Assistant Field Officer

November 23, 2025

D

Non Family with Residential LocationNon Family with Residential Location

Addis Ababa,Eth Fed Dem Rep

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-06-01

Assistant Field Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant 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 does not normally have any direct supervisory role. 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
- Assess the needs of persons of concern in the AoR and formulate project submissions in collaboration with district authorities and implementing partners.
- Promote and monitor the implementation of assistance projects.
- Report regularly on rate of flow of new arrivals and estimate expected influx based on interviews with persons of concern.
- In co-ordination with implementing partners, assist with the reception, registration and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Keep track of cases of detention; register applicants for voluntary repatriation and family reunion.
- Assist in the preparation of monthly sectoral reports and submit material for preparation of periodic project monitoring reports and year-end reports.
- Submit recommendation for protection interventions to the designated officer.
- Negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.

- 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 P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no 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
Not specified

Desirable
Field experience.
Knowledge of refugee law.
Good knowledge of UNHCR's programmes.

Functional Skills
PG-UNHCR's Programmes
PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate)
PG-Resource planning
IT-Computer Literacy
BU-PeopleSoft EPM/Budget
FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other)
PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
PG-Results-Based Management
(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.

The incumbent should have:
 The ideal candidate should have prior working experience with refugees, IDP, and IDP returnees’ community in deep field and/ or in humanitarian setting.
 The candidate should have an experience in Durable Solutions Working Groups (DSWGs)
 and its activities in the IDP context.
 Experience in costed action plans for durable solutions in the IDPs context.
 The position requires the incumbent to have a demonstrated ability to work with a multitude of operational and implementing partners and refugee communities.
 The candidate will commute on a daily and weekly basis between the two camps in Afar region, namely Aysaita & Berhale.
 Ability to travel and undertake missions in deep fields and remote locations.
 Experience in operations and solutions management for IDPs and IDP returnees.
 Previous experience working with various levels of governments including the Refugees & Returnee Services (RRS) as well as the lead responsible entity in finding durable solutions for displaced populations, especially IDPs and IDP returnees, namely Ethiopia Disaster and Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) is an asset.
 Prior demonstrated experience in the field and knowledge of the Northern operational context and particularly Afar region is highly desirable and recommended.
 The candidate should have strong communication skills in developing effective two-way systems with staff, partners, and the forcibly displaced.
 She/he will need to have a good diplomatic and negotiation skills as s/he will mostly deal or liaise with local authorities in the project implementation areas.
 The candidate should demonstrate proven experience working in camp settings and flexibility to travel frequently to field locations, including remote and hard-to-reach areas.
 The Assistant Field Officer should have a good reporting and drafting proposal skills as well. He /she will have to play a key role in MFTs and other relevant panels in the office.
 Good analytical and problem-solving skills as well as results-based approaches in addressing the challenging situations is highly recommended and required from the side of the candidate.
 The Assistant Field Officer must have a good understanding of UN organizational frameworks, policies, and processes.
 The Assistant Field Officer should have a record of working with functionally and culturally diverse teams.
 Strong interpersonal, communication, analytical, and diplomatic skills are mandatory for this position.
 The incumbent should have the ability to collaborate with stakeholders, including Government authorities and both UNHCR-funded and operational partners to effectively execute his/her function.
 This role requires an understanding of field management and solutions management skills and experiences including the formulation of a monitoring plans, evaluation of the partners performance in the camps as well as physical verifications as deemed necessary.

 
Personal Qualities:
 Adaptability and resilience: The incumbent should be capable of working in a challenging and sometimes volatile operational context, including emergency situations. He/she is also expected to have a proactive and mature attitude and to be able to perform well in stressful situations.
 Cultural sensitivity: An understanding and appreciation of the local culture in the Afar region and a respectful approach to working with diverse population.
 Strong teamwork and collaboration: The ability to effectively work in a team and foster a collaborative work environment.
 Integrity and ethical conduct: Highest standards of professional and ethical behaviour in all protection-related activities.

