The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representation in Ghana invites well-qualified Ghanaian nationals to apply for the post of Associate Community Services Officer, NOB in Accra, Ghana.

Duration of Consultancy: One Year Initially (There is a lien to the post)

The Associate Community Services Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Representative. The responsibilities of the Associate Community Services Officer will include the following:

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT:
Accountability (key results that will he achieved)

•   Participatory and community-based structures and systems are in place to foster the on-going participation of persons of concern to inform protection responses and solutions throughout the operations management cycle.
•   Evolving, Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) sensitive analysis of community risks and capacities provides the essential basis for all of UNHCR’s work.
•   Participatory and approaches are integral to the country protection strategy.
•   The country operation has systems in place to promote and undertake community-based protection activities, which address the social, cultural, and livelihood needs of populations of concern.

Responsibility (process and functions undertaker, to achieve results)

•   Stay abreast of political and social, economic and cultural developments that, impact on the protection environment.
•   Participate in consultative processes with government counterparts, partners and persons of concern to develop and implement community-based protection strategies.
•   Establish links with inter-agency capacity building initiatives, which promote participatory, community-based and (AGD) approaches.
•   Establish systems, including those managed by communities, to ensure that individual cases identified at the field level are assessed, referred as appropriate, and followed up using ProGres or other established case management systems.
•   Advice programme/protection unit, country offices and partners, in order to integrate participatory, community-based and AGO approaches in the overall protection delivery strategy.
•   Map and provide analyses on protection risks to communities of concern as well as their capacities and resources for community-based protection and self-protection initiatives.
•   Work with implementing and operational partners as well as with displaced and local communities to develop community-owned activities to address, where applicable, the social, educational, psychosocial, cultural, health, organisational and livelihood concerns as well as child protection and prevention and response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
•   Implement regular participatory assessments and maintain on-going consultation with persons of concern using multifunctional teams.
•   Assist in the planning and monitoring of programmes and budgets through an AGO perspective.
•   Assist in building Office capacity for community-based protection through training and establishing systems for community mobilization and participation of persons of concern.
•   Contribute to UNHCR communication strategies by emphasizing the participatory, community-based and AGD approaches.
•   Monitor community services budgets and expenditures and advocate with senior management for (re)allocation of resources within the country envelope to meet new and/or outstanding needs.

Authority (decisions made in executing responsibilities and to achieve results)

•   Enforce the application of participatory, community-based protection and AGD approaches within policies in the country ensuring that actions incorporate an AGD sensitive approach as an essential basis to ali cf UNHCR work.
•   Design the community-based protection strategy, project submissions and budgets for endorsement by the Protection Officer or the Representative.
•   Intervene with authorities on community-based protection issues.

Salary/Benefits: Attractive with other benefits including child dependency allowance, Medical Insurance and Pension etc.

REQUIRED MANAGERIAL & CROSS FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCE

•   Judgement and Decision Making
•   Managing Resources
•   Analytical Thinking
•   Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
•   Planning and Organizing

Qualification Required & Experience

•   University degree in Anthropology, International Development, Guttural Studies, Human Rights, International Social Work, Social Sciences, or other dearly related disciplines.
•   Minimum 4 years (2 years with Advanced University degree) professional working experience in the areas of community services, social work (e g , gender SGBV programmes, women’s empowerment, protection, work with refugees) or/and human rights related tasks in government, NGO or international organisation.
•   Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS& COMPETENCIES

•   Good IT skills including database management skills.
•   Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to the functions of position such as: PLP (Protection Learning Programme), OMLP (Operations Management Learning Programme), ARC (Action for the Rights of Children) /Child rights, POP (People Oriented Planning) /Gender Studies, SGBV training.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Please note that only candidates who meet the above requirements will be considered for interview. Ghanaian Nationals with the relevant qualifications and experience are invited to submit their applications in sealed envelopes quoting the vacancy notice number and the position number for which they are interested, addressed to:

The Representative
UNHCR, Private Mail Bag
KIA, Accra

Location of Office: 16 Labone Drive, 4th Dade Walk, North Labone, Accra

Closing Date: 30 May, 2014

WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY