Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA5
Target Start Date2025-01-01
Deadline for ApplicationsSeptember 17, 2024
Terms of ReferenceUNHCR´s National Office at Uruguay is located in Montevideo, and is part of the Multi-country Office in Argentina (MCO ARG) that covers Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, mainly countries of destination for refugees and migrants with need for immediate humanitarian assistance, protection intervention and, at the later stage, for various types of durable solutions.
In Uruguay, UNHCR supports asylum and regularization, preventing refoulement. Collaborating with local counterparts, the programming emphasizes inclusion, health, education, and labor market integration. Long-term goals involve creating complementary pathways through labor mobility and sustainable resettlement.
At the end of 2023, the Refugee Commission (CORE) approved a Diagnosis with conclusions and recommendations regarding the challenges faced by the asylum system in Uruguay. To address these challenges, CORE also approved guidelines for a Strengthening Project for CORE and its Permanent Secretariat (2024 - 2025). In December 2023, during the Global Refugee Forum (GRF), Uruguay committed to: “Strengthen its asylum/refugee system to adapt to large-scale mixed movements as soon as possible. This process will involve: 1) working on the reform of normative and administrative frameworks to ensure enhanced synergy between the refugee status determination system and migration regulations; 2) strengthening the administrative framework for refugee protection to achieve: a) preservation of data quality and system integrity through digital registration with biometric variables and the use of digital tools for managing individual cases; b) ensuring interoperability of various state databases for refugee and asylum seeker registration and documentation; c) developing and reinforcing differentiated procedures for refugee status determination.” Uruguay committed to optimizing existing resources for the asylum/refugee system and relying on technical and financial contributions from UNHCR and interested donor countries. Additionally, during the GRF, Uruguay committed to developing pilot projects for the socio-economic, cultural, and legal inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. These projects aim to ensure early stabilization and local integration through inclusion, support for host communities, and the involvement of supportive cities and development actors. Furthermore, in May 2024, CORE approved a program for “Prima Facie Recognition of Refugee Status” as part of a comprehensive strategy to begin implementing measures to reduce the backlog of existing asylum applications. Similarly, a decree was approved for a “Residence by Roots Program,” based on criteria related to labor, family, and educational ties, targeting asylum seekers who entered the country at the border and have been continuously present for more than six (6) months until the decree’s effective date. The program is based on the consensus of the “Declaration on Migration and Protection from Los Angeles” (2022), which aims to open regular pathways for residence, including family reunification and regularization programs, to promote safer and more orderly migration. The National Migration Directorate (DNM) must take necessary measures to implement this program within 90 days of the decree’s publication. Since the beneficiaries are individuals with pending asylum (refugee) applications, the program will necessarily require strengthening both the capacities of CORE’s Permanent Secretariat and the DNM. Thus, the residence by roots program and the asylum capacity program are intended to be implemented together. As a result of these advancements, Uruguayan authorities are currently progressing with the implementation of the following initiatives to strengthen the asylum and migration system: 1) Residence by roots programme; 2) Prima Facie Recognition of Refugee Status Program; 3) Asylum Capacity Enhancement Program; 4) Inclusion Initiatives.
The Snr Durable Solutions Assistant will report to the Head of National Office and work in close collaboration with the Protection, Information Management, External Relations and Programme Unit of MCO Argentina.
The incumbent will focus on….. :
1) Supporting stakeholder in finding opportunities for inclusion and local integration for refugees and other persons of concern (POC), 2) assisting the supervisor and UNHCR senior managers to engage in relevant government-led development planning and coordination processes through coordinating and supporting UNHCR's participation in relevant mechanisms, 3) assisting in the establishment and maintenance of effective working relations with relevant public and governmental entities and officials, with relevant local authorities and with strategic development partners through systematic communication and information sharing, 4) assisting in efforts to institutionalize long-term development-oriented approaches for refugees and refugee-hosting areas with a broad range of development and humanitarian partners through coordinating and supporting UNHCR's participation in relevant planning processes, 5) Assist in preparing relevant information (correspondence and reports) to external and internal stakeholders regularly, on time and as per necessary requirements, 6) assisting in facilitating and operationalizing strategic development partnerships and multi-stakeholder coordination for development and self-reliance oriented interventions in refugee-hosting areas through translating and disseminating relevant correspondence and texts, 7) Mapping key gaps/issues and problem areas in the area of integration that require urgent attention and will support required interventions through facilitating the development of specific services or referral and support mechanisms helping refugees to make use of mainstream social policies, 8) Liaising with and provide guidance and advice to government authorities, NGOs, refugee community groups, local municipalities and volunteer groups in connection with the establishment and improvement of integration services. 9) Facilitating capacity building; training activities and provision of other support through for example bilateral arrangements involving other countries in close consultation with the supervisor, 10) Facilitating the establishment and operation of integration related networks at local, regional or national levels and the cooperation of focal points for integration among key providers either at local, regional or national levels. 11) Performing other related duties as required.
The ideal candidate should have excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to work with multiple stakeholders and a solid background in law, economics, or social sciences.
Work experience with migrants and refugees is an asset as well as experience working with civil society, government, NGO´s and/or International Organizations.
The ability to work in Spanish and English is essential.
Senior Durable Solutions Assistant
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Durable Solutions Assistant reports to a Durable Solutions Associate or Officer.
The incumbent is relied upon to contribute to the implementation of a durable solutions strategy. Contributing to fostering an environment to enhance partnerships is a critical element of the work, as are activities designed to strength 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) about their durable solutions needs.
- Interview candidates for voluntary repatriation and prepare documentation for their return, in line with Voluntary Repatriation 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.
- Participate in identifying resettlement needs of refugees, in line with Resettlement SOPs.
- 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 advise on the appropriate durable solution to be provided to POC.
- Prepare documents relating to durable solutions.
- Enter information into available database, in line with SOPs.
- 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 G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.
Certificates and/or Licenses
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.
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SkillsDM-Database Management, IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software
Education
CertificationsHCR Protection Induction Prog - UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program - UNHCR
Work Experience
Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
Home-BasedNo