Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS IICA1
Target Start Date2023-10-01
Job Posting End DateAugust 17, 2023
Terms of Reference1. General Background
(Brief description of the national, sector-specific or other relevant context in which the individual contractor will operate)
Libya is not party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its Protocol. It has ratified the 1969 Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa (OAU Convention) and is also party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (โBanjul Charterโ). While the right to asylum is provided for in Article 10 of Libyaโs 2011 interim Constitutional Declaration, there is no asylum legislation or any established asylum procedures. As a result, all non-Libyans, regardless of their status or protection needs, including asylum-seekers and refugees, fall under national immigration laws. Libyan laws criminalize all irregular entry, stay, or exit, for example without the appropriate documentation or through unofficial border posts, without distinguishing between asylum-seekers/refugees, migrants, or victims of trafficking. Over 45,000 refugees and asylum-seekers are registered with UNHCR. Refugees and asylum seekers face discrimination and challenges in access to basic services, while at risk of arrest and arbitrary detention in inhumane conditions. The decreasing resources in an economy damaged by conflict and COVID-19, limited cash liquidity and sharp price increases pose additional challenges for refugees and asylum seekers. Protection challenges are a grave concern, primarily driven by exposure, vulnerability and inability to cope with conflict and violence, human rights violations and abuses, breakdown of rule of law, and impediments to access goods and services.
In this context, the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) unit contributes to the implementation of the Libya Operation Protection and Solutions Strategy, aiming at expanding options for providing lifesaving alternatives and solutions to persons presumed to be of concern to UNHCR currently in detention centers and at urban settings in Libya through the implementation of a comprehensive approach to identification, case processing for solutions pathways, and support to departure from Libya. The RSD unit conducts regular RSD for those who are identified as having resettlement (RST) needs and uses RSD-driven processes to identify those eligible for humanitarian evacuation through the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) response.
In light of the volatile security situation in Libya, UNHCR has a limited presence of international staff on the ground. As a result, most of the RSD Unitโs activities involving international staff members are carried out remotely from Tunis. This includes conducting RSD and eligibility for humanitarian evacuation interviews via teleconferencing systems, and subsequent drafting and submission of RSD assessments and recommendations on eligibility for humanitarian evacuation. RSD team members work collaboratively through Microsoft Suit tools, such as SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Team Viewer; and UNHCR-specific platforms such as E-Safe.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
The Associate RSD Officer is a member of the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) team. Under the direct supervision of the RSD Expert (RSD Supervisor), designated mandated representative of the RSD Officer; 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 may conduct eligibility interviews for humanitarian evacuation and submit the related recommendation. 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 assists in compiling and analysing information related to the RSD activities of the operation and participates in decisions regarding appropriate case management strategies.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
(Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring)
Under the direct supervision of the RSD Expert at UNHCR Libya, the Associate RSD Officer will ensure that:
- UNHCRโs 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.
- Fraud in the RSD process is identified and appropriately addressed.
- Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the protection
environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through RSD.
- Conduct RSD interviews and draft RSD Assessments in accordance with applicable standards and
guidelines.
Conduct eligibility interview for humanitarian evacuation and submit the related recommendation.
- 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 operation-specific SOPs for all aspects of the RSD
operation in accordance with applicable standards and policies.
- Assist in preventing and identifying fraud in RSD through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR
staff, partners and persons of concern.
- 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.
- 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.
- Assist in developing and maintaining processes to ensure that persons of concern, UNHCR protection staff and partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR
standards, policy and practice.
- Conduct any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.
Reporting dates:
Daily, Weekly and Monthly reports to the Supervisor
Final report due 31 December 2023
Final Evaluation:
The final evaluation will be carried out by the Supervisor.
3. Qualifications and Experience
(List the required education, work experience, expertise and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.)
a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education) and b. Work Experience (List number of years and area of required work experience. Clearly distinguish between required experience and experience which could be an asset.)
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Law, Political science, International relations or
- another related field plus minimum 3 years of relevant professional job experience, preferably in the
- area of refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law. Graduate degree
- (equivalent of a Masterโs) plus 2 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 1 year of
previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- 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.
- Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
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.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages, in particular Arabic.
- Exclusion experience highly desirable.
- Experience in interviewing and strong interviewing techniques.
- Experience with humanitarian law.
- Additional work experience in International Refugee Law, Human Rights Law or Humanitarian law.
Required Competencies
- Empowering and Building Trust
- Managing Performance
- Judgement and Decision Making
Cross-Functional Competencies
- Analytical Thinking
- Planning and Organizing
- Stakeholder Management
Standard Job Description
Required Languages English
,
,
Desired Languages
,
,
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance