Hardship LevelA (least hardship)
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradePR2
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeJunior Professional Officer
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2024-02-27
Deadline for ApplicationsSeptember 15, 2024
Standard Job Description
Associate Durable Solutions Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Durable Solutions Officer can serve as a focal point for solutions related issues in a region, and reports to the Durable Solutions Officer, Protection Officer or, where appropriate, to the Senior Protection Officer or Head of Office. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions staff.
The incumbent is relied upon to contribute to ensuring a conducive environment leading towards finding durable solutions. The Associate Durable Solutions Officer should participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and a broad range of partners to promote durable solutions and advance the efficiency of UNHCR's interventions. Activities to strengthen the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies are a critical element of the work.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
- Implement activities in accordance with the comprehensive solutions strategy, with a view to finding durable solutions to the maximum number of PoCs.
- Participate in the planning of, and advise on opportunities for alternative solutions, including available regional and national legal frameworks.
- Participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and with a broad range of regional and national external partners to promote voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement.
- Meet PoC, assess their durable solutions needs and identify the most appropriate solutions for them.
- Monitor the implementation of the durable solutions strategy and provide advice for improvements.
- Analyse statistics, trends, and other documents, and draft reports.
- Interview and prepare Resettlement Referral Forms (RRF), in line with Resettlement SOPs.
- Interview candidates for local integration and prepare the appropriate documentation for onward submission to local authorities or partners, in line with Local Integration SOPs.
- Implement and contribute to the designing of national and regional comprehensive durable solutions strategies
- Engage national and local interlocutors on durable solutions issues.
- Authorize payments relating to durable solutions.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Political Science; Social Science; Law/International Law;
Economics; International Relations; or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Resettlement Lrng Prg;
HCR RSD Lrng Programme;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Good knowledge of refugee issues and Human Rights doctrine. Very good reporting and writing ability.
Desirable
Diverse field experience. Knowledge of ProGress database software.
Functional Skills
*CO-Drafting and Documentation
*IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.
As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate Profile The JPO Associate Durable Solutions Officer will be supervised by the Senior Protection Officer of the Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa and will assist as focal person in working towards comprehensive solutions for protracted situations in West and Central Africa region. These include voluntary repatriation (refugees) or return (IDPs) and sustainable reintegration; local integration; follow up of Refugee Forum pledges on solutions and opportunities for protracted situations ; operationalization of regional intergovernmental initiatives ( CAR Solutions Support Platform, UN SG's action Agenda, others).
The JPO will have close working relationship with the protection/solutions team in the operations as well as in the Bureau. In the Bureau, s/he will work closely with protection, registration, community-based protection, SGBV, child protection, education, statelessness, development, program, operations and technical staff including cash, livelihoods and shelter, and will promote operational standards, policy and practices in comprehensive solutions delivery.
Accountability
- Assist in the development of the regional comprehensive solutions strategy for protracted situations as relevant, together with UNHCR’s stakeholders in Bureau and country operations and other partners.
- Assist in monitoring the implementation of the comprehensive solutions strategy/ies (voluntary repatriation, local integration, alternative stay arrangements in case of invocation of cessation), identify challenges and report on achievements.
- Act as focal point for preparation and follow up of the task force meetings on solutions or other solutions coordination mechanisms (CAR Solutions Support Platform, Tripartite Agreements, standard operating procedures and other agreements as required etc).
- Assist in the review and coordination of inputs to all relevant strategies, roadmaps and reports from a durable solutions perspective.
Responsibility
The incumbent's support will be required to assist the Snr Protection Coordinator and Snr Protection Officer to conduct:
- Support to operations on solutions strategies in the relevant operations.
- The organization of regular coordination activities including teleconferences and regional solutions meetings.
- Support the development of policy guidance and other strategic document for specific priority protection issues with regional implication.
- Support the provisions of operational support and advice and the sharing of good practice across the region.
- Support the integration of solutions related aspects into protection strategies with a particular emphasis on alternatives to camps, livelihood opportunities and peaceful co-existence between displaced and host communities.
- Support the development of integrated solutions strategies considering all durable solutions in a coherent and coordinated manner
- Ensure that UNHCR's analysis of the risks and obstacles to solutions, including sustainable reintegration and inclusion is instruemental in development actors' priority areas of engagement
- Support the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships with UN, development agencies, civil society, peacebuilding actors and the private to engage on solutions-related areas.
The incumbent's support will be required with respect to the following tasks:
- Draft contextualised protection and solutions analysis reports
- Draft/update stategies, action plans/roadmaps, position papers, SOPs and other relevant documents as required by operational needs
- Provide feedback on protection and solutions documents produced by country operations
- Act as Secretariat of existing tasks force and other coordination mechanisms (draft minutes, secure attendance, and follow-up on action points)
- Analyse statistics, trends, and other documents to produce regular progress reports on solutions-oriented initiatives
- Liaise with country operations and relevant units at RBWCA level for the purpose of identifying and prioritizing durable solutions needs and ensuring adequate and timely interventions
- Assist country operations in developping appropriate solutions-related messages to ensure good communication with communities
- Follow up on Global Compact for Refugees pledges on solutions
- When required provide capacity building including workshops and trainings on solutions-oriented issues
- Perform other related duties as required.
Authority
- Conduct regular follow-up on the implementation of technical guidance provided by RBWCA and ensure compliance with, and integrity of, all protection and solutions strategies and standard operating procedures
Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required:
Education/Qualification
Masters degree in Law, International Law, Political Science, Social Science,. International Relations or related field
Work experience
- Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience (including internships and voluntary work ) in any of these areas: Human rights, Protection (including SGBV, community based protection, Child Protection), Social Inclusion, Gender and Diversity,
- Bachelor degree can only be accepted with at least 4 years working experience,
- Previous experience in solutions contexts is desirable,
- Previous experience in a diverse cultural environment is highly desirable.
Skills
- Excellent research, analytical and writing skills,
- Excellent planning and organization skills,
- Capacity to adapt to changing requirements and to work both independently and in a team,
- Innovative and creative thinking and ability to take initiative.
Language knowledge
-Essential: English, French (both written and oral)
-Desirable: Working knowledge of any other UN language (English)
This job is advertised in the frame of the JPO Programme and reserved exclusively to candidates with nationality of the United States of America.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): English
,French
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Nature of Position:
Living and Working Conditions:
Additional Qualifications
SkillsCO-Drafting and Documentation, IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science
CertificationsHCR Resettlement Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR RSD Learning Program - UNHCR
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration
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Compendium
Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance