Deadline: 06 July, 2022

Location: Hargeisa, Somalia

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking to fill the role of Associate Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Officer.

The UNHRC is a UN agency mandated to aid and protect refugees and stateless people, and assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement.

Responsibilities

• Conduct first instance RSD case processing, including for cases that may be reviewed, and return to caseworker for updates and additional clarifications
• Where possible, and based on a capacity assessment, provide support with review of pending RSD cases
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records and data related to all work on individual cases
• Provide counselling to asylum seekers and refugees with pending RSD cases, as and when required
• Systematically apply an age, gender and diversity (AGD) perspective in the performance of assigned functions
• Assist in monitoring RSD trends and in compiling and analysing RSD statistics to identify and respond to developments or issues impacting on the efficiency or quality of RSD decision-making, and to propose remedial measures
• Ensure RSD scheduling
• Participate in RSD meetings with Somalia representation office and regional bureau, as required
• Undertake training and capacity-building activities for UNHCR national staff engaged in RSD, as well as government partners, as required
• Conduct research on country-of-origin information (COI) and legal issues related to RSD and assist in maintaining a local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards accessible to all staff involved in RSD
• Ensure that persons of concern, government authorities and legal partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policy and practice
• Assist in developing and maintaining processes to ensure that persons of concern, government authorities and partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policy and practice

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Law, Social Sciences or a related field
• Three years, minimum, of relevant experience
• Six months, minimum, of experience working with RSD module on proGres v4
• Knowledge and experience working with RSD on proGres v3 (desirable)
• Knowledge of and/or preparedness to become familiar with and abide by UNHCR’s principles, code of conduct and humanitarian goals
• Knowledge of the international legal framework governing refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and statelessness
• Knowledge of UNHCR guidelines on refugee status determination
• Excellent interviewing and counselling skills as demonstrated in previous assignments
• Excellent drafting and written skills in English, very strong attention to detail, very
  strong analytical skills, as demonstrated in previous assignments
• Experience giving advice on RSD guidelines and policy (desirable)
• Excellent communication skills, with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Fluency in English, with advanced writing and editing skills

To apply and for more information, click here.

Photo source: UNHCR