Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

E (most hardship)

Non Family

UNOPS LICA6

2024-02-15

January 29, 2024

Title: Shelter Associate (Regional Focal Point – Shelter/NFI Cluster)
Project: Afghanistan/2024/01
Duty station: Sub Office Mazar -I- Sharif, Afghanistan
Section/Unit: Emergency Shelter/Non-Food Items Cluster
ICA Level: LICA-6
Corresponding level: G6
Duration: 11 months with the possibility of extension
Supervisor: Head of Office & National Cluster Coordinator

1. General Background:

The Afghanistan Emergency Shelter and NFI cluster was established in March 2008, led by UNHCR and co-chaired by IOM. The ES/NFI cluster continues to coordinate and support access to basic lifesaving assistance through the provision of emergency shelter, shelter repair, rental support, NFIs, and winterization assistance while ensuring adequate coordination mechanisms and response capacities at national and regional levels with various line ministries. The ES/NFI cluster has established coordination mechanisms at sub-national levels which the Shelter Associate (Regional Focal Point – Shelter/NFI Cluster) will support at the regional level. To enhance coordination and response, the ES/NFI cluster also has Provincial focal points in all Provinces with the sole aim of supporting the Sub-National ES/NFI Cluster Coordinator (Regional Focal Point) in representing the cluster, sharing information on displacement, assessments, partner mapping, and response. These national and sub-national roles form the ES/NFI Cluster coordination team. This team, at all levels, must ensure the inclusion of key humanitarian partners within the Cluster, respecting their mandates and Programme priorities. Together with the Cluster members, the team identifies the overall requirements in responding to natural and conflict emergencies and will endeavor to ensure Cluster capacity to meet this threshold.

The Shelter Associate (Regional Focal Point – Shelter/NFI Cluster) supports coordination functions in the Region to ensure UNHCR’s role as the Shelter Cluster (SC) Lead Agency under the Cluster Approach. The incumbent supports UNHCR’s commitment to work within the framework of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Cluster Approach. The Regional Cluster Coordinator- Shelter/NFI (Shelter Associate) also contributes to cross-sectoral coordination with other related clusters in the Region such as WASH, CM, Protection (HLP), and others, supports the mainstreaming of early recovery activities and cross-cutting issues into the work of the Shelter Cluster, especially age, gender, diversity, HIV, and environment.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

The Shelter Associate (Regional Focal Point – Shelter/NFI Cluster), with assistance from the Regional Co-Chair and National Cluster Coordinator, will have the following functions:
a) Representing the ES/NFI Cluster at the Regional national level with the regional government authorities, state representative institutions, local and national organizations, and donor agencies.
b) Support the National Cluster coordinator by providing inputs and information, such as Identifying topics that need special attention at the national cluster level.
c) Lead the Regional Cluster in designing the regional (context-specific) plans and in assessing needs and gaps.
d) Strive for a common understanding by all cluster members of the cluster’s needs, to ensure that the targets are met.
e) Call regular meetings as required to discuss regionally adapted targets, debate on challenges, monitor progress, and detect gaps and overlaps with all relevant cluster members active in their respective areas.
f) Encourage timely and accurate reporting by all the cluster members. Ensure that ES/NFI partners in the region are reporting their activities into the Report Hub platform.
g) Promote attention to vulnerable groups and cross-cutting issues.
h) In conjunction with the national coordinator, advocate on funding and materials needs for partners to address identified gaps.
i) Promote good practice within the ES/NFI Cluster, including participatory approaches.
j) Represent the interests of the Regional Cluster in internal strategic and planning discussions with the lead agency, UNHCR.
k) Liaise with the local IDP Taskforce (or its equivalent), if one is in operation in the region, to minimize duplication of approach and give Cluster clear updates on how the two interact in responses.
l) Contribute to the preparation and revision of contingency planning and preparedness processes at the regional level.
m) Disseminate, promote use, and explain the use of strategic tools produced by the cluster (e.g., common needs assessment tools, monitoring tools, ES/NFI strategy, technical guidelines)
n) Identify new partners and share information with them.
o) Manage a contact list of ES/NFI actors working in the region and ensure that their representatives at the national level register on the Cluster mailing list found on the cluster’s Website.
p) Ensure that an up-to-date stock list of materials is available from agencies in an emergency. (Monthly) is maintained and reports any gap to the Cluster Coordinator
q) Provide inputs and advice to the Information Manager concerning the needs and requirements of the Regional Cluster, such as maps, processing of assessment information, and sharing stocks and 3W’s.
r) Liaise with other Regional ES/NFI Clusters to maximize coverage with support for displaced populations (new influxes, returnees) who move between zones. Ensure clear and consistent communication between regional clusters on any matters pertinent to the relevant clusters.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls:

