Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, January 09 2025, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Duties
For positions in Country Operations only
– Assist management in commissioning and/or conducting practical research and analysis to interpret long-term political, economic and social trends that will enhance opportunities for solutions, resilience and inclusion for populations of concern to UNHCR as well as more sustainable approaches to refugee protection.
– Support management in planning for resilience and inclusion with a clear shared vision of longer term protection and solution outcomes for people of concern that takes account of host communities and leverages the roles, resources and capacities of development partners, including International Financial Institutions, Multilateral Development Banks, and Bilateral Development donors.
– Assist in facilitating the development of comprehensive multi-year protection and solutions plans/strategies (incl. Multi-Year Multi-Partner Strategies) for Persons of Concern to UNHCR and/or facilitate the inclusion of populations of concern into national and local development planning and programming instruments.
– Assist management in identifying, strategically articulating and capitalizing development and resilience opportunities, including through Government pledges and or pledges made by bilateral or multilateral development and/or peacebuilding partners.
– Assist in facilitating relationship building with development co-operation agencies and peace and state-building agendas through the different stages of policy and programme identification, preparation, implementation and review.
– Support the development of partnerships and networks with development cooperation actors to influence the policy dialogue with governments on institutional arrangements related to sectors, locations and programme content of consequence to UNHCR and persons of concern. This would, in particular, focus on supporting the coordination of the in-country relationship with the World Bank and other multilateral development banks, especially where there is potential for specific funding directed towards UNHCR’s persons of concern (e.g. WB IDA sub-window for refugees and host communities or the WB Global Concessional Financing Facility).
– Participate in the cooperation with development partners to assist them in incorporating the concerns of refugees, returnees and others of concern to UNHCR into the design and implementation arrangements of projects and interventions in a manner that impacts positively on protection circumstances.
– Contribute to the identification, commissioning and/or contribution to studies and analytical activities that build the conceptual framework and evidence base for comprehensive, development-oriented responses, including preparedness work, to forced displacement.
– Support the operation to ensure that development actors are provided relevant data to inform their planning, programming and advocacy around resilience for and inclusion of UNHCR persons of concern.
– Support the operations engagement with governments, development partners (both multilateral and bilateral), and with the private sector and civil society (as appropriate) to identify opportunities for UNHCR to contribute to the design and implementation of monitoring systems to track progress towards agreed outcomes.
– Support the facilitation, coordination and collaboration and the sharing of knowledge and experience sharing between UNHCR and development actors and across UNHCR operations globally by documenting and disseminating good practices and active participation in the Division of Resilience and Solutions’, Development Partnerships Community of Practice.
– Support training activities aimed at the capacity building of UNHCR and partner agency staff to achieve greater coordination, effectiveness and synergies between humanitarian and development interventions.
For positions in Regional Bureaux only
– Assist in providing support, as detailed in the above duties for a country Associate Development Officer for countries without an Associate Development Officer as specified in the operational context for this position.
– Support the Regional Bureau and country operations in analysing from a development perspective the potential components of longer-term situational solutions strategies, identifying the protection/resilience/solutions challenges, and the means to address these and possible regional opportunities for engagement.
– Support the Regional Bureau and/or operations in identifying, articulating and capitalizing development and resilience opportunities, including through pledges made by regional partners, and regional development initiatives and programmes.
– Assist in the aggregation, analysis and packaging of available knowledge and data from country operations to feed into regional and HQ policy, programme and advocacy efforts.
– Contribute to coherence, where relevant, across operations in how they engage with development actors (e.g. messaging, policies, etc.).
– Contribute to the interpretation of long-term political, economic and social trends from a situational or regional perspective that will define the opportunities for inclusion for populations of concern to UNHCR as well as more sustainable approaches to refugee protection management.
– Support the engagement with regional bodies, such as IGAD, ECOWAS, etc. to identify and advocate for entry points for inclusion in development-related fora; and,
– Contribute to the identification, commissioning and/or contribution to studies and analytical activities from a situational or regional perspective that build the conceptual framework and evidence base for comprehensive, development-oriented responses, including preparedness work, to forced displacement.
– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s). – Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level For P2/NOB – 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education Development Economics; Development Studies; Socio-economic Development; International Relations; Political Science; Law or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses Not specified.
Relevant Job Experience Essential Three (3) years of direct work experience in a large international development institution in a relevant position and of which at least one (1) year in field operations. Preferably with knowledge of, or experience in, local or area based economic development, direct engagement in a technical sector such as education, WASH, social protection, health, energy. Practical experience working with and an understanding of the different aspects of economic growth, governance, fragility and conflict. Expertise related to the governance of specific multilateral development banks or bilateral development actors most relevant to the AoR.
Desirable Experience with forced displacement. Experience in primary data collection, quantitative research methods and results-based management.

