Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA6
Target Start Date2023-10-01
Job Posting End DateAugust 29, 2023
Terms of ReferenceThe Durable Solutions Associate will be based at the Multi-Country Office (MCO) in Bangkok and will be a member of the Durable Solutions team. The incumbent will support complementary pathways activities and resettlement case processing in accordance with SOPs and guidelines. The incumbent is expected to conduct Resettlement interviews and prepare Resettlement Registration Forms (RRFs), Best Interest Assessments (BIAs) for unaccompanied and separated children and participate in Best Interest Determination (BID) panels.
The incumbent will also support the border camps in Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi. Flexibility and strong team spirit is essential as occasional travel to the border camps is required.
Furthermore, the incumbent is also required to maintain close coordination with concerned units within UNHCR as well as external parties such as RSC, IOM and Immigration Officials. Proven experience in liaising with partners would be an advantage.
The incumbent will also provide counseling to refugees. Therefore, strong interpersonal skills are required to build relationships of trust with the refugee community.
Experience in working with refugees - particularly in Resettlement and/or child protection - and/or in related field would be an advantage.
The incumbent should have effective written/oral communication skills in English and ability to work independently. Knowledge of Karen and/or Burmese is desirable, as well as prior experience with the UNHCR proGres database.
Operational context
Thailand is not a party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and currently has no national legal framework for refugee protection. Refugees, asylum-seekers, and other persons of concern without appropriate legal status and visas do not have a right to work or move freely, and are at constant risk of arrest, indefinite detention, and deportation.
Thailand also hosts along the Thai-Myanmar border some 90,000 displaced persons (refugees) from Myanmar over the last three decades. UNHCR Offices are engaged in a range of activities to support the Royal Thai Government (RTG) in ensuring their international protection and seeking solutions to the protracted refugee situation. UNHCR, in close collaboration with RTG and 3rd country governments, will launch a large-scale resettlement programme for refugees residing in the border camps. Travel to the border camps in Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi is expected.
There remains an expectation for UNHCR to seek durable solutions outside of Thailand for refugees in urban areas, the border camps, as well as Rohingyas who have been intercepted in the territory. UNHCR has, however, stepped up its advocacy for other solutions in country, in light of commitments made by Thailand, the global drop in opportunities for resettlement and complementary pathways, and the fact that most refugees in Thailand are still unable to voluntarily repatriate to their countries of origin.
In conjunction with these efforts, UNHCR continues to pursue third country resettlement and support access to complementary pathways (including family reunification) to provide legal and physical protection to those identified as having compounded vulnerabilities and/or pressing protection needs, which is determined on a case-by-case basis. Further, resettlement is being used strategically to support efforts to expand protection space for refugees in both urban and camp settings in Thailand.
Required languages
Required: English
Desirable: Knowledge of Karen and/or Burmese language
Location: Bangkok
Standard Job Description Durable Solutions Associate Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Durable Solutions Associate reports to a more senior Durable Solutions or Protection colleague. The incumbent is relied upon to contribute to the implementation of a durable solutions strategy. S/he works closely with protection, programme and field staff, contributes to fostering an environment to enhance partnerships is a critical element of the work, as are activities designed to strength the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies. 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 - Provide counselling to refugees and other persons of concern (POC) to identify the most appropriate durable solution and to enable them to make a well-informed decision. - Interview candidates for voluntary repatriation and prepare documentation for their return, in line with Voluntary Repatriation SOPs. - 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. - Assist in updating the electronic database for resettlement, voluntary repatriation and local integration, in line with Standard Operating Procedures. - Process documentation to ensure that POC receive the documents required for their durable solutions in a timely manner. - Prepare statistical and ad-hoc reports to ensure accurate information is available and shared with relevant offices and partners. - Interview and advise on the appropriate durable solution to be provided to POC. - Prepare documents relating to durable solutions. - Enter information into available database, in line with SOPs. - Draft and submit reports relating to durable solutions. - Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher Field(s) of Education Not applicable. Certificates and/or Licenses HCR Protection Learning Prg; HCR Resettlement Lrng Prg; HCR Protection Induction Prog; (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Not specified. Desirable Diverse field experience. Experience in interviewing. Functional Skills DM-Database Management 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.
Required Languages
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Desired Languages
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Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
CertificationsHCR Protection Induction Prog - UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program - UNHCR
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance