CONSULTANCY – TERMS OF REFERENCE
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5.5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.
Consultant – Policy Advisor (Humanitarian Principles)- (International)
(Remote work)
Background to the Humanitarian Principles
Endorsed by UN General Assembly resolutions 46/182 and 58/114, the Humanitarian Principles guide the work of all actors working in the humanitarian sphere. As an Agency with a humanitarian mandate – namely, to assist and protect Palestine refugees – these principles have been enshrined in UNRWA’s Regulatory Framework.
The Humanitarian Principles are understood as the following:
§ Humanity: Human suffering must be addressed wherever it is found. The purpose of humanitarian action is to protect life and health and ensure respect for human beings.
§ Neutrality: Humanitarian actors must not take sides in hostilities or engage in controversies of a political, racial, religious, or ideological nature.
§ Impartiality: Humanitarian action must be carried out based on need alone, giving priority to the most urgent cases of distress, and making no distinctions based on nationality, race, gender, religious belief, class or political opinions.
§ Independence: Humanitarian action must be autonomous from the political, economic, military, or other objectives that any actor may hold regarding areas where humanitarian action is being implemented.
Generally, UNRWA upholds Humanitarian Principles in practice by ensuring that:
§ Installations comply with the Humanitarian Principles and UN values, so they remain safe, accessible, and inclusive places for our beneficiaries;
§ Educational materials and practices are in line with the Humanitarian Principles and UN values and contribute to the wellbeing and development of child beneficiaries;
§ UNRWA partners and third parties are vetted appropriately;
§ As representatives of UNRWA, staff conduct themselves in accordance with appropriate frameworks in line with the Humanitarian Principles.
The Policy Advisor will ensure that these objectives are met through clear and effective advice and instruction, reporting to the Senior Humanitarian Principles Coordinator.
Description of Duties and Responsibilities
§ Is responsible for ensuring that there is a well-defined decision-making process through drafting Standard Operating Procedures and other guidance document; ensures that the legal perspective, the political perspective, and potential risks are considered and that proposed decisions are evaluated and presented appropriately.
§ Reviews internal and external documents relevant to the application of humanitarian principles in coordination with other colleagues and in particular the Department of Legal Affairs.
§ Takes the lead on other innovative activity that ensures the evidence-based nature of the work on humantiarian principles in practice, included, but not limited to, the creation and running of a podcast or other fora where active discussion can be had on the best way forward.
§ Identifies, analyses and monitors key legal and political developments, trends, and emerging issues in the fields of operation and beyond the region that have a potential impact on the implementation of the Agency’s services and operations with a view to providing early warning advice;
§ Assesses implications after incorporating an integrated approach that is in full compliance with, amongst other things, the humanitarian principles, international humanitarian law and international human rights law; makes recommendations for immediate and long-term courses of action to senior management on possible policies, strategies and other measures to address issues of concern and to facilitate and advance the Agency’s mandated objectives;
§ Prepares analytical reports and papers on matters of concern, including but not limited to, situation reports, briefing notes, options papers, and input for the external and internal reports of the Humanitarian Principles Team.**
minimum Qualifications and Experience
§ An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in law or related field.
§ A minimum of three (5) five years of progressively responsible experience in progressively responsible professional experience in international law or related area.
§ A minimum of two continuous years of relevant international experience outside the country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship, a passport, or a national identity number.
§ Experience in political outreach, analysis, advice and reporting.
§ Excellent command of spoken and written English.
dESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
§ Publications relating to the humantiarian principles.
§ Experience in training relating to the humantiarian principles.
§ Familiarity with the Agency’s five fields of operation and the Middle East at large.
§ Arabic language skills.
ComPetencies
§ Teamwork
§ Planning and Organisation
§ Problem Solving Skills
§ Critical Thinking/Analytical Skills
§ Coping with Pressure and Setbacks
§ Relating and Networking
§ Deciding and Initiating Action
§ Analysis
§ Formulating Strategies and Concepts
§ Persuading and Influencing**
Additional information
§ The consultant would be expected to work full time between 0800 and 1600 Amman time.
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
§ The duration of the consultancy is 3 months, extendable according to performance and availability of funds;
§ Remuneration for this consultancy is on P3 level and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the candidate;
§ The consultant will be paid monthly.
§ The incumbent will be expected to work remotely with potential travel to UNRWA fields of operation.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants should submit a cover letter and CV or UN Personal History Form demonstrating clearly the knowledge and experience required to meet the consultancy requirements via consultancy@unrwa.org indicating the title of this consultancy “**POLICY ADVISOR**” in the subject line of the message. The deadline for the submission of applications is 14 November 2021.
UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from both women and men. UNRWA encourages applications from qualified women. Only those applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted. UNRWA is a non-smoking environment.
How to apply
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants should submit a cover letter and CV or UN Personal History Form demonstrating clearly the knowledge and experience required to meet the consultancy requirements via consultancy@unrwa.org indicating the title of this consultancy “**POLICY ADVISOR**” in the subject line of the message. The deadline for the submission of applications is 14 November 2021.
UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from both women and men. UNRWA encourages applications from qualified women. Only those applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted. UNRWA is a non-smoking environment.