Country: South Sudan (Republic of)
Closing date: 03 Dec 2012
Background
The Danish Refugee Council has been in South Sudan since 2004 mainly working with returning refugees and internally displaced persons returning home after a long civil war. In 2012 DRC opened its operations in Upper Nile State (Maban County) to respond to the large influx of refugees coming from Blue Nile State in Sudan. DRC is the camp manager of the Yusif Batil camp where 35,000 refugees are currently living and also carries out protection and GBV activities in four camps in Maban comprising a population of 105,000 refugees. In addition, DRC in Maban is managing a workshop and carrying out shelter and livelihood activities. In 2012 DRC in South Sudan merged with the Danish Demining Group bringing together DRC’s protection activities and DDG’s AVR (armed violence reduction) activities. DRC plans to open an office in Unity in 2013.
Key tasks and responsibilities
The Community Services Officer is responsible for all activities linked to social protection, community mobilization and community development within the refugee camp. He/she promotes an age, gender and diversity sensitive approach in all activities, with the aim of strengthening protection mechanisms within the refugee communities, whilst putting in place and overseeing the implementation of mechanisms to identify and protect individuals and groups with specific needs.
Additionally, the Community Services Officer undertakes activities to promote peaceful coexistence and dialogue between refugee populations and host communities.
Key responsibilities:
A. Establish and develop community structures with inclusive representation. Participants in community structures receive support and training, but are otherwise encouraged to take on social responsibility. As a minimum, this includes:
Refugee leadership/Committee
Women’s Group
Youth Group
Community Watch Group
Refugee community outreach workers
(Other groups may be established as needed)
B. Supervise Field Assistants and Field Officers, as well as oversee the work of the community outreach workers, ensuring that work and activities progress as agreed and in line with applicable standards
C. Continually sensitize staff, partners, refugee leadership to the importance of respectful dialogue with the refugee community
D. In close cooperation with refugee community/committees, develop appropriate social, recreational and cultural activities in the camp
E. Development of income generating activities for specific refugee groups through community-based structures/ approaches
F. Develop operational protection responses to individuals in the absence of other actors or specialized services (eg. support networks)
G. Identify key protection concerns through participatory processes for different groups (based on age, gender, diversity and other vulnerable groups) among camp population, in close cooperation with DRC’s Protection Monitoring Team
H. Sensitize staff to the importance of continuous and respectful dialogue with the refugee community
I. Responsible for ensuring that DRC has up-to-date records of refugee camp populations, based on UNHCR registration, plot allocation, and leadership structures. If data entry is required, then the data entry assistant can be assigned to this task
J. Regular review of registration data, critical analysis of data compared to actual population, and identification of vulnerable groups and individuals for further interventions. Also identification of any gaps between registration and actual population
K. Periodically draft reports on community mobilization activities to the Camp Manager for donor reporting;
L. Participate in weekly camp coordination meetings and provide secretariat, including drafting meeting minutes & action points
M. Any other tasks assigned by the Camp Manager to support general camp management operations
Qualifications:
A. Minimum 3 years of humanitarian work in deep field locations
B. Excellent analytical and communication skills
C. Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with local staff and other stakeholders
D. Proven ability to work and live in very basic living conditions in deep field locations
E. Ability to work under pressure, with minimal supervision, and in a culturally diverse team
F. Ability to work under pressure, with minimal supervision, and in a culturally diverse team
G. Advanced university degree in human rights, social sciences, social work or related field
H. Demonstrated record of field and operational experience at an international level in complex emergencies
I. 3 years professional work experience in community services in a humanitarian setting We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of nationality, race, gender or age.
Conditions
Availability: As soon as possible
Duty Station: Upper Nile and Unity States
Contract: One year with possibility of extension. Salary and conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. The position will be placed at salary level 13.Please note that the position is subject to funding.
Further Information
You are welcome to contact Head of Desk for South Sudan, Anders Engberg, telephone: +45 3373 5023, for additional information about the position. For additional information about DRC DDG as an organization or our work, please visit our website www.drc.dk.
Application and CV
Only applications with CV and application letter that address the stipulated duties and responsibilities and meet the required qualifications will be considered. Applicants should send a 1 page cover letter that clearly states how they are qualified, and why they are interested in the post, together with their CV (not longer than 4 pages) to: jobjubacommunity@drc.dk.
Please note that the deadline for this position is 3. December 2012. Please indicate “Community Services Officer - South Sudan” in the subject line.
Please note: Applications are not to be sent to Mr. Engberg. Applications sent to Mr. Engberg will not be considered.
About DRC
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than twenty five countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.
The protection and assistance to conflict affected population is provided within a long-term, regional and rights-based approach in order to constitute a coherent and effective response to the challenges posed by today’s conflicts. Assistance consists of relief and other humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, support to return and repatriation as well as promotion of long-term solutions to displacement and its causes. In addition, support and capacity building of local and national authorities and NGOs form an integral part of DRC’s work.
How to apply:
Only applications with CV and application letter that address the stipulated duties and responsibilities and meet the required qualifications will be considered. Applicants should send a 1 page cover letter that clearly states how they are qualified, and why they are interested in the post, together with their CV (not longer than 4 pages) to: jobjubacommunity@drc.dk.
Please note that the deadline for this position is 3. December 2012. Please indicate “Community Services Officer - South Sudan” in the subject line.
Please note: Applications are not to be sent to Mr. Engberg. Applications sent to Mr. Engberg will not be considered.