Associate Shelter Officer – Nob – Bey101 – (Inter-Agency Coordination Unit)

   There are currently over 1 million Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR in Lebanon, which makes Lebanon the highest refugee-hosting country per capita in the world. There are no approved camps in the country and refugees are spread over 1,750 localities. 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 to support the Government.  The structure brings together 13 UN agencies, 60 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 while UNDP facilitates the resilience and stabilization component.  Through inter-agency coordination mechanisms, 9 sectors have been established in Lebanon, with UNHCR leading or co-leading the Protection, Basic Assistance, Shelter, and Health sectors. UNHCR is also providing information management support to all. The Office has grown substantially in the past years.  Aside from the Branch Office in the capital city of Beirut, UNHCR has two sub-offices in Zahle and Tripoli and two field offices in Mt Lebanon, Tyr (South), and one field unit in Qobayat under the Tripoli Sub-Office.  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 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.  UNHCR is supporting the Government to coordinate the shelter response and has introduced a sectorial coordination structure. Partners are making significant efforts to ensure that available resources reach the most vulnerable including through the introduction of targeting of assistance across all sectors and new programming efficiencies such as the introduction of cash assistance.  Under the direct supervision of the Inter-agency Coordinator, the Associate Shelter Officer will support the sector and its established working groups in contributing towards the effective provision of emergency assistance to the refugees, returnees, and affected host communities through the timely and efficient coordination of sector activities.   The incumbent of this position will be based in Beirut, Lebanon. However, he/she will be required to undertake official mission in the areas where refugees and other persons of concern related to the targeted projects are located.    MAIN DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  Specifically, the Associate Shelter Coordinator will be responsible to facilitate and guide the following actions:    Coordination   Coordinate and liaise with the shelter sector co-lead designated by the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs. Coordinate inter-agency collaboration and operational partnerships in the shelter sector. Ensure a more coherent and effective response by mobilizing groups of agencies, organizations and NGOs to respond in a strategic manner across all regions of Lebanon; Ensure effective coordination with all partners- and actors (national and international) active in the shelter sector, through support to appropriate sectoral coordination mechanisms, including working groups at the national and local level;  Ensure priority strategies are effected to ensure basic shelter needs of the displaced population are met; Provide clear guidance and communicate minimum standards to all stakeholders to build local capacities and improve the quality of shelter programmes; Ensure effective and coherent sectoral needs assessment and analysis, involving all relevant partners; Ensure compliance with shelter global strategies, protocols and guidelines; Provide timely updates and briefings to donors, prospective donors and media;    Coordination with national/local authorities, state institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors  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; Ensure the national- and local authorities take on their respective responsibilities towards the shelter response; Establish a coordination mechanism with non-traditional partners, including the religion-based organisations; Support efforts to strengthen the capacity of the national authorities and civil society. Planning and strategy development Develop and update agreed response strategies and action plans for the sector  Compile, analyse and map information on shelter needs and emergency shelter options in Lebanon (including substandard shelters, informal settlements, collective shelters, cash for shelter, and potential transit sites) Develop, in collaboration with shelter agencies, a shelter sector strategy including shelter assistance methods that are technically sound to support refugees in different shelter types with sufficient attention to host communities concerns.  Secure commitment from sector partners in response to the needs and gaps, ensuring an appropriate distribution of responsibilities within the sectoral group with clearly defined focal points for specific issues where necessary; Ensure adequate contingency planning and preparedness for new emergencies.  Assessment and analysis  Collect and analyse available data related to shelter activities; Participate in joint sectoral needs assessment and analysis; Carry out specific needs assessments when necessary.    Coordination of shelter interventions  Ensure appropriate coordination with partners and other sectors in implementing the shelter strategy; Promote the integration of agreed cross-cutting issues (age, gender, environment, diversity) utilizing participatory approaches; Secure commitments from participants in responding to needs and filling gaps, ensuring an appropriate distribution of responsibilities, with defined focal points where necessary; Ensure the revision and establishment of Standard Operations Procedures of the shelter sector and their dissemination. Act as focal point for inquiries on the shelter sector response plans and operations. Monitoring, reporting and information Management  Ensure adequate monitoring mechanisms are in place to review the impact of activities and progress against plans; Ensure adequate reporting and effective information sharing with partners, donors and government counterparts; Work closely with the inter agency information management unit and provide input to information material to be disseminated online; Regularly exchange information and best practices with relevant stakeholders;  Community-based approach/Cross cutting issues   Ensure utilization of participatory and community based approaches in sectoral needs assessment, analysis, planning, monitoring and response. Ensure integration of agreed priority cross-cutting issues in sectoral needs assessment, analysis, planning, monitoring and response , ensure that the needs, contributions and capacities of women and girls as well as men and boys are addressed;