Mission and objectives

UNHCR’s main objectives in Poland are to monitor access to territory and reception conditions as well as advocate for an efficient and protection-sensitive asylum system and related policies. UNHCR also aims to improve durable solutions such as local integration opportunities and increase public awareness of refugees and asylum issues. UNHCR works closely with both governmental and non-governmental organisations in Poland to achieve these objectives.

Context

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org). As the UN-mandated agency to provide international protection to refugees, UNHCR leads the refugee coordination structure in support of the Government-led response, with the aim to complement, support and strengthen the national response to the refugee crisis, along with ensuring no duplication of interventions and complementarity of action. Poland’s eastern borders with Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine serve as the European Union’s external boundaries. The country currently hosts over 1 million refugees from Ukraine, in addition to a smaller number of asylum seekers and refugees from different countries. The overarching principles guiding UNHCR’s strategy in Poland include: i) localization and centrality of protection, ii) strengthening national systems, avoiding duplication and rationalizing the Refugee Coordination Model (RCM) so that it serves the purpose efficiently and iii) capitalizing on the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR) paradigms to advance the rights of refugees and stateless persons in Poland.

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Assistant Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the Senior Livelihood and Economic Inclusion Associate will support ; Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement • Support partnerships with relevant stakeholders to enhance economic inclusion of the people UNHCR serves. • Assist in strengthening and coordinating partnerships with government authorities, private-sector actors, development institutions, UN agencies, NGOs, academia, and research institutions to advance refugee economic inclusion. • Facilitate engagement with local communities, grassroots organizations, NGOs, and authorities to collect information and support co-development of innovative livelihoods and inclusion approaches. • Contribute to the coordination and functioning of the Economic Inclusion Working Group, including supporting agenda-setting, preparation of inputs, and follow-up with participating organizations. Monitoring, Follow-Up & Partner Support • Monitor partner activities—including NGOs, public institutions, and private-sector actors—through field missions, report reviews, and regular communication. • Assist in follow-up on action points, commitments, and joint initiatives to support effective implementation and strengthened accountability. • Support the management of Small Grants Agreements (SGAs) with grassroots and community-based organizations, including assisting with reviewing proposals, monitoring implementation, documenting results, and ensuring compliance with UNHCR requirements. Technical & Analytical Support • Compile and assist with reviewing information related to legal and policy frameworks, including right to work, labour rights, and access to services, in coordination with the Protection Unit. • Contribute to the design and implementation of socioeconomic surveys, labour market assessments, and data-collection processes used for targeting, monitoring, and programme development. • Prepare draft analytical inputs for strategic planning, partner engagement, and advocacy efforts based on field insights and data. Programme Design & Implementation • Provide support to senior staff in the development and refinement of livelihoods and economic inclusion programmes aligned with thematic priorities such as employment promotion, entrepreneurship, social protection, and financial inclusion. • Assist in the implementation of livelihoods activities, ensuring close coordination with internal units and external partners. • Identify operational gaps, flag observations and propose preliminary evidence-based recommendations to strengthen intervention quality and impact. Field Missions, Reporting & Knowledge Management • Participate in field missions to monitor programme implementation, engage with beneficiaries, and collect evidence for programme improvement. • Prepare field mission reports, progress updates, and thematic analyses with actionable recommendations. • Contribute to knowledge products, including factsheets, guidance notes, and communication materials related to economic inclusion. Event Coordination & Capacity Building • Support the organization of meetings, workshops, trainings, conferences, and working sessions, ensuring strong content preparation and effective stakeholder engagement. • Assist in supporting building capacity of partners—including grassroots and community organizations—on topics such as economic inclusion, AGD, social protection, and financial literacy. • Support the livelihood and economic inclusion unit in working with relevant external stakeholders from government line ministries, development actors, private sector, UN agencies, international organizations, NGOs, research institutions and universities Facilitating Stakeholder Engagement • Engage with relevant stakeholders, including local communities, NGOs, and government agencies, to gather insights and foster collaborations that support the development of innovative approaches to economic inclusion for refugees. • Support work with/in the multi-functional team, more specifically with the Protection Unit, to compile information about the legal framework for the right to work and rights at work. • Contribute to the implementation of socioeconomic surveys to inform targeting, monitoring and facilitation of the engagement of development programmes. • Work closely with relevant teams and provide assistance on livelihoods interventions. • Contribute to the preparation of field reports and other relevant reports relating to livelihoods and make recommendations for interventions that enhance refugee economic inclusion to the designated officer. Contributing to Programme Development • Work closely with senior staff to develop and design programs that align with identified thematic priorities, ensuring that these initiatives are tailored to address the specific economic challenges faced by refugees. • Assist in organization of meetings, workshops and working sessions. Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Results/expected outputs: As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions would be expected, including: • Reporting and documenting area related actions and defining recommendations for interventions that enhance refugee economic inclusion to the designated supervising Officer. • Regular and well-documented monitoring of partner activities, including visit reports, follow-up notes, analysis of progress against indicators, and identification of areas for improvement. • Effective coordination and follow-up with partners at national and local levels, ensuring timely delivery of activities, strengthened accountability, and improved responsiveness to operational needs. • High-quality support to the management of Small Grants Agreements, including documentation of deliverables, monitoring of community-level initiatives, and contributions to final assessments. • Clear and evidence-based recommendations for improving programme implementation, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy. • Strengthened internal information flow, ensuring that updates, analyses, and lessons learned are shared across relevant UNHCR units and contribute to informed decision-making. • Contribution to knowledge products, including reports, factsheets, meeting minutes, and briefing materials. • A final statement of achievements documenting contributions to volunteerism, capacity-building efforts, community engagement, and support to newly arrived UN Volunteers. • Information flow and sharing within UNHCR Poland on economic inclusion initiatives taken by Livelihood and Economic Inclusion team. • Systematic application of the Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Competencies and values

Competencies and values: · Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNHCR; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNHCR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; · Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; · Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; · Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. · Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; · Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; · Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; · Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living conditions and remarks

Warsaw, the capital and largest city of Poland, has a population of approximately 1.79 million (World Population Review, 2023). It's a vibrant and modern city with a rich history, diverse culture, and a thriving economy. The city offers a diverse cultural landscape with numerous museums, galleries, theaters, and green spaces for leisure and recreation. The climate features cold winters with temperatures below zero and warm summers ranging from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius. Safety in Warsaw is generally good, though occasional exceptions may occur, typical of any urban area. Compared to other European capitals, Warsaw is relatively affordable, attracting tourists and expatriates. Its efficient public transportation network includes buses, trams, and a reliable metro system. The city offers a variety of fresh and affordable food options, and families can find international schools and kindergartens for their children's education. Quality healthcare is readily available through a mix of public and private hospitals and clinics. Real estate options in Warsaw are diverse, with recommended neighborhoods like Śródmieście, Wola, Mokotów, and Żoliborz. These areas are well-communicated and offer excellent transportation links, ensuring there's no problem reaching the country office. They provide convenient access to amenities and are ideal choices for those seeking a central and well-connected living environment in Warsaw. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances: The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service . Monthly Living Allowance (Per month): PLN 11,335.32* Entry lump sum (onetime payment) USD: 400 Medical and life insurance: Cigna Private Insurance * Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations in the exchange rate. Leave entitlements: Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: 30 days Uncertified sick leave: 7 days Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months Maternity Leave: 16 weeks Paternity Leave: 10 days For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos) and use the entitlement calculator (https://app.unv.org/calculator) for the most up to date information. An extension may be possible, subject to the availability of funds.