Operational context
The secondment of technical experts from SDC/HA to UNHCR over the past five years has resulted in tremendous added value to address the operational gaps between the emergency response and more sustainable longer-term solutions which are technically sound and can reduce the cost of operations and maintenance. Rigorous technical support is necessary to be able to effectively address not only technical issues but also ensure that the outcomes are optimal from a financial and environmental perspective.
The mix of technical operational support (remote and ad hoc field visits) combined with capacity building initiatives that have been spearheaded by secondees from SDC (e.g. Applied Hydrogeological training and Solar water pumping training) has been recognized as a key added value to the quality of the services indirectly and directly provided to UNHCR POCs.
Overall goal
Humanitarian crises are becoming increasingly complex. UNHCR field operations encounter major operational and technical limitations to meet the needs of the most vulnerable. This mission is part of the newly established Geneva Technical Hub (GTH) that aims at supporting UNHCR field operations in continued quality technical programming and thus contributing to improved response and service delivery to the life of Persons of Concern (POCs). The GTH aims at strengthening comprehensive responses, solve specific technical questions, test and roll out innovative and scalable solutions, also in collaboration with Swiss academia, in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), Shelter & Settlement, Energy & Environment and Protection. The project contributes to Switzerland's initiative Tech4Good. The collaboration between UNHCR and SDC through the GTH will strengthen:
Operational level: The hub designs, tests and rolls out innovative solutions to complex issues arising in specific contexts. Combined with existing resources, UNHCR country operations' capacities will be enhanced to deliver integrated multi-sectoral technical solutions for displaced communities, specific to the respective areas.
Technical level: Selective expert secondments specific to contexts and complexities allow direct involvement in and close follow up on operations and suitability of concepts. Hence, specialized technical advice and guidance foster multi-sectoral technical support with a focus on DRR, WASH, Shelter & Settlement, Energy & Environment and Protection. Consequently, displaced populations and host communities will benefit from integrated practical and adequately resourced interventions adapted to the local context.
Institutional level: Integrated approaches to comprehensive capacity building for UNHCR, partners' and other stakeholders' technical staff will promote learning, skills transfer and knowledge building on innovative approaches in all relevant technical areas.
Specific aim of the mission
The aim of the mission is to provide technical support on all issues related to sustainable shelter/housing solutions in UNHCR operations and to further develop SOPs with a later aim to extending them to e-learning material. The poor focus on environmental impact on shelter and housing activities in the shelter sector are noticed in most humanitarian responses. Issues that need further study are the availability of local materials, access to local market (and restoring if situation requires), promotion of appropriate building materials and construction techniques and technologies for low-cost durable shelters and housing, and reducing vulnerability and supporting disaster affected refugees and communities toward the achievement of durable shelter and hosing solution.
Mission objectives
Technical backstopping on projects and strategies related to shelter/housing in displacement settings.
Collaborate with all technical specialists in the GTH in the areas of settlements, energy, environment and WASH to ensure an integrated approach
Further contribute to the GTH by finding cross-cutting elements related to integrated sustainable service delivery through links with Swiss universities/institutions
Guidance and development of tailor-made remote training material (technical videos, e-learning courses).
Field missions to be conducted upon request from UNHCR.
Responsibilities
The Shelter and Housing Expert will be a member of the GTH, under the direct supervision of the Senior Shelter Officer at UNHCR HQ. Potential tasks are listed below. The specific activities which will be undertaken by the expert will be prioritized through discussions between the expert, the UNHCR Senior Shelter Officer, and other members of the GTH.
Technical Assistance and Field Support
Conduct technical field missions to selected country operations identified by UNHCR and facing specific technical challenges in the field of shelter and housing solutions as requested by country operations and regional bureaus.
Review the different type of shelter and housing solution and identify the i) Environmental impacts;
ii) Technical performance; iii) Habitability; and iv) Affordability for Emergency, Transitional and Durable shelter solutions.
