Job: Senior Development/Humanitarian Advisor

Location: Geneva
Closing Date: Sunday, 01 December 2013

Terms of Reference

Post Title: Senior Development / Humanitarian Advisor (Syria Refugee Response)

Duty station: Beirut – with frequent travel to the fieldDuration of assignment: one year

General Background

The UNHCR Operation in Lebanon currently has over 800,000 refugees registered orawaiting registration (725,000 registered and 87,000 awaiting). Based on the trends inarrivals from January to April this year, it is estimated that the number of Syrian refugees inneed of assistance in Lebanon by the end of 2013 might reach 1 million. Refugees arespread across the country in 1,179 locations with 34% of the population residing in theNorth, 34% in the Bekaa region, 18% in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, and 14% in the South.Overall coordination of the inter-agency response rests with UNHCR, with other UN agenciesand NGOs playing critical roles in areas of their respective expertise. The Office has grownsubstantially since the beginning of the operation to more than 500 staff. Aside from theBranch Office in the capital city of Beirut, UNHCR has two sub-offices in Zahle and Tripoli andthree Field Offices in Mt Lebanon, Tyr (South) and Qobayat (North).UNHCR's mandate is recognized but the role of the Office very much depends onmaintaining clear, open and transparent communication with the Government so that it isable to maintain the position of authority and respect currently experienced by the Office.Lebanon is currently assessed at security level 4: substantial. The unrest in Syria has had animpact in Lebanon and security incidents are on the rise including cross-border shellinghitting Lebanese villages resulting in destruction of property and death; kidnappings formoney and/or in retaliation by one sectarian group against another; violent and fatal clashessparked by intra and inter-clan disputes; and ongoing concerns over weapons smuggling.Nonetheless, much has been achieved and refugees continue to receive a wide range ofassistance, including food and nonâ€food items, shelter, medical care, education assistanceand psychosocial support.UNHCR is engaging on activities addressed to the host communities to mitigate the impact ofrefugee presence on host communities, promote social cohesion and contribute to bridgingthe gap between humanitarian assistance programmes and development interventions.

Responsibilities

Under the authority of, and reporting to, the Representative of UNHCR Lebanon, theincumbent, will perform the following functions:

- In consultation with concerned humanitarian and development partners, prepare a guiding strategic and policy framework articulating linkages between thehumanitarian content of the Regional Refugee Response and that of longer termnational aid programmes.

- Develop country cooperation instruments (MoU, LoU, Exchange of Letter) with development partners as may be required to advance the humanitarian response torefugees through support to hosting communities and national institutions;

- Support the establishment and functioning of the UNDP

-UNHCR joint efforts and preparation of related policy and strategic guidance;

- Manage the development of country-level cooperation instruments with relevanthumanitarian and development partners;

- Guide and support the offices in the 'packaging' of refugee and host communitiesrelated data and information to inform the design and targeting of immediatestabilization and longer term development programmes;

- To the above end, reach out to, and reinforce working relationships with relevanthumanitarian and development partners at the country level (UN, IFIs, NGOS), toadvance the sound conception, content and targeting of immediate stablisation andlonger term development programmes;

- Guide and support (drafting) of the relevant components of the RR6 documentinsofar as it relates to linkages with longer term development programmes.

Requirements

- Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in social sciences, development,development economics or similar;

- At least 15 years field experience (in development or a mixture of development /humanitarian), including extensive experience in a coordination, policy andanalytical role;

- Several years of experience working with development actors (World Bank, UNDP,bilateral aid agency, or similar) in a staff or consultancy role;

- Sound knowledge of both development and humanitarian landscape and actors;

- Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills;

- Demonstrated, excellent analytical skills;

- Experience of living/working in the region;

- Advanced English drafting and writing skills;

- Knowledge of spoken and written Arabic is an advantage.

Duration: One yearEnquiries/How to applyPlease send an email with your CV and cover letter before 1 December 2013 tosolutions@unhcr.org

More Info and Application