Shelter Officer

Job Summary

The main purpose of the position is, under the management of the WASH/Shelter Project Manager, to implement Concern’s Shelter and WASH activities, in shelter units at residential, non-residential level and in collective site but also in informal settlements including following an Area Based Approach. 

This role includes gathering information and data on Shelter locations, assessment, technical preparation and review of construction activities, bill of quantities, negotiations of contracts with contractors, negotiation of rent agreement, and monitoring of Concern’s activities. In order to ensure that all the skill sets are covered within the site teams, within the role of WASH/Shelter engineer are some generic responsibilities mostly around support to, and mobilisation of, refugee communities; oversight and monitoring of infrastructure construction; conduct assessments; general coordination.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Participate in the identification of people in need of shelter assistance
   1. Identification of beneficiaries to be assisted in collaboration with municipality, community focal points, existing beneficiaries and other stakeholders following Concern and UNHCR eligibility criteria;
   2. Technical assessment of occupied and unoccupied units but also of common area in Collective sites and prepare bill of quantities for rehabilitation in line with Shelter Working Group’s guidelines and in collaboration with residents and landlords;
   3. Negotiate with landlord the scope of works and occupancy agreement terms to ensure affordable shelters;
   4. Assess cases for cash for shelter intervention
   5. Participate in resolution of any conflict that may arise between landlord and families if requested.

2. Oversee construction at residential, non-residential and ITS level

1. Monitor on daily basis the progress and quality of construction activities at residential, non-residential and ITS level that include rehabilitation of unfinished or substandard shelters and implementation of WASH (rehabilitation/installation of latrines, grey or black water on-site treatment facilities) and site improvements activities; ensure adherence to agreed standards and processes; highlighting any issues and examples of good practice through regular reports to Senior Shelter Engineer and in team meetings.
2. Provide technical input in the general supervision, progress of construction activities and control of quality of materials and workmanship
3. Prepare all the supporting documentation for payment to owners and contractors;
4. Identify the skills and promote self-help approach within the refugee populations
5. Produce weekly/daily progress reports on the construction activities, contract status and beneficiary participation as required
6. Data collection and data entry of information relating to households, shelters & works.
7. Prepare contracts and payments for contractors.
8. Coordinate closely with Finance and Logistics team to ensure proper implementation of the project.

3. Oversee works for improved water supply and sanitation access at municipality level 

1. Participate in the selection of sites for construction/rehabilitation of water supply network and construction of septic tanks.

10. Ensure proper decommissioning of septic tanks ensuring no risks for public health and the environment.
11. Monitor on daily basis the progress and quality of construction activities at municipal level; ensure adherence to agreed standards and processes; surfacing any issues and examples of good practice through regular reports to Project Manager and in team meetings

12. Provide technical input in the general supervision, progress of construction activities and control of quality of materials and workmanship

13. Prepare all the supporting documentation for payment to contractors;
14. Produce weekly/daily progress reports on the construction activities, contract status and beneficiary participation as required

4. Participate to emergency response in IS and housing units in relation with shelter and WASH assistance
   1. In coordination with the Shelter and WASH team, support Concern to meet its minimum quality and accountability requirements in emergencies;
   2. Conduct technical assessment following emergency at the request of the WASH/Shelter PM;
   3. Report on needs and assistance required;
   4. Delivery of shelter and NFI kits to people in need living in IS or sub-standards housing units;
   5. Identify the skills and promote self-help approach within the refugee populations
   6. Provide technical input in the installation of shelters in IS;
   7. Respond to referrals in liaison with the social team;
   8. Facilitate communication flows between refugee leaders and Concern staff by providing timely information as required;
   9. Participate to the referral system of Concern enabling people in need to access the adequate services.
   10.  

