Translation Officer ( Tigre)

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

Given the deteriorating security situation in and around the Libyan capital of Tripoli, UNHCR is responding to the emergency protection needs of refugees, asylum-seekers, children and youth-at-risk, and others of concern in Libya (urban-based and detention environments) through the establishment of the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM).The ETM has been established under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the Rwandan government and the African Union (AU) in September 2019. Under the terms of the MOU, the individuals concerned are transferred on a voluntary basis, from Libya to Rwanda for emergency case processing for durable solutions. UNHCR supports the Rwandan authorities in biometric joint registration of the evacuated persons and in undertaking Refugee Status Determination (RSD) under its mandate in accordance with applicable standards. A durable solution for their situation is pursued, including return to the country of origin for those who voluntarily choose to do so, or third country resettlement to States that are willing to offer admission. This assignment is critical in ensuring this is achieved. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional, and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Protection Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:  The Interpreter will provide operational support to registration, protection, child protection, GBV, Community Based Protection, Refugee Status Determination (RSD), child protection, resettlement (RST) and field staff of UNHCR and partner organizations through language support services for refugees and asylum seekers in Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) Centre Gashora.  The Interpreter is expected to provide interpretation in the following languages: Tigrinya, Amharic and English (desirable Tigre) and will undertake the following tasks.  Translation of written documents or statements as necessary.  Assist in the translation of all office documents including general correspondence, manuals as required.  Required to read, understand, and comply with UNHCR’s Code of Conduct and realizes that he/she shall be expected to work in the spirit of the principles set forth therein. • Required to read and understand the Undertaking of Confidentiality and Impartiality and understands that s/he shall be expected to respect the principle of confidentiality and remain impartial in his/her work. • Required to read, understand, and agree to abide by the standards of conduct set forth in the Secretary- General’s Bulletin, ST/SGB/2003/13 of 9 October 2003, concerning “Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse”. • The Interpreter must observe total confidentiality regarding information obtained in the performance of his/her duties In doing so, s/he will:  Be expected to be equipped with relevant knowledge and skills on the UNHCR’s protection mandate.  Be expected to recognize, understand and – in a split second – have a word in another language for any one of a myriad of issues. The range of interpretation subjects is broad, including politics, legal affairs, economic and social issues, human rights, finance, and administration.  A wide-ranging knowledge of world affairs, subjects (including technical terms) and United Nations processes is essential for all interpreters. 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 instance 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 planned 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.

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