Organization: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Ethiopia
Closing date:
08 Jan 2016Background
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations 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. It also has a mandate to help stateless people.
In 2014, UNHCR launched the SAFE (Safe Access to Fuel and Energy) Strategy 2014-2018, with the vision that all refugees are able to satisfy their energy needs for cooking and lighting in a safe and sustainable manner, without fear or risk to their health, well-being and personal security. Renewable energy is one of the central solutions identified in the global SAFE strategy as well as the national SAFE strategy in Ethiopia, contributing to improved access to household fuel and lighting, and increased access to energy for schools, health centres and other institutions.
Context of the post
As a result of insecurity, famine and environment problems in Somalia, over 200,000 refugees fled from Somalia to five UNHCR-administered refugee camps in the Dollo Ado area of Ethiopia. UNHCR recognizes the global need for a broader “cultural shift” from long-term care and maintenance to self-reliance and solutions-oriented planning and programming in its refugee operations.
UNHCR’s operation in Dollo Ado - with the support from the IKEA Foundation since 2012 – serves as one of the key locations for UNHCR to implement a new type of programming which gives priority to activities that increase refugees’ self-reliance in order to decrease dependency on aid. The programme is aimed at building refugees’ resilience in preparation for their eventual return to Somalia.
The national, legal and policy environment in refugee-hosting countries places varying degrees of restrictions on refugees' right to work and freedom of movement. In spite of these, refugees use different strategies to generate income, mostly through daily labouring jobs in the informal sector.
The conditions necessary for refugees to earn an income that will make them self- reliant through circulation of capital in Dollo Ado woreda, do not yet exist. However, UNHCR is actively and creatively seeking opportunities for refugees to improve their income while they are in Dollo Ado and to provide them with opportunities to gain and improve skills, which will help with their integration when they return to Somalia. Refugees will be supported to improve their livelihoods through skills training, paid employment, energy and business development.
The Government of Ethiopia and regional/local authorities (in the case of Dollo Ado, the Regional Somali State and the Local Administration of Dollo Ado District) have been extremely generous in welcoming 205,000 Somali refugees. Interventions directly benefiting the local host community help balance the impact that the presence of large numbers of refugees has in the refugee-hosting areas.
The refugee camps in the Dollo Ado region are in a transition phase from emergency to the recovery stage with a wide variety of income levels and energy needs in the camps. The issue of energy is cross cutting, reaching areas of relief including, but not limited to, protection, food security, health, environment, sexual and gender based violence, and education. The issue is intensified in Dollo Ado by a fragile natural environment, rapid environmental degradation resulting from the large population influx, limited natural resources and a government ban on the collection of firewood – the main source of fuel for refugees.
Successful businesses have developed through the sale and distribution of electricity and energy technologies. Small-scale independent energy providers have emerged providing electricity through independent diesel mini-grids. UNHCR and its partners are working to support the communities in expanding these efforts to meet the lighting and energy needs in the communities by providing hardware, training and building self-reliance.
In addition, UNHCR is undertaking a number of pilot projects aiming to provide refugees and host communities with access to community and household solar lighting. This includes through solar streetlights and supporting sustainable businesses providing PAYG (Pay As You Go) lighting solutions as well as access to unconstrained electricity through micro-grid systems.
One of the main issues that UNHCR and its partners are dealing with in these camps is the provision of energy that will allow refugees to cook the dry food rations they receive from the World Food Programme or other food items they purchase from the markets.
The majority of refugees in Dollo Ado usually cook over three-stone fires, though these consume a large amount of firewood. UNHCR and its partners have been seeking ways to reduce this dependency on firewood by replacing it with the provision and use of fuel-efficient and alternative energy stoves as well as alternative fuels such as charcoal from Prosopis, an invasive local species, and potentially ethanol.
It is therefore urgent to implement the existing renewable energy strategy for UNHCR Dollo Ado. UNHCR has been implementing alternative energy options in a number of operations already, but wants to ensure that refugees in Dollo Ado are receiving the most cost-effective, sustainable, and applicable combination of alternative energy solutions for their environment, needs, and background. Environmental activities and land rehabilitation will be an important component to compliment the promotion of suitable cooking options in the communities.
In this regard, UNHCR Representation in Ethiopia seeks duly experienced Renewable Energy Expert initially for 6 months to coordinate, analyse and monitor the implementation of a series of renewable energy interventions. In addition to this the Renewable Energy Expert will be required to assess, analyse and identify cost-effective and appropriate sources of alternative energy for cooking, lighting and electricity in collaboration with the concerned actors. The post will be based in Dollo Ado under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Officer.
The incumbent will inform and coordinate with implementing partners, consultants, UNHCR and government agencies to implement a robust and appropriate renewable energy strategy and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources and ensure safety.