No. Responsibilities Actions/Activities Results

1 Lead the Regional Cluster in designing the regional (context-specific) plans and in assessing needs and gaps. – Contributing to the Humanitarian Response Plan with key regional context needs and gaps.
– Led the Regional cluster in designing Responses that are tailored to meet the needs of the persons of concern in the Region HRP inputs, assessment reports, and gap analysis that reflect the actual situation in the Region
2 Call regular meetings as required to discuss regionally adapted targets, debate on challenges, monitor progress, and detect gaps and overlaps with all relevant cluster members active in their respective areas. -Chairing monthly meetings of the sub-national ES/NFI Cluster
-Taking minutes and tracking action points
-Sharing key points with the National Cluster coordination for information and action -Minutes
-Key Issues raised and acted upon
-Key issues escalated to the National Cluster coordination
3 Encourage timely and accurate reporting by all the cluster members. Ensure that ES/NFI partners in the region are reporting their activities into the Report Hub platform. -Coordinate to have refresher Report hub training done for new partner staff.
-Ensure all partners in the Sub-National Cluster share their reports in a timely and accurate manner
-Verify information and reports received to ensure that we have accurate data of high quality -Improved quality of data received in the Report hub
-Increase in the number of partners and activities reported in the Report hub
4 Promote good practice within the ES/NFI Cluster, including participatory approaches. -Conduct participatory assessments
-Conduct satisfaction surveys
-Set up feedback and complaints mechanisms at the regional level -Participatory assessment reports that will lead to improved Responses
-Satisfaction indicators to guide areas of improvement in the cluster
-Improved solving of complaints and incorporating feedback in the responses
5 Liaise with the local IDP Taskforce (or its equivalent), if one is in operation in the region, to minimize duplication of approach and give Cluster clear updates on how the two interact in responses. – Meeting with local authorities and participating in relevant meetings
– Coordinating and updating partners on the responses within the region to avoid duplication
– Acting a liaison between the Sub-National Cluster partners and the relevant Government arms -improved information sharing
-Avoiding wastage of resources that may arise due to duplication
-Enhanced working relationship with the local authorities
No. Responsibilities Actions/Activities Results

6 Contribute to the preparation and revision of contingency planning and preparedness processes at the regional level. -Coordination and chair contingency planning meetings at the Regional Level.
-Consolidate inputs the Sub National Cluster to the contingency plan Contingency Plans that factor in the regional context
7 Disseminate, promote the use, and explain the use of strategic tools produced by the cluster (e.g., common needs assessment tools, monitoring tools, ES/NFI strategy, technical guidelines, etc.). -Conduct training or information-sharing sessions on strategic tools produced by the cluster
-Share inputs/comments from the Sub National Cluster members on the cluster strategic tools available
-Ensure representation of Sub National Cluster members in various TWIGS set up for update/development of ES/NFI Cluster Strategic tools
– Ensure responses in the Region are in line with the cluster’s strategic tools A more strategic response that achieves tangible outcomes in line with the Cluster tools and strategy.
8 Identify new partners and share information with them. -Introduce and train new partners
-Ensure due processes of registering new partners are followed
-Capacity build local partners and new partners Responses are in line with the HRP and cluster strategies.
9 Manage a contact list of ES/NFI actors working in the region and ensure that their representatives at the national level register on the Cluster mailing list found on the cluster’s Website. – Maintain and update a Sub National Cluster member contact list
– Share with the National Cluster coordination updated contact lists regularly for updates on the cluster’s website and relevant platforms

Up-to-date contact lists of ES/NFI Cluster members
10 Ensure that an up-to-date stock list of materials available from agencies in an emergency (monthly) is maintained and report any gap to the Cluster Coordinator – Regularly Consolidate the stock list of ES/NFI materials with Agencies in the Region
-Share the consolidated stock list with the cluster coordinator monthly
– Raise any gaps to the National Cluster on time to avoid challenges in the event of an emergency to date stock list of materials maintained and gaps reported promptly
11 Provide inputs and advice to the Information Manager about the needs and requirements of the Regional Cluster, such as maps, processing of assessment information, and sharing stocks and 3W’s. -Share regular inputs with information managers as and when needed.

-Support in the collection of data and information required by information managers to date information management products that reflect the actual situation on the ground

4. Qualifications and Experience
(List the required education, work experience, expertise, and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.)

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)

Undergraduate degree, preferably in shelter-related sciences (e.g., civil engineering or architecture) or other relevant fields including international law, social sciences, political science, or international relations.

b. Work Experience
(List the number of years and area of required work experience. Clearly distinguish between required experience and experience which could be an asset.)

Essential
• Three years of relevant experience in the field of shelter/NFI cluster coordination, inter-agency approach, and humanitarian assistance especially in conflict or post-conflict areas.
• Experience in coordinating responses with specialized international agencies (UN Agencies, International Organizations, and International specialized NGOs) and in complex humanitarian operations, including conflict and post-conflict situations.
• Knowledge of the Humanitarian reform process and the role of the humanitarian community (UN System, Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, and NGO), preferably in shelter.
• Knowledge of current humanitarian issues.
• Good knowledge of shelter-related technical guidelines and standards.
• Good communication skills.

Desirable
• Applied knowledge in UNHCR mandate, its policies, and priorities concerning IDPs, shelter, and NFI. Demonstrated expertise in program management and reporting requirements.
• Experience working in the Provinces in the Region

c. Key Competencies
(Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies, or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies)

Functional Skills
MG-Coordination
PR-Cluster Information Management Tools, Resources, and Approaches
PR-Country Operations Applying the Cluster Approach
ER-Inter-Agency Coordination Mechanisms
MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation
SP-Shelter Assessment including survey/implementation/monitoring/evaluation/coordination.
PR-Global Shelter Cluster Strategy
IT-MS Office Applications

Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies
Empowering and Building Trust
Judgement and Decision Making
Managing Resources

Cross-Functional Competencies
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Planning and Organizing
Stakeholder Management 

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

Desired Languages

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, IT-Computer Assisted Design Software (e.g. AutoCAD), SP-CAD 3D modeling for Settlement Analysis (eg. Infraworks, Civil 3D), SP-Shelter and Infrastructure CoordinationEducation

Certifications

Architecture – Other, Civil Engineering – Other

Other information

Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be invited for an eliminatory written test. Only those who obtain 60% will be invited to an interview. This position doesn’t require a functional clearance