Undertake technical analyses and feasibility studies for the implementation of the durable shelter and housing projects and environmental protection activities and provide recommendations for improvements (materials and construction techniques).
Provide an alternative solution using the local available materials and local construction techniques.
Identify and suggest opportunities for Persons of Concern (PoC) in terms of training, labour market insertion, and income generation associated to the solutions proposed, included but not limited to construction activities, maintenance, and livelihood activities.
Support process of scale-up of validated new or modified sustainable shelter solutions within other refugee or/and IDPs contexts, and encourage governments, UNHCR PoCs and host communities to also adopt the same technology.
Support countries and regional bureaus to compile programmes including relevant guidance, frameworks, economic, environmental, and social factors that impact the viability of shelter and housing solutions.
Liaise with other technical experts under the GTH hub and relevant Swiss universities to ensure that all technical solutions are integrated across all disciplines represented by the UNHCR Technical Support Section (TSS).
Document and sharing good practices and learning lessons to decrease the learning curve of new shelter staff and minimize organizational knowledge loss. Coordination and Strategic Partnerships
Support UNHCR efforts to scale-of sustainable shelter solutions within refugee and/or IDPs contexts, and when needed advocate with governments and include the host communities.
Identify strategic partnerships at country and regional level that strengthen UNHCR and host government ability to respond to sustainable shelter solutions for refugees, other persons of concern and hosting communities.
Monitoring and Knowledge Management
Undertake a desktop review of existing documents, studies, and data to support the missions and the diagnosis, avoiding duplicated work, and point out at gaps and possible improvements on the documents.
Continued support in developing and rolling out (field testing) shelter and sustainability guidelines/SOPs
Evaluate the feasibility of shelter solutions for a given refugee or IDPs settlement/camp, with a focus on readily available or easily collectable data/information and including a financial and/or economic analysis (lifecycle cost, cost-benefit analysis).
Contribute to the project's implementation monitoring frameworks.
Support the various communities of practice within the UNHCR Technical Support Section as related to shelter topics. Research
Plan, oversee, coordinate, and remotely support studies carried out in UNHCR operations by consultants and shelter specialists
Collate evidence on best practice for energy solutions, which are appropriate: low cost, durable, provide livelihood opportunities.
Propose and adapt innovative solutions including novel R&D and Life Cycle Analysis activities conducted by the academia partners. Training and Capacity Building
Develop of training materials for remote capacity building, such as videos and e-learning materials
Organise webinars, meetings, trainings on topics related to sustainable shelter solutions in humanitarian contexts
Profile
Experience
Minimum of 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Previous similar job experience in the humanitarian settlement planning / infrastructure field, including 5 years in an international technical managerial role. Knowledge of technical drawing software and analysis, and an ability to produce technical plans, BQ's, specifications and conduct training.
Proven ability to deal with multiple tasks in a courteous and service-oriented manner in a demanding working condition that often has short deadlines.
Exposure to UNHCR mandate, its priorities and principles. Essential requirements
Advanced university degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture or Construction
Computer literacy in MS Office and other relevant software such as CAD, STAAD III, SAP, etc.
Excellent knowledge of English (written / oral / comprehension), French desirable Personal Characteristics
Ability related to analytical and creative thinking for rapid solutions.
Good communicator with strong interpersonal and negotiations skills to deal with persons of
various cultural and educational backgrounds.
Strive to live up to high ethical and professional standards.
Mission location
Home based with potential travel to the field TBD
Starting date and duration
80%, starting as soon as possible until 31 December 2021 with possibility of extension
Assignment:
The assignment takes place within the framework of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA). The seconded expert receives a SHA-contract from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs for the duration of the deployment.
This position is exclusively open to Swiss citizens (or Lichtenstein) or holder of a valid working permit (C permit) in Switzerland. Candidates who do not fulfil this condition will not receive response.
Please send your application until 26.04.2021 to:
Odette Mauron
Odette.mauron@eda.admin.ch
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC Humanitarian Aid
Field Resources H
Effingerstrasse 27
3003 Berne