Serbia: Strategic Planner (consultant)

Organization: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Country: Serbia
Closing date: 05 Sep 2014

General Background

The search for durable solutions is at the forefront of UNHCR’s responsibility towards refugees and other persons of concern. Resolving long-standing displacement situations requires reaching out beyond the humanitarian community. Engaging closely with national and local ministries and government, and development agencies is essential in order to link displaced communities with development and peacebuilding processes, to provide them with legal status, and to help them become socially integrated and economically self-reliant. In order to achieve this, many of UNHCR’s country operations have recognized the need for additional capacity in supporting the development of comprehensive solutions strategies with buy-in from concerned stakeholders. The strategy should be long-term (beyond a one year timeframe) and should identify steps along political, social, economic (livelihoods) and legal themes, have clear benchmarks to measure progress, and provide useful indicators to assess outcomes.

Context for the Post

Current estimates are that there are about 90,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Serbia with displacement related needs that constitute the remaining caseload of the 1999 Kosovo conflict. Of this group around 20% are part of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian (RAE) minorities, who face further vulnerabilities compared to non-RAE IDPs.

UNHCR, in collaboration with the Government of Serbia has provided protection, care and improvement of living conditions (housing solutions) for the IDP population. UNHCR has also provided support to voluntary return, but rates of return have been low. In recent years, the Serbian government, UNHCR and others have focused attention on identifying needs, closing collective centers and providing housing through the extension of programmes initially designed for the integration of refugees from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the last four years progressive steps to address the situation of the displaced have been put in place.

The Government has adopted a National Strategy for Resolving Problems of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (2011 to 2014), but an implementation plan has been lacking. The proposed activities/approach is to support the Government of Serbia in formulating and seeking support for a Solutions Strategy and Action Plan. UNHCR Serbia is therefore soliciting applications from qualified candidates with strategic planning experience in a development setting who can support solutions-oriented work, including through the development of longer-term (country/regional) strategies that incorporate new approaches, partnerships and tools as well as an operational M&E framework.

Purpose/Objective:

The overall objective is to support the GoS with the design of a Solutions Strategy, and an Action plan for the implementation of the Strategy. The Strategy will serve as a tool to engage the EU, donors ,development, private sector and any other relevant partners, for: a) guiding prioritization and implementation/delivery at the community level; (b) facilitating monitoring and evaluation of priority interventions and; (c) advocacy, resource mobilization and communication within existing coordination fora including meetings with partners. The Strategy will need to have a two-fold approach, focusing on 1) the integration needs of IDPs that will remain in Serbia and 2) support for voluntary return to Kosovo. The Strategy can build on the Regional Housing Programme (RHP) that provides sustainable housing solutions to refugees.

Deliverables:

The main outcomes are:

1) A completed strategy document with government ownership and multi-stakeholder buy-in. The strategy should:

a. Have clearly defined objectives, priorities and resource requirements, oversight mechanism and results/M&E plan;

b. Be informed by assessment and stakeholder analysis and lessons learned from the RHP and proven sustainable solutions initiatives.

2) An Action Plan for implementation. The plan should include:

a. Key actions and responsibilities of Government and implementing agencies (EU, UN, CSO and NGOs);
b. Ways to assess principal risks related to implementation.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Country Representative, and in close cooperation with relevant Government counterparts, the consultant shall undertake, among others, the following tasks:

• Support the formulation and development of a multi-stakeholder, evidence-based solutions strategy, taking into account legal, political, economic and social challenges and opportunities;
• Liaise with UNHCR staff (in the CO and HQ) in the development of the strategy and action plan;
• Support the formulation and development of an Action Plan for implementation of the strategy;
• Engage and provide practical advice on securing linkages with development planning/funds and mainstreaming of solutions in transitions, peacebuilding, and recovery, and development frameworks and processes as applicable (incl. EU IPA funding, EU accession processes, UNDAF, national and local development plans, etc);
• Assist in adapting existing solutions tools and methodologies to local contexts;
• Assist in identifying partners, institutions and individuals to support solutions work in-country (research, analysis, direct program support), based on needs/gaps analysis;
• Follow up on the strategy developed, including monitoring progress towards stated benchmarks and objectives;

Qualification (academic, experience)

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in a relevant field (economics, development, politics, business administration, etc.);
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience (preferably on issues pertaining to durable solutions for displaced) in government, UN, bi/multilateral donor agencies, development agency, civil society or private sector;
• Excellent knowledge of the development landscape;
• Knowledge of (inter)national strategies for multi-partner solutions and stabilization/peacebuilding interventions in varied contexts and countries; Experience with housing solutions will be an asset;
• Demonstrated experience in planning, designing/ implementing strategies, especially community-based approaches would be an added advantage;
• Proven experience in planning, implementing, and monitoring solutions and/or livelihoods programs (and managing multiple projects);
• Experience in working effectively with government authorities, development partners, and preferably public-private partnerships;
• Knowledge of/familiarity with the South East Europe (SEE) region an added advantage;
• Excellent conceptual and analytical capability;
• Strong coordination, stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills;
• Excellent drafting skills in English with an ability to present information in a concise, coherent and useful manner;
• Fluency in oral and written English required;
• Working knowledge of the local language may be an advantage.

How to apply:

Please send your CV/P11 and letter of motivation to solutions@unhcr.org no later than 5 September 2014. Clearly state "Strategic Planner Serbia" in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Duration of assignment: 3-6 months (starting date anticipated end of September/early October 2014) with possible extension into 2015.