Job Title: Fire Safety Officer
Organization: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
Host entity: MINUSCA COD
Assignment country: Central African Republic
Expected start date: 01/08/2023
Sustainable Development Goal: 16. Peace, justice and strong
institutions
Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist
DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No
Accessibility measures in place: -
Type: Onsite
Duration: 11 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Bangui
Reasonable accommodation: No
Additional accessibility info: -
Details
Mission and objectives
Concerned with the security, humanitarian, human rights and
political crisis in the Central African Republic and its regional implications,
the Security Council authorized in April 2014 the deployment of a United
Nations multidimensional stabilization peacekeeping operation, MINUSCA. The
Mission is mandated to ensure the protection of civilians, support the peace
process, including the implementation of the ceasefire and the Political
Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation (APPR-RCA), facilitate the full, safe
and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance, and the protection of the
United Nations. Its other tasks include the promotion and protection of human
rights, assist the preparation and delivery of peaceful local elections,
support the extension of State authority, the deployment of security forces,
and the preservation of territorial integrity, security sector reform,
disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation processes, and
support for national and international justice, the fight against impunity, and
the rule of law. MINUSCA has an authorized 14,400 military personnel and 3,020
police personnel, and 1,671 civilian personnel. See
https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/minusca and
https://minusca.unmissions.org/en/about.
Context
This assignment requires on-call stand-by availability of
the incumbent at all times, including beyond official working hours, at night
or during weekends, in case of a fire emergency. Assignment is renewable on an
annual basis (1 July - 30 June) up to a maximum of 4 years. There is no
expectation of automatic renewal. Contract renewals are granted based on
Mission mandate, availability of budget, operational necessity and satisfactory
performance. Duty station can change in the course of an assignment based on
operational necessity; UN Volunteers may be required to work and travel
anywhere in the area of operations of the host organization, including in
remote locations.
Task description
Under the overall supervision of the Chief Security Advisor
(CSA) and the direct supervision of the Chief Fire Safety Unit and within
limits of delegated authority, the UNV Fire Safety Officer may be responsible
for the following duties: (These duties are generic and may not be performed by
all Fire Safety Officers) • Assists the CSA/CSO/SA in the establishment and
planning process of and for a structural fire service including mobile elements
as required for the field mission; • Assists the Officer in Charge of the Fire
Service in the management of all aspects or supervises a Fire Unit and/or
performs Officer in Charge functions for a medium scale fire service; •
Establishes and maintains productive liaison with authorities of host
government fire, disaster relief and emergency services; • Ensures the
establishment and effective management of a 24/7 Fire Service capable of
controlling fire incidents, HAZMAT spills, car accidents and other emergency
situations; • Drafts the Fire Safety Plan and Emergency Evacuation Plan;
coordinates and supervises drills and training sessions; • Provides
supervision, monitoring and coordination in accordance with the Fire Safety
Plan and Emergency Evacuation Plan; • Ensures the coordination of fire safety
issues with facilities mission’s personnel, host country authorities and
organization management; • Coordinates professional fire safety risk
assessments and fire safety inspections; reports all shortcomings and
supervises the timely rectification of such; • Conducts technical
assessments/evaluations of Fire Detection and Alarm Systems (FDAS); • Drafts
specifications for all equipment and devices, including FDAS and Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) such as: protective clothing, self-contained
breathing apparatuses (SCBA including filling compressors and testing devices),
fire extinguishers, hoses and nozzles, portable pumps, immobile and fixed
pumps, rescue equipment, etc., as well as fire service vehicles; • Any other
related tasks as may be required.
Eligibility criteria
Age
27 - 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the
country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in Minimum of 3 years of professional
driving experience, one experience working in a firefighting operational unit,
in a fire department first aid or in a caretaking company. Training and
experience in first aid are an asset.
Area(s) of expertise
Transport, Security and protection, Crisis and emergency
response
Driving license
Ability to drive 4x4 manual-gear vehiclke over rough
terrain. Experience and ability to drive heavy vehicles an added advantage.
Required
Languages
French, Level: Fluent, Required English, Level: Working
knowledge, Required
Required education level
Technical/vocational diploma in Training as a firefighter,
with a background in first aid and/or security an added asset.
Competencies and values
• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in
area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; ability to work
independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive
environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability
to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive
and client-oriented. • Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to
operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations. • 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. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability
to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working
relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and
respect for diversity and gender; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills;
good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare
clear and concise reports; ability to communicate and empathize with staff
(including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and
local interlocutors coming from diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer
information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; •
Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently
in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted
periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible
extensive travel within area of operations as may be necessary; • Genuine
commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes
solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards
the UN core values.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The Central African Republic is a non-family duty station
with a difficult security and working environment. Security instructions from
the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) need to be strictly complied
with in all duty stations. The country security level is 4, restricting
movement to official travel only. Currently a curfew applies from 10 pm to 5
am. The country is landlocked, with very limited travel possibilities, and
surrounded by countries with volatile and security problems (Cameroon, Chad,
DRC, Sudan, South Sudan). There is an unstable socio-political situation and
social unrest and grievance, in particular in the capital city Bangui, with
frequent civil servant strikes causing interruption of health, education and
civil service, due to years of unpaid salaries. Power cuts are a norm, causing
insecurity in the city. The population in Bangui, including the expatriates, is
concerned about increasing crime as a direct result of the March 2013 coup by
the SELEKA, a coalition of rebel groups, and events in December 2013 that
carried the country into chaos, and the recent creation of the Coalition of
Patriots for Change, regrouping some existent armed groups. The country is
entirely dependent on the Cameroon seaport, situated 1500 km away, causing
regular shortage of basic domestic goods. Travel time for a truck from Douala
in Cameroon to Bangui averages a week because of bad roads and roadblocks along
the way. This situation puts tremendous stress on personnel. There are very
limited medical infrastructures and services do not function properly. Living
conditions are difficult due to the high cost of living and the scarcity of basic
products and food. Supermarkets having a variety of food and consumer goods are
available, but are costly. Fresh vegetables and fruits are available in the
market. There is no MINUSCA guesthouse in Bangui. Private accommodation
possibilities are limited and getting a house that is compliant with UN
security measures can take several weeks. UN personnel in Bangui live on the
local economy by renting apartments and houses. In comparison to a few years
ago, more accommodation is available now, but at high cost. Sharing
accommodation is recommended. Currently all serving UN Volunteers have access
to decent accommodation ensuring minimum standards of comfort. The average
monthly cost for accommodation varies from around 1000 USD for a small
apartment with basic furniture, but no power generator and interrupted running
water supply, to 2,000+ USD with all commodities. Accommodation in all CAR duty
stations outside of the capital Bangui is mandatorily inside the MINUSCA camps.
In most cases, this is in the form of containerized accommodation with an
individual bathroom, with 24/7 running water, electricity and wifi. This costs
US$ 200 per month and is automatically deducted through the monthly payroll.
When no self-contained accommodation is available immediately upon arrival,
newly arriving personnel are housed in a container with a common bathroom until
a self-contained container frees up. A UN dispensary provides basic medical
care for UN personnel and a UN hospital has been operational since August 2014.
A Level II Hospital run by a military medical team exists as well. A Rest &
Recuperation (R&R) scheme has been re-established since August 2013 and
maintained for all CAR duty stations at a 6-week frequency. The Central African
Republic is a unique country and MINUSCA is a unique operation. It provides for
an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of
cultural and security awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than
elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and
the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous
conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme
that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to
achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part
of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to
combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights
and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender
identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability,
pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be
subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2
(Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
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