Eligible Applicants
This position is advertised open to internal and external applicants.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Persons interested in applying for this position must be Panamanian Nationals or must be legally present in Panama at the time of application, recruitment and hire. Non-Panamanian citizens are required to attach a valid work permit to be considered for this vacancy.
Duties and Qualifications
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The RSD Associate is a member of the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) team. S/he is responsible for supporting all activities related to the processing of refugee claims in the Operation. The RSD Associate provides counselling to, and responds to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR's RSD procedures, their rights and obligations, including towards the host authorities, and the status of the processing of their claims. In discharging these responsibilities, the RSD Associate liaises closely with Registration, Community Services, Resettlement, and other Protection staff. The RSD Associate is responsible for conducting COI and other research related to RSD and maintaining the Operation's local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards. S/he may also assist in drafting RSD Assessments. The RSD Associate assists in compiling and analysing information related to the RSD activities of the Operation, and in drafting related correspondence and reports. The RSD Associate may provide interpretation and/or translation services in cases for which s/he has the required language competencies.
FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- 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.
- Fraud in the RSD process is identified and appropriately addressed.
Responsibility
- 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.
- Provide counselling to, and respond to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees, including in the context of the notification of negative RSD decisions.
- Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all work on individual cases.
- Assist in preventing and identifying fraud in RSD through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR staff, partners and persons of concern.
- Systematically apply an age, gender and diversity (AGD) perspective in the performance of assigned functions.
- Conduct research on country of origin information (COI) and other issues related to RSD and maintain the Operation's local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards accessible to RSD staff in the operation.
- Assist in monitoring RSD trends and in compiling and analysing RSD statistics related to RSD case processing.
- 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, policies 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.
- Draft correspondence and reports relating to the RSD activities of the Operation.
Authority
- Refer individual cases to other functional units in the Operation and/or external partners for appropriate follow-up, in accordance with established criteria.
- Counsel individual asylum-seekers on the reasons for negative RSD decisions, in accordance with the RSD SOPs.
ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Completion of Secondary School and advanced training/certification in social work or a related field.
- Minimum 6 years of relevant professional job experience.
- Research and analytical skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Working experience with procedures and principles related to RSD.
- Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.
- 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, or Protection Learning Programme.
Language Requirements
Fluency in Spanish and English.
Position Competencies
Managerial Competencies:
Judgement and Decision Making
Cross-Functional Competencies:
Analytical Thinking
Planning and Organizing
Stakeholder Management
OPERATIONAL CONTEXT
Nature of the Position
- Knowledge of UNHCR guidelines and note related to international protection
- Demonstrated ability to support the organization and facilitation of regional or national training workshops or meetings.
- Demonstrated ability to work with stakeholders, including asylum-seekers, national refugee commissions, government officials.
- Knowledge or practical experience on UNHCR reporting and protection monitoring activities
Operation Scope
The humanitarian situation has worsened in Venezuela, causing outflows to neighboring countries, (4 million people in 2019). The magnitude of the current outflows poses complex challenges and has led to asylum systems being overwhelmed. The flow of nationals from North of Central America (NCA) countries continues increasing, pushed by a mix of socio-economic fragilities, poverty, abuses and violence.
On-going increase of asylum claims continue to put asylum systems at strain in the Americas. There are no mechanisms in place to recognize refugee status (RSD) through group-based determination in most countries of the region. As a result, backlogs are cumulating mainly due to the outflow of Venezuelan nationals. Access to RSD in the Americas, is threatened by this overwhelming and unprecedented situation.
The Americas is characterized by deeply articulated refugee legislations and well-developed procedural standards. Yet, due to the constant increase of asylum claims and the implementation of some restrictive policies in some countries, access to territory, RSD and effective protection have been jeopardized.
In 2020, the follow-up to the Global Forum on Refugees (GFR), held in December 2019, will present a unique opportunity to build momentum on the implementation of the GCR and seek greater commitment from States & relevant stakeholders in the Americas and move forward the refugee agenda. With the support of UNHCR, regional events and processes in the Americas can assist States & other stakeholders in the implementation of pledges & contributions made at the GRF in 2020.
At the regional level, UNHCR continues to advocate for the strengthening of reception, registration, documentation and RSD/asylum capacities, to respond to forced displacement. Asylum systems continue to be reinforced under the Quality Asylum Initiative (QAI) in many countries. Yet, UNHCR¿s efforts to support the implementation of QAI have been impaired by the overwhelming arrival of new asylum-seekers.
Additional Information
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed and might be requested to sit for a test. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).