Annex No. 8

Terms of Reference for Community Services Officer ^*
(Focal point)

^* In an emergency there must be at least one person with the time, training and experience to address social aspects on a full-time basis. This could be: a UNHCR Community Services Officer, a consultant, an official of the Ministry of Community Development and/or Social Welfare, an NGO Community Services Expert seconded to UNHCR.

Under the supervision of the UNHCR Representative/Charge Mission, the Social Services Officer in.........................................will undertake the following functions:

1. Co-ordinate all social services activities;

2. Provide technical guidance and support to NGO social workers currently working in camps;

3. Provide training to community volunteers; involve them in structured activities; help define work to be done.

4. Act as a focal point for tracing and family reunification activities until such services are established;

5. Ensure that women, children, vulnerable groups and individuals benefit adequately from the emergency assistance programme provided to the community at large, i.e. food, non-food items and other services;

6. As appropriate, facilitate the establishment of special services to meet the particular needs of women, children and vulnerable groups and individuals, e.g. secure housing for single women, community-based rehabilitation for disabled persons etc;

7. Disseminate and publicize as widely as possible policies on:

(a) Community participation and self-help;
(b) Participation and access to services for women;
(c) Children;
(d) Unaccompanied children;
(e) Community-based rehabilitation for disabled persons.

8. In coordination with the appropriate body, promote information on prevention of disabilities caused by mines, e.g. setting-up a mine awareness campaign particularly aimed at children.