Since the 1960s, East Sudan has been hosting large numbers of refugees from neighbouring countries mainly Eritrea and to a lesser extent from Ethiopia and Somalia.  The composition of the refugee caseload, the causes of their flight, asylum, legal status and living environment in East Sudan are varied and complex.

The arrival of new Eritrean asylum seekers continues at an average of around 700 - 800 individuals per month through different border points. To improve the reception process and ensure enhanced protection from the risk of trafficking and refoulement, asylum seekers are temporarily hosted in transit facilities/ border screening centres, before being provided with safe transportation to the camp. Once asylum seekers arrive to the camp, there is a need for proper reception conditions, including the provision of basic services, registration and RSD.

However, limited employment prospects and lack of basic services result in most of these new arrivals moving on to Khartoum, or beyond. In this respect, the East becomes a transit hub with individuals moving without having been afforded the protection of refugee documentation. Some new arrivals enter into a smuggling arrangement which on the way turns to trafficking in person. Victims of trafficking face the threat of serious physical and sexual abuse.

The refugee population in the East of Sudan in general relies heavily on relief assistance. Due to the protection problems that asylum seekers and refugees face in the East of Sudan, UNHCR Sub-Office Kassala and other field offices in Girba and Gedaref conduct awareness raising activities, consultative sessions and forums with persons of concern, as well as partners working in the East Operation, under Telling the Real Story project. The aim of this post is to assist in the gathering and  provision of truthful and trustworthy information in order to empower target audiences (asylum-seekers, refugees and people on the move) to make informed decisions about their future based on facts rather than on smugglers’ and traffickers’ narrative and misinformation from the diaspora. This post also supports the strengthening of capacities amongst various groups who engage with the larger community to drive various initiatives to ensure sustainability of the project.

The successful candidate/s will report to the Associate Project Officer based in the Khashm El Girba Field Office.

Interpret, simultaneously and word-for-word, focus group discussions (FGDs), interviews, capacity building sessions, film screening sessions, other outreach and engagement activities with  refugees, mainly at the refugee camps and at other locations, as requested by the supervisor;

Translate written text from assessment forms, digital platforms, newspapers, written reports, magazines etc.;

Monitor digital platforms under the guidance of the supervisor and compile reports on trends and issues related to the project;

Travel with International staff on their missions to the field for interpretation and other assistance, as needed;

Making Phone calls to Persons of Concern to collect additional Information;

Perform other duties as required by the supervisor.

1. Qualifications, skills, experience

• Secondary Education with post-secondary training/certificate in Business Administration, Secretary Work, Translation or related;
• One year  of  previous job experience or relevant experience to the function;
• English and another relevant UN language and an excellent knowledge of the local languages (including Tigrinya & Amharic languages of Ethiopia and Eritrea).

1. Skills and Experience preferred

•     Language skills;
•     Secondary Education with post-secondary training/certificate in Business Administration, Secretary Work, Translation or related;
•     One year  of  previous job experience or relevant experience to the function;
•     Experience of working with refugees and experience of working in the region preferred;
•    Ability to live and work in the difficult and stressful working conditions;
•    Previous experience with UNHCR in refugee operations is an asset.

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

Only short listed candidates will be notified.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Candidate Assessments may include a written examination followed by a Competency Based Interview.