JOB DESCRIPTION

E (most hardship)

Non Family with Residential Location

Non Family with Residential Location

Kampala, Uganda

NOB

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-07-21

August 3, 2025

Associate Field Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Field Officer is normally supervised by the Senior Field Coordinator or Field Officer or Head of Sub-Office/Field Office depending on the structure of the Office. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country/regional programme(s). UNHCR Manual, programme and protection objectives, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the incumbent.
The incumbent may supervise some support staff. S/he has daily contacts with staff in the various field offices and with the functional units at the Country/Regional Office. S/he also has close liaison with a range of local civilian and military authorities and counterparts in NGOs and UN agencies to discuss matters of common interest.

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.

Duties
– 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.
– Submit recommendation for protection interventions to the designated officer.
– Negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
– Approve expenditures within the DOAP.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB – 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law, Political Sciences or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
UNHCR Operations Management Learning Programme.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Field experience.

Desirable
Knowledge of refugee law.
Good knowledge of UNHCR’s programmes.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PG-UNHCR’s Programmes
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

As per standard JD in addition to already added operational context

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Background and Key Settlement Infrastructure

Field Office Rwamwanja, located in Kamwenge District, is one of UNHCR’s key operational points in Southwest Uganda. It falls under the oversight of Sub Office Mbarara and reports directly to the Field Office in Kyaka. Rwamwanja hosts refugees arriving through the Bubukwanga Transit Centre and Mahani Reception Centre, primarily crossing from the respective boarder points of    Ntoroko, Bundibugyo, and Kasese district. The settlement remains an active receiving site in Uganda’s broader refugee response framework.

As of June 30, 2025, Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement accommodates approximately 103,000 refugees, predominantly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, with smaller populations from Burundi, Rwanda, and South Sudan.

The settlement comprises:1 Transit Centre (Bubukwanga), 1 Reception Centre (Mahani), 4 Food Distribution Points, 45 Villages organized into 13 Zones, over 24,000 Households and a population composed of 81% women and children, 21% youth (15–24), and 3% elderly persons.

Approximately 42% of the population is engaged in economic activities, with livelihoods primarily in farming, trade, and vocational skills. Over 12,500 individuals have been identified with specific needs, including persons with disabilities, single parents, and women at risk.

The office currently comprises a lean team of 11 staff supporting functions across Field Coordination, Protection, ICT, and Administration.

Strategic Context

Rwamwanja operates within the broader framework of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and Uganda’s Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF). The settlement is emblematic of Uganda’s progressive refugee policy, where refugees are hosted in settlements integrated into host communities, with access to land, public services, and development opportunities.

In line with the CRRF and the Transition Agenda, a Partnership Framework Agreements have been signed with Kamwenge District Local Government (as the receiving district), and Bundibugyo and Ntoroko Districts (as transiting districts). This strategic alignment promotes a shift from parallel humanitarian service delivery toward localization, system strengthening, and district-led refugee response across the sectors of:

• Protection
• Health and Nutrition
• Livelihoods
• Energy and Environment
• WASH
• Education
• Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)

The transition is also anchored in the objectives of the Uganda Refugee Response Plan (RRP), which outlines national-level strategies for sustainability, resilience-building, and durable solutions. The focus in Rwamwanja has increasingly shifted toward integrating services within existing government structures, promoting refugee self-reliance, and fostering social cohesion between refugee and host communities.

Key Strategic Priorities in Rwamwanja

Advancing the Transition Agenda by integrating refugee protection services into district development planning and government systems.

Strengthening multi-stakeholder coordination between humanitarian, development, and government actors to ensure coherent and inclusive programming.

Scaling up investments in youth livelihoods, TVET, and market-based solutions that align with local development priorities.

Fostering peaceful coexistence and inclusion, while addressing protection concerns for persons with specific needs and vulnerable populations.

Ensuring readiness for potential emergency influxes from nearby border districts, given the dynamic displacement context in Eastern DRC.

Living and Working Conditions:

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, PG-UNHCR”s Programmes

Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

Programme Management (PM) 1 – UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance