UNHCR Sudan is piloting an approach to support local government authorities in areas prone to refugee and “mixed movement” (refugees/migrants) influxes with preparedness capacity strengthening, under an EU-funded project. The focus of the assignment will be on Kassala and Gadaref States in Sudan, which is prone to repeat and sustained refugee influxes / mixed flows from Eritrea and Ethiopia. This multi-year project is sequenced in such a way that in year 1, the preparedness capacities and approach to refugee emergency management will be assessed (this consultancy), followed by the implementation of a targeted capacity-building action plan in years 2 and 3.

The World Bank report on Forcibly Displaced – Towards a Development Approach Supporting Refugees, The Internally Displaced, and Their Hosts, acknowledges the importance of considering prevention and preparedness in the context of development work in forced displacement settings. The preparedness agenda is defined as “largely unexplored” and in need of further investment. Support to local government for preparedness efforts in areas prone to influxes from forcibly displaced have been largely neglected, as support for preparedness often targets government institutions at the national level, rather than the local level.

Formulating the best preparedness approaches requires engagement across the humanitarian-development nexus, combining expertise on refugee protection and humanitarian contingency planning with lessons learned from development approaches. UNHCR will work with UNDP’s early warning/preparedness, local governance, and rule of law teams in a multi-sectoral approach to identify how best to support the relevant institutions and local governance mechanisms for preparedness. The output will support knowledge generation in this area and lay the basis for longer-term development support.

The humanitarian situation in Sudan is a complex mix of asylum-seekers, refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), stateless, Sudanese refugee returnees, and IDP returnees. Sudan is hosting some 1.1 million refugees and 2.55 million IDPs. Sudan is also a source, transit, and destination country for mixed movements. Sudan has a long-standing tradition of hosting refugees and has generously kept its door open for decades. It continues to host refugees from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Syria, Yemen, Chad, and other countries, including both protracted caseloads and new influxes such as from the Tigray Emergency. 70% of Sudan’s refugee population lives outside of camps, representing a Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF)-aligned approach. While refugees have been able to live within the host community - true assimilation as conceived under local integration remains elusive due to legal, political, and economic barriers.

The East of the country, Kassala and Gadaref States, in particular, is subject to an ongoing refugee influx from Ethiopia, and to a mixed movement influx from Eritrea. Especially arrivals from Eritrea do not all stay in the East, many move onwards a short while after arrival. As of March 2021, Kassala State is hosting some 124,000 refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from Eritrea, but also from Ethiopia and other countries. Gadaref State hosts some 62,000 refugees, mainly from Ethiopia, but also from other countries of origin.

Responsibilities

• At the start of the consultancy, preparation of a time-bound work plan, in consultation with UNHCR.
• In Kassala and Gadaref States, site visits, dialogue, and consultations with different local government counterparts (including COR, state governors’ administrations, and locality level administrations) on preparedness capacities, gaps, and approaches to situation management.
• Preparation of an analytical written report on preparedness capacities of local government authorities, strengths and weaknesses of the situation management, and opportunities to strengthen capacities and approaches.
• Facilitation of the inclusion of refugee preparedness and response planning in the service and planning systems of local authorities, in the wider context of the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR).
• Jointly with the local authorities and UNHCR, identification of alternative preparedness and response strategies to the encampment of refugees and asylum seekers in the local context.
• In dialogue with local authorities and UNHCR, preparation of a prioritized action plan towards preparedness capacity building and management of the situation. The report will form the basis for capacity-building interventions in years 2 and 3.
• Debriefing and recommendations for UNHCR at Sub-Office Kassala and for the UNHCR Representation Office in Khartoum.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

Business Administration, Social Science, Economics, International Relations, or other relevant fields.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Judgment and Decision Making

Leadership

Managing Performance

Managing Resources

Strategic Planning and Vision

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

Planning and Organizing

Political Awareness

Overall purpose and Scope of Assignment

The consultant will support UNHCR Sudan with the refugee influx / mixed movement preparedness capacity assessment of local authorities in Kassala and Gadaref States. The consultant will prepare a prioritized preparedness capacity-building action plan for the local authorities. This will also include a review of the current approaches and strategies by the local authorities to manage refugee influxes and mixed flows. The consultant will be required to work closely with the local offices of the Commission for Refugees (COR), the State Governor’s offices, and any other local government authority relevant to refugee and migration management. This will require the consultant to work in the Arabic language with some counterparts. Close collaboration will also take place with the UNHCR offices in Sudan, UNDP, and local partners in Kassala and Gadaref.

Functional Skills

Previous job experience relevant to the function, including emergency operations. Understanding of the Transformative Agenda and the Refugee Coordination Model. Team-building qualities and creative thinking for rapid and effective solutions.

Location

UNHCR Sub-Office Kassala, Sudan

Conditions

This position is for one year (extension subject to UNHCR organizational need). It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm Sunday to Thursday (40 hours per week).

Remuneration

Monthly fees range between US$10,000– US$12,000, depending on the level of expertise of the candidate. Daily subsistence allowance for travel within Sudan will be payable as applicable