5. Training of resident’s committees in collective shelters
   1. Creation of a resident committee if not yet existing in all identified collective shelters
   2. Provision of a series of trainings for them to understand their roles and responsibilities, and carry out their tasks
   3. Support the committees in the identification of risks and rehabilitation needs in the common space
   4. Secure tenure situations through dialogues with landowners and beneficiaries with the aims of supporting the residents in decreasing or freezing their rent for a set period of time following the signed agreement after the improvement of their common area conditions.
   5. Follow up with the families after the service has been provided to identify additional needs

6. Referrals & Service Mapping
   1. Provide documentation and information about all services in the area (including addresses and contact details) to beneficiaries after identification of service of each Municipality of intervention as well as nationwide.
   2. Identification of beneficiaries requiring other services and follow up of referral to other services.
   3. Sharing of Concern Complaint Response Mechanism and contact details.

7. Reporting and Communication

• In coordination with the WASH/Shelter team, support Concern to meet its minimum quality and accountability requirements in emergencies
• Produce weekly/daily progress reports on ongoing works.
• Document and record all works fully including any investigations on owner-beneficiary disputes, referral issues etc;
• Facilitate communication flows between refugee leaders, community focal points and Concern staff by providing timely information as required
• Coordination with other programme teams to ensure effective identification of beneficiaries and assistance to these beneficiaries.
• Report progress on activity info and RAIS on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

8. Participate to emergency response in IS and housing units as part of the RNA
   1. In coordination with the Shelter and WASH Team, support Concern to meet its minimum quality and accountability requirements in emergencies;
   2. Conduct technical assessment following emergency at the request of the WASH/Shelter PM;
   3. Report on needs and assistance required;
   4. Delivery of shelter and NFI kits to people in need living in IS or sub-standards housing units;
   5. Identify the skills and promote self-help approach within the refugee populations
   6. Provide technical guidance in the installation of shelters to beneficiaries;
   7. Facilitate communication flows between Refugee leaders and Concern staff by providing timely information as required;
   8. Participate to the referral system of Concern enabling people in need to access the adequate services.

9. Participate in the COVID-19 response of CWW through assessments and distributions of IPC, disinfection and hygiene kits.

10. Conduct additional tasks as requested by the Senior Protection Officer, Project Manager or Programme Manager.

11. Adhere to the standards of conduct outlines in the Programme Participant Protection Policy and Concern Code of Conduct.

12. Support and promote the standards outlined in the Programme Participant Protection Policy and Concern Code of Conduct to their team, partner organisations and beneficiaries, and be committed to providing a safe working environment.

13. To contribute to the establishment of preventive measures to reduce the potential for abuse in Concern programme (as per P4 section 6)

14. Support Concern’s work in Lebanon by undertaking other tasks as appropriate and required

Skills, Qualifications, Experience and Attitude Required

• Degree in Engineering, certificate in building/construction or related technical qualification
• Minimum of one year experience in humanitarian organisation, especially in the Shelter and WASH sector
• Experience in monitoring construction and managing contractors is highly desirable
• Familiarity with the minimum construction standards for camps (eg., Sphere)
• Strong organizational skills and able to coordinate and manage a diverse array of activities and stakeholders
• Strong negotiation and mediation skills and ability to work independently
• Excellent communication skills in Arabic, a reasonable level of English in reading and speaking
• Report writing skills and computer skills in word processing and spreadsheets
• Experience in conducting surveys, managing data and statistics is desirable
• Leadership and supervisory skills and ability to foster team spirit
• Willingness to stay on site and travel to construction sites all the time
• Strong commitment to ensuring the protection of refugees
• Commitment to Concern equal opportunity and gender practices
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and values
• Strong sense of security management and willingness to follow security guidelines and regulations

CONCERN STAFF CODE OF CONDUCT AND PROGRAMME PARTICIPANT PROTECTION POLICY

Concern Worldwide has a staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern Staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected from them. In this context staff has the responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standard in day to day conduct in their work place in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission.

Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract employment.

Any breach of Concern Staff Code of Conduct or the Programme participant Protection Policy by employees of Concern Worldwide during the course of their employment will result in disciplinary action up to, and including dismissal.

Counter Terrorism Policy

‘Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year.  Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List). 

‘Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant.  For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.

By submitting a formal application for paid or voluntary employment to Concern, you agree to Concern carrying out a clearance check as outlined above and that Concern will not proceed to recruit you should your name appear on any of the aforementioned lists.’