As of 31 January 2023, Uganda hosts 1,626,056 refugees and asylum seekers from South Sudan (57%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (32%), Somalia (4%), Burundi (3%), and others. Uganda has maintained an open-door policy, and most refugees live in settlements within 12 refugee-hosting districts in the country’s Southwest and West Nile regions. To address the challenges of the open-door policy, in March 2017, the Government of Uganda in collaboration with local and international development partners launched the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), a comprehensive refugee response that protects and promotes the rights of refugees as enshrined by international law, whilst easing pressure on the country of asylum and enhancing refugee self-reliance. In 2023, as a recognition of Uganda’s championing role in implementing the CRRF, Uganda co-convened the Global Refugee Forum and made five priority pledges. They include : a) Increasing resilience and self-reliance: Empowering refugees to secure their own livelihoods; b) Taking actions against climate change: Protection of the environment and increasing access to sustainable energy sources in refugee hosting areas; c) Localizing the Refugee Response: Strengthening the role and impact of national responders; d) Building durable solutions: Refocusing commitments and efforts to support Uganda and e) Transition management: Pathways to Sustainable Burden-Sharing.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The CRR Associate supports the promotion of a multi-stakeholder comprehensive refugee response. The post requires the ability to prioritize tasks and to organize work independently based on direction from the supervisor. The CRR Associate normally reports to higher grade Development or CRR position or the Head of Solution Unit. The CRR Associate will be relied on to support the mainstreaming of the CRRF approach in the operation. By this s/he will support the facilitation of trainings, consultations and planning processes, providing technical input for the integration of refugees into national systems. The incumbent will also ensure that physical and electronic data on all relevant information is filed appropriately. Relying on an extensive knowledge of national and regional contexts and trends the CRR Associate is expected to contribute to the identification of key interlocutors and entry points for refugee inclusion at national and sub-national levels. The CRR Associate will primarily support the CRRF Secretariat under a split work arrangement (between CRRF Secretariat and UNHCR Branch Office Kampala).

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 specific roles and responsibilities of the CRR Associate include but are not limited to:

• Ensure timely implementation of administrative and budget procedures in the area of responsibility, Support to prepare work plans and reporting processes.
• Support mapping exercises of development programming and financing and realization of GRF pledges in the refugee context of Uganda
• Support organization of meetings and workshops (e.g., District Engagement Forum, Refugee Engagement Forum, CRRF Steering Group Meetings), prepare draft agenda, budget, background materials, minutes.
• Draft correspondence and ensure follow-up.
• Prepare briefing materials for the Supervisor and other staff.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure archiving of CRRF materials.
• Maintain policy, confidential and general management files.
• Manage the flow of information to/from the Supervisor and other staff; identify priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the Supervisor.
• Support partnerships with stakeholders in CRRF such as the private sector, development partners, international and civil society organizations, UN agencies, MDAs, and the district authorities.
• Select and make pertinent abstracts, talking points, and information material and undertake searches for information as relevant to CRRF and other initiatives of the Unit.
• Support the preparation on mission plans.
• Share relevant information and requests with various stakeholders.
• Keep lists of names, addresses and telephone numbers of various stakeholders.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

Key Outputs

• Workplans for the CRRF Unit developed
• Regular briefing notes produced for the Supervisor
• CRRF documents updated
• Updated GRF Pledges Tracker
• Updated Development Financing Tracker

Education

3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent or higher.

Work Experience

• Essential

Experience working with private sector, NGOs, UN organizations, and government authorities in sub-sectors relevant to livelihood engagement e.g. microfinance, employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, poverty reduction, agriculture, livestock, vocational and technical education and training, etc. Knowledge of the Uganda refugee management approach.

Desirable

Knowledge/experience in terms of socio-economics and livelihoods/self-reliance. Knowledge on coordination of broader UN processes, the SDGs and the Global Compact on Refugees. Previous experience of UNHCR.