Mission and objectivesThe Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN 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 (www.unhcr.org).
ContextThe Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate 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 (www.unhcr.org). UNHCR has been assisting the Government of Bangladesh to respond to and find solutions for nearly one million Rohingya refugees who have found refuge in Bangladesh. In collaborating with national authorities, UN agencies, national and international NGO partners, development actors and donors, UNHCR supports vulnerable refugees with access to protection, solutions and basic services including shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, Education, primary healthcare, clean and efficient energy sources, as well as protection ser-vices including Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence, legal assistance, Community-Based Protection, Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEA) among others in the refugee camps.
Task DescriptionThe UN Volunteer will be based in the Supply Unit of the Representation Office in Dhaka. Under the direct supervision of the Associate Programme Officer who is based in the Representation Office in Dhaka, the UN Volunteer is responsible for the following assigned duties: โข Ensure the smooth importation of official shipments for UNHCR Bangladesh, including handling customs clearance and compliance with local regulations. โข Coordinate with various ministries and government offices to secure necessary permissions and authorizations โข Manage day-to-day activities related to international logistics and shipments, including tracking shipments, resolving issues, and ensuring timely delivery. โข Ensure timely and effective procurement functionality in the Representation Office in Dhaka. โข Develop the shipment tracker for procurement and suggest best procurement solutions and methods for better efficiency in terms of quality, cost/value and delivery time. โข Provide support to the Sub Office Coxโs Bazarโs Supply Unit in delivering their procurement exercise; โข Perform any other related duties, as assigned by supervisor(s). Results/Expected Outputs: โข Strengthened procurement related service delivery collaborators, ensuring empowered environment for effective and efficient implementation of Procurement components and existing team scaled up to be able to deliver higher volume. โข Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment; โข A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.
Competencies and values๏ง Accountability ๏ง Adaptability and Flexibility ๏ง Building Trust ๏ง Communication ๏ง Creativity ๏ง Ethics and Values ๏ง Integrity ๏ง Planning and Organizing ๏ง Professionalism ๏ง Respect for Diversity ๏ง Working in Teams
Living conditions and remarksThe position is based in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, which is the centre of national government, trade and culture and home to over 15 million people, making it the fourth most densely population city in the world. Bangladesh has a subtropical monsoon climate characterized by wide seasonal variations in rainfall, high temperatures and humidity. There are three distinct seasons: a hot humid summer from March to June; a cool, rainy monsoon season from June to October; and a cool dry winter from October to March. Air quality is poor, particularly during the dry season. Dhaka is a Category C duty season with a 3-year Standard Assignment Length. It is a family duty station, and educational facilities from primary to secondary school are available. There are some private hospitals in Dhaka that can provide basic care. Vaccination against the Japanese Encephalitis virus is strongly recommended. Leisure and recreational facilities are available. UNDSS-cleared hotels are available, with the rates differing depending upon availability and the season. MOSS compliant apartments are available. UNDSS recommends that international staff members reside in the diplomatic area of Dhaka, where the UNHCR office is located. Dhaka has many restaurants, grocery stores and an excellent bakery. Home delivery services are available. Banks and ATM machines are available, and major credit cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and larger shops. Foreign currency can be exchanged easily.