Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)H (no hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS IICA1
Target Start Date2024-03-01
Job Posting End DateJanuary 19, 2024
Terms of ReferenceTERMS OF REFERENCE
(Individual Contractor Agreement)
Title: Associate Protection Research and Information Officer
Duty station: Home-based
Section/Unit: ASD Section (COI & Country Guidance Unit), DIP
ICA Level: IICA – 1
Corresponding level P 2
Duration: from 01/03/2024 to 30/11/2024
Supervisor: Protection Research and Information Officer, Iris van der Heijden
1. General Background
The Asylum Systems and Determination Section manages the content of Refworld, UNHCR’s Global Law and Policy Database This database (www.refworld.org) serves as a repository of UNHCR’s policy and guidance documents, as well as relevant legislation, case law and other reference documents relating to refugee law and statelessness. The Refworld website will be launched on 6 February 2024, which will be the conclusion of phase 1 of the project. Phase 2 will focus on updating the content available on Refworld so as to ensure its accuracy and completeness by the end of 2024.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
The incumbent will assist the ASD Section in updating and completing the collections on Refworld with legal and policy information.
Within delegated authority the incumbent is responsible for the following duties:
• Identify and prioritize the document sources whose collections need to be updated and completed;
• Identify the relevant documents in light of the Refworld scope from such a document source;
• Research, collect and analyse the documents and upload them with the relevant metadata on the Refworld content management system (CMS);
• Ensure harmonization of the metadata for the same document source and the same document type / collection;
• Draft guidelines on the scope, type, content, and metadata style per document source / type;
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to receive input on which information to be included, the metadata required, and/or assist them in uploading their information on Refworld;
• Assist in the design, development, testing, deployment of additional functionalities for the Refworld database;
• Assist in the exploration of the use of artificial intelligence to assist users to retrieve relevant information;
• Undertake any other task as required, such as assisting in the dissemination of information and training of stakeholders.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
Key results that will be achieved:
• Information to be published on Refworld from the relevant document sources will be identified;
• The documents and their metadata are uploaded on Refworld in a harmonized manner;
• Guidelines as to the scope, type, content, metadata style, frequency as well as focal points for updating information from the relevant document sources will have been drafted.
4. Qualifications and Experience
a. Education
Degree in International Law, with a focus on Refugee Law
b. Work Experience
Minimum 2 years of relevant experience with graduate degree (equivalent of a Master’s)
c. Key Competencies
Required:
• Knowledge of and experience with content management systems (Drupal)
• Knowledge of and experience with artificial intelligence
• Excellent research and analytical skills required
• Excellent data processing skills
• Languages: Proficiency in English is required.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills in a multi-cultural setting
Desirable
• Knowledge of Refworld.org
• Knowledge of metadata standards and schemas, taxonomies, in particular in relation to international, regional and national law and policy documents
• Experience with website design, development and/or usability testing an asset
• Additional languages desirable (with a preference for Spanish, Russian, French and/or German)
Associate Protection Research and Information Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Protection Research and Information Officer provides support with regard to country information and existing country guidance to operations, at regional or country operations level. The position may be located at HQ (within the Division of International Protection (DIP)), or in a Regional Bureau or Country Office and reports to the Senior Protection Research and Information Officer in the RSD Section in DIP or to the Senior Legal Officer or Senior RSD Officer or another staff member, as appropriate.
The incumbent conducts Country of Origin (COI) research for the benefit of mandate operations and national asylum/RSD systems, and where relevant, for the purposes of drafting country guidance documents. If based in an operation or in a Regional Bureau, s/he assists with the development of case-processing methodologies or RSD and Durable Solutions strategies.
S/he monitors trends of using COI and applying UNHCR country guidance by mandate operations and national asylum/RSD systems, and under the overall guidance of his/her supervisor, supports the provision of training and other capacity-development activities to promote regional/global consistency in COI/CG use.
If based in an operation or in a Regional Bureau, s/he works closely with RSD supervisors in the region, as well as staff responsible for registration, resettlement or training activities. S/he coordinates closely with the COI/country guidance team of the RSD Section, as required.
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
- Stay abreast of legal, political, human rights, security and other developments which have an impact on the protection of persons fleeing the country/-ies covered and provide COI advice accordingly.
- Compile information and analysis from external sources (including in particular from regional / national publishers/publications) on developments in the country /countries covered which may impact internal and external displacement patterns.
- Identify trends (including to the extent possible foreseen future developments) as to flight patterns and profiles in the country/-ies covered.
- Monitor the RSD Practitioners Platform and, in collaboration with partner staff in the RSD Section in DIP, work on the strategic improvement of this online support platform.
- Research and draft thematic notes in response to identified specific COI needs from the Field
- Provide support to training events on country guidance/COI, including Risk Profiles to relevant UNHCR staff.
- Interview country experts, refugees, others with specific knowledge on country conditions, as required, and as appropriate, to inform COI research and drafting of eligibility guidance.
- 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
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Political science; International relations; Law; Social sciences;
or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
RSD Learning Programme
Country of Origin (COI) e-Learning
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Minimum 1 year of experience researching and working directly with COI, in the context of the adjudication of individual asylum claims in RSD or asylum procedures. Experience in engaging with government asylum bodies, NGOs or other external stakeholders on asylum-related issues. Thorough understanding of and professional research experience relating to conditions in country/countries covered.
Knowledge of International Refugee Law, IHRL and IHL. Excellent research, writing and analytical skills. Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills
Desirable
Relevant experience with UNHCR and Government status determination procedures is highly desirable. Completion of the COI E-learning and the RSD Learning Programme and Protection Learning Programme is an asset.
Functional Skills
PR-Individual Case Management
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-RSD - Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance
(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.
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SkillsPR-Individual Case Management, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-RSD - Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science
CertificationsHCR Country of Origin Information Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR RSD Learning Program - UNHCR
Work Experience
Other informationThis position requires Functional Clearance