host communities at national and regional levels.  This would involve direct contact with other staff members in the inter-agency structure from UN agencies, international and non-governmental organizations, and the government.  The post requires the ability to prioritize tasks and to organise work independently based on direction from the Supervisor.   A key role of the Associate Inter Agency Coordination Officer is to support the Inter-Agency Coordinator and Senior Inter-Agency Coordinator.  As such, s/he will need to ensure that coordinated support is provided for strategic planning, assessment, monitoring and analysis of the Syria crisis. On-going strategic planning will therefore be contingent on effective monitoring of the implementation of these plans as well as management of on-going rolling assessment.  In this respect, the coordinator will perform the following tasks in close collaboration with the UNHCR.   The Associate Inter Agency Coordination Officer will support all the inter-agency reporting activities. Particular emphasis will be given to multi-sectorial information, coverage of information sources (UN and non-UN) and contributions to programs and projects. He/she will support the Inter-Agency Coordinator in maintaining a constant dialogue with donors on the overall funding/resource status of the humanitarian programs in close collaboration with all partner agencies (UN and NGOs).  The Associate Inter Agency Coordination Officer will be responsible for organizing periodic meetings with donors as well as facilitating and preparing appropriate briefing materials for visiting delegations, incumbent will also support the Inter-Agency Coordinator and Senior Inter-Agency Coordinator in all aspects related to inter-agency and partner communication with a focus on NGO partnerships.  A key tool in this regard will be the facilitation and support of periodic Inter-Agency meetings, as well as to support the broadening of inter-agency information through situation updates and newsletters        2.2FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT. Describe the accountabilities, responsibilities and authorities associated with the position.   Accountability (key results that will be achieved) -    Ensure inclusion of key refugee partners for all sectors, respecting their respective mandates and programme priorities -    Ensure adequate contingency planning and preparedness for new emergencies;   Responsibility (process and functions undertaken to achieve results)   -   Manage the flow of information to/from the Supervisor and other senior staff; identify priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the Supervisor -   Compile and maintain a contact list of inter-agency focal points and agencies -  Draft correspondence and ensure follow-up - Type correspondence, documents and reports, and prepare tables -Prepare background information for meetings to be attended by the Supervisor (i.e. agenda, information on the person/organization, information on the topic). -Assist the Sector Coordinators when necessary -Assist in ensuring appropriate coordination with all refugee partners (including national and international NGOs, the International Red Cross/Red Crescent movement, IOM and other international organizations), through establishment/maintenance of appropriate sectorial coordination mechanisms, including working groups at the national and local level -Ensure appropriate links with national and local authorities, state institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors and ensure appropriate coordination and information exchange with them; - Develop and maintain a common strategic framework and appropriate guidelines on the IA response by way of facilitating relevant group discussions -Identify geographical and thematic gaps in IA Coordination, and facilitate the appropriate response to those gaps -Establish technical groups or task forces as necessary to resolve ad-hoc issues as they arise -Ensure approval by all relevant national and sub-national authorities of the strategic documents produced by the IA Coordination Unit -Provide stakeholders with regular reports -Ensure review and completion of monthly sector dashboards -Perform regular field visits and take part in regional coordination meetings -Perform other related duties as requires     Authority: (decisions made in executing responsibilities and to achieve results)   -Ensure adequate monitoring mechanisms are in place to review impact of the sectorial working group and progress against implementation plans -Liaise with external partners and local organizations on behalf of UNHCR -Prioritize tasks and organize work independently -Engage with all sectors and identify IA Coordination activities -Make recommendations on IA Coordination issues