SKILLS
Functional Skills *CO-Strategic Communication *CO-Drafting and Documentation *SO-Networking *MG-Partnership Development *SO-Critical Thinking and problem solving *UN-Policy Advocacy in UNHCR *IM-Knowledge Management CL-Strategy Development and Monitoring PG-Results-Based Management PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework (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
Operational Context
UNHCR has been present in Zambia since 1967. The country office is in Lusaka and the two (2) field offices in Solwezi and Kawambwa covering Meheba and Mantapala refugee settlements, respectively. Lusaka covers a third settlement – Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlement.
As of 30 November 2024, there were 106,541 forcibly displaced and stateless persons present in Zambia broken down as follows: 79,244 Refugees; 9,490 Asylum seekers and 17,807 Former refugees/ others. Zambia is a State Party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees although it maintains reservations regarding employment and freedom of movement. Zambia is also a State Party to the 1969 Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. Most of the refugees in Zambia have been recognized on a prima facie basis under the 1969 OAU Convention. The main responsibility for UNHCR, in line with the statutory responsibilities is to monitor the implementation of the 1951 Convention and promote long-term solutions for refugees and former refugees through progressive changes to the policies and practice that can improve the protection environment and effectively achieve inclusion in national plans/services, and greater self-reliance. UNHCR provides technical support and guidance to the Government on policy formulation, asylum and refugee management matters. The majority of forcibly displaced persons in Zambia are from Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Somalia.
Zambia has adopted a comprehensive refugee response approach as envisioned by the New York Declaration of 2016, which guides the country’s refugee management. The National Refugee Policy and its associated Implementation Plan (launched in 2024) aims to explicitly include refugees in government plans and services, transform refugee settlements into economic hubs, and enable refugees’ access and contribution to markets in refugee-hosting districts. Zambia is taking a whole-of-government approach to put this into action. Integrated local area development plans include forcibly displaced people in two refugee hosting districts (Kaoma and Kalumbila). Refugees are being integrated into the national budget, have access to land and public services like education and health, and have some level of access to the national social protection system (e.g., social services, health insurance and some labor market interventions) in line with the 8th National Development Plan. The recently approved $30 million World Bank Zambia Refugee and Host Communities Project will further support legal and policy harmonization, inclusion in a new national digital identity management system, infrastructure, and economic opportunities at Meheba settlement in Kalumbila district. This inclusive approach, and the progressive National Refugee Policy, are enabling factors to advance Sustainable Responses to Forced Displacement in refugee and host communities and move away from piecemeal humanitarian interventions.
Nature of the Position
The Associate Development Officer will report to the Senior Development Officer.
The position plays a crucial role in identifying and supporting sustainable responses to forced displacement, with a focus on interventions that support livelihoods development. UNHCR’s approach to sustainable responses in Zambia emphasizes resilience, self-reliance, and the ability to contribute to the local economy. This means creating conditions that allow refugees and former refugees to rebuild their lives and contribute to the development of their host communities and local economy. The candidate will work on programs that address the long-term development needs of forcibly displaced populations, such as skills and livelihoods development, financial inclusion, access to basic services and infrastructure, and connectivity. These programs are designed to be sustainable and move away from piecemeal humanitarian responses. UNHCR’s role is to act as a catalyst for sustainable responses through policy advocacy and partnerships that support sustainable programming and investments.
S/he will work alongside the Senior Development Officer, the Communications and Partnership Team, field offices and others to engage the government, development partners, NGOs, the private sector, refugee, and host communities to create an environment conducive to sustainable responses. Key activities include developing the evidence base, identifying and fostering development initiatives that benefit refugees/former refugees and host communities, monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of development and sustainable responses, and advocating for the rights of forcibly displaced in the context of development programming.
Specific Responsibilities working jointly with, and in support of, the Senior Development Officer and senior management:
• Assist in developing the evidence base for sustainable responses to forced displacement, including support on a Forced Displacement Survey, agricultural roadmap for Zambia, financial inclusion needs, and impact assessment. Help ensure evidence generated from analytical and advisory services is translated into context-specific policy dialogue, project design, and programming. • Conduct field visits to assess the needs of refugees, former refugees, and host communities, to inform the development of sustainable responses. Provide technical support to field staff on development issues. • Engage with stakeholders (government, development partners, the private sector, NGOs, refugees, and host communities) to support the development and implementation of a roadmap on sustainable responses to forced displacement. • Assist in the development of project proposals and budgets, reports, and presentations on sustainable responses. Contribute to the development of advocacy and communication materials.
Desired Candidate Profile
The candidate should possess a university degree in a relevant field such as Economics, Political Science, Social Sciences, , Development Economics. At least three years of professional experience in sustainable development or related areas of work is essential.
Proven project management skills are required, and internal and external coordination skills and partnership development abilities are key competencies for the position. The ability to meet deadlines is necessary as is in-country travel to remote areas. Excellent and demonstrated communication skills in English, both verbal and written, to communicate sometimes complex ideas and information in a clear, jargon free manner and adapted to different audiences is an important requirement of the job. Knowledge of local languages like Nyanja or Bemba would be advantageous.
Excellent knowledge of Zambia’s governance system, national and local administration. Demonstrated strong understanding of the Government of Zambia’s socio-economic policies, governance structures and development challenges is required. Government experience in a substantive and relevant function related to the position will be an advantage. An understanding of forced displacement and development challenges in Zambia.
Ability to liaise with and develop a wide range of partnerships (public sector/government, private sector, humanitarian, and development actors) is necessary. Demonstrated problem solving and creativity combined with an organized and results oriented approach to meeting goals is required.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 36

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure

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