Hardship LevelE (most hardship)
Family TypeNon Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay
Residential location (if applicable)
Nairobi (CO), Kenya
GradePR3
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeProfessional
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2023-04-26
Job Posting End DateMay 15, 2023
Standard Job DescriptionDurable Solutions Officer Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Durable Solutions Officer is a focal point for solutions related issues in a country, and normally reports to the Senior Durable Solutions Officer, Senior Protection Officer or, where appropriate, to the Assistant or Deputy Representative. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions staff, who may include staff within the functional groups of durable solutions, reintegration, repatriation, and resettlement. S/he works closely with protection and programme staff and ensures operational standards and practices in solutions delivery at the country level. The Durable Solutions Officer is relied upon to assist in the development, implementation and adherence to protection, resilience and solutions strategies and to advise on all solutions topics. These include: voluntary repatriation (refugees) or return (IDPs) and sustainable reintegration; local integration and other local solutions; relocation, resettlement and complementary pathways for admission to third countries; Global Compact on Refugees commitments and opportunities; housing, land and property; statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024); age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection. The Durable Solutions Officer should provide planning and foresight to advance progress in Protracted Refugee situations, where applicable, and/or to prevent new situations from becoming protracted. Assisting the Country Office in 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. If in a regional office/ Bureau, s/he also coordinates durable solutions activities between and among country offices in the region ensuring consistency with relevant Global Strategic Priorities and Policies. If in a regional office/ Bureau, s/he works closely with protection, registration, information management, education, development, programme and technical staff including cash, livelihoods and shelter, and promotes operational standards, policy and practices in comprehensive solutions delivery. The incumbent may maintain close working relations with regionally based UN sister entities, other intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organisations on durable solutions matters. 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 - Support the development of multiyear comprehensive protection, resilience and solutions strategies as relevant. - Monitor the implementation of, and implement interventions under, the protection and solutions strategy/ies; identify challenges and report on achievements. - Serve as focal point for durable solutions, including chairing Durable Solutions Working Group(s) and achieving a schematic overview of country/regional Durable Solution Working Groups or other solutions coordination mechanisms. - Participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and with a broad range of external partners to promote all durable solutions. - Ensure close linkages with staff that oversee data and information production to deliver fact based advocacy and support for durable solutions. - Support the internal UNHCR processes related to voluntary repatriation and returns, including data management, the preparation of Exchange of Letters, Tripartite Agreements, standard operating procedures and other agreements as required. - Support country operations in the development and implementation of the local integration and other local solutions aspects of solutions strategies, ensuring inclusion of persons of concern in national systems and services, and in national and local development processes. - In the absence of dedicated resettlement and complementary pathways staff, and in close collaboration with multi-functional teams: ensure UNHCR¿s resettlement and complementary pathways for admission standards are correctly and coherently applied; efficient, fair and transparent procedures are in place across the AOR, targets are met and fraud prevention mechanisms are in place; operations are supported to develop advocacy strategies and operational responses to pursue the identification, development, promotion and facilitation of access to complementary pathways for admissions to third countries; ensure that country operations plans reflect the strategy on RST/CP and that the necessary resources are allocated to address gaps across the AOR. - Represent UNHCR¿s Resettlement and Complementary Pathways positions with Resettlement and other third countries, host government and at regional level. - Building on the commitments made in the Global Compact on Refugees, support the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships with UN and other development agencies, civil society, peacebuilding actors, and the private sector, engaging on areas including resilience, rule of law and governance, and housing land and property. - Ensure that UNHCR¿s analysis of the risks and obstacles to solutions, including sustainable reintegration and integration, is instrumental in development actors¿ priority areas of engagement. - Provide planning and foresight to advance progress for protracted refugee situations, and/or to prevent new situations from becoming protracted. - Liaise with colleagues for the purpose of identifying and prioritizing durable solutions needs and ensuring adequate and timely interventions. - Support Communication staff in developing a communication plan to support the durable solutions strategy, including media. - Serve as focal point on durable Solutions-related issues for communities to ensure good communication. - Advise on populations of concern¿ appropriate engagement for the identification of the most appropriate solutions, including through enhanced two-way communication, participatory assessments, intentions and perceptions surveys, and other forms of community based assessments. - Promote the strengthened involvement of persons of concern in the design and implementation of solutions strategies, transition projects, peace-building and development initiatives. - Analyse statistics, trends, and other documents, and draft reports. - Participate in training activities aimed at the capacity building of UNHCR and partner staff on durable solutions, peace building/coexistence and partnership. - Monitor the implementation of the programme through managing the human and financial resources and identify gaps to ensure optimum use of available funds. - Represent UNHCR in meetings related to durable solutions. - Clear documents and reports coming out of the Durable Solutions Unit. In addition to the main duties listed above, for positions located in regional bureaux: - Support the development of multiyear regional situational comprehensive protection, resilience and solutions strategies as relevant, together with UNHCR¿s stakeholders in Bureau and country operations, governments and other partners. - Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education Law International Law, Political Science, Social Science, Economics, International Relations; or other relevant field. Certificates and/or Licenses RSD- Resettlement Learning Programme; Protection Learning Programme; Management Learning Programme; Relevant Job Experience Essential Previous experience in solutions contexts. Thorough knowledge of International refugee law and its application. Desirable Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field (including Hardship Duty stations) and Headquarters. Functional Skills PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators PR-Durable Solutions/Comprehensive Solutions Strategies implementation PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) IT-IT Refugee Systems & Applications *PR-Developing Strategic Protection Framework PR-Comprehensive Solutions Framework (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 candidate should as a minimum have experience related to Resettlement and Complementary Pathways, and to a lesser extent VolRep. Considering the complexities of the Sub-Office Dadaab operation, it would be of added value to have a candidate with experience from insecure and isolated, non-family duty stations like Dadaab. The candidate will be required to have strong stakeholder management and communications skills considering the large number of external partners, s/he will need to coordinate and advocate with. With a team of 18 staff under his/her oversight, the candidate needs to have demonstrated leadership and analytical skills together with the ability to forecast evolving situations. The candidate should be familiar with UNHCR integrity-related rules and procedures. In collaboration with the relevant risk management and integrity colleagues, s/he will promote and implement mechanisms for preventing fraud in resettlement processing in order to maintain the integrity of the overall process. S/he is expected to liaise with the Representation office in Nairobi to ensure coherent approaches to durable solutions across the operation, and co-ordinate with partners, refugees and local authorities. The candidate will report directly to the Snr. Protection Officer in Dadaab. Overall, the candidate should be proactive, function well within a multi-cultural team dynamic and be a people’s person.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
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Desired languages
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Operational context
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
As of 28 February 2023, the Dadaab refugee population stands at 355,699 individuals / 73,741 households. Of this number, 234,706 individuals /45,406 households are registered/ documented while 120,993 individuals/28,335 households are profiled/undocumented. In Dec 2022, the Government of Kenya (GoK) designated Ifo2 and Kambioos as camps to accommodate the increased new arrivals. In March 2023, the GoK Government resumed registration of new arrivals from Somalia. UNHCR will continue to strengthen the protection of refugees and to maintain asylum space and continue to actively support Resettlement, Complementary Pathways and Voluntary Repatriation as part of the solutions strategy.
