Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA6
Target Start Date2024-10-01
Deadline for ApplicationsSeptember 23, 2024
Terms of ReferenceTERMS OF REFERENCE
(Individual Contractor Agreement)
Title: Legal Associate
Project: SERBIA/2024/01
Duty station: Belgrade, Serbia
Section/Unit: UNHCR Representation in Serbia/ Legal Unit
ICA Level: LICA-6
Corresponding level: GS-6
Duration: 01/10/2024 to 31/12/2025
Supervisor: Assoc. Protection Officer NOB
1. General Background
UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations. With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it. A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.
Background information – Job Specific
UNHCR Office in Serbia actively promotes a protection-sensitive approach to mixed movements in the Western Balkan countries which will strengthen and enable national asylum systems to better respond to the rights and needs of refugees and asylum-seekers, especially in situations of mixed population flows. UNHCR’s engagement in Serbia builds on 45 years of supporting refugees, displacement, and statelessness issues since 1976. In the 1990’s, UNHCR assisted Serbia initially with emergency reception and accommodation of refugees and IDPs from the region, and subsequently with facilitating voluntary return or local integration, including through the Regional Housing Programme (RHP).
Since 2015, over one million refugees and migrants have arrived in Serbia, of whom the majority has continued their journey towards the European Union. While for many Serbia is a country of transit, it is also gradually becoming a country of asylum.
Serbia established its national asylum system in 2008 by adoption of the relevant legislation subsequently amended in 2018. UNHCR Representation in Serbia support the Government in strengthening the national asylum system at all instances to ensure fair and effective asylum procedure fully aligned with international and EU standards.
UNHCR will support further the authorities to ensure refugees benefit from fair and fast asylum procedures, through support to asylum system building and quality assurance, support to provision of free legal aid, strengthening of national capacities in the field of asylum and refugee law.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
- Monitor asylum procedure within the framework of the quality assurance, as well as the development of law and doctrine.
- Provide input to assist in analysis of relevant emerging legislation in line with protection and humanitarian principles, international law and standard.
- Provide inputs to selected advocacy and capacity building efforts of the operation
- Liaise with relevant state authorities at central and local levels, partner NGOs, Academia and other relevant stakeholders.
- Participate and organize meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts at the relevant level.
- Contribute to draft protection documents and policies in cooperation with supervisor.
- Follow up on individual cases in the asylum procedure and in regards to their access to rights and situations raising special questions of application or interpretation of international law, refugee and human rights law.
- Prepare various protection documents in cooperation with supervisor
- Participate in the development of project proposals and project implementation and monitoring
- Liaise and intervene with local authorities on the legal issues pertaining to persons of concern.
- Conduct field visits to monitor quality of the free legal aid programmes
- Assist in providing legal advice on all cases referred from all units
- Perform other related duties as required.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
The Legal Associate is a member of the legal/protection team in the Country Office and reports to the Head of the Protection/Legal unit. S/he will have important role to contribute to the involvement of the persons of concern with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. The incumbent will need to support involvement of communities of concern and relevant authorities in continuous cooperation. The supervisor exercises close control and regular review of the work processes and provides regular advice and guidance.
The incumbent keeps frequent internal contacts with staff members in the same duty station to exchange information and with the external contacts generally with officials of national and international institutions, leaders of the refugee community, local population and/or Implementing Partners (IPs) on routine subject matters under the direction of the supervisor.
4. Qualifications and Experience
a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
b. Work Experience
Essential
For corresponding level G6 – LICA 6
- For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
- Certificate in Law, Human Rights, Political Science an asset
- Previous relevant legal related work experience
Desirable
Previous experience in UN/UNHCR or in a humanitarian context.
Previous experience in representation of asylum cases in the asylum procedure an asset.
Experience in facilitating training. Completion of UNHCR learning programmes on protection or any other equivalent external courses.
c. Key Competencies
Functional Skills
* MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation
*LE-Legal Research
- TR-Training/Coaching/Facilitation
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Knowledge of English and working language of the duty station:
- Be fluent in English, with excellent writing skills
- Be fluent in Serbian, with excellent writing skills
- Good communication and networking skills
Core Competencies
(All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below).
Accountability /Communication/ Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration/ Commitment to Continuous Learning/ Client & Result Orientation
Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management
NOTE: A written test may be administered.
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Skills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
Home-BasedNo