Associate Field Officer

The High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate international action for the worldwide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems.

UNHCR’s primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. In its efforts to achieve this objective, the Office strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, and to return home voluntarily.

By assisting refugees to return to their own country or to settle permanently in another
country, UNHCR also seeks lasting solutions to their plight. UNHCR’s Executive Committee and the UN General Assembly have authorized involvement with other groups. These include former refugees who have returned to their homeland; internally displaced people; and people who are stateless or whose nationality is disputed.

The Office seeks to reduce situations of forced displacement by encouraging states and other institutions to create conditions which are conducive to the protection of human rights and the peaceful resolution of disputes. In all of its activities, it pays particular attention to the needs of children and seeks to promote the equal rights of women and girls.

The Office works in partnership with governments, regional organizations, international and non-governmental organizations. It is committed to the principle of participation, believing that refugees and others who benefit from the organization’s activities should be consulted over decisions which affect their lives.

Malawi acceded to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol (hereinafter jointly referred to as the 1951 Convention). Malawi is also party to the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. Malawi maintains a reservation with regards to Article 26 of the 1951 Convention (freedom of movement). According to that, refugees cannot leave their area of residence (camp) without permission from the Commissioner for Refugees or the delegate thereof. According to the criminal act, refugees who leave the place of residence assigned to them without a travel permit will be subjected to a fine determined by a court.

During the 2019 Global Refugee Forum (GRF), Malawi pledged/committed itself to introduce the settlement approach in order to enhance integrated development of refugees and the local community and serve as a conceptual operational bridge for closing the dysfunctional gap between humanitarian response and development activities. A CRRF roadmap is in place covering the period 2019 to 2022 and it aims to, among others, expand and de-concentrate Dzaleka refugee camp, while increasingly including the refugees in the local programming.

Under the direct supervision of The Senior Protection Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Ensure that UNHCR’s policies, standards and procedures are constantly and coherently applied in the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
• Ensure that the needs of persons of concern in the AoR are assessed and analyzed in a participating manner and using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective to form a firm basis for planning.
• Ensure that protection incidents and gaps in assistance are immediately identified and addressed.
• Identify vulnerable groups or individuals who may need special attention or special arrangements and make recommendations on the needs of different groups of refugees.
• Assess protection and assistance needs of refugees and asylum-seekers in the region and monitor implementation of refugee assistance programmes.
• In co-ordination with implementing partners, handle the reception, registration and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
• Provide inputs for project submissions and periodic narrative and financial reports for the annual programme.
• Develop and maintain relations with local authorities ensuring smooth negotiations in all aspects of UNHCR's mandate for the benefit of refugees.
• Monitor the security situation in the area and intervene as appropriate with the local authorities.
• Participation in needs assessment as a member of the multi-functional team
• In close coordination with programme and project control, monitor project implementation and provide feedback on the progress to the relevant units/sections
• Undertake other relevant duties as required.


Results/Expected Outputs:

• The needs of persons of concern in the country are assessed and analyzed in a participatory manner and using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective to form a firm basis for planning.
• Inputs are provided for the country operations plan (including budgets, staffing levels and structures) as well as for funding submissions, appeals and reports.
• Enforced compliance with UNHCR’s global strategies, protocols and guidelines.
• The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs);
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment