Background

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).

The Office of the UNHCR has its Representation based in Baghdad and its delegated Coordinator Office in Erbil. The Coordinator Office in Erbil covers all protection, operation and administrative activities carried in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The office of the Coordinator of Northren Iraq covers Sub-Office Erbil, Sub-Office Dohuk, Field Unit Ninawa, Field Office Suleimanyah and Field Unit in Khanaqin. Under the overall management of the Coordinator in Erbil all operational, administrative, logistical, program activities carried in Kurdistan Region of Iraq are managed and supervised by the management in Erbil with an oversight rule from the Representation Office in Baghdad.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Associate RSD Officer the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

  • Translates documentation and written correspondence, etc. from Arabic to English,and from Kurdish to English.
  • Interprets oral conversations, discussions and interviews especially when attending meetings with persons of concern, officials, and others; from Arabic to English, Kurdish to English, English to Arabic and English to Kurdish.
  • Undertakes field missions throughout the Kurdistan Region to provide interpretation and other assistance, as needed.
  • Responds to queries relating to the area of responsibility which concenrs Resettlement and Refugees Status Determination (RST/RSD);
  • Performs other duties as required

        Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

  • 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 IVD);
  • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
  • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
  • 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 Output:

  • Provide accurate translation and interpretation as required.
  • UNHCR’s resettlement policies and standards are correctly and coherently applied.
  • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

  • Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity  
  • Demonstrating corporate knowledge and sound judgment
  • Self-development, initiative-taking
  • Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
  • Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
  • Creating synergies through self-control
  • Managing conflict
  • Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others.
  • Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
  • Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications:

  • Completion of the Secondary Education.
  • Post-secondary training/certificate in Translation or related field.
  • Minimum 2 years of previous job experience relevant to the function.
  • Communication skills.
  • Translation skills.

Language:

  • Fluency in English, Arabic and Kurdish

IT Skills:

  • Knowledge of Microsoft applications: Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Desirable Qualifications/Requirements:

  • Bachelor degree in English language (translation department)
  • Very good drafting skills;
  • Previous experience with UNHCR

Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers

A 12 - month contract; with subsequent contract extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

Travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of $1,289.00  USD is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service

 

 

Instruction for submission of applications:

  • Please fill out a P-11 form posted on http://www.iq.undp.org/content/iraq/en/home/operations/jobs.html and apply online. Please note that no other type of application form, including CVs, will be considered for such positions, other than the one found at the link specified above.
  • Only candidates who are short-listed will be contacted.
  • We strongly encourage qualified female candidates to apply.   UNDP seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities, and that staff members are able to keep an appropriate balance between work and private life.
  • UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
  • UNDP, as a matter of practice, does not charge any application, processing or training fee at any stage of the recruitment process.