Associate Reporting Officer

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 operation in Dadaab is simultaneous a protracted refugee situation and a large number of new arrivals due to drought and insecurity in Somalia. The Dadaab Refugee Complex was established in 1991 to host refugees from Somalia fleeing the civil war.

The East and Horn of Africa have long been center stage for conflict and forced displacement with Kenya currently hosting 854,876 refugees and asylum-seekers. Established in 1991 and situated in Garissa County, the Dadaab Refugee camps are now home to 432,480 individuals/ 81,678 households. Figures are as of June 2025. Somali refugees are the majority, representing more than 96% of the population.

Refugees and asylum-seekers have been living in extremely challenging conditions for more than three decades.

The Government’s Department of Refugee Services (DRS) is responsible for the management and coordination of refugee affairs with technical support from UNHCR.

For more than three decades, refugees and asylum-seekers in the Dadaab refugee complex have been living in challenging protection conditions, set within a volatile security situation, limited provision of basic services, limited freedom of movement and access to justice as well as poor shelter and infrastructures. Despite the protractedness of the situation, refugees depend on UNHCR-provided tarpaulin for shelter.

In addressing the challenges, UNHCR works with partners to advocate for effective international protection and durable solutions. There have been positive developments, led by the Government and supported by UNHCR. The Garissa Integrated Socio-Economic Development Program (GISEDP) was launched in September 2023 and will promote the economic growth of Dadaab, take a whole-of-society approach, and offer sustainable solutions for refugees and host communities. It forms an integral part of the Government-led Shirika Plan which will empower communities and transform camps into socioeconomic hubs.
Find out more here: https://www.unhcr.org/ke/gisedp-1

The Associate Reporting Officer, under the guidance of the Head of Sub Office Dadaab, plays a key role in enhancing UNHCR’s visibility and accountability by producing, editing, and ensuring the quality of reports for Dadaab Operation. This role involves gathering and analyzing information from various UNHCR sections and partners, consolidating data on program implementation, and preparing timely updates and donor reports. The officer supports internal and external communications, contributes to donor satisfaction through accurate reporting, and assists in inter-agency coordination. Additionally, they help prepare briefing materials, ensure data visualization in collaboration with Information Management, and provide technical support on reporting standards and deadlines.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Sub Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Keep abreast of all developments in the country operation/ bureau/ division or other entity to prepare appropriate briefings and reports.
• Draft regular daily, weekly and monthly up-date for internal and external audience (including donors and media).
• Consolidate and analyze data on programme implementation, achievements and indicators in all sectors under AoR in order to facilitate the preparation of periodic reports and activity-specific reports as may be required and ensure timeliness of such reports.
• Participate in annual reporting and planning process.
• Work closely with Information Management to ensure accurate and attractive data presentation, including maps.
• Support the monitoring of UNHCR’s partnerships and consolidate information about Partners’ activities.
• Assist in the preparation of briefing kits and presentations for missions and visitors.
• Assist in the preparation of reports for donors, in compliance with specific donor requirements. Make efforts to enhance donor satisfaction by ensuring quality reporting on programmatic results to donor. Assist in providing visibility for donors’ contributions to UNHCR.
• Research/analyze, interpret and also, monitor and review information and data from regular and wide variety of sources for internal and external reporting.
• Prepare and distribute minutes of meetings.
• Provide technical support, training and clarification on UNHCR’s reporting policies and deadlines.
• May prepare press releases; conceptualize, draft and edit stories for external communications products and support all aspects of its production, including fact checking, proofreading and quality control.
• Support UNHCR inter-agency coordination initiatives and leadership through provision of reporting and secretariat functions where relevant.
• Perform other related duties as required.