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Solutions Case-study Writer/Reporter, World

9:52:00 AM
Organization: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: World
Closing date: 04 May 2014
Solutions Case-study Writer/Reporter
General Background
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 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. UNHCR strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State.
While UNHCR's primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, our ultimate goal is to help find solutions that will allow them to rebuild their lives in dignity. There are three durable solutions pursued by UNHCR for the 6.4 million refugees in protracted situations: voluntary repatriation; local integration; or resettlement to a third country. When none of these is immediately available, UNHCR pursues a progressive approach towards finding a solution.
Whether in an emergency or protracted situation, incorporating a solutions lens is important. UNHCR is undergoing significant changes in its approach towards solutions, including how it can reduce aid dependency and help refugees to be self-reliant. It is considering how non-camp based situations or labour mobility lend themselves to better opportunities for solutions.
Context
The Operational Solutions and Transitions Section (OSTS) within the Division of Programme Support and Management (DPSM) provides technical support to UNHCR's field operations on livelihoods, energy, environment management, conflict mitigation, and peacebuilding. A key area for OSTS is looking at ways to avoid and resolve protracted refugee situations.
In 2013, the section developed five-year Strategic Plans for Livelihoods and Energy, and formed together with UNHCR's Division of External Relations and the Division of International Protection, a Solutions Steering Group (SSG). As UNHCR further develops its focus on self-reliance and solutions oriented work, there is a need to document and learn from the changes these interventions foster and how they may be improved, adapted, or applied to other displacement situations. Lessons on successful components of solutions interventions will lead to more evidence based programmes, more effective interventions, and better outcomes.
OSTS is seeking consultants to document case studies, best practices, and lessons learned in implementing solutions-based programming with refugees in certain country operations (5 cases have been identified). The consultant will review background material and carry out interviews with relevant stakeholders (including UNHCR staff and partners, government officials and refugees or internally displaced people) in order to document legal, political, economic, and/or social aspects of solutions work, depending on the national, local, or regional context of the specific case. He/she will provide support to the overall work of the Solutions Steering Group within UNHCR to help communicate experiences internally and externally. The consultant will be home based with travel to the field and potentially UNHCR headquarters in Geneva.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Chief of Section, the consultant shall undertake the following tasks:
  • Document proven interventions, methodologies, and/or approaches;
  • Carry-out desk reviews and field research on assigned case-studies;
  • Engage with and interview refugees, government officials, NGO workers, UNHCR staff and others as relevant;
  • Analyze situations and assess results;
  • Produce well-written reports and deliver end-products to be used in learning and share externally;
  • Shoot photo and video-material where possible and desirable;
  • Provide presentation(s) on findings of (field) research to interested UNHCR staff;
  • Contribute to knowledge sharing on solutions monitoring and practices within appropriate community of practice/network.
Qualification (academic, experience)
  • Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in journalism, social science, development studies, or a related multidisciplinary field;
  • At least 10 years of experience in research, communication, and/or development work (preferably a mixture), with minimum 3 years in the field;
  • Exceptional drafting skills in English and/or French (further language requirements will depend on location of case study);
  • Extensive experience in shooting photo and video-material;
  • Familiarity with forced displacement, development, and livelihoods issues;
  • Familiarity with transition issues such as peacebuilding, humanitarian relief, or post-conflict recovery;
  • Demonstrated ability to present information in a concise, coherent, and appealing manner;
  • Prior experience with UNHCR, UNDP, or refugee-related organization would be an advantage.
HCR Competencies required
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Policy Research and Development
  • Innovation and Creativity
Duration
Contract on a case-by-case basis (appr. 4 weeks per case).
How to apply:
Please send an email with your CV (P11), cover letter, and a recent writing sample to solutions@unhcr.org.
The application deadline is: 4 May 2014

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