Field Officer

December 22, 2025

C

FamilyFamily

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-12-08

Field Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Field Officer is normally supervised by the Senior Field Coordinator 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 normally supervises some support staff and may supervise lower grade professional 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

• Prepare project proposals; draw up plan of operation for implementation, including institutional arrangements for budgets.
• Assess refugee needs in the various fields of assistance and make recommendations for the establishment of projects, adjustment or discontinuation of existing projects and advise the Head of Office accordingly.
• Closely monitor the implementation of projects under the geographical area of responsibility and ensure the provisions under the agreements signed with the implementing partners are being adhered to.
• Regularly prepare written reports on the implementation of projects and the situation in the sites.
• Maintain good working relations with local government officials, implementing partners and other agencies in the area.
• Report immediately on any security problems that may occur affecting programme, beneficiaries and the smooth running of the operation.
• Provide assistance to UNHCR Technical advisers and consultants as well as visitors visiting project sites.
• Represent UNHCR in the Field. 
• 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

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years 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.

The incumbent normally supervises some support staff and may supervise lower grade professional staff. S/he has daily contacts with staff in the various field offices and with the functional units at the Regional Office. S/he also has demonstrated experience and results when working with local civilian and military authorities, counterparts in NGOs and UN agencies, and innovative responses in applying RBA- in the context of Mixed Movement.

This position requires good leadership and managerial abilities, well-developed planning skills, and significant operational experience in the Field and general protection. Excellent analytical skills, teamwork and interpersonal skills, commitment to refugees, cultural and gender age awareness, flexibility and ability to work in a multicultural environment are essential for this position.

The operation will support advocacy for effective inclusion of refugees and will reinforce coordination with relevant ministries, in coherent approach. Within the framework of sustainable response, the candidate should possess experience in mobilizing resources and working with development partners, to promote decent work, job creation and entrepreneurship programmes for host community members and refugees.

Desirable skills :

Experience in developing and implementing route-based approach, mixed movements solutions;
Proven understanding of data collection, analysis and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data related to mixed migration movements, to support solutions, evidence-based decision making.
Proven ability to coordinate with multi actors in multi sectorial areas to deliver coordinated protection and sustainable response along routes, particularly main routes.
Experience in durable solutions: Voluntary repatriation, Resettlement and complementary pathways and Local integration.
Strong understanding of the vulnerabilities and protection risks faced by refugees and migrants in mixed movements context, and ability to work with multi-functional team to develop humanitarian and sustainable response.
Knowledge of communication with communities, data collection technics and methodologies.

French is mandatory/ le français est requis.

French

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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:

The position is under direct supervision of the Representative, and it is located in the Representation of the UNHCR in Djibouti.

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.

Living and Working Conditions:

Djibouti is a multi-ethnic nation with a population of over 1,012,361 inhabitants (the smallest in mainland Africa). French and Arabic are the country's two official languages. About 94% of residents adhere to Islam which is the official religion and has been predominant in the region for more than a thousand years.

Life in Djibouti is generally expensive including food and accommodation. The climate in Djibouti country is hot and dry all year round, especially during summers.  The average temperature varies from 23º to 29º in January and from 31º to 41º in July.  Annual rainfall ranges from 127 mm in the capital to 380 mm in the mountains. There are local banking facilities only in Djibouti-Town and it is recommended to open a bank account.  Credit cards are not widely accepted in Djibouti.  There are few automatic teller machines (ATMs) in Djibouti city. These ATMs only accept Visa cards and are frequently out of service, and travellers should not depend on them as the sole means for obtaining currency. French. Afar, Somali and Arab are spoken by the local population and by the authorities. Availability of flight is as follows: Two weekly flight AIR France from Djibouti to Paris, Two daily flights with ETHIOPIAN Airlines from Djibouti to Addis Ababa. Twice a week, flight with Turkish Airlines from Djibouti to Istanbul, twice a week flight with Qatar Airways from Djibouti to Doha, around 7 flights with Emirates from Djibouti to Dubai.

Djibouti is strategically located near some of the world's busiest shipping lanes, controlling access to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. It serves as a key refueling and transshipment center and is the principal maritime port for imports from and exports to neighboring Ethiopia. A burgeoning commercial hub, the nation is the site of various foreign military bases, including Camp Lemonnier.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regional body also has its headquarters in Djibouti City. There is moderate risk from crime in Djibouti. Most reported incidents are crimes of opportunity (e.g., pickpocketing, petty theft) for immediate gain. Panhandlers and street children target foreigners for petty theft by creating distractions. Unreported crimes also commonly occur within the local community. Exercised caution in congested areas such as the central market, city center, and downtown neighbourhoods (known locally as quartiers), especially after dark. Avoid isolated areas, particularly along the urban coastline.

Djibouti as predominantly composed of protracted refugees, has resulted with Partners continuing to provide aid, resulting with 84% of refugees having access to food aid provided by WFP and others form of assistance provided by UNHCR and partners.The fact that 16% of refugees which are living in urban area, are covering their basic needs without external assistance, as the majority have jobs by developing businesses, demonstrates, as lessons learned that concertation on self-reliance, employment and access to entrepreneurship have led to refugees playing a critical role to change the market landscape in Djibouti city. In this context, social and economic inclusion as segway towards attaining durable solutions remain the priority of the operation, as established since 2017, when the country has adopted the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF). In support of the CRRF, in both 2019 and 2023, engagements in health, education, technical and vocational training and socio-economic integration were taken.

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, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Flash Vacancy Notice

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance