UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency Looking For Associate Durable Solutions Officer at New Delhi, Delhi, Full Time

NOB

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

National Professional Officer

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

Hardship Level

B

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Remote work accepted

No

Target Start Date

2024-01-01

Target End Date

2024-12-31

Job Posting End Date

December 26, 2023

Standard Job Description

Associate Durable Solutions Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Associate Durable Solutions Officer can serve as a focal point for solutions related issues in a region, and reports to the Durable Solutions Officer, Protection Officer or, where appropriate, to the Senior Protection Officer or Head of Office. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions staff.

The incumbent is relied upon to contribute to ensuring a conducive environment leading towards finding durable solutions. The Associate Durable Solutions Officer should participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and a broad range of partners to promote durable solutions and advance the efficiency of UNHCR’s interventions. Activities to strengthen the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies are a critical element of the work.

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

• Implement activities in accordance with the comprehensive solutions strategy, with a view to finding durable solutions to the maximum number of PoCs.
• Participate in the planning of, and advise on opportunities for alternative solutions, including available regional and national legal frameworks.
• Participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and with a broad range of regional and national external partners to promote voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement.
• Meet PoC, assess their durable solutions needs and identify the most appropriate solutions for them.
• Monitor the implementation of the durable solutions strategy and provide advice for improvements.
• Analyse statistics, trends, and other documents, and draft reports.
• 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.
• Implement and contribute to the designing of national and regional comprehensive durable solutions strategies
• Engage national and local interlocutors on durable solutions issues.
• Authorize payments 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 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;

Social Science;

Law/International Law;

Economics;

International Relations;

or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

HCR Protection Learning Prg;

HCR Resettlement Lrng Prg;

HCR RSD Lrng Programme;

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Good knowledge of refugee issues and Human Rights doctrine. Very good reporting and writing ability.

Desirable

Diverse field experience. Knowledge of ProGress database software.

Functional Skills

• CO-Drafting and Documentation
• 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

The candidate for the UNHCR India Associate Durable Solutions Officer position should have experience working in an international resettlement context, including supervising and coaching staff, RRF review, and ensuring compliance with UNHCR resettlement and anti-fraud SOPs. He/she should also have experience implementing Complementary Pathways, developing and maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and have familiarity with India’s citizenship laws. The position requires excellent communication, interpersonal, negotiation, training, decision-making, and ProGres v4 skills, as well excellent drafting and English language skills. Additionally, the candidate should have experience working with refugees with specific needs, such as unaccompanied minors, women at risk, and refugees with medical needs. Previous experience in identification of vulnerable refugees through a Protection Panel or Profiling is a plus.

India is not a state party to the 1951 Convention or 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees. India endorsed the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), however, and is a member of UNHCR’s Executive Committee. India has no specific legislation governing the status and treatment of refugees. The Foreigners Act of 1946 regulates the entry, presence and departure of foreigners including refugees. The rules and policies under the Act are implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). As there is no national asylum procedure, registration and refugee status determination are conducted by UNHCR under its mandate.

As of 31 October 2023, India hosts a total of 34,956 refugees recognized under UNHCR’s mandate and 12,239 asylum-seekers. Rohingya (48%) and Afghans (26%) constitute the largest groups of refugees. Refugees are primarily residing in urban areas, with approximately half living in Delhi and half in other urban areas. In addition to the registered population of concern, Myanmar nationals have also arrived in the Northeast of India following the coup in Myanmar on 1 February 2021. The Government of India (GoI) provides direct protection and assistance to Sri Lankan (91,406) and Tibetan (73,404) refugees.

Refugees and asylum-seekers have access to basic services; however, some face administrative barriers trying to access services, often due to a lack of government-issued documentation. Moreover, refugees and asylum-seekers cannot open bank accounts and do not have access to digital payment methods such as mobile wallets. The lack of access to government-issued documentation also limits the full enjoyment of their socio-economic rights and access to national social welfare schemes, increasing their dependence on UNHCR for assistance.

The Foreigners Act of 1946 regulates the entry, presence and departure of all foreign nationals in the country, including refugees and asylum-seekers. The rules and policies under the Foreigners Act are implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs. As many persons of concern to UNHCR either entered the country irregularly or have overstayed their visas, asylum-seekers and refugees continue to be at risk of arrest or deportation under the Foreigners Act. As of October 2023, 831 persons of concern (including 675 Rohingya) were detained in various facilities for immigration-related issues, mostly in the border areas, comprising men, women, and children. A total of 53 deportations known to UNHCR have been carried out since 2018.

Very few refugees registered with UNHCR can regularize their stay in India. Afghan refugees are able to obtain or extend their visas, provided they have valid passports. Most refugees/asylum seekers cannot renew their national passports due to high renewal fees or because they cannot safely approach their embassies due to their asylum claims. UNHCR advocates with the Government of India to waive penalty fees that have accumulated due to irregular entry or overstaying visas so that exit permits can be issued for refugees to depart to third countries for resettlement and complementary pathways, or voluntary repatriation.

Refugees can generally access primary and secondary education but may face administrative barriers due to their lack of government-issued documentation. Persons of concern to UNHCR access free primary healthcare services available at government dispensaries, including COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccinations, however they must pay for certain types of medicine and tests for secondary and tertiary healthcare at hospitals.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a major socio-economic impact on refugees and asylum-seekers in India, including a loss of livelihoods and the inability to meet basic needs for food, hygienic and sanitary materials, medicines, and rental accommodation, resulting in an increase in requests for assistance from UNHCR across all communities and locations.

The developments in Afghanistan in 2021 have adversely affected Afghan refugees who were already displaced in India as financial support that had previously been sent through links with Afghanistan has dwindled, increasing reliance on support and humanitarian assistance from UNHCR.

This position is open only for Indian nationals.

Shortlisted candidates may have to take a written test and/or conduct an interview as part of the recruitment process. The selected candidate will also be required to work at UNHCR partner locations. Remote work is not accepted for this position.

Functional Clearance

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)

,

,

Desired languages

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,

Skills

Additional Qualifications

CO-Drafting and Documentation, IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science

Certifications

HCR Protection Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR RSD Learning Program – UNHCR

Work Experience

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Other Information

Remote work not accepted..