Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA4
Target Start Date2023-04-27
Job Posting End DateApril 16, 2023
Terms of ReferenceDesired Candidate Profile:
Candidates must be legally present in Costa Rica at the time of application, recruitment and hire.
Only candidates holding a legally residency a in Costa Rica will be considered eligible.
Candidates could have to complete Written Test and Interview
Desirable experience: priori experience in proGres system and conducting Registration Interviews will be an asset
Covid-19 Vaccination and related Safety Measures:
UNHCR has a responsibility to prevent and curb the spread of COVID-19 as part of its accountability to its workforce and the communities it works in and serves. Whilst other measures (such as hand hygiene, physical distancing, ventilation and wearing masks) remain crucial, being vaccinated against COVID-19 plays a key role in protecting oneself, families, colleagues, and the community including persons of concerns and has been proven to significantly reduce risks of serious illness and death from COVID-19. Therefore, in alignment with other UN agencies and based on the advice of the UN Medical Directors network, UNHCR strongly urges all colleagues to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves and others.
Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to proof of full vaccination, independently of contract type and duration, unless the candidate is based in a location with documented lack of access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Therefore, the people recommended for the position must provide proof of vaccination or the medical recommendation that justifies non-vaccination.
Operation Context:
The socio-political crisis and rise in persecution factors in Nicaragua since April 2018 has produced a particularly sharp increase in the number of Nicaraguan asylum-seekers in Costa Rica. Only 78 Nicaraguans were registered as asylum-seekers in 2017. However, from April 2018 to mid-2020, the number had grown to over 86,000. This includes a significant number of vulnerable persons: at least one quarter of the arrivals has required humanitarian assistance, although this figure has likely increased in the months since the arrival of COVID in March 2020. With the onset of the COVID pandemic and related measures, the regular influx of new asylum seekers slowed to a trickle, but is expected to increase again once the situation “normalizes” and borders are reopened on a greater level. The level of humanitarian and legal protection needs has only increased for those asylum-seekers, refugees, and persons at risk of statelessness – known collectively as Persons of Concern (“PoC”) – in the country.
Costa Rica also continues to receive asylum-seekers from Venezuela, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Cuba and other countries with approximately 160,000 total PoC in Costa Rica at end-2021. The country also hosts a significant number of persons from within and outside the region who are in transit through Costa Rica as part of mixed movements, but some of these persons apply for asylum as well.
The response capacities of Costa Rica, a country of approximately 5 million people, and those of UNHCR and other partners, have been severely stretched, resulting in inadequate reception facilities and significant delays in registering and processing asylum claims. The large backlog can inhibit asylum-seekers from timely access to documentation, work authorization, health insurance and other rights, as well as a final refugee recognition decision, increasing their vulnerability and exposure to protection risks, and increasing their dependency on humanitarian aid.
UNHCR carries out registration activities for Persons of Concern (POC) to ensure that they are identified and monitored for assistance, protection interventions and case management activities. Registration involves the recording, verifying and updating of information on POC to UNHCR with the aim of protecting, and of implementing durable solutions. Registration with UNHCR would result in identifying persons with specific needs and facilitate access to protection interventions.
According to Conclusion No. 91 (LII) of the Executive Committee (ExCom), registration is a protection tool and should be an ongoing process that records both essential information on initial displacement and changes in the refugee population. The continuous process of updating the information guarantees the integrity of the database so that quality protection, well-targeted assistance and durable solutions can be provided to the PoC.
While the Costa Rican government registers refugees for refugee status determination, UNHCR registers refugees and asylum-seekers to provide effective protection for people, manage individual cases, provide financial assistance, and for programmatic responses.
Purpose and Scope of Assignment:
Duties and responsibilites include but are not limited to:
• Conduct scheduling of Persons of Concern (PoC) for registration interview.
• Ensure orderly reception of both refugees and asylum-seekers in the office.
• Support other registration staff by conducting registration interviews and mobile registration in accordance with local SOPs and registration standards as needed.
• Provide counselling to, and respond to queries from, asylum-seekers and refugees regarding
UNHCR’s registration procedures and PoC's rights and entitlements.
• Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all individual registration cases.
• Identify persons with particular vulnerabilities and specific needs, and ensure timely referral for follow up as required.
• Collaborate with protection staff and/or partners in the delivery of assistance and programming, including protection monitoring activities.
• Draft correspondence and reports relating to registration activities in the operation, when required.
• Act as interpreter and translator when needed.
• Provide statistics and reports related to registration data, as requested.
• Perform other related duties and protection-related duties as required.
Monitoring and Progress Controls:
Key Performance indicators includes but not limited to:
• Core Values and Corporate Commitment - Works to achieve the goals of UNOPS as a whole, and demonstrates commitment to the UN’s core values; respects individual, gender and cultural differences in dealing with others.
• Teamwork - Works collaboratively with and supports colleagues to achieve organizational goals.
• Client Orientation - Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect, and by identifying clients’ needs and matching them with appropriate solutions.
• Planning and Organization - Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Uses time efficiently.
• Communication - Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Accountability - Takes ownership for all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which he/she has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards.
Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
• Building and Knowledge sharing - Contributes to own field of practice (e.g., documents and shares knowledge inside or outside own office/project, engages in practice discussions etc.).
• Commitment to Continuous Learning - Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop him/herself professionally and personally; shows willingness to learn from others.
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Skills
Education
CertificationsHCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR, Information Technology - Other, Mathematics - Other, Social Sciences - Other, Statistics - Other
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
This vacancy is archived.