Municipality Support Assistant

All NRC employees and secondees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes and believes shall guide our actions and relationships. 1.      Role and responsibilities The Municipal Support Assistant (MSA) will be based within Kweshra Municipality and will provide support and assistance to the Mayor, municipal board members and other local administrators in the administration and communication of, reporting on, and implementation of policies related to refugees within the designated municipality’s jurisdiction. In order to duly fulfil the requirements of his/her position, the MSA will receive regular guidance from his/her NRC supervisor in direct coordination with the Mayor or Municipal Board Members. H/She will also maintain working relations with humanitarian actors and within the jurisdiction h/she is working in, including but not limited to Ministry of Social Affairs representatives, Mukhtars and representatives of international and national non-governmental organisations. The MSA will work closely with NRC’s Collective Site Management and Coordination (CSMC) project to ensure adequate information management and coordination between refugee representatives, local authorities and host community members. The CSMC Coordinator will coach the MSA and ensure relevant training opportunities are identified and made available for him/her to provide optimal collaboration with the refugee and host communities. Generic responsibilities Assist the municipal authorities in administering national and local refugee policies and communicating these to the refugee communities. Assist the NRC CCB, ICLA, Shelter, WASH and Education teams in developing and disseminating information on humanitarian assistance and policies to the refugees residing in the municipality. Act as a liaison between the refugees residing in the municipality and the national and international NGOs working in the area. Act as a liaison between the refugees residing in the municipality and the municipal authorities and host community members. Identify and share information on gaps and needs in the assistance to refugees, host community and municipal authorities in the municipality with NRC and other humanitarian agencies. Specific responsibilities Be the focal point for NRC and other humanitarian and development agencies within the municipality for communication with the municipality. Be the focal point for refugees within the municipality, and communicate regularly with the refugee representatives. Assist the municipal authorities in administrative tasks regarding the refugees residing in the area, e.g. registration, information sharing and referral Refer vulnerable cases to the concerned agencies (Interagency Referral Form) and share the different hotlines when needed. Stay updated on changes in refugee policies and assistance delivery for information sharing and referral purposes. Service mapping of all agencies operating in the area and what services are being offered and projects being implemented Participate in relevant trainings organised by NRC and other humanitarian agencies. Assists the municipal authorities in defining local needs and identify community based solutions to these. Participate in mediation when necessary between refugee and host community. Work to build up a key informant network to monitor new arrivals in the municipality and specific protection needs. Maintain positive relations with local actors, other authorities and other local and international stakeholders. Coordinate with different local and international actors and participate in relevant coordination meetings. Weekly coordination with NRC (daily for emergency needs) and reporting as per agreed with NRC and specific municipal authorities. Any other duties relating to the nature of the job as directed by the Head of the Municipality and NRC. Support the municipality and other stakeholders in case of emergency affecting refugees, including those living in informal settlements (evictions, fire, Extreme weather etc.) Provide the new MSA/s with support during induction and offer consultation upon request (if applicable). Submit monthly municipal reports to the municipality and NRC Information management and archiving (soft and hard copies) relating to the refugee response The MSA is required to respect the principle of strict confidentiality and the NRC Code of Conduct for non-NRC staff. The tasks and responsibilities might change during the contract period due to operational needs. 2.      Competencies Generic professional competencies: Ordinary National Diploma in Social work or other relevant field Minimum 1 year of relevant work experience in working with either local or national authorities or with community based projects Minimum 1 year of experience in working in similar positions with refugees Experience of working in the geographical area    Ability to communicate in English and Arabic    Ability to work under pressure    Knowledge of computer applications such as MS Word, Excel and Access Context/ Specific skills, knowledge and experience: Good communication and interpersonal skills Strong organisational and team working skills Good cultural awareness and sensitivity Highly approachable, trustworthy and understanding of the principles of confidentiality Knowledge of the NGO operations and the dynamics of the humanitarian sector is a plus Knowledge of protection issues and programming Good information analysis skills Good awareness of the humanitarian principles of independence, impartiality, neutrality and equality. 3.       Reporting lines and Objectives MSAs would report first and foremost to the municipal authority. The main purpose of the secondment from NRC to the municipality is to support the municipality in the local administration of the refugee response, both materially and through capacity building. The municipal authority would be responsible for the daily HR and admin of the position, while NRC would be responsible for the contractual and salary components related to the position. Nonetheless, general objectives and specific reporting duties would be set by the municipal authority in direct coordination with NRC and in accordance with NRC policies and standards. Refugees would have to be adequately received by the MSA, treated with dignity, kept informed and encouraged to participate actively in matters relating to their protection and assistance. MSAs would therefore require regular contact with and support from NRC.  MSAs would also be required to maintain a consistent stream of information flowing between them and NRC.