Associate Registration 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.

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Senior Protection Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Associate Settlement Planning Officer will undertake the following tasks:

Assist in the implementation of registration, enrolment and digital identity strategies, for populations of concern in compliance with global and regional protection and inclusion objectives and priorities, ensuring that relevant standards are met, and appropriate methodologies and technologies are implemented.

Provide technical support to staff on planned registration and digital identity management activities.

Contribute to the development and dissemination of operational guidance, instructions and capacity-development initiatives, in accordance with policy and guidance disseminated by the Global Data Service in Headquarters.

Design appropriate procedures and systems for assurance of quality registration data and conduct regular data quality and audit checks to monitor the accuracy of data collected, as well as a tool for identification and prevention of fraud.

Provide post-deployment support and maintenance of the UNHCR refugee systems applications as required.

Assist the country team to establish and strengthen internal digital identity, registration and identity management capacity and/or that of government counterparts to manage registration and maintain population data.

Liaise with Digital Identity and Registration Section of the Global Data Service as necessary to facilitate registration and identity management activities in the region/ country.

Advocate with and support government authorities to establish and strengthen fair and efficient registration and digital identification procedures and systems and that POCs’ identity documents or credentials are recognized for the purposes of accessing humanitarian, public and private sector services.

Establish linkages with key partners to implement appropriate case and data management approaches for efficient, accountable and standardized targeting and delivery of assistance and other programming and protection needs.

Support the operationalization and negotiation with government and UN partners related to interoperability of external digital identification systems with UNHCR refugee registration and identity management systems.

Liaise and actively engage with government, humanitarian and development actors, and the private sector to promote the inclusion of refugees and asylum-seekers into host States’ population registers and digital identity systems and the registration of birth, marriages, deaths and other vital events of forcibly displaced persons in the host Government’s civil registry.

Support the collection of reliable data and the availability of effective analysis relating to POCs’ registration, identity management and digital identification at global, regional and country levels (as appropriate) including for the purposes of strategy development and monitoring and evaluation.

Monitor, document and report on registration and identity management activities at the regional/ country level, and report on the impact of support interventions to the management of operations.

Facilitate the planning, preparation and conducting of the comprehensive verification exercise which will be led by both the government of Malawi and UNHCR technical team.

Perform other related duties as required.

Analytical Thinking: Displays analytical thinking by identifying, defining and analyzing information, situations and problems. Arrives at viable solutions through a variety of approaches: critical thought, methodical review of implications, intuition and rational conclusions.

Technological Awareness: Understands the value and power of technology and how to apply it for maximum benefit; sees it as an ongoing aspect of all work; invests time and energy to incorporate it

Organizational Awareness: Understands and builds formal and informal systems within a global organization to produce desired results. Identifies and understands relationships, constraints and pressures affecting others, and especially persons of concern, by building support and developing political acumen

Client and result oriented: Understands and exceeds client need. Ensures overall provision of quality service to internal and external clients, including persons of concern, through the effective management of internal and external resources to achieve results. Is sensitive to and responsive to the age, gender and diversity requirements of clients.

Accountability: assumes responsibility for the delivery of high-quality outcomes, in both good and bad times, upholding the values and principles of UNHCR; demonstrates the ability and drive to maintain focus on positive outcomes for persons of concern despite difficulties this may pose for self and team. Demonstrates security awareness

Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNHCR; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNHCR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients;

Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviors while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behavior; does not abuse power or authority;

Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;

Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.

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;

Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely

Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

conducting registration and identity management of Persons of Concern.

Field experience; Experience working in Emergency Response Situations is an advantage.

Technical expertise in registration, digital identity or biometric management systems.

Experience with UNHCR’s PRIMES applications and possession of knowledge of UNHCR's interagency policies, standards, programmes and operations will be an asset.

Familiarity with planning, programming, strategic planning, project development, budgeting and resource mobilization.

Understanding of civil registration, national identity management or digital identification systems (including population registries) and digital identity technical standards.

Experience of devising data collection and analysis.

Experience working with partners, including host and donor Governments, humanitarian and development partners.

Flexibility and ability to provide support and oversight to numerous projects at once and willingness to undertake some related administrative tasks;

Strong interpersonal and communication skills in a multi-cultural setting;

Ability to complete tasks within a set time frame;

Ability to work effectively and with minimum supervision.

Lilongwe is a medium sized, peaceful and green city. It has limited opportunities in terms of shopping and entertainment, but the surrounding countryside and especially Lake Malawi provide good opportunities for holiday and weekend trips. Lilongwe has a small but lively expatriate community, which makes it easy to settle in. Housing options are limited but most of UN staff is able to find suitable accommodation within a few months after arrival. In general terms there is a very basic infrastructure as well as leisure and recreational facilities. Basic supplies are available in major cities. Good schools are available in Lilongwe. Lilongwe is a Family duty station categorized as a B. There have been reports of some incidents of criminality and assaults in Lilongwe, UNDSS has designated certain areas of Lilongwe where UN staff can live in. In general, with some minor precautions, it is possible to have a normal lifestyle.