Environment Officer - Kigoma, Tanzania

Job Description

Job Details

Job Title Environment Officer
Location Kigoma, Tanzania- U.R. Of
Job ID 14820

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Environment Officer will work closely with colleagues responsible for water and sanitation, shelter, nutrition, education, health, community services and livelihoods. The incumbent will support the UNHCR Office on all issues related to environment, self-reliance and shelter/infrastructures and will make sure that UNHCR policies are in line with global and national strategies.

Regular and frequent discussions between the incumbent and his/her supervisor(s), including at headquarters, are necessary to ensure that the latest best practices and procedures are shared and applied consistently on issues related to environment. The incumbent will undertake missions to the camps and liaise with Field-Offices on the implementation of environment, self-reliance and shelters/site planning programmes. In addition, the staff member will maintain regular contact with UN technical agencies, and implementing and operational partners as needed.

Refugee operations inherently degrade environments because of changes in land use and increased use of natural resources. It is imperative to ensure environmental mitigation measures are in place to ensure sustainable natural resource use for wellbeing refugees and host communities.

Proactive coordination and collaboration with key stakeholders, including refugees and host communities, is required to synergise resources. Interventions are evidence-based to ensure their appropriateness. Environment and social screening in addition to environmental impact assessments will be required to evaluate the operation.

The incumbent should be capable of working with minimum supervision in project submissions, revisions and reallocations throughout the project lifecycle in the environmental programme. S/he will be instrumental in contributing to the development of specific inputs related to the sector and must meet reporting requirements.



FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- Assistance is provided in establishing partnerships with government ministries, NGOs, other UN agencies and donors and coordinate planning a response to refugee-related environmental damages in the country.
- Technical advice is provided to develop project proposals and to support programme implementation of environmental and self-reliance projects.
- UNHCR management is assisted in establishing coordination, monitoring and evaluation systems, including information sharing mechanisms regarding environment, energy sources and livelihoods.



Responsibility
- In collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, support the office in undertaking regular assessments on environmental conditions in refugee-hosting areas and measure the extent those conditions are affected by the presence of refugee camps; collect and update data on main areas of environment, energy, livelihood and shelters and identify means to mitigate the impact on natural resources.
- Undertake an assessment of the current domestic energy situation in the refugee camps together with the concerned persons.
- Provide project management support to the Environmental Audits that are to be undertaken at Nyarugusu, Mtendeli and Nduta Refugee Camps, as requested by the National Environment Management Council.
- Provide technical support to the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) team in Tanzania and help facilitate discussion with UNHCR colleagues and partners on operational entry points for energy and environmental interventions and, where possible, seeking synergies with the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
- Provide technical support to the GCF and help facilitate discussion with UNHCR colleagues and partners on baseline surveys and the development of concept notes for energy and environmental interventions and, where possible, seeking synergies with the CRRF.
- Provide technical input to, and liaise with, the UN Joint Programme for north western Tanzania, with regards to the protection of the environment and combatting deforestation.
- On the basis of the assessment, and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, identify effective interventions in the sector of energy both from the demand and supply sides.
- Assist in the management of UNHCR's assistance programmes in the form of project submissions, revision and reallocations in the environment sector throughout the project lifecycle, needs assessment, budgeting, monitoring, implementation and evaluation.
- Assist the UNHCR Office in organizing training activities of UNHCR and its implementing partners to address key areas of environmental management, climate change and domestic energy issues to refugees and other persons of concern.
- Ensure regular updates and share of information within UNHCR as well as relevant government, UN, NGO counterparts and donor community.
- Document best practices/lessons for dissemination and implementation in the areas of natural resource management, forestry, sustainable agriculture, domestic energy and environmental education sectors.
- Provide technical support in developing project proposals and implementation arrangements to address environmental rehabilitation needs within the framework of UNHCR policies, procedures and guidelines.
- Provide technical input on reports related to environmental issues.
- Coordinate and monitor, as well as support partners in the environment sub-sector.
- Liaise with the government, donors and other organizations with common goals.
- Undertake other related duties as required.

Authority
- Coordinate matters related to environment amongst different sectors within UNHCR, the local authorities, and implementing partners.
- Represent UNHCR in relevant national meetings and technical conferences in the area of environment.



ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Environmental Studies, Management of Natural Resources, Agriculture, Forestry or other related fields plus minimum 6 years of experience in environmental assessment, planning, monitoring and evaluation of integrated environmental programmes/projects in displacement and stable situations. Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) plus 5 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 4 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Awareness of and practical experience with refugee-related environmental problems.
- Familiarity with emerging environmentally sustainable and appropriate technologies, and renewable energy.
- Solid skills in analysis, using and presenting quantitative and qualitative data, and report writing.
- Familiarity with community-based and participatory approaches.
- Excellent knowledge of English language.



DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES.
- Budgeting, planning and managerial skills, ability to work with various (relevant) computer software.
- Knowledge of local language is an advantage.
Position Competencies
C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3



DESIRABLE ATTRIBUTES
Experiences on abreast of political, economic and cultural develops that have an impact on the protection environment in the countries of origin of the refugees and in the country of asylum and provide advice to the senior management;
Ability to follow up all protection and field activities to ensure harmonized practices throughout field offices;
Capacity to undertake in-depth interviews for refugees with complicates cases;
Ability to attend to queries from refugees and take appropriate action on issues/problems they are facing;
Ability to smoothly integrate with Government counterparts and local authorities on all refugee protection issues
Ability to follow up activities in all sectors at the field level to ensure appropriate protection mainstreaming throughout all sectors;
Demonstrate as focal person with the Protection Unit for the following activities in the field (Environment, cash-based interventions and connectivity;
Strong analytical skills to manage individual protection cases;



CURRENT SITUATION
Kigoma region has a complex humanitarian emergencies where UNHCR is designated to coordinate and provide protection and assistance to asylum seekers, refugees from Burundi and DRC and at the same time while more than 162,000 former 1972 Burundian refugees in Tanzania have already been naturalized, there are approximately more than 60,000 persons of concern remain without durable solutions.
The ongoing verification, registration and intention survey exercise in Kigoma region will verify those who have not yet naturalized. Due to the complicated and politically-sensitive nature of the naturalization exercise, it is important for the realization of durable solutions to have a protection staff who understand the context and sensitivities involved.



WORKING AND LIVING CONDITIONS
Very basic infrastructure and facilities in the town;
Health facilities available locally;
Malaria is common in the operational area;
Education for children available;
local banking facilities;
Relatively hot environment with daily temperature fluctuations;
No office guest house facilities, staff are expected to reside on private accommodation;
Frequent mission travel to the deep field locations;



SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
Security Situation is low (Level 2);

Although English is the only essential language, knowledge of another UN language, like French would be
an asset;
Although English is the only essential language, knowledge of the local language Swahili would be an asset;
As the incumbent will be supervising some staff members at the different level, a candidate at the P3 level would be essential.
Closing Date
Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add.2 to the September 2017 Compendium is Monday 12 February (midnight Geneva time).

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