UNRWA Home-Based Job Opportunity: Accountability to Affected Population Consultant

UNRWA Home-Based Job Opportunity: Accountability to Affected Population Consultant

Location: West Bank (Home-Based with some required travel)
Job Opening ID: 255654
Application Deadline: April 8, 2025

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) Consultant for a home-based consultancy. This important role will support the agency’s ongoing efforts to improve accountability and community engagement within its humanitarian and development programs in the West Bank. The consultant will be responsible for assisting the UNRWA West Bank Field Office (WBFO) in implementing and operationalizing its AAP Action Plan, which was developed in 2024. This initiative is essential to strengthening communication and engagement with beneficiaries and ensuring that their feedback is integral to the design and execution of UNRWA’s programs.

Role Overview

The AAP Consultant will play a critical role in advancing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency’s (UNRWA) accountability efforts to ensure that the communities they serve have a voice in the decision-making process. The role requires a strong understanding of the principles of accountability in humanitarian settings, as well as experience in community engagement, feedback mechanisms, and participatory approaches. The consultant will assist in ensuring that the communities affected by UNRWA’s work are meaningfully included in the agency’s programs and are able to provide input and feedback that informs the design and implementation of interventions.

This is a home-based role, but some travel to the West Bank and possibly other locations may be required, particularly for conducting community engagement sessions and capacity-building workshops. The consultant will work closely with UNRWA staff in the West Bank to provide strategic guidance, ensure timely follow-up on community feedback, and enhance coordination across programs. This role requires a commitment to humanitarian principles, as well as a deep understanding of how to incorporate feedback from affected populations into program design and implementation.

Key Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the AAP Consultant are broad and involve a combination of strategic planning, operational execution, and capacity building. The consultant will work to ensure that UNRWA’s accountability to affected populations is strengthened in the West Bank. The specific tasks to be undertaken will include:

1. Implementation and Operationalization of the AAP Action Plan

The primary responsibility of the AAP Consultant will be to support the operationalization of the AAP Action Plan for the West Bank. This action plan was developed in 2024, but its implementation has been fragmented across various areas. The consultant will work to streamline and consolidate these efforts to ensure they are consistent and impactful across all programs. Key tasks in this area will include:

• Enhancing Information Sharing and Communication: The consultant will collaborate with various UNRWA programs and the Public Information Office (PIO) to improve communication and information-sharing with beneficiaries. This could involve creating fact sheets, updating information on UNRWA programs, and feeding this information into UNRWA’s communication channels, such as the website and social media platforms. The consultant will also be responsible for managing regular community Q&A sessions to answer beneficiaries’ questions.

• Systematizing Internal Coordination: One of the key issues identified in previous assessments was the lack of a unified system for community feedback. The consultant will work with various program teams (RSS, Education, Health, ICIP, Protection) and area staff to ensure that feedback is effectively managed, tracked, and responded to. This will involve developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines for the referral system to ensure that feedback is handled promptly and appropriately.

• Improving Community Feedback and Complaint Mechanisms: The consultant will oversee the implementation of improvements to the feedback mechanisms based on assessments conducted in 2024. This includes enhancing hotline systems, aggregating feedback data across programs, and integrating it into program design. The consultant will also focus on improving the security and confidentiality of the feedback and complaints handling system.

2. Anchoring AAP at WBFO Structures

The consultant will be responsible for anchoring the AAP framework at the WBFO level, ensuring that accountability and community engagement are integrated into all aspects of the agency’s operations in the West Bank. Key tasks will include:

• Oversight of AAP Action Plan: The consultant will continuously monitor the implementation of the AAP Action Plan, providing feedback to programs and ensuring the plan is updated as needed. Regular consultations with programs will be essential to track progress, identify challenges, and develop solutions.

• Leading the AAP Task Force: The consultant will lead the AAP Task Force, coordinating regular meetings and updates on the status of AAP efforts in the West Bank. The task force will work to ensure that the action plan is fully integrated into the agency’s operations and that there is ongoing collaboration across all programs.

• Integrating AAP into Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting: The consultant will develop an AAP checklist to be used in monitoring and evaluation activities. This checklist will help ensure that AAP principles are considered and applied throughout the programming cycle, from design to implementation to evaluation.

UNRWA Home-Based Job Opportunity: Accountability to Affected Population Consultant/UNRWA Home-Based Job Opportunity: Accountability to Affected Population Consultant

3. Coordination of AAP-Related Capacity Development

A key aspect of this consultancy will involve capacity development for UNRWA staff, particularly those working with communities. The consultant will:

• Coordinate AAP Training: Building on training started in 2024, the consultant will facilitate workshops and coaching sessions for UNRWA staff, civil society organizations (CCSOs), and area officers. These sessions will focus on communication, conflict transformation, and community engagement skills. The consultant will also ensure that staff can apply these skills in real-world community meetings.

• Needs Assessment for Capacity Development: The consultant will conduct an assessment of AAP-related training needs for additional staff members. Based on the results of this assessment, the consultant will develop a capacity-building plan to address identified gaps.

• Develop AAP Learning Materials: In collaboration with other field offices and UNRWA headquarters, the consultant will streamline and develop AAP learning materials to ensure consistent training and development across all regions.

4. AAP Agency and Inter-Agency Coordination

The consultant will also play a crucial role in inter-agency coordination on AAP-related issues. This will involve:

• Follow-up on AAP Framework Revision: The consultant will work closely with UNRWA headquarters to ensure that the AAP activities in the West Bank are aligned with the revised AAP framework. The consultant will also represent the WBFO in agency-wide AAP meetings and workshops.

• Inter-agency Coordination: The consultant will participate in inter-agency technical working groups, sharing information about developments in the West Bank and coordinating joint initiatives with other agencies.

Qualifications

To be considered for this position, applicants should meet the following qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in International Relations, International Development, Social Sciences, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in humanitarian and development programs, particularly with a focus on participatory approaches and accountability to affected populations.

• Excellent communication skills in English (oral and written). Proficiency in Arabic and/or German is a plus.

• International experience, particularly in the Middle East region, is highly desirable.

• Strong leadership and coordination skills, with the ability to work independently and in collaboration with multiple stakeholders.

Expected Duration and Working Conditions

The consultancy will have a duration of 8 months, starting as soon as possible after selection. The consultant will primarily work remotely, with occasional travel to the West Bank for community engagement sessions, training workshops, and other relevant activities.

Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications by April 8, 2025. The application should include a detailed CV, a cover letter explaining suitability for the role, and a proposal for the methodology and work plan for implementing the AAP Action Plan. Please note that only applicants who meet the qualifications will be considered.

For more information and to apply, click here.

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