Job Description

Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.

June 12, 2026

E (most hardship)

Non Family with Residential Location

Dakar, Senegal

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-26

Field Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Field Officer is normally supervised by the Senior Field Coordinator or Head of Sub-Office/Field Office depending on the structure of the Office. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country/regional programme(s). UNHCR Manual, programme and protection objectives, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the incumbent.
The incumbent normally supervises some support staff and may supervise lower grade professional staff. S/he has daily contacts with staff in the various field offices and with the functional units at the Country/Regional Office. S/he also has close liaison with a range of local civilian and military authorities and counterparts in NGOs and UN agencies to discuss matters of common interest.

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.

Duties

• Prepare project proposals; draw up plan of operation for implementation, including institutional arrangements for budgets.
• Assess refugee needs in the various fields of assistance and make recommendations for the establishment of projects, adjustment or discontinuation of existing projects and advise the Head of Office accordingly.
• Closely monitor the implementation of projects under the geographical area of responsibility and ensure the provisions under the agreements signed with the implementing partners are being adhered to.
• Regularly prepare written reports on the implementation of projects and the situation in the sites.
• Maintain good working relations with local government officials, implementing partners and other agencies in the area.
• Report immediately on any security problems that may occur affecting programme, beneficiaries and the smooth running of the operation.
• Provide assistance to UNHCR Technical advisers and consultants as well as visitors visiting project sites.
• Represent UNHCR in the Field.
• Negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
• Approve expenditures within the DOAP.
• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law, Political Sciences,

or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
UNHCR Operations Management Learning Programme.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Field experience.

Desirable
Knowledge of refugee law.
Good knowledge of UNHCR's programmes.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PG-UNHCR's Programmes
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Essential Attributes:
• Proven experience in Protection, Solutions and CBP including working with persons with specific needs, in both IDPs and refugees’ context
• Proven experience in complex displacement settings, including working with populations in areas with armed groups and restricted humanitarian access
• Proven experience working with local authorities, traditional leaders, host communities, and civil society actors
• Proven managerial and organizational capabilities, including staff supervision, planning, resource management, program implementation, operational oversight in remote, high risk environments, field coordination and inter agency collaboration
• Proficiency in French language

Desired attributes:
• Negotiation, advocacy, coordination, and consensus building, enabling constructive dialogue that facilitates protection interventions, community based solutions, and peaceful coexistence.
• A proven ability to mobilize communities, support local protection committees, identify risks, and co design practical, context appropriate solutions. Approaches challenges with resilience, empathy, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to strengthening the self reliance and protection environment of displaced populations, while safeguarding the wellbeing of UNHCR staff and partners.

French

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Central Mali—particularly the Bandiagara, Douentza, Mopti and San region—remains an epicentre of humanitarian and protection needs, shaped by persistent insecurity, cross‑border displacement from Burkina Faso, and continued internal population movements. As of 31 December 2025, Mali hosts 414,524 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 179,356 registered refugees, including substantial numbers of newly arrived Burkinabè refugees concentrated in the Bandiagara–Koro axis. UNHCR recorded a sharp rise of more than 51,000 new Burkinabè arrivals between April and September 2025, nearly doubling the refugee population hosted in Koro and placing significant pressure on host communities and local services.

In this evolving context, the Field Officer based in UNHCR’s Sub‑Office Bandiagara plays a critical role in advancing a field‑driven protection and solutions response. The AoR hosts refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs, and recent cross‑border arrivals with elevated protection risks, including a high proportion of women and children among refugee populations. The incumbent will therefore support implementation of UNHCR’s protection strategy through community‑based protection, emergency responses, and protection monitoring aligned with the needs identified across the area of responsibility of the Bandiagara Sub Office, include central Mali and Tombouctou region.

The Field Officer will collaborate daily with colleagues, local authorities, CNCR, humanitarian partners, and community leaders to ensure effective registration, documentation, protection referrals, and delivery of multisectoral assistance including shelter, WASH, education, and health services—areas where significant response gaps remain. They will contribute to inter‑agency coordination, lead field assessments, and support joint planning in rapidly shifting operational conditions. A key component of the role is strengthening community engagement and local protection structures, promoting peaceful coexistence and solutions‑oriented approaches in displacement‑affected villages. Trust‑building and accountability to affected populations remain central to all activities.

Living and Working Conditions:

Bandiagara is a hardship duty station, characterised by limited infrastructure and persistent security challenges linked to armed conflict and intercommunal violence. Staff are required to strictly comply with UNDSS security measures, including movement restrictions and mandatory travel clearances.

Basic services—such as healthcare, education, banking, markets, and transport—are available locally, although capacity and quality can be limited. Bandiagara has functioning medical facilities for routine care; however, specialised treatment may require referral to Mopti or Bamako. Importantly, staff benefit from the relative proximity of Sévaré/Mopti, located roughly one hour’s drive away, where a wider range of services—including more reliable healthcare options, banking facilities, supermarkets, transport hubs, and a broader local market—can be accessed.

The climate is generally hot and dry for most of the year, with a short rainy season. Internet connectivity and mobile networks may be inconsistent, and operational logistics can be affected by security conditions and road accessibility.

Despite these constraints, working in Bandiagara provides a meaningful opportunity to contribute to critical protection and solutions work in support of refugees, internally displaced persons, and host communities. The Sub‑Office maintains strong collaboration with local authorities, community leaders, and humanitarian partners, enabling the delivery of protection activities and community‑based interventions that strengthen resilience and promote social cohesion across the region.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

Programme Management (PM) 1 - UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Accelerated Posting Compendium 2026 - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance