#*”Closing date: Wednesday, 7 February 2024
General
Description of assignment title: Interpreter Assistant
Assignment country: Rwanda
Expected start date: 03/01/2024
Sustainable Development Goal: 10. Reduced inequalities
Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist
Host entity: UNHCR
Type: Onsite
Duration: 10 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 2
Duty stations: Kibuye (2)
Details
Mission and objectives
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 world-wide. 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 UNHCR Representation Office in Rwanda principally manages a refugee population (mainly refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo who have been on the Rwan-dan territory since 1996 and Burundian refugees who have been arriving in the country further to the volatile situation in Burundi since April 2015) as well as a significant re-turnee population of Rwandan refugees returning after many years in exile. It is com-posed of the Branch Office in Kigali and Field Offices in Huye, Gicumbi, Rusizi, Rubavu, Karongi, Kirehe and Kabarore. It hosts approximately 155,749 refugees in three proracted refugee camps, namely Nyabiheke (managed by Kabarore Office) Gihembe (managed by Gicumbi Office) as well as Kiziba (managed by Karongi Office), three new refugee camps, namely Kigeme and Mugombwa (managed by Huye Office) as well as Mahama (managed by Kirehe Office), and urban settings (Kigali and Huye). Since April 2015, UNHCR is also supporting two additional reception centers in Bugesera and Nyanza districts for Burundian refugees. The existing transit center in Rusizi (Nyagatare Transit Centre) that was receiving Rwandan returnees has also started functioning as a reception center for Burundian new arrivals. As of December 2013, Rwanda hosted approximately 74,000 Congolese refugees. 99% of the refugee caseload is predomi-nantly composed of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with 84% originating from North Kivu and 11% from South Kivu.
Context
The need for this assignment pertains to translation and interpretation services for refugees and displaced persons in Kiziba Refugee Camp, under the Karongi Field Office. Kiziba Refugee Camp hosts about 15,292 Congolese (DRC) refugees. A large proportion of refugees arrived in Rwanda in 1996 and thus have been in a protracted situation. Resettlement and complementary pathways serve as protection tools and responsibility-sharing mechanisms benefiting Congolese refugees with no viable prospects for voluntary repatriation or local integration. Standard Operational Procedures for resettlement activities are in place and UNHCR Rwanda and the interpreter is expected to adhere to UNHCR ethical and professional standards and guidelines. The rationale for the deployment is to strengthen the capacity of the office to find durable solutions through translation/interpretation services. The assignment therefore fits into the overall protection strategy of the operation.
Task description
Under the supervision of the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer, the Interpreter Assistant UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: o Provide operations support to Resettlement, Protection, Registration, Child Protection, Community-Based Protection, Refugee Status Determination, and field staff of UNHCR and partner organizations through language support services for refugees and other people UNHCR serves or any other translation needs that may arise. o The interpreter is expected to provide interpretation services in Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Eng-lish, and French languages and will undertake the following tasks: – Interpretation support during interviews, counseling, community engagement activities, meetings, orientation sessions, and other arising communication needs. – Translation of written official documents/statements, including general correspondence, and manuals as required. – Required to read, understand, and comply with UNHCR’s Code of Conduct and realize that he/she shall be expected to work in the spirit of the principles set forth therein. – Required to read and understand the Undertaking of Confidentiality and Impartiality and understand that s/he shall be expected to respect the principle of confidentiality and remain impartial in his/her work. – Required to read, understand, and agree to abide by the standards of conduct set forth in the Secretary-General’s Bulletin, ST/SGB/2003/13 of 9 October 2003, concerning “Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse”. – Any other needs and tasks assigned to the interpreter. In doing so, s/he will: – be expected to be equipped with relevant knowledge and skills on the UNHCR’s protection mandate. – be expected to recognize, understand and – in a split second – have a word in another lan-guage for any one of a myriad of issues. The range of interpretation subjects is broad, in-cluding politics, legal affairs, economic and social issues, human rights, finance and admin-istration. – A wide-ranging knowledge of world affairs, subjects (including technical terms) and United Nations processes is essential for all interpreters.
Eligibility criteria
Age:
27 – 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in
Engagement with refugees, internally displaced populations, and other individuals of concern is considered advantageous. eCwdhal veHIe
Translation and interpretation
CO-Strategic Communication.
UNHCR Operations
UN processes
Area(s) of expertise
-Communication, Security and protection
-Driving license
–
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required French, Level: Fluent, Required Kinyarwanda, Level: Fluent, Required Kiswahili, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Translation and interpretation
Competencies and values
☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Client Orientation ☒ Communication ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Working in Teams
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The Republic of Rwanda is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania. With almost 13 million people, Rwanda supports the densest population in continental Africa most of whom engage in subsistence agriculture. Rwanda is a verdant country of fertile and hilly terrain and bears the title “Land of a Thousand Hills”. Karongi is a small town located in Karongi District which is one of the seven Districts that make up the Western Province. It is located on the outskirts of Lake Kivu, in the middle of the Western Province. Accommodations are found in Karongi town. Very few shops and a local market are available. A public hospital is available. The principal form of public transport in the country is shared taxis/buses, with express routes linking the major cities and local services serving most villages along the main roads of the country. Even though motorcycle taxis are not recommended, they are the most common and fastest way to travel within Karongi. The contract lasts for the period indicated above with the possibility of extensions subject to the availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications, and other basic needs. Unified Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers can be accessed on the following link: https://www.unv.org/sites/default/files/unvpf/UNVcos2021%20Complete%20hi-res- final_compressed_30.08.2021.pdf UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including the Code of Conduct, to the successful candidate.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO approved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds
To apply for this job please visit app.unv.org.