Consultant on Localization

at  United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)
H (no hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
CONS International
Target Start Date
2024-12-01
Deadline for Applications
November 13, 2024
Terms of Reference

EVALUATION, MONITORING, SUPERVISION

Monitoring and Progress Controls:

• Weekly progress meetings at a minimum. More regular interaction is expected.
• Outline of final products expected end of week 2.
• First complete draft to be completed by week 5 – then further refined.
• Final, complete draft expected end of week 8

Additional information:
Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. No late applications will be accepted.
UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).
NOTE: An individual whose mother, father, son, daughter, brother or sister is a staff member of UNHCR, including a Temporary Appointment holder or a member of Affiliate Workforce, is not eligible to apply.
Standard Job Description
Required Languages
English
,
,
Desired Languages
,
,
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other information
This position doesn’t require a functional clearance
Home-Based
Ye

General Background of Project or Assignment, Operational Context:
As recognized in the Global Compact for Refugees, local and national community-based organizations (including refugee-led organizations) are often the first responders in humanitarian emergencies and can provide support and services in areas where UNHCR and partners have limited or no access. Given their ability to provide contextual knowledge, implement local-context specific programs and provide culturally-sensitive services based on their understanding of the challenges and needs of persons of concern, local Civil Society Organizations (CSO), including NGOs and RLOs, play a key role in delivering protection and assistance on the ground. Working with and investing in these local actors as equal and strategic partners, is a priority for an effective response to any forced displacement situation. Empowerment of local CSOs as part of the localization agenda therefore is a crucial element for strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian responses.
While extensive efforts are underway at country level to advance the localization agenda, there is currently no systematic repository of these activities – objectives, content, participants – nor of their results. In addition, there is no overarching, regional strategy, and Country Operations have expressed keen interest in learning more from each other in this area.
This topic – while certainly relevant to the Ukraine Refugee Situation, given the goal of sustainably transitioning the RRP by the end of 2026 – is also very pertinent to other contexts across the region where local and national actors play a critical role in refugee protection and assistance. Focus countries could include those in the Ukraine Response, as well as Türkiye, Italy, Armenia, Ukraine, and Germany.
In light of the above, the proposal is to conduct a 2-month desk-based consultancy with two overarching objectives:
a) Develop an up-to-date and detailed mapping of the localization activities currently underway with partners,1 with a repository of relevant documents (agenda, concept notes, notes, evaluations, etc.) and
b) Produce recommendations and list of emerging and promising practices for Country Operations across the region as they engage in localization efforts. These would focus on both capacity-sharing/resource mobilization and coordination mechanisms.
A non-exhaustive list of guiding prompts include:

What activities are being implemented across the region to advance the localization agenda?

• Of these, what are good and emerging practices that should be replicated elsewhere, if possible?
• How can UNHCR’s localization efforts in Europe be assessed to date?
• How can UNHCR better support funded partners in preparing for an eventual end of that partnership?
• What tools have proven useful?

It will be critical that the consultancy is also based on consultations with national and local NGOs (as well as UNHCR colleagues), to draw on their experience, perspectives and recommendations.
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations
To view occupational safety and health considerations for specific duty stations, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Purpose and Scope of Assignment:
The final output would consist of creating a Community of Good and Emerging Practices on Localization in Europe and the production of a short external report composed of an interim assessment/evaluation of the organization’s localization efforts in Europe and forward-looking recommendations. Ideally, the outputs will feed into the UNHCR guidelines on localization which are currently being developed at headquarters.
Required qualifications, language(s) and work experience:
Degree: Required Higher degree in one of the fields of social science, law, humanities or similar.
This requirement can be waived in case of significant work experience.
Field of expertise, competencies:
Required/mandatory: Experience in the humanitarian field, experience producing studies/practical recommendations, knowledge of the UN system and its localization agenda.
Desirable: Experience working with national and/or local civil society
Minimum years of work experience: 7 years of relevant work experience.
(NOTE: candidates with less years of experience cannot be shortlisted or recommended)