Assistant Field Officer

The Assistant Field Officer is normally supervised by the Senior Field Coordinator or Field Officer or Head of Sub-Office/Field Office depending on the structure of the Office. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country/regional programme(s). UNHCR Manual, programme and protection objectives, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the incumbent.

The incumbent does not normally have any direct supervisory role. S/he has daily contacts with staff in the various field offices and with the functional units at the Country/Regional Office. S/he also has close liaison with a range of local civilian and military authorities and counterparts in NGOs and UN agencies to discuss matters of common interest.

• Assess the needs of persons of concern in the AoR and formulate project submissions in collaboration with district authorities and implementing partners.
• Promote and monitor the implementation of assistance projects.
• Report regularly on rate of flow of new arrivals and estimate expected influx based on interviews with persons of concern.
• In co-ordination with implementing partners, assist with the reception, registration and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
• Keep track of cases of detention; register applicants for voluntary repatriation and family reunion.
• Assist in the preparation of monthly sectoral reports and submit material for preparation of periodic project monitoring reports and year-end reports.
• Submit recommendation for protection interventions to the designated officer.
• Negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
• Perform other related duties as required.

• Analytical Thinking
• Political Awareness
• Stakeholder Management

• Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Law, Political Sciences or related fields is required
• Minimum 1 year of previous work experience relevant to the function is required.
• Knowledge of English is required

• Field experience, knowledge of refugee law and good knowledge of UNHCR’s programmes is desirable

The Assistant Field Officer is normally supervised by the Field Officer or Head of Office and performs a variety of functions related to Field activities within the AOR. The supervisor defines general work objectives and provides necessary advice and guidance. The Assistant Field Officer may supervise some General Service support staff. The incumbent keeps frequent internal contacts with staff members in the same duty station to exchange information, to establish understanding of respective needs, to ensure provision of services and resolution of problems and with the external contacts generally with officials of national and international institutions, leaders of the refugee community, local population and/or Implementing Partners on subject matters which may be important to the Organization.

Lamwo (Palabek) Settlement was established in April 2017 to receive and settle new arrivals (refugees) from South Sudan. Lamwo Settlement has a registered refugee population of over 54,000 and is actively receiving new arrivals almost on daily basis. UNHCR’s mandate is to provide, in collaboration with other actors, international protection to refugees and to assist them in finding permanent solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement. UNHCR also increasingly ensures access to basic services and self-reliance of refugees pending durable solutions.  The ability to maintain sustainable livelihoods, access basic services and fully reintegrate into communities is facilitated. In the Lamwo operation, camp coordination and camp management (CCCM) is the role of the government through the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and supported by other sectors and partners. The Field Office in collaboration with other units within UNHCR ensure a strong collaboration with OPM, implementing agencies and operational partners.

The Field Office in Lamwo is to organize and provide basic needs, services and protection for refugees and other persons of concern adequately through coordination with implementing and operational partners in a timely manner. The Assistant Field Officer monitor services, activities, and projects regularly, identifying gaps, conduct needs assessment and propose actions ensuring UNHCR standards, provide guidance for the minimum level of service delivery and protection. The incumbent is required to ensure refugees are adequately represented in forums and are consulted in every activity that concerns them through participatory approaches considering Age, Gender, Diversity and Mainstreaming (AGDM), of the beneficiaries. Monitor the border entry points and ensure new arrivals have free and un-hindered access to asylum. The incumbent is also expected to coordinate with hosting district local administration, in strengthening integration of refugee needs and services into the district development plans thereby enabling refugees’ benefit from services offered the host government. Excellent communication, decision making, management and leadership skills are also important as the Assistant Field Officer will act as the OIC for the field office in the absence of the team leader.