UNHCR Dollo Ado is working closely with UNHCR Innovation and the Operational Solutions and Transition Section (OSTS) at UNHCR in a multi-year, inter-departmental initiative looking for more efficient, effective and creative solutions to challenges that refugees face across UNHCR operations worldwide.
Duties and responsibilities
· Oversee and coordinate energy activities conducted by implementing partners and consultants in the Dollo Ado Region;
· Ensure budget expenditures and reporting requirements are in line with UNHCR program procedures and donor priorities, notably in collaboration with the Programme team and Head of Sub-Office;
· Work closely with UNHCR, ARRA, refugee and host communities in discussions to identify suitable business models, training requirements and business support needed to promote sustainable businesses providing lighting and energy;
· Coordinate an assessment of pilot projects, livelihood opportunities and their potential for expansion with the 5 camps and host community areas;
· Identify and support synergies between energy activities, livelihood opportunities, training, capacity building and self-reliance in the communities;
· Identify suitable partners and coordinate activities to promote suitable cooking options and environmental rehabilitation in the Dollo Ado region.
· Carry out key stakeholder consultations, including refugees, existing Implementing and Operational Partners, key government stakeholders – including ARRA;
· Support implementation of the renewable energy strategy, including the provision of technical advice and support to UNHCR Dollo Ado on related matters as to enhance technical capacity and knowledge to implement, monitor and evaluate renewable energy activities;
· Ensure implementation of adequate monitoring and evaluation system for renewable energy activities in consultation with concerned stakeholders, including standardisation of short frequent test intervals;
· Identification of national staffing capacity, with a view to handing over implementation coordination to staff, after satisfactory commencement of the strategy;
· Together with the livelihoods team, review current vocational training skills and create an introductory RE module to compliment future vocational skills training.
· Identify, establish and maintain links with relevant organizations to ensuring access to sustainable energy for both refugees and indigenous populations in Dollo Ado camps and the surrounding areas, including expanding to other camps;
· Together with the Programme Team and other technical experts, ensure energy based interventions are approached from a cross sectorial perspective;
· Assure that minimum best practices are met to assure health and safety standards are considered and in practice across all RE and energy efficient technologies.
· Document each stage of project development including monitoring, testing, trouble shooting, lessons learned and solutions applied to assure institutional knowledge development.
· Develop effective communication channels between all with key stakeholders and promote the sharing of information on energy related activities
· Stay informed of all governmental/national regularity electrical/renewable developments to assure legal and advantageous energy incentives are explored.
· Perform other duties as may be assigned.
Competencies
· Professionalism: Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Analytical thinking; Knowledge and understanding of UN programme planning and management, organizing and problem solving abilities; Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; remains calm in stressful situations and oversee unplanned technical project interventions;
· Communication: Excellent communication skills (written and spoken), including the ability to draft a variety of reports; Ability to interact with partners and stakeholders; Ability to communicate effectively in order to communicate complex and technical information to technical and general audiences;
· Skills in facilitating meetings effectively and efficiently and to resolve conflicts as they arise;
· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and sensitivity to cultural, socio-economic and political differences;
· Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve results and to solicit input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; shares credit for team accomplishments;
· Technological awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology in the field of renewable energy and most have progressive approach to the learning of new technologies and installation techniques.
· Willingness to work in demanding environmental surroundings and to lead by example when on project sites.
· Good understanding of using basic testing and monitoring equipment on pre-installation and project monitoring and evaluation.
· Ability to listen and understand other technical opinions, to assure maximization of holistic designs and solutions.
· Good workshop facilitation skills and a proven capacity development ability/Train the Trainer technique.
Qualification, required skills and experience:
· Advanced University degree in energy technology, engineering, renewable energy or related area, OR 10 years + experience in above fields;
· Extensive knowledge of renewable energy, including financial, regulatory and/or policy frameworks, renewable energy financial management (including community involvement and capacity issues), renewable energy business development (including business planning, entrepreneurship development), preferably with experience in Ethiopia and/or the Horn of Africa;
· Ability to think creatively, and to explore, harness and translate innovative concepts and current practices into sustainable projects.
· Exposure to working with at least two kinds of renewable energies and related technology;
· Applied knowledge: ability to apply knowledge from contemporary research in the field of energy, and translate this into humanitarian settings;
· Strong interest and exposure to development and humanitarian issues, especially in the area of energy, innovation and engineering ;
· Excellent networking and communications; have a broad network of peers in the domain of energy, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region;
· Have at least 5 years of proven experience in the above-mentioned fields and their application.
Language Requirements
· Excellent command of oral and written English is required; knowledge of Amharic or Somali is desirable.
How to apply:Please send an email with your CV and cover letter before 8 January 2016 to energy@unhcr.org