Mission and objectivesThe Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950, by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. 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. In addition to 2.6 million of internally displaced persons, mainly, living in south/central Somalia, as of 31 August 2021, Somalia is hosting 27,184 refugees and asylum seekers in need of a durable solution. The active refugee population in Somaliland is approx. 14,000 refugees and asylum seekers as of 31 August 2021. Most of the refugees live in urban centres in Somaliland and Puntland. The majority of refugees and asylum-seekers originate from Ethiopia mainly from Oromo ethnicity while the rest are from different nationalities such as Eritrea, Yemen, Syria, and other nationalities.
ContextUNHCR Representation Office in Somalia and its staff currently accommodate across several UN facilities within the Aden Abdulle International Airport (AAIA) under the armed protection of AMISOM. These facilities are owned and managed by sister UN agencies on a cost shared basis. This results to staff having to work from spread out locations thus making coordination difficult. Additionally, due to the congestion of the shared facilities, the space being occupied by RO Somalia is inadequate and has minimal office equipment as per UNHCR standards. The shortage of rooms also impacts the number of staff present in Mogadishu at any given time. In the view of the above, the organization has embarked on a huge investment in the construction of an office and accommodation facility of its own within the protected area. When completed the office will have more than 44 offices, 40 bedrooms and 10 common areas which will definitely ensure adequate compliance to UNHCR standards. Consistent with UNHCR standards, facilities of this magnitude and capacity requires a dedicated compound manager to ensure smooth operation, hygienic cleaning and housekeeping and accountability of the resources in order to guarantee a healthy work and living space for staff. In line with the above and to adequately implement this project, an Assoc. Compound Manager-UNOPS Individual Service Contractor must be recruited to cover the duties and responsibilities listed above.
Task DescriptionUnder the direct supervision of the finance officer, the IUN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: โข Ensures that all offices and accommodation rooms are dusted and cleaned at least once a day specifically before occupancy by the assigned user. โข Ensures that rules and regulations governing the utilization of UNHCR accommodation and office facilities are adhered to by the respective occupants. โข Prepares a list of consumables required for office and guesthouse cleaning indicating quantity and specification of each item and submit to the administration for procurement. โข Prepare a list of appliances, furniture, utensils and linen required in each room as per UNHCR global staff accommodation policy and submit to administration for procurement. โข Supervise the daily work of the cleaning staff and ensure that the facilities are hygienically clean and healthy for inhabitancy. โข Constantly liaise with the manager and or supervisor of the cleaning service provider to guarantee that there are no gaps in the provision of cleaning services and correct any shortfall that may occur. โข Monitor the use of cleaning supplies and cleaning process to ensure that both cleaning material, office resources and staff personal effects are accounted for at any given time. โข Participate in the preparation of memoranda of understanding for co-location and implementation between UNHCR and co-locating agencies. โข Ensure that waste are timely collected at least twice a day and promptly disposed of by the contracted service provided. โข Prepare annual plan for procurement of guesthouse furniture, equipment, appliances and linen and submit to administration for inclusion in the annual procurement plan of the office. โข Assist the office arrange hospitality for events; conferences, group seminars, meetings, staff recreation and donor missions. โข Monitor staff movement in order to adequately manage available accommodation rooms and properly calculate accommodation fees for each staff. โข In consultation with the position supervisor, manage reservations for the conference room and accommodation facilities on a priority basis. โข Supervise minor premises maintenance activities and provide guidance on housekeeping activities. โข Advice newly recruited personnel on UNHCR general premises occupancy rules and regulations. โข Draft accommodation contracts between each staff and the organization. โข Manage the cafeteria services. โข Perform other duties as required by supervisor.
Competencies and valuesโข Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of speciality and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented. โข Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organisational rules and regulations. Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. โข Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities. โข Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender; โข Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary; โข Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.
Living conditions and remarksThe UNHCR Somalia operation is complex in nature. Given the complexity of the crisis, the capability of UNHCR to provide assistance to the people in need in different areas of Somalia according to its mandate lies in its ability to adjust its response taking into account the different local realities which vary from one area to the other. Mogadishu is Non-Family E- duty station with highly stressful work context where capacity for self-care is critical. Mogadishu has a relatively dry climate and it is classified as hot and semi-arid. UNHCR maintains its own compound inside the Mogadishu International Airport ATMIS Protected Area. The Compound consists of the Office Space and accommodation; both are made of prefab containers with overhead and side protection to mitigate the risk in indirect fire. Due to security restrictions UNHCR International staff in Mogadishu reside at the UNHCR compound. International Staff are restricted to live within AAIA. The accommodations have self-contained rooms. There is a canteen available at the compound serving meals three time a day at you own cost. More restaurants and dining facilities are available at the UNSOS and other UNDSS approved compounds across the AAIA ATMIS protected area. Movement within AAIA protected area is possible on foot and by car, curfews apply for night movement. There is a Gym available at the UNHCR compound. Other leisure and recreational facilities are very limited. Overnight stay in all other field locations is in UN approved guest houses apart from Hargeisa which is approved UNDSS hotel. Travel to the field locations is mainly through regular UN flights. No local banking facilities; but there is an ATM Machine where staff can withdraw USD using Visa / Master credit/debit cards. There are two Level I Hospitals within AAIA for basic and emergency health services. UN security structures in Somalia are robust and generally effective in managing risk. UNHCR 's posture is appropriate in its major offices, including three FSAs posts, but less assured in outlying areas where field or satellite offices are envisioned to be established. Somalia is a unique country and UNHCR Somalia is a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.