JO# 17890 – Field Associate – G6 – PN 10020699 – UNHCR Fixed Term Appointment (Replacement Capacity) - Tyre, Lebanon

Field Associate

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Eight years into the Syria crisis, Lebanon remains the country hosting the largest number of refugees per capita, with over one million Syrian refugees, and around 20,000 refugees of Iraqi, Sudanese, Ethiopian and other origins, in addition to the Palestine refugees under UNRWA¿s mandate. There are no formal camps for Syrian refugees n the country, and refugees are living in hundreds of communities and locations across the country. 

The refugee response is led by the Government and local actors, supported by the international community. As the designated lead agency in the refugee response, UNHCR has established a sector-based structure in Beirut and in the field. The structure brings together over 100 UN agencies, national and international NGO partners in identifying and agreeing on the strategic priorities to address the needs of Syrian refugees and other affected populations. The Lebanon national response falls under the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP), whereby UNHCR guides the refugee response and UNDP facilitates the resilience and stabilization component.

The UNHCR operational response in Lebanon I one of the largest for the organization. Media attention and the frequency of influential high-profile visitors is high. Aside from the country office in the capital city of Beirut, UNHCR has offices in Mt Lebanon, Qobayat, Tripoli, Tyre and Zahle.

The Field Associate is supervised by the Associate Field Officer and performs a variety of functions related to Field activities within the area of operations of UNHCR¿s Field Office (FO) in Tyre. The supervisor defines general work objectives and provides necessary advice and guidance. The Field Associate may supervise some General Service staff as required.

The Field Associate is an integral part of the Field Unit and participates in activities including field missions, monitoring of partners, counselling and provision of information to persons of concern on available assistance and services. The Field Associate keeps frequent internal contacts with staff members in the same duty station to exchange information, to establish understanding of respective needs, to ensure provision of services and resolution of problems and with the external contacts generally with officials of national and international institutions, leaders of the refugee community, local population and/or Implementing Partners (IPs) on subject matters which may be of importance to the Organization. In addition to regular field activities, the Field Unit in FO Tyre is responsible for implementation of all Shelter and WASH activities for the South and Nabatieh Governorate. The Field Associate is the focal point for protection referrals related to Shelter and relocation to empty housing units, including filtering of cases and coordination with relevant partners. In addition, the Field Associate is responsible for overseeing Shelter and WASH soft activities including Housing, Land and Property (HLP) awareness and Hygiene Promotion. The Field Associate further contributes to the overall coordination process of the Shelter Sector by organizing regular Shelter Working Group meetings, in addition to the involvement in emergencies coordination, including storms and refugee¿s influx.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- UNHCR's policies, standards and procedures are constantly and coherently applied in the area of responsibility (AoR).
- The needs of persons of concern in the AoR are assessed and analysed in a participating manner and using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective to form a firm basis for planning.

Responsibility 

- Monitor the situation in the AoR, collect data and other information relevant to UNHCR and report to the supervisor accordingly.
- Monitor the implementation of UNHCR programme including the delivery of all assistance items and monitoring of infrastructure.
- Undertake regular visits to various sites in order to assess needs of persons of concern, with particular attention to vulnerable groups. 
- Keep regular contacts with local authorities and implementing partners as requested by supervisor.
- Act as interpreter when required.
- Contribute to the preparation of status and progress reports by providing info, preparing tables, etc.
- Assist in administrative tasks as required such as preparation of reports and meeting authorized personnel and assisting them during field missions.
- Inform and act on the reports received on persons of concern within the refugee community or from the local authorities.
- In coordination with implementing partners, assist in the reception, registration and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Undertake other relevant duties as required.
Authority
- Negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
- Represent UNHCR in physical monitoring of projects.