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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:

Afar National Regional state (ARS) is one of Ethiopia’s eleven Regional States located in the North-eastern part of the country. Afar region has an international border with Eritrea in the North-East and Djibouti to the East and shares regional borders with other regional states i.e Tigray region in the North-West, Amhara region in the southwest and Oromia and Somali regions in the South. According to Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Commission (DRMFSC), Afar region has a population of 2,100,000 individuals of which 1,165,000 people need humanitarian assistance.  

 

The region is prone to both natural and man-made hazards that have led to mortalities, insufficient access to safe drinking water, unprecedented levels of food insecurity and malnutrition, displacements, limited access to health and school services, deterioration of quantity and quality of pastoral livelihood, and loss of properties. Among these, conflict, erratic rainfall, seasonal flooding, drought-like conditions, earthquake, and epidemic prone diseases (cholera, malaria, measles, smallpox) have been challenges that considerably deteriorate the humanitarian situation in the region.

 

Since July 2021, UNHCR has scaled up its interventions in Afar Region following the conflict in Tigray Region and subsequent internal displacements. With its partners, UNHCR is responding to the emergency caused by internal displacement by distributing core relief items, emergency shelter kits. It has enhanced its protection activities and actively participated to the coordination of the response together with the UN Sister Agencies, (I)NGOs as to support the regional authorities of Afar to respond to the multiple and urgent needs. As of January 2022, the Afar Region, according to governmental sources, counted approximately 413,000 IDPs. However, with the engagement of all humanitarian actors, including the government party, DRM, and UNHCR, most of the IDPs were returned to their place of origin as of the beginning of 2023.

 

According to data recently shared by the Disaster Risk Management Commission (DRMFSC) and OCHA, there are currently approximately 139,000 internally displaced people and 222,000 returnees in Afar. The response brings together international, national, Government agencies and UN agencies in cluster structures to provide integrated response plans. Key areas of focus for effective response include participation to coordination mechanisms and cluster support, participation in planning, and in needs assessments, provision of CRI, capacity building and support for local government departments, advocacy and campaigns to highlight the plight of affected communities, and support to data management.

 

According to data from early May 2025, the Afar region is home to approximately 62,000 refugees, mainly Eritreans registered in two refugee camps located in Berhale and Aysaita.  However, over 50% of all Eritrean refugees registered in Afar do not reside in refugee camps and are living within the host communities due to close cultural ties and similarities between both communities on both sides of the border.

 

Ethiopia hosts one of the largest refugees and internally displaced populations in the world. Leading the way in the CRRF roll out, the country has adopted progressive laws and policies, which offer opportunities for better protection and solutions. It is also faced with challenges, including the conflict that broke out in Tigray in November 2020 and escalated to Afar and Amhara regions for two years until a peace agreement was signed between the Federal Government and the Tigray Forces in November 2022.

 

These Northern regions were greatly affected by the confrontations with mass casualties and large-scale displacements while many Ethiopians fled to neighboring Sudan. Despite the peace agreement, the overall security situation in Afar and neighboring Tigray region remains complex, fluid, and unpredictable hindering effective delivery of lifesaving assistance to the affected population.

 

The Northern conflict had an impact on the refugee population throughout Afar and triggered secondary movements of refugees into the region, with all Berhale refugees seeking refuge in host communities, and the opening of the Serdo refugee camp some forty kilometers from Semera. As of 30 April 2025, the total population of refugees registered under level 3 standards in Berhale is 31,700. Around 53% of the refugees in the Berhale camp are women, and the majority are young people, with children making up almost 60% of the population, and young people aged between 15 and 24 around 18%. The average family size is 4.5 people. The total population of the host community and surrounding villages in Berhale Woreda is estimated at 110,469. Like the refugee population, the host population is predominantly young, with almost 60% children, and the average family size is 5.

