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 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.

The incumbent provides advice and guidance on legal and procedural matters related to RSD whether in the context of mandate RSD and/or national asylum/RSD systems as applicable (asylum in South Sudan is a State-led process), is responsible for conducting RSD (where required), reviewing and providing advice on individual cases in line with requirements under the RSD Procedural Standards. The incumbent is also responsible for contributing to the development of an RSD strategy and, where required, methodologies to promote the effective-ness of RSD as a protection tool and implementing broader organizational objectives and priorities, in compliance with relevant UNHCR standards and policies, as well as national laws. The incumbent provides advice and support to staff engaged in RSD and related activities, monitors trends of RSD decision-making, and conducts training and other capacity-development/strengthening activities to promote consistency in RSD procedures and decision-making. S/he contributes to developing and enhancing regional and global RSD standards and policies, as necessary.

Under the direct supervision of the RSD Officer the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

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. • 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 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. • Assist in developing and maintaining processes to ensure that persons of concern, Government authorities and partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policy and practice. • Assist in initiatives to advocate with and support Government authorities and legal partners 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 effective oversight.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected Outputs: • The incumbent processes 4 first instance RSD cases or 6 second instance RSD cases per week (RSD Interview and RSD Assessment completed).
• UNHCR’s RSD procedures are implemented in accordance with relevant UNHCR standards and policies, including policies related to age, gender, and diversity mainstreaming (AGDM).
• Persons of concern have fair and transparent access to the RSD procedures. • Persons of concern are treated with dignity, respect and professionalism. • The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counter-parts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

• Integrity and professionalism • Accountability • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement

the area of refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law.

Computer skills: Strong knowledge of Microsoft Software, as well as UNHCR Data-base software's (proGres v.4). • 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.

Juba is classified as an E, non-family duty station. R&R cycle for all duty stations in South Sudan is 6 weeks and all international staff resides at UNHCR provided accommodation. UN curfew is from 19:00 to 06:00. There are limited medical facilities in Juba. In all UNHCR compounds, regardless of the location, accommodations are equipped with all the necessary furniture. All rooms are provided with in-house services. In addition, most locations are equipped with a gym or some sports equipment. In Juba, all basic foods are available in the marketplace ranging from meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables, in addition to a few restaurants located in town.

The current security situation in South Sudan as of March 2022, though generally stable, re-mains fragile and fluid in a complex and unpredictable political environment. It is characterized by general stability in most areas, small scale, low intensity and localized armed conflict, high levels of crime across the country, inter/intra communal conflict over a diverse range of issues including cattle raids, competition for resources and revenge attacks in several areas and sporadic incidents of civil unrest in refugee and IDP locations.

Since the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the conflict in South Sudan in September 2018 and the formation of the Transitional Government of Unity in March 2020, the security situation has significantly improved in most areas, but big challenges remain ahead to maintain the current peaceful environment. The security level in South Sudan is assessed as substantial (security level 4) in most areas.