Associate Reporting Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

The 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).

Context

Following militant attacks against security posts on 25 August 2017, Myanmar launched a brutal crackdown on Rohingya residents of Rakhine State, triggering the largest, swiftest refugee exodus in the region in decades, with over 720,000 fleeing across the border within several weeks. As of September 2023, a total of 965,467 Rohingya refugees are living in Bangladesh, the majority in 33 extremely congested camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf sub-districts of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Children comprise 52% of the refugee population, some of whom are separated and unaccompanied children (UASC). Under the leadership of the Government of Bangladesh, UNHCR and partners have ensured a timely humanitarian response for Rohingya refugees, providing protection and life-saving assistance, and fostering the well-being of refugee communities in Cox’s Bazar. Over the past six years, critical multi-sector assistance including shelter, water and sanitation, energy and environment, and access to healthcare and education have been maintained and strengthened through close coordination among humanitarian agencies to meet the extensive needs with unparalleled scale. Bangladesh is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol and the Government does not recognise the Rohingya as refugees, referring them as “Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals.” The country has generously received the Rohingya refugees on the national territory and, to date, has respected the principle of non-refoulement. The presence of huge numbers of refugees – who now represent two-thirds of the local population – has had important impacts on local communities, service delivery, the economy and the environment. Interagency coordination in Bangladesh is unique, complex and differs from the Refugee Coordination Model. The Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) provides overall coordination for the humanitarian operation, under the leadership of a Senior Coordinator seconded from UNHCR. The Senior Coordinator leads a Heads of Sub-Office (HOSO) Group, with the participation of UNHCR’s Head of Operations and other agency heads in Cox’s Bazar. In Dhaka, the Strategic Executive Group (SEG) brings together the UNHCR Representative, UN Resident Coordinator and IOM Chief of Mission as Co-Chairs, which provides overall direction and coordination for the operation and the principal interface with the Government’s National Task Force, which is chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Cox’s Bazar, UNHCR works closely with the Refugee Repatriation and Relief Commissioner (RRRC), who leads the humanitarian operation for the Government of Bangladesh through the Camp-in-Charge officers working in the settlements, as well as with District Deputy Commissioner and local officials. Additionally, UNHCR works with nearly 100 inter-national and national NGOs, the Bangladesh military, border guards and policy. UNHCR’s Bangladesh operation receives a steady stream of visits from senior UN and government official, private sector donors, experts and researchers and the media. External relations, donor relations and public information is an important part of UNHCR’s work, both in Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Donor Relations Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer (Associate Reporting Officer) will: • Keep abreast of all developments across the UNHCR Bangladesh operation and ensure strong coordination with sector focal points to support the preparation of donor relations materials. • Prepare periodic reports for specific funding contributions, ad-hoc donor updates and briefing notes for senior managers as required. • Prepare funding submissions for donors, including through direct liaison and consultation with specific donors, if required. • Develop and maintain working relationships with implementing partner NGO and UN agencies to ensure cooperation across donor relations activities, including joint proposal and reporting submissions. • Support ongoing monitoring of the status of submitted proposals as well as tracking of pipeline funding and recorded contributions. • Perform other related duties as required. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc,. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/expected outputs: • As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Quality donor relations materials such as reports, and funding submissions are prepared in a timely manner. • Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. • 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.