 

Following the Northern conflict and its severe consequences, and after more than three years without a real presence in Berhale , where most of its programmes were implemented by founded partners, UNHCR reopened a field unit in this town in April 2024 and is therefore increasing its staff resources to respond to the needs of forcibly displaced people, mainly refugees and IDPs returnees living in zones 2 and 4. This response consists of providing assistance, protection and ensuring coordination.

 

Similarly, the total population of refugees registered under level 3 standards in Aysaita is 31,200. Around 53% of the refugees in the Aysaita camp are women, and the majority are young people, with children making up almost 60% of the population, and young people aged between 15 and 24 around 18%. The average family size is 4.6 people. The total population of the host community and surrounding villages is estimated at 64,400. Like the refugee population, the host population is predominantly young, with almost 60% children, and the average family size is 5.

 

Under the supervision of the Head of Office based in Semera, the Assistant Field Officer based in UNHCR Field Office Semera ensures overall field activities and services delivery for refugees living inside and outside the camps in Afar and for IDPs and IDP returnees in the neighbouring Woredas.  

 

The Assistant Field Officer supports the Field Team in operationalizing protection monitoring systems and is responsible for sharing quality information on the needs of forcibly displaced populations as well as on the impact of UNHCR's programmatic activities designed to address those needs. In this capacity, he or she will work with all sections of the Semera Field Office. The incumbent liaises with partners and represents UNHCR in coordination meetings at camp level and produces reports with clear recommendations.

 

The incumbent 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.

 

The UNHCR Field Office in Samara covers two refugee camps (Barahle, and Aysaita) and leads mainly the provision of basic services and protection for approximately 62,000 refugees residing mainly in the two locations in Aysaita, and Barahle areas. Aysaita is 70km far from Samara Barahle is about 480km far from Samara

Living and Working Conditions:

Staff members should be prepared to operate under challenging conditions with limited resources in the Samara UNHCR Field Office. The Field Office deals primarily with several local camp environments with inherent risks to staff safety and health. Regardless of information campaigns, there are realistically few, or no COVID-19 protocols adhered to by the camp(s) and host population. Some staff wear masks but will often work within large groups of refugees who do not. There is no facility offering quality health services in Semera. However, some public facilities do exist with limited sub-standard services in Dubti Hospital, located 10km away from Semera. It is recommended that staff with prescriptions should come with at least 3 months of prescription medication. For most health issues, even minor, staff will most likely fly to Addis Ababa for proper health care.

 

There are daily one-hour regular flights to the capital city, Addis Ababa, which could facilitate the replenishment of medical and other supplies. There are two flights per day throughout the week. The region is extremely hot, especially from May to September. Consequently, the region is open for business from 7:00 am until 6:00 pm with most commercial and government entities closing between 12:00 noon to 03:00 pm.

 

Presently, the Samara Field Office does not offer guest house services. Staff will have to rent in nearby hotels or subject to availability, seek accommodation in the WFP guest house or rent a house in the town of Semera. Banking services including ATM, Visa and Mastercard services are available in this town, yet they regularly run out of cash.

 

It is advised in some hotel facilities to exercise caution with regards to respecting Islamic rules and customs. Seek guidance and orientation from your Admin officer upon arrival.

 

Semera is the capital city of Afar Region in Ethiopia. It is located around 600 kilometres (372 miles) north of the capital Addis.

 

Regular commercial flights between Addis Ababa and Semera are operational. Staff members can also rely sometimes on road convoy and should be prepared to operate under challenging conditions with extremely limited resources. The office deals primarily with several displacement sites environment with inherent risks to staff health.

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

BU-PeopleSoft EPM/Budget, FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other), IT-Computer Literacy, PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards), PG-Resource planning, PG-Results-Based Management, PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate), 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

 Position is opened to ONLY Ethiopian nationals
 Women are strongly encouraged to apply in order to promote gender-balance within UNHCR.
 Candidates may be subjected to assessment (written or oral interview).

This position doesn't require a functional clearance