Hardship LevelB
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeGS6
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2023-12-01
Job Posting End DateNovember 29, 2023
Standard Job DescriptionEnergy Associate Organizational Setting and Work Relationships Access to clean, affordable and reliable energy services is integral part of the humanitarian response and an essential factor in creating sustainable economic development. Sustainable energy services are essential for basic human protection and aim to enable refugees, IDPs, host communities and other persons of concern to meet their energy needs in a safe, sustainable and affordable way, recognizing the critical importance of access to sustainable energy to ensure basic needs, improve human protection and well-being, and foster communitiesยฟ inclusiveness. Energy services provide cooking, lighting, heating and clean water, and underpin all but the most rudimentary income-earning activities. Energy poverty leads to insecurity, increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), reduced development opportunities, health problems and environmental degradation. In line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), access to clean energy could vastly improve the health and well-being of millions of persons. The incumbent will provide technical support on sustainable energy in the operation. The Energy Associate will work very closely with the technical sectors, Programme and Protection colleagues. The incumbent will typically report to the Energy Officer or the Programme Officer in the Operation 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 UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. Duties - Contribute to the implementation of the sustainable energy programme. - Contribute to the assessment and identification of cost effective and appropriate sources of alternative energy for cooking, lighting and electricity in collaboration with all actors, including private sector, development agencies and governmental institutions. - Contribute to the design of specific projects and pilot energy for cooking, lighting and powering, including renewable energy, with a view towards enhancing self-reliance, education and protection. - Work in multi-sectoral team and contribute to the linkage of Energy with Environment, Protection, Shelter and Settlement, Public Health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. - Contribute to the monitoring and coordination of all sustainable energy activities. - Contribute to the identification, establishment and linkage with relevant organizations to ensure access to sustainable energy for both refugees and the surrounding areas - Work in multi-functional team approach and work in close collaboration with programme and other technical experts, to ensure energy based interventions are approached from a cross-sectoral perspective. - Assist the Operation to ensure that minimum best practices are met to assure health and safety standards across all sustainable energy and energy efficient technologies. - Contribute to the documentation of the project development including monitoring, testing, trouble shooting, lessons learned and solutions applied to assure institutional knowledge development. - Contribute to the development of effective communication channels between all key stakeholders and promote the sharing of information on energy related activities. - Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Years of Experience / Degree Level For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher Field(s) of Education Not applicable. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses Electricity Environment (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Minimum 6 years of previous relevant job experience in sustainable energy sector. Experience working with government authorities, development partners, civil society and/or public/private sector. Desirable Knowledge and understanding of policies and regulations on energy. Knowledge of renewable energy, including financial, regulatory and/or policy frameworks, renewable energy financial management (including community involvement and capacity issues), renewable energy business development (including business planning, entrepreneurship development). Experience of cost recovery systems, metering, energy audits and comparative analyses of fuel and energy systems Functional Skills SP-Natural Resources Management (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate Profile -
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
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Desired languages
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Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.
Nature of Position:
The progress towards the objective of ensuring that Syrian Refugee population in camps has sufficient access to energy has been exemplary in UNHCR Jordan and can be said to have met its 2021 target of SDG 7.1 - Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services.
Throughout 2023, all the Syrian Refugee population in camps are enjoying access to clean energy. Therefore, the percentage of households with access to renewable energy is at 100%. However, this access is not at 24hours bases but rather fluctuating between 9 - 11 hours per day. The average percentage gap in this access currently stands at about 46%, therefore highlighting the significant need that still exists in the regard. UNHCR and its partners are stepping up efforts to boost this access and reduce the gap by implementing both short-, medium- and long-term measures. To reduce the electrical and fire risks for refugees and staff; in 2021, UNHCR completed the replacement of all the distribution boards of the main transformers with fully automated ones. In 2023 the South Amman Energy Allocation agreement with Government of Jordan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Recourses was signed which led to drastic reduction of the energy bills. Other projects currently in the pipeline include the Equitable Electricity for Refugees Pilot Project using smart meters at Household level. Such pilot projects and agreements are considered an action translation of the UNHCR Jordan 23-25 strategy and a concrete step towards reaching sustainable and effective long-term solutions in the energy sector in the camp.
UNHCR and partners has equally continued to hire refugees who had been trained in the past, as electrical engineers. Within the mix of all the initiatives is strong coordination and collaboration at both country, field, regional and HQ levels including interagency cooperation.
Although that the current percentage of households using alternative and/or renewable energy (e.g., solar, biogas, ethanol, environmentally friendly briquet, wind) is at 100%, which indicates that all population now has access to renewable energy; it is important to note that UNHCR Jordan continued to pay huge amount in energy bills in the first three quarters of 2023.
Energy dispensing aligned with electric companies and national grid systems are some of the integration measures the organization is currently working/looking at in the 2023 -2025 ambitions directions.
UNHCR ensures consistent and continuous Energy provision in the camp through direct implementation of its operation & maintenance services involving contracting multiple private sector service providers for the different parts of the electricity network (the camp solar plant, the Medium Voltage network & Low Voltage network).
Living and Working Conditions:
Additional Qualifications
SkillsSP-Natural Resources Management
Education
CertificationsElectricity - Other, Environment - Other
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness
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Compendium
Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance