Associate Connectivity Officer Job at UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Duty Station: Nairobi

Duration: 1st July to 31st December 2018 (6 months)

Contract Type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA)

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Background Information

The UN Refugee Agency’s Innovation Service was established in 2012 to better capture, facilitate, and promote innovation further across the organization. The Innovation Service creates safe spaces for experimentation to take place in UNHCR’s operations, as well as at Headquarters, whilst instilling a future-oriented approach into how we solve problems and create impact for refugee communities.

The Innovation Service believes diversity and inclusion are at the center of developing a more robust understanding of innovation that departs from tech-centric models that are often associated with new approaches to humanitarian aid.

Connectivity for Refugees was born out of UNHCR’s ICT division that subsequently became part of the work of UNHCR Innovation Service to incubate and scale new and innovative approaches to connecting refugees. It is an initiative that aims to ensure that refugees regardless of their background, age, or gender, have access to internet connectivity.

Organisation Context

UNHCR Innovation Service is moving into the third year of implementing the Connectivity for Refugees initiative. The initiative is learning from pilots and proof of concepts, consolidating existing actions and scaling successful approaches.

As the initiative begins to scale, and our strategy pivot based on our understanding of successes, additional support is required to help the initiative become more systematic and broaden its operational outreach. As such, the UNHCR Innovation Service is setting up a dedicated connectivity fund that will support UNHCR field operations throughout 2018.

We are looking for a motivated and determined individual to manage the fund, and provide ongoing operational support to its different project, as well assess their impact. The role will support in the development of documentation around the projects, as well as with related communications and advocacy materials. The Connectivity fund is currently planned for 2018 only and this position will end, along with the fund at the end of December.

Associate Connectivity Officer Job Responsibilities

• Ensure adequate documentation is produced regarding all Connectivity fund projects including a mapping of projects across UNHCR Field operations
• Creating a framework for assessing impact of projects
• Create communications materials regarding Connectivity for Refugees projects and activities
• Support UNHCR offices to develop fund applications, and subsequent plans for implementation
• Create training and capacity building materials around Connectivity for Refugees
• Provide direct technical support and training to country operations in the region
• Ensure that activities undertaken in the region are carried out with due consideration of data protection policies and frameworks
• Support with advocacy and communications for the Connectivity for Refugees initiative at the global level as required

Qualifications and Experience Required

• Innovation and Creativity – Generates innovative and creative solutions to problems that contribute to Organizational and inter-agency effectiveness. Tries different and novel ways of approaching work to create added value in the services provided.
• Knowledge sharing – Actively develops and shares knowledge, leverages expertise to improve organizational and inter-agency effectiveness and add value within sphere of influence
• Collaboration and Influence – Encourages teamwork and cooperates with others to achieve mutually beneficial results. Gains the support of others for own ideas and initiatives, regardless of formal authority and organizational boundaries
• Critical Thinking and Judgment – Uses data, experience, and good judgment to make sound decisions and devise effective solutions to problems. Assesses and manages risk in own work

Qualifications for the Associate Connectivity Officer Job

• Undergraduate degree (essential) or Graduate degree (desired) in a related discipline (Politics, Human Rights, Anthropology, Innovation, Technology, Computer Science etc.)
• Minimum of 3 years of previous job experience in the working in a humanitarian aid or development context with prior experience or interest in issues relating to technology, telecommunications and digital services
• A versatile and skilled writer with demonstrated experience in quickly articulating complex and / or technical concepts in simple terms
• Prior experience in assessing impact of projects (particularly pilot / proof of concept projects designed for scaling)
• Previous field experience in refugee contexts a definite advantage
• Experience in a role as a supporting / service function to other parts of an organisation or clients/customers beneficial

Skills (Required / Desired)

• Highly organized and autonomous, able to multitask and prioritize workload when necessary
• Excellent writing and documentation skills, demonstrating high levels of attention to detail
• Works well in a multicultural team and has a strong work ethic: strives to deliver high-quality, error-free deliverables potentially targeting different types of users (e.g. senior management, fundraising specialists and advocacy officers)
• Some knowledge of the telecommunication sector
• Care deeply and genuinely about the rights and well-being of displaced persons and ensure that they are at the center of the Innovation Service’s work and success
• Excellent knowledge of English (both written and spoken) and working knowledge of another UN language desired, especially French
• Knowledge of graphic design products, in particular Adobe Creative Suite
• Specific knowledge on telecommunications infrastructure and connectivity technology

How To Apply:

Diversity and inclusion are important values at the core of the UNHCR Innovation Service. Therefore, we encourage candidates from all backgrounds and contexts to apply for this role. Understanding that people come from different types of backgrounds, we’re open-minded to different types of professional experience that differ from what may be traditionally considered. As such, we’d ask you to focus on your skills, enthusiasm and creativity in your cover letter.

Interested applicants should submit their letter of motivation and CV to innovation@unhcr.org indicating Associate Connectivity Officer in the subject of the email no later 27 June 2018 23.00 CET.