Rwanda nationals: Field Environment Associate (UNHCR)

United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

Butare, Rwanda 🇷🇼

General

Description of assignment title: Field Environment Associate

Assignment country: Rwanda

Expected start date: 22/05/2023

Sustainable Development Goal: 13. Climate action

Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist

DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No

Host entity: UNHCR

Type: Onsite

Duration: 3 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Butare

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 world-wide. 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).

The UNHCR Representation Office in Rwanda principally manages a refugee population (mainly refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo who have been on the Rwan-dan territory since 1996 and Burundian refugees who have been arriving in the country further to the volatile situation in Burundi since April 2015) as well as a significant re-turnee population of Rwandan refugees returning after many years in exile. It is com-posed of the Branch Office in Kigali and Field Offices in Huye, Gicumbi, Rusizi, Rubavu,

Karongi, Kirehe and Kabarore. It hosts approximately 155,749 refugees in three proracted refugee camps, namely Nyabiheke (managed by Kabarore Office) Gihembe (managed by Gicumbi Office) as well as Kiziba (managed by Karongi Office), three new refugee camps, namely Kigeme and Mugombwa (managed by Huye Office) as well as Mahama (managed by Kirehe Office), and urban settings (Kigali and Huye). Since April 2015, UNHCR is also supporting two additional reception centers in Bugesera and Nyanza districts for Burundian refugees. The existing transit center in Rusizi (Nyagatare Transit Centre) that was receiving Rwandan returnees has also started functioning as a reception center for Burundian new arrivals. As of December 2013, Rwanda hosted approximately 74,000 Congolese refugees. 99% of the refugee caseload is predomi-nantly composed of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with 84% originating from North Kivu and 11% from South Kivu.

Context
The Field Environment Associate reports directly to the Head of Field Office based in Huye. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to Environment and Energy based at the branch Office. Protection and Solutions are the key focus of the office with Cash Based Interventions (CBI) and Livelihoods as strategic priorities. The incumbent will need to have strong proven leadership and communication skills to implement Environment and Energy strategy as well as to interact with Partners and authorities as needs arise.

Task description
• Monitor the implementation of the environment and sustainable energy programme within the district hosting refugees camps and in transit center.
• Assess and identify appropriate sources of alternative energy for cooking, lighting, and electricity in collaboration with all actors, including private sector, development agencies and governmental institutions.
• Contribute to the design of specific projects and pilot energy for cooking, lighting, and powering, including renewable energy, with a view towards enhancing self-reliance, education, and protection.
• Work in multi-sectoral team and enhance the linkage of Energy with Environment, Protection, Shelter and Settlement, Public Health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
• Monitor and coordinate all sustainable energy activities.
• Identify, establish, and link with relevant organizations to ensure the effectiveness of accessibility to sustainable energy for both refugees and the surrounding areas.
• Work in multi-functional team approach and work in close collaboration with pro-gramme and other technical experts, to ensure energy-based interventions are ap-proached from a cross-sectoral perspective.
• Assist the Operation to ensure that the minimum best practices are met and align with health and safety standards across.
• Contribute to the documentation of the project development including monitoring, testing, trouble shooting, lessons learnt, and solutions applied to assure institutional knowledge development.
• Maintain an effective communication channels between all key stakeholders and promote information sharing among actors.
• Participate in necessary assessments in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to in-form interventions.
• Work closely with stakeholders and provide technical assistance on environment and energy interventions to ensure these project implementations are sustainable, and the role of UNHCR has been strategically determined in consideration of its comparative advantage vis-à-vis other partners.
• Liaise with partners and authorities on environment and energy related issues under the technical guidance of the supervisor.
• Prepare field reports and other relevant reports relating to environment and energy and make recommendations for interventions that enhance the living conditions in the camps as well as in the surrounding areas.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 27 – 80

Nationality: Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience
3 years of experience in Knowledge and understanding of policies on Environment and regulations on energy. Knowledge of environment management, renewable energy, including financial, regulatory and/or policy frameworks, renewable energy financial management (including community involvement and capacity issues), renewable energy business development (including busi-ness planning, entrepreneurship development). Experience of cost recovery systems, meter-ing, energy audits and comparative analyses of fuel and energy systems.

Area(s) of expertise: Energy and environment , Engineering and construction

Driving license: .

Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
French, Level: Fluent, Desirable
Kinyarwanda, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Environment, Civil Engineering, Geography, Natural Resource Management

Competencies and values

☒ Building Trust
☒ Ethics and Values
☒ Integrity
☒ Professionalism
☒ Respect for Diversity
☒ Self-Management
☒ Working in Teams

Other information

Living conditions and remarks
Huye is not a duty station where staffs reside in UNHCR housing in terms of accommodation. Houses are available for rent and staffs are guided upon arrival to available housing options which are usually equipped with adequate facilities. The usual practice is to give at least a three-months deposit upon signing a rent contract. Huye has small private clinics that can offer consultations with general practicians or some specialists. There is a tertiary level facility (CHUB – Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Butare) which is considered referral hospital at the national level.
Limited education facilities are available for staffs’ children. There are no accredited international schools in Huye but private schools offering teaching in English or French, following the national curricula. Security in Huye is at Level 1 and is a family duty station (category B) with low security risks. Banking facilities are available. Transport is available with (private) buses every 30min / every hour (depending on the time of the year) to Kigali.
Concerning transport, even though motorcycle taxis are not recommended, they are the fastest way to get around the big cities. Helmets are provided, but it is better to have your own helmet. You can also take a standard taxi. Those with a yellow stripe will be run by individuals. Public transportation is the cheapest, and many of the buses are new and well-maintained. You can also take these buses farther afield; expect to pay a fare based on distance. Shops and markets are available with necessary items including imported goods, home furnishings and electrical appliances.

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communica-tions, and other basic needs. Unified Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers can be ac-cessed on the following link: https://www.unv.org/sites/default/files/unvpf/UNVcos2021%20Complete%20hi-res- fi-nal_compressed_30.08.2021.pdf
UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate

Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO approved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds


POSITION TYPE

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DEGREE REQUIRED

LANGUAGE REQUIRED

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