Details
Mission and objectives
The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems world-wide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org). The UNHCR Representation Office in Rwanda principally manages a refugee population (mainly refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo who have been on the Rwan-dan territory since 1996 and Burundian refugees who have been arriving in the country further to the volatile situation in Burundi since April 2015) as well as a significant re-turnee population of Rwandan refugees returning after many years in exile. It is com-posed of the Branch Office in Kigali and Field Offices in Huye, Gicumbi, Rusizi, Rubavu, Karongi, Kirehe and Kabarore. It hosts approximately 155,749 refugees in three proracted refugee camps, namely Nyabiheke (managed by Kabarore Office) Gihembe (managed by Gicumbi Office) as well as Kiziba (managed by Karongi Office), three new refugee camps, namely Kigeme and Mugombwa (managed by Huye Office) as well as Mahama (managed by Kirehe Office), and urban settings (Kigali and Huye). Since April 2015, UNHCR is also supporting two additional reception centers in Bugesera and Nyanza districts for Burundian refugees. The existing transit center in Rusizi (Nyagatare Transit Centre) that was receiving Rwandan returnees has also started functioning as a reception center for Burundian new arrivals. As of December 2013, Rwanda hosted approximately 74,000 Congolese refugees. 99% of the refugee caseload is predomi-nantly composed of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with 84% originating from North Kivu and 11% from South Kivu.
Context
The Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Associate reports directly to the Head of Field Office based in Huye. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to Livelihood based at the branch Office. Protection and Solutions are the key focus of the office with Cash Based Interventions (CBI) and Livelihoods as strategic priorities. The incumbent will need to have strong proven leadership and communication skills to implement livelihood and economic inclusion strategy as well as to interact with Partners and authorities as needs arise.
Task description
• Explore partnerships with relevant stakeholders to enhance economic inclusion of UN-HCR PoC. This includes working with economic development agencies to adapt their programmes to become inclusive of UNHCR PoC, working with the private sector to enhance inclusion of UNHCR PoC in their labour force and supply chains, working with financial service providers to enhance financial inclusion, and working with public and private sector service 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 collect information about the legal framework for the right to work and rights at work. • Support the implementation of socioeconomic and wealth ranking surveys to inform targeting, monitoring and facilitation of the engagement of development programmes. • Participate in necessary assessments in collaboration with relevant private and public stakeholders, including impact assessments on local economies and surveys that help to in-form interventions and identify investment and funding opportunities that enhance the economic inclusion of UNHCR PoC. • Work closely with stakeholders and provide technical assistance on livelihoods interventions to ensure these project implementations are market-based, and that the role of UN-HCR has been strategically determined in consideration of its comparative advantage vis-à-vis other partners. • Liaise with partners and authorities on livelihoods related issues under the technical guidance of the supervisor. • Prepare field reports and other relevant reports relating to livelihoods and make recommendations for interventions that enhance refugee economic inclusion to the designated officer. • Perform other related duties as required. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.