Hardship LevelH (no hardship)
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeGS7
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date2024-02-01
Job Posting End DateJanuary 10, 2024
Standard Job Description
Senior Durable Solutions Associate
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Durable Solutions Associate reports to a Durable Solutions or a Protection Officer. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions support staff.
The incumbent is relied upon to ensure the implementation of a durable solutions strategy. S/he works closely with protection and programme staff. Fostering an environment to enhance partnerships is a critical element of the work, as are activities designed to strengthen 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.
- Implement and follow-through the country's repatriation programme in all protection, administrative and logistical aspects, and liaise with the appropriate entities (external and internal) to ensure full coordination of movements and adherence to protection guidelines.
- 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.
- Liaise and contribute to discussions on durable solutions, with local authorities, host populations and partners.
- 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 decide on the appropriate durable solution to be provided to POC.
- When counselling POC, decide on the content of information and advice to be shared.
- Enter information into available database, in line with SOPs.
- Draft and submit reports relating to durable solutions.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G7 - 4 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.
Desired Candidate Profile This position must be filled by a staff member with strong understanding of the Pacific region and the political context, being able to work with both donors and developing countries. Strong experience with demonstrable results in solutions, with direct resettlement experience with UNHCR in the region is preferable. The position holder must have strong analytical and communication skills to liaise with government and other counterparts. Innovation and strong skills in data management, technology awareness, planning and organizing are essential elements of the profile. This position is expected to provide some support to Pacific Protection work. There are also areas of overlap with Pacific Protection work. The position holder must thus be flexible to quickly shifting priorities and adaptable to Office needs.
Pertinent Desirable Attributes are:
• Education in Law, International law an asset
• Proven experience in Resettlement including interviewing and drafting RRFs
• Experience in complementary pathways
• Experience in counselling Refugees and Asylum seekers
• Good knowledge of the Pacific Region
• Experience in developing SoPs an asset
• Experience in Refugee Status Determination an asset
• Experience in drafting counselling lines, consolidating data and preparing reports
• Good understanding of Cash Based Intervention
• Experience in supporting with the development of self-reliance and local integration strategies an asset
• Excellent drafting skills in English
• Excellent organisation skills
• Excellent research skills
• Good knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and MSRP. Significant working knowledge of ProGres v4 is essential and knowledge of Kobo an asset
• Experience in the Pacific desirable
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and in a stressful environment
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders who may be remotely placed
• Strong experience and demonstrable results in solutions, preferably with direct experience in working in the region and a good understanding of the Australia-Pacific context
• Strong analytical and communication skills to liaise with government and other counterparts
• Innovation and strong advocacy skills are also essential elements of the profile
Shortlisted applicants will be required to undertake a written test.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
UNHCR’s Representation is based in Canberra and is responsible for the promotion and protection of refugee rights in the region which includes Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The MCO durable solutions unit covers all solutions across the Pacific including Australia and New Zealand resettlement programs and work closely with the protection team to ensure that solutions and self-reliance are being considered at the earliest stage of the refugee journey.
For Australia and New Zealand, ongoing support to the implementation of Global Refugee Forum pledges and fostering new responsibility-sharing is a key. Focus is being placed on government and private funding for global needs and increased and more alignment on priorities for resettlement and expansion of opportunities through complementary pathways.
In addition and in view of the compelling humanitarian circumstances of individuals who have been subject to Australia’s offshore processing arrangements and in light of opportunities for new pathways presented by the March 2022 resettlement agreement between Australia and New Zealand, the solution unit is working with governments to achieve durable solutions for those affected including a resolution process and human rights safeguards for any who are not accepted for resettlement.
In term of Voluntary Repatriation, the MCO monitor and establish coordination mechanisms through regional forum and with various governments in the Pacific to ensure that refugees considering return to the country of origin are able to take an informed decision free from coercion and supported in a way that will uphold the principles of voluntariness, dignity and safety.
Regarding local integration the MOC actively engage with Papua New Guinea and Fiji to ensure that local integration for all refugees is effective in its 4 dimensions (Legal, Economic, Social, Civil Political).The MCO intervene in various countries providing advice and technical guidance through to the Government and develop a joint strategy in consultations with relevant stakeholder and PoCs. The solution unit further aims at leveraging support from Australia and New Zealand to promote good practices in term of self-reliance settlement and integration.
The position is based in Canberra.
Canberra is a H duty station
Additional Qualifications
SkillsDM-Database Management, IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software
Education
CertificationsHCR Protection Induction Prog - UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program - UNHCR
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Additional InformationShortlisted candidates will be required to undertake a written test
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance