JO 35972 – Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer – IICA-1 UNOPS At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

1. General Background

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the agency of the United Nations System with the mandate to provide international protection and seek durable solutions that respond to the needs of the refugee population, asylum-seekers, internally displaced people and other persons of interest.

Communities in El Salvador are severely affected by gang violence, extortion, threats to life and sexual violence, as well as other serious human rights violations. This violence has led to the forced displacement of persons seeking protection and access to basic services and livelihood opportunities. According to a profiling exercise on forced internal displacement led by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, 71,500 individuals were displaced throughout the country between 2006 and 2016. In January 2020, El Salvador passed legislation to protect, aid and offer durable solutions to people internally displaced due to violence as well as those who may be at risk of displacement.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer will interact with the government counterparts and other stakeholders with specific mandate in livelihood activities as well as with the refugee communities. Within UNHCR, the Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer will work guided by the supervisor and closely with multi-functional teams on matters including but not limited to protection, education, cash, partnerships, research and analytics, GBV, solutions, complementary pathways and more. S/he will support the office’s involvement with livelihoods and economic inclusion, working with relevant external stakeholders from government line ministries, development actors, private sector, UN agencies, international organizations, NGOs, research institutions and universities.

The Associate Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer, contributes to translate the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) into impactful results for persons of concern (POC), and works towards the following objectives:

1. improve the enabling environment for refugees to work through advocacy on the right to/at work, access to economic opportunities and service;
2. seek new and strengthen existing partnerships including with the private sector, development actors, government institutions and specialized agencies to advance economic inclusion of refugees; and
3. enhance ongoing livelihoods and economic inclusion programming through evidence-based and market-driven approaches to improve economic inclusion outcomes.

S/he should be proactive, always looking for new opportunities and persuasive in mobilizing donors and new partners around new models of economic and social integration.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

· Maintain close contact and cooperation with partners to facilitate the economic inclusion of refugees, such as line ministries, private sector and development actors in accordance with UNHCR Global and Country level policies, priorities, and strategies, in particular the Global Compact on Refugees. This includes advocating with public and private sector services providers to include UNHCR POC in supporting services (business development, micro-finance, training, saving accounts, poverty alleviation and social protection, etc.).

· Work with the multi-functional team, more specifically with the Protection Unit, to assess the legal framework for the right to work and rights at work and recommend/implement advocacy initiatives and policy reforms to improve UNHCR POC’s economic inclusion, rights and access to work.

· Build on UNHCR databases to support regular information sharing and coordination among different humanitarian, developmental and governmental stakeholders. This includes supporting the implementation of socioeconomic and wealth ranking surveys utilizing community-based strategies to inform targeting, monitoring and facilitation of development programmes.

· Conduct necessary assessments in collaboration with relevant private and public stakeholders, including impact assessments on local economies and surveys that help to identify investment and funding opportunities that enhance the economic inclusion of UNHCR POC.

· In case UNHCR is implementing specific livelihoods activities, strengthen, guide and monitor the livelihoods interventions to help ensure they are market-based, and that the role of UNHCR has been strategically determined in consideration of its comparative advantage vis-à-vis other partners.

· Perform other related duties as required.

4. Qualifications and Experience

3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

a. Education

Business Management; Socio-Economics Development; Economics/International Economics; Rural Development; Financial Management; or other relevant field.

b. Work Experience

Essential

· Technical competencies in sub-sectors relevant to livelihoods programming e.g. financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education, and training, etc. Experience in facilitating the economic inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, ideally in varied field contexts.

· Experience in working with and developing partnerships with private sector, NGOs, UN organisations, development actors, and government authorities in sub-sectors relevant to livelihood programming e.g. financial inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education and training, etc.

Desirable

· Knowledge about latest development in the livelihoods sector, including broader UN processes on the SDGs and the Global Compact on Refugees.**

c. Language

· Fluency in English and Spanish.

d. Key Competencies

Functional Skills

· Experience with Inter/Non-Governmental Organization (INGO/NGO);

· Livelihoods & sub-sectors (value-chain upgrading, microfinance, cash assistance, etc.);

· Field experience;

· Project Management;

· Strategic Planning;

· Networking;

· Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation;

Core Competencies:

· Accountability

· Communication

· Organizational Awareness

· Teamwork & Collaboration

· Commitment to Continuous Learning

· Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies:

· Managing Resources

· Empowering and Building Trust

· Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies:

· Analytical Thinking

· Planning and Organizing

· Stakeholder Management

*Candidates cannot be hired under an international individual contract in the country of their nationality or permanent residence.
Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19.
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and may be required to sit for a test and will undertake a competency-based interview.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision, or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
UNHCR is committed to diversity and job inclusion, therefore, all people are encouraged to apply for this vacancy regardless of religion, age, sex, ethnicity, disability, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.
Remuneration:
A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the International Civil Service Commission at: http://icsc.un.org *