Connectivity for Refugies National Coordinator

Tags: South Sudan English language Environment
  • Added Date: Monday, 04 November 2024
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Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)E (most hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Non Family with Residential Location

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeCONTR Local Professional Level

Target Start Date2024-11-18

Deadline for ApplicationsNovember 28, 2024

Terms of Reference1. General Background

More than ever before, forcibly displaced communities are articulating, with urgency, the importance of connectivity as a basic and fundamental need and a right. In a fast-evolving digital world, increasingly diverse communities are using connectivity as a gateway for everything from accessing life-saving information to learning online, benefiting from digital services, and finding sources of livelihoods. However, in the absence of a holistic response to connectivity challenges facing forcibly displaced populations, many are still left behind.

As UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies rapidly move towards digital transformation and the provision of digital services, the question of connectivity has become foundational. Can humanitarian responders, supported by mobile network operators, internet providers, and regulators, take action to increase the connectedness of communities and meet basic connectivity needs? Efforts to this date have yet to achieve considerable progress and many communities remain disconnected.

To enduringly address this connectivity challenge, UNHCR, the ITU, and the GSMAโ€™s Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation Programme have come together and developed a new initiative named Connectivity for Refugees (CfR) to address these challenges. This new initiative will establish structures and systems to accelerate partnerships and coordination, mobilize resources, and ensure predictable and consistent response actions in several countries including, but not limited to, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Mauritania, South Sudan, and Uganda. Through these efforts, the initiative can build pathways for sustainable connectivity solutions in refugee hosting areas, accelerating the digital transformation and improving the lives of forcibly displaced communities.

To drive forward progress in 2024, the DRC is a priority country for CfR. One of the main connectivity foci in DRC is the Instant Network Schools (INS) programme developed by UNHCR and Vodafone Foundation. DRC is one of the six countries that benefit from the INS programme, providing a holistic solution to transform an existing classroom into a multimedia hub for learning โ€“ complete with a local network; internet connectivity; sustainable solar power; a classroom kit that includes tablets, a laptop, a projector and speaker; localised digital content; and a robust teacher training programme with a library of digital educational resources. This programme is currently the largest connectivity initiative for refugees and their host communities in DRC. The INS classrooms are also used by refugee community outside of school hours so sustaining the continued use of these post-2026 is critical. A total of 95,126 beneficiaries, including 21,256 students, 777 teachers, 44 coaches, 9,281 community memยฌbers and 63,768 family members benefited from the INS programme with digital learning facilities and content in 2023, in 29 centres located in the North & South Ubangi, Ituri and South Kivu provinces.

Despite efforts from both Vodafone Foundation and UNHCR technical teams, unreliable internet connection remains the main challenge for the programme. This inconsistency in connectivity frequently interยฌrupts the operational capabilities of the centres, posing a challenge to the seamless delivery of digital education. UNHCR and Vodafone Foundation continue to work on a solution which will ultiยฌmately also improve the connectivity across all centres in DRC. The current partnership MoU ends on 31 December 2026 and as part of sustainability, more cost efficient and reliable connectivity needs to be sourced.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

To drive forward activity and coordinate both internally with relevant UNHCR colleagues and external stakeholders spanning public sector, private sector, international organisations, NGO and community organisations, UNHCR is recruiting a national coordinator of the CfR initiative, bearing overall responsibility for delivering on the ambitions of the initiative in DRC. The postholder will play a critical role in establishing the initiative, driving forward country level activities on CfR in DRC. Duties will include but are not limited to:

โ€ข Supporting the establishment of the CfR initiative in DRC through a national platform, engaging on all relevant elements of delivery as required
โ€ข Establishing relationships with key stakeholders including Government and Regulators, Connectivity Service Providers (Mobile Network Operators, Internet Service Providers, others), civil society et al and facilitate strong coordination through establishment of regular meetings
โ€ข Developing country level strategy and approach in liaison with local, regional and global counterparts
โ€ข Leading country level assessments and connectivity mapping, in liaison with global and local partners
โ€ข Supporting in the design of connectivity solutions plans in country and overseeing delivery
โ€ข Coordination with relevant UNHCR colleagues spanning ICT, Protection, Education, Livelihoods, Development Officer et al. at national and subnational levels on relevant aspects of the initiative and how it supports their portfolios or where they are well positioned to contribute
โ€ข Monitoring and evaluation of connectivity solutions and interventions to support with donor reporting
โ€ข Supporting fundraising efforts around CfR, positioned for support from different stakeholder audiences including private sector, development actors, governments
โ€ข Managing knowledge around the CfR initiative in country, compiling data, creating reports, etc.
โ€ข Liaising with support structures on CfR both within UNHCR through the Innovation Service, and through the wider initiative coordination (UNHCR, ITU, GSMA, Government of Luxembourg, Government of Spain, Cisco).
โ€ข Supporting on other activities / interventions as required

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

The incumbent will report directly to the IT Systems Service Delivery Management Officer in DRC and have dotted line reporting to the Senior Innovation Officer overseeing the CfR initiative in UNHCR HQ Innovation Service. The incumbent will participate in regular bilaterals with the supervisor, and joint meetings with the dotted line management to the Innovation Service on a monthly basis to prioritize and review agreed-upon deliverables for the period. Additionally, in order to help support the CfR, the incumbent will join multistakeholder meetings with key partners held on a regular basis in order to align and coordinate efforts on projects within the initiative.

4. Qualifications and Experience

a. Education

โ€ข Undergraduate degree (essential) or Graduate degree (desired) in a related discipline (e.g., Computer Science, Telecommunications, Innovation, Technology)

b. Work Experience

โ€ข Minimum of 3 years (with Undergraduate degree) or 2 years (with Graduate degree) of previous job experience in delivering information technology, telecommunications and digital services in a humanitarian aid or development context with a focus on community facing solutions
โ€ข Demonstrated project management skills
โ€ข Prior experience working with a variety of stakeholders in the telecommunications ecosystem i.e. Mobile Network Operators, Satellite Companies, Telecommunications Regulators etc.
โ€ข Strong experience in coordination and advocacy, with experience in the UN system a distinct advantage
โ€ข Prior experience working in forced displacement contexts is highly desirable

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)

Required competencies
โ€ข Proficiency in French;
โ€ข Good knowledge of English (both written and spoken), proficiency should be equivalent to B2 level per CEFR standards
โ€ข Demonstrated expertise on connectivity, telecommunications and digital technology is required
โ€ข Robust understanding of project management cycle and programme management in complex emergencies
โ€ข Highly organized and autonomous, able to multitask and prioritize workload when necessary
โ€ข Excellent writing and documentation skills, demonstrating high levels of attention to detail
โ€ข 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)

Desired competencies
โ€ข Knowledge of humanitarian protection principles is a distinct advantage

Standard Job Description

Assistant IT Officer


Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

Under the technical supervision of IT Officer, Administrative Officer, or a Bureau IT Lead, the Assistant IT Officer implements the IT operational plan in a well-defined geographical area. The incumbent provides technical supervision and guidance to locally recruited staff and ensures that IT equipment is always fully operational. S/he receives technical support and guidance from their supervisor.

Internally, the incumbent liaises directly with own IT Service Delivery Team daily as well as with end users to clarify, analyse and resolve reported issues. S/he may also liaise with external service providers, as required, to resolve escalated infrastructure issues.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional, and managerial competencies and UNHCRโ€™s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

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