Interpreter – HRC011 – Individual Contractor - Lebanon

General Background

In the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and in response to the associated risks and restrictions, UNHCR Lebanon has taken exceptional measures to ensure that critical activities, including resettlement, are not delayed, and that vulnerable persons of concern continue to benefit from essential services to the extent possible. As resettlement remains a life-saving intervention for many refugees in Lebanon, UNHCR and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) are collaborating closely throughout the second half of 2021 in facilitating the implementation of In-Person Selection Missions for the purpose of resettling vulnerable refugees to Norway.

In 2021, UDI has conducted 3 VSM to Lebanon, firstly in February/March 2021 then April/May 2021 and June 2021, during which refugee families were interviewed through remote modalities at the UNHCR reception centers countrywide. UDI used interpreters that were hired through IOM to assist with the remote interviews. UDI does not have an agreement with IOM for facilitating VSM or in-person selection missions during 2021. Instead UDI requested UNHCR for direct implementation, hence this request for interpreters to be hired on individual contract basis. As several resettlement countries, including Norway, are planning to further engage in VSM to Lebanon in 2021, the availability of interpreters on an ad hoc basis throughout 2021 is essential for the continuity of the program and further processing of resettlement cases pertaining to the most vulnerable refugees. In addition, the interpreters’ tasks during the VSM and in-person selection missions are not limited solely to interpretation; they include additional activities relating to logistics when required, as administered by the Resettlement Support Staff Member, under the supervision of the Resettlement Officer.

Overall Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Interpret from Arabic-English and English-Arabic to facilitate resettlement selection interviews conducted by resettlement country officials, as well as additional activities related to logistics when required.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The interpreters, under the supervision of the relevant Resettlement Support Staff Member, will complete and sign a daily attendance sheet reflecting the hours of work completed. The Resettlement Support Staff Member will confirm the information and submit the completed attendance sheets to HR at the end of the assignment.