Associate RSD Officer – Level 2

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).

The Associate RSD Officer is a member of the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) team. Under the direct supervision of the RSD Officer (RSD Supervisor), s/he is responsible for conducting RSD interviews to determine eligibility for refugee status, undertaking country of origin (COI) and other research related to the claim, as required, and drafting RSD assessments, including for complex cases. The Associate RSD Officer provides counselling to asylum-seekers and refugees on UNHCR's RSD procedures and on their status, rights and obligations in the country of asylum. The Associate RSD Officer may review RSD assessments of members of the RSD team and provide legal and procedural guidance and coaching, as required. The Associate RSD Officer may assist in developing and implementing RSD training, including for Government authorities and other partners, as well as other measures to enhance the quality and efficiency of RSD decision-making, and provide technical advice to strengthen national asylum procedures. The Associate RSD Officer assists in compiling and analysing information related to the RSD activities of the operation, and participates in decisions regarding appropriate case management strategies.

Strategic Direction and Coordination: • Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the pro-tection environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through RSD. • Assist in the development of the RSD strategy of the operation and in the annual planning exercise. • Contribute to the development and enhancement of regional and global RSD standards and policies.

Response and Advice: • Review RSD decisions and provide appropriate feedback and guidance to RSD staff.
• Conduct RSD interviews and draft RSD Assessments 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 stand-ards accessible to RSD staff in the operation. • Ensure that persons of concern, Government authorities and legal partners have accu-rate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policy and prac-tice. • Assist in developing and maintaining processes to ensure that persons of concern, Gov-ernment authorities and partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, in-cluding UNHCR standards, policy and practice. • Assist in initiatives to advocate with and support Government authorities and legal part-ners to establish and strengthen fair and efficient RSD procedures and RSD decision-making.

Promotion and Capacity Building: • Assess training needs of UNHCR staff engaged in RSD and related activities and provide on-going training and coaching on legal and procedural RSD issues. • Support the development and implementation of RSD training initiatives for Government authorities and legal partners.

Human resources: • Assist in evaluating and projecting RSD staffing needs using the RSD Staffing Bench-marks. • Support UNHCR staff engaged in RSD and related activities and exercise effec-tive oversight.

• Integrity and professionalism • Accountability • Planning and organizing • Communication • Teamwork and respect for diversity

Minimum 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)

Fluency in English and another UN language, if and as required by the operational context.

Computer literate; proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point, etc) and Internet browsing.

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.

The ability to work effectively under stress and in crisis situations.

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 supervising and in providing training or coaching, guidance or advice to staff.

Addis Ababa is the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The population is estimated at about 4 million or so. It is located in the Ethiopian highlands at an altitude of 2,500-2,700 meters. The climate is sunny and temperate, but it can be very cold at night, with freezing temperature at times. There are two rainy seasons: February-March and July-September, during which there may be heavy rainfalls.

Addis Ababa is the headquarters for the UN Economic Commission for Africa as well as the African Union (ex-OAU). There is a very large community of expatriates from all over the world. The local language is Amharic, and English is the working foreign language. Housing is readily available and the rents are, on average, reasonable. Most foodstuffs, beverages, household goods, furniture and clothing, mostly imported from the Middle/Far East, South Africa and Europe, or local brands, can be found, although they can be expensive. Meat, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables are cheap and abundantly available.