Field Agent

Organizational Context

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) promotes sustainable urban development and adequate housing for all. The Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) in Rio de Janeiro manages activities in Brazil. This role supports the "Inclusive and Sustainable Rio" project, a collaboration with the Rio de Janeiro State Government to enhance urban resilience and implement the 2030 Agenda and New Urban Agenda.

Job Purpose

The Field Agent is crucial for the "Inclusive and Sustainable Rio" project, focusing on mobilizing communities and raising public awareness about urban and climate resilience. This role directly contributes to strengthening urban resilience in Rio de Janeiro State by promoting non-structural disaster risk reduction actions. The Field Agent will work closely with UN-Habitat's operational and technical teams, supporting project implementation and community engagement. The ultimate goal is to foster a culture of sustainability, increase urban resilience, and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals within the state, ensuring better opportunities and dignity for urban populations.

Responsibilities

The Field Agent will actively participate in field operations, performing specific roles in areas such as communications, reception, and geological risk monitoring. Responsibilities include organizing and guiding community evacuations, providing basic first aid guidance, and facilitating communication during emergencies. The role involves monitoring warning signs and threats in risky areas to support disaster prevention, assisting in shelter operations, and working closely with the Local Manager to complete assigned tasks efficiently. The Field Agent will report difficulties and results, engage directly with the local community to provide support and information, and promote awareness of risks and safe practices. Additional duties include assisting with operational logistics, ensuring equipment preservation, following safety protocols, identifying and mitigating risky situations, and contributing to data collection and report preparation.

Work Experience

Required experience includes social mobilization activities and social work within slums and urban communities. Desirable experience encompasses community organization in emergency contexts and disaster prevention. The role requires experience working in an inter-institutional environment, project management, and monitoring-evaluation.

Skills

Professionalism, planning and organization, strong sense of responsibility, ability to operate with minimal supervision, proven organizational skills, efficient workload management, clear and effective communication, active listening, appropriate response, openness in information sharing, solid abstract reasoning, ability to write for diverse audiences, teamwork, leadership, conflict management, consensus facilitation, ability to work in multicultural/multi-ethnic environments, respect for diversity, sensitivity to vulnerability, willingness to work in difficult environments, knowledge of UN-Habitat processes and procedures, database preparation, and fluency in Portuguese.

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