WASH/Shelter Associate – G6 – QOB007 – UNOPS Contracts - Qobayat, Lebanon

General Background

There are nearly 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,10 sectors have been established in Lebanon, with UNHCR leading or co-leading the Protection, Basic Assistance, Shelter, and Health sectors. UNHCR also provides information management support to all sectors.  In northern Lebanon UNHCR has one field unit in Qobayat and a Sub-Office in Tripoli.

The WASH / Shelter Associate may be supervised by the Head of Field Office. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country/regional programme(s). UNHCR Manual, programme and protection objectives, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the incumbent. The portfolio of this position may require frequent travels/missions within the country i.e. between field, sub-office and branch-office.   

The WASH / Shelter Associate leads UNHCR's Shelter and WASH response in Akkar, while maintaining close coordination with the Field unit of Sub-Office North based in Tripoli. S/he may have a supervisory role in the Shelter and WASH teams of Qobayat Field Office and supports the Shelter sector and emergency coordination functions of the Field unit when required.

The WASH / Shelter Associate conducts comprehensive sectoral needs assessments (Shelter and WASH) in liaison with other relevant sectors such as Protection, Basic Assistance, Programme, Community Services, Public Health, Administration and Supply. This task may include both qualitative and quantitative data gathering on profile/needs and living conditions of the displaced population and host community to ensure informed and effective response. The incumbent also maintains close and regular contact with the technical and non-technical staff of UN Agencies, implementing partners, and Shelter sector members, national and international NGOs and government authorities. 

The incumbent's specialized functions mainly focus on shelter planning/design and construction monitoring, including remote monitoring. Therefore, s/he should have a substantial academic qualification in civil engineering, architecture, and considerable work experience in the humanitarian shelter, WASH and Protection responses. S/he also ensures the development of the shelter strategies which are framed by UNHCR's Global Strategy for Settlement and Shelter and take into consideration the local context, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection and the availability of local resources, including materials, capacities and existing infrastructure. The incumbent also ensures that shelter responses within the area of responsibility (AoR) evolve according to the changing nature of the situation, progressively working towards more durable solutions and drawing from local building practices and materials. The incumbent oversees the day to-day operations of all construction projects within the AoR to ensure that works proceed as designed and comply with established standards/best practices and procedures for the full project cycle. S/he assists the supervisor in ensuring that specifications, bills of quantities and drawings are produced in a technically sound and standardized manner and monitor programme performance to ensure works are implemented according to plans and completed within the designated timeframe. Within an urban context, s/he confirms that shelter responses take into consideration urban planning strategies, including an analysis of residential areas, housing affordability and availability. Regardless of the context, shelter assistance should always minimize the risk of eviction, exploitation and abuse, overcrowded and sub-standard living conditions, limited access to services. 

UNHCR's strategic direction for 2021 places strong emphasis on Area-Based, and Integrated WASH / Shelter approaches geared to support protection outcomes in vulnerable municipalities. In this context, WASH activities fall mostly within shelter rehabilitation interventions. The incumbent may also develop and monitor the implementation of small-scale WASH-focused community support projects that address water, sanitation and environmental problems, and thus foster peaceful co-existence among Syrian refugees and the host community.  

The WASH / Shelter Associate will also provide support to the Emergency Coordinator in the events of extreme weather, fire and evictions to ensure that persons of concern have access to safe shelters and WASH services. S/he also follows up on post-emergency needs and gaps in areas affected by events of extreme weather, fire and evictions.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job descriptions. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR, which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions and relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. 

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Technical Guidance

Assist in carrying out shelter needs assessments while liaising with other relevant sectors such as protection, programme, community services, WASH, administration and supply. 

Work with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the shelter beneficiary selection process prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable Persons of Concern (PoC).

Provide support in the daily management of all construction and infrastructure projects within the AoR ensuring that works are carried out in compliance to established UNHCR and national standards/best practices for the full project cycle.

Follow up the design and construction of infrastructure (schools, health centers, reception centers, drainage and roadworks etc) to confirm these are approved by the relevant authorities, technically sound, supplemented with accurate drawings, detailed BQs and specifications and implemented according to plans, completed within designated timelines, budget and ensure that this information is shared with relevant colleagues. 

Work closely with other relevant sectors such as WASH, education and health so that shelter and infrastructure implementation is synchronized and coordinated. 

Assist implementing partners on sound technical shelter and settlement issues while ensuring compliance with national and global standards, national and operational strategies and guidance.

Coordination

Provide technical support in the field of shelter, construction and infrastructure development within the AoR to best meet the needs of PoC.

Assist in coordination and management of UNHCR’s shelter and infrastructure interventions in a timely, cost-effective, inter-sectoral manner. 

Work with the government and relevant authorities and counterparts to ensure strong coordination and partnership. 

Participate, as technical focal point within the AoR for shelter/infrastructure, in coordination meetings with various stakeholders including Government counterparts to ensure UNHCR’s interests and those of the PoC are adequately reflected and disseminate information to all stakeholders in a timely and efficient manner.

Collaboration

Assist Programme in reviewing technical components of the Project Partnership Agreements that contain any construction and infrastructure projects. 

Actively work with Programme as a member of the Multi-Functional Team in the operation and regularly participate in multi-sectoral activities to ensure protection and assistance needs of the population are met. 

Provide support in the preparation of bid documents for all construction and infrastructure projects including technical specifications, BoQs, drawings, etc. 

Assist in the technical evaluation of received bids as well as in the review/inspection of the quality of shelter and infrastructure products/works.

Perform other related duties as required.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

Provide timely inputs to ensure regular and accurate reports analyze the challenges encountered in providing shelter services for beneficiaries are prepared and circulated.

Provide regular updates and track progress, prepare summaries and follow-up documents in correspondence.

Compile documents and reports related to shelter activities and construction under the AoR.