The Durable Solutions Officer (DSO) works under the direct supervision of the Senior Protection Officer and coordinates solutions for refugees with senior management, including in relation to the implementation of the Roadmap for Protection and Solutions for the main refugee groups in the existing three refugee camps in Dadaab, as well as soon in the newly re-gazetted Ifo2, which was developed jointly by the Government of Kenya and UNHCR.
With the GCR, CRRF, Garissa the Garissa Integrated Socio-Economic Development Programme (GISEDP), the 2021 Refugees Act, the Marshal Plan, UNHCR engages with county and sub-county officials and other stakeholders on integrated and inclusive services for refugees and host communities. UNHCR also works diligently to develop and complement existing strategies, including enhancing coordination and funding mechanisms, incorporating both humanitarian and development actors in line with CRRF/GCR. The GISEDP envisions that both refugees and host communities will benefit from strengthened national service delivery systems, increased socio-economic opportunities along with sustained investments in developing people’s skills and capabilities in order for them to become the drivers of economic growth in Garissa County.
Dadaab has a significant number of refugees in the resettlement pipeline submitted in the past years and pending processing by resettlement countries, mainly the USA) The operation continues to support RST countries processes/missions in addition to making new submissions. Prior experience in resettlement programme and strong case managements skills is an asset for discharging the functions of the position. The DSO also coordinates voluntary repatriation activities. Although its numbers have reduced in the recent years, voluntary repatriation will remain a key component in the solutions strategy.
The town of Dadaab is in the North Eastern Province of Kenya. It is in a semi-arid area and is mostly dry plus hot all year round. Due to the isolation of the duty station and ongoing security concerns, the duty station is categorized as hardship category `E and substantial security level. The UN compound is surrounded by the Hesco fences and there is curfew in place from 6pm to 6am, when the external gate is closed. All movement outside the UN compound to and within the camps requires armed police escort.
Dadaab refugee complex is among the oldest and biggest refugee operations since 1991 following the refugee influx with eruption of the civil war in Somalia and at the peak of displacement in 2011-2012 the camps had more than 460,000 refugees. These refugees are hosted in 3 camps (Ifo, Dagahaley and Hagadera) which are in close proximity, in Fafi and Dadaab sub counties of Garissa County, in the remote northeastern region of Kenya bordering Somalia.
At the moment the total population of PoCs is 46,380 households comprising 212,525 individuals (211,263 refugees and 1,262 asylum seekers. Due to the isolation of the duty station and ongoing security concerns, the duty station is categorized as hardship category E and security level (SLS) 4. The UN compound is surrounded by the Hesco fences and there is curfew in place from 6pm to 6am. All movement outside the UN compound to and within the camps requires armed police escort. International staff have one week R&R (Rest and Recreation) after every 6 weeks
in the operational area .There are limited banking facilities at Dadaab with only one bank in which staff may open a bank account, and withdraw cash with certain debit/credit cards. Internet and communication networks are available at the compound with fairly good speed. Remoteness, isolation and lack of entertainment in social life are the factors to be also considered prior to applying.
Security Considerations:
The security situation continues to be a challenge in SO Dadaab, and the candidate needs to have undergone proper security training. Meanwhile, staff movements in the Dadaab Operation are strictly restricted and all staff are obliged to adhere to security advisories. Staying in the office compound is regulated by a curfew in effect during the night and the requirement to answer daily radio checks.
Dadaab is at UN security level (SLS) 4 as a duty station.
The majority of national staff live in the Compound. Climatic conditions are harsh, and despite fumigation of the compound, insects and even snakes are present in the environment. Apart from a satellite level 1 JMS medical clinic, there is no other medical back up therefore staff assigned to Dadaab must be in good health. Evacuation opportunities are limited. Candidates with conditions requiring regular treatment or medical supervision should be appropriately advised.
Additional Qualifications
SkillsPR-Refugee Resettlement programs
EducationBA: Economics (Required), BA: International Law (Required), BA: International Relations (Required), BA: Law (Required), BA: Political Science (Required), BA: Social Science (Required)
CertificationsHCR Management Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program - UNHCR
Work ExperienceAnnual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Number of Persons of Concern Served, Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Asylum Seekers, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned Refugees
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration
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Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
This vacancy is archived.