Associate Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 25 years old. Nationals of the country of assignment are not eligible, except the assignments in Headquarters duty stations.

Description of task

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the RSD Officer, designated mandated representative of the RSD Officer, the UNV Associate RSD Officer will:

Strategic Direction and Coordination:

• Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the protection environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through RSD.

Response and Advice:

• Conduct RSD interviews and eligibility for humanitarian evacuation interviews remotely via teleconferencing systems from the Libya Operation office in Tunis and draft RSD Assessments and recommendations on eligibility for humanitarian evacuation in accordance with applicable standards and guidelines.
• Conduct merged RSD-RST interviews and draft merged RSD-RST recommendations in accordance with applicable standards and guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all work on individual cases.
• Provide counselling to asylum seekers and refugees.
• Assist in designing, implementing and revising, as required, operation-specific SOPs for all aspects of the RSD operation in accordance with applicable standards and policies.
• Systematically apply an age, gender and diversity (AGD) perspective in the performance of assigned functions.
• Assist in monitoring RSD trends and in compiling and analysing RSD statistics related to RSD case processing to identify and respond to developments or issues impacting on the efficiency or quality of RSD decision-making, and to propose remedial measures.

Advocacy, Information Management and Research:

• Conduct research on country of origin information (COI) and legal issues related to RSD and assist in maintaining a local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards accessible to RSD staff in the operation.

• Ensure that persons of concern, Government authorities and legal partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policy and practice.

• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level:

Bachelor degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

Degree in Law, political science, international relations or another related field.

Required experience:

48 Months

Experience remark:

Minimum 4 years of relevant professional job experience, preferably in the area of refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law : 2 years (with a postgraduate degree) or 4 years (with an undergraduate degree).

Desirable qualifications and competencies:

• Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government RSD procedures is highly desirable
• Experience in counselling asylum seekers or refugees
• Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals
• Completion of UNHCR's RSD Learning Programme, COI Learning Programme, Protection Learning Programme
• Experience in interviewing and strong interviewing techniques
• Additional work experience in International Refugee Law or Human Rights Law

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• Arabic(Optional), Level - Working Knowledge

Area of expertise:

Protection of refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs, Emergency response, immediate relief operations, and post-conflict humanitarian aid operations

Area of expertise details:

• Minimum 1 year of experience working directly with procedures and principles related to RSD
• Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) awareness and demonstrated ability to perform effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to work effectively under stress and in crisis situations.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suit; knowledge of UNHCR’s proGres database is a plus.

Driving license:

No

Competencies values:

Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Building Trust, Client Orientation, Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Empowering Others, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Knowledge Sharing, Leadership, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Self-Management, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool? Please first register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup. Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply. * Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool? Please first update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply.

Application deadline: 02 June 2021