Hardship LevelE (most hardship)
Family TypeNon Family with Residential Location
Family TypeNon Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay
Residential location (if applicable)
Nairobi (CO), Kenya
GradeNOA
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeNational Professional Officer
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date2025-07-01
Deadline for ApplicationsJuly 7, 2025
Standard Job Description
Assistant Field Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Field Officer is normally supervised by the Senior Field Coordinator or Field Officer or Head of Sub-Office/Field Office depending on the structure of the Office. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country/regional programme(s). UNHCR Manual, programme and protection objectives, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the incumbent.
The incumbent does not normally have any direct supervisory role. S/he has daily contacts with staff in the various field offices and with the functional units at the Country/Regional Office. S/he also has close liaison with a range of local civilian and military authorities and counterparts in NGOs and UN agencies to discuss matters of common interest.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
- Assess the needs of persons of concern in the AoR and formulate project submissions in collaboration with district authorities and implementing partners.
- Promote and monitor the implementation of assistance projects.
- Report regularly on rate of flow of new arrivals and estimate expected influx based on interviews with persons of concern.
- In co-ordination with implementing partners, assist with the reception, registration and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Keep track of cases of detention; register applicants for voluntary repatriation and family reunion.
- Assist in the preparation of monthly sectoral reports and submit material for preparation of periodic project monitoring reports and year-end reports.
- Submit recommendation for protection interventions to the designated officer.
- Negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
- 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
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Law
Political Sciences
or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
UNHCR Operations Management Learning Programme
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified
Desirable
Field experience.
Knowledge of refugee law.
Good knowledge of UNHCR's programmes.
Functional Skills
PG-UNHCR's Programmes
PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate)
PG-Resource planning
IT-Computer Literacy
BU-PeopleSoft EPM/Budget
FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other)
PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
PG-Results-Based Management
(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:
White Nile State currently hosts approximately 412,000 South Sudanese refugees, with ongoing border new arrivals. Majority of the refugees (93%) reside across ten camps in Al Salam and Al Jabalain localities, while the remaining 7% live outside the camps with host communities. Government ministries and humanitarian partners deliver protection and essential services to both refugees and host populations under the coordination of the Commission for Refugees (COR) and UNHCR.
The humanitarian landscape in White Nile State addresses multiple concurrent emergencies: new refugee influxes (27,000 new arrivals registered as of April 2025), relocation of refugees from within Sudan, spontaneous return of Sudanese nationals, and seasonal flooding impacts.
Despite sustained efforts to provide critical assistance and protection, humanitarian operations face substantial constraints. Primary challenges include insufficient funding, limited land availability for expansion of camps, and overwhelmed infrastructure and services, particularly shelter, WASH, sanitation, and healthcare. These constraints are further exacerbated by increasing population pressures in both camps and surrounding communities.
To address these challenges, UNHCR collaborates with COR and partners to expand existing camp facilities and enhance core infrastructure, thereby accommodating new arrivals and internal relocations by improving living conditions for the forcefully displaced populations.
Nature of the Position:
The Assistant Field Officer works under the supervision of the Associate Field Officer (P2) based in Kosti, with reporting lines subject to adjustment based on evolving organizational structures. This role encompasses supervising three field staff while providing technical expertise, coordination, and leadership for field operations spanning ten camps and three border entry points.
Beyond direct field support, the Assistant Field Officer fosters strategic partnerships with government authorities, ministries, community structures, and diverse stakeholders. Acting as a crucial liaison, the incumbent facilitates transparent communication and fosters mutual understanding to ensure seamless project implementation and effective delivery of protection and assistance to affected populations.
Desired Candidate Profile:
The ideal candidate should have extensive experience in refugee/IDP protection, humanitarian affairs, or related fields, with a demonstrated track record of managing complex humanitarian operations, preferably within the UN system. Essential qualifications include comprehensive operational management experience including monitoring, supporting & evaluating implementing partners, alongside the capacity to provide technical guidance to UNHCR implementing partners and field staff across all protection and assistance dimensions. The candidate should possess a thorough understanding of UNHCR's roles and responsibilities in refugee and IDP response contexts.
The successful candidate should demonstrate proven leadership capabilities, including capacity building and team management expertise in order to cultivate collaborative work environments. Exceptional interpersonal and field coordination skills are essential for engaging diverse stakeholders such as government authorities, implementing and operational partners (including NGOs and sister UN agencies), donors, and local communities. Strong communication proficiency in both written and spoken English is required, to prepare internal and external reports.
Critical competencies include analytical skill to assess complex situations, identify core issues, and develop innovative solutions. The incumbent must effectively represent UNHCR at the field level, advocating for the rights and needs of forcibly displaced persons while ensuring adherence to international protection standards.
Additional Assets:
• Deep understanding of local contexts
• Advanced negotiation and conflict resolution capabilities
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Nature of Position:
Living and Working Conditions:
Additional Qualifications
SkillsBU-PeopleSoft EPM/Budget, FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other), IT-Computer Literacy, PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards), PG-Resource planning, PG-Results-Based Management, PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate), PG-UNHCR's Programmes
EducationBachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science
CertificationsProgramme Management (PM) 1 - UNHCR
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium
Additional InformationFemale candidates are encouraged to apply.
Candidate must be Sudanese nationality.
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance