Assistant Durable Solutions Officer at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

• The Assistant Durable Solutions Officer can serve as a focal point for solutions related issues in a region, and reports to a more senior Protection, Resettlement or Durable Solutions staff. The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions staff.
• The incumbent is relied upon to ensure the implementation of a durable solutions strategy, and to contribute to ensuring a conducive environment leading towards finding durable solutions. S/he works closely with protection and programme staff. 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) to identify the most appropriate durable solution and to enable them to make a well-informed decision.
• Interview candidates for voluntary repatriation and prepare documentation for their return.
• 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.
• 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 P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

• Political Science;
• Social Science;
• Law;
• International Relations; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

• Not specified.

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 should as a minimum, have experience related to Durable Solutions (Resettlement and Complementary Pathways, and VolRep). Prior experience in resettlement programme or strong case managements skills is an asset for discharging the functions of the position. Considering the complexities of the operation, it would be of added value to have a candidate with experience from insecure and isolated, non-family duty stations like Dadaab. The candidate will be required to have strong stakeholder management, interviewing and communications skills considering the large number of external partners, s/he will need to coordinate and advocate with. The candidate needs to have demonstrated leadership and analytical skills together with the ability to forecast evolving situations. The candidate should be familiar with UNHCR integrity-related rules and procedures. S/he is expected to liaise with the Representation and the Regional Bureau in Nairobi to ensure coherent approaches to durable solutions across the operation, and co-ordinate with partners, refugees and local authorities. The candidate will report to the Durable Solutions Officer in Dadaab and might act as officer in charge of the durable solutions team.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position: 

• As of 31 October 2023, 2023, Dadaab population stands at 373,256 individuals. Of this number, 302,805 individuals are registered/ documented while 70,451 individuals are profiled/ undocumented.
• In Dec 2022, the Government of Kenya (GoK) designated Ifo2 and Kambioos as camps to accommodate the increased new arrivals. In March 2023, the GoK Government resumed registration of new arrivals from Somalia. UNHCR will continue to strengthen the protection of refugees and to maintain asylum space and continue to actively support Resettlement, Complementary Pathways and Voluntary Repatriation as part of the solutions strategy.
• With the GCR, the Garissa Integrated Socio-Economic Development Programme (GISEDP), the 2021 Refugees Act, the Shirkia Plan, UNHCR engages with county and sub-county officials and other stakeholders on integrated and inclusive services for refugees and host communities.UNHCR also works diligently to develop and complement existing strategies, including enhancing coordination and funding mechanisms, incorporating both humanitarian and development actors in line with CRRF/GCR.The GISEDP envisions that both refugees and host communities will benefit from strengthened national service delivery systems, increased socio-economic opportunities along with sustained investments in developing people’s skills and capabilities in order for them to become the drivers of economic growth in Garissa County.
• The Assistant Durable Solutions Officer (ADSO) is part of the Durable Solutions team. S/he works under the supervision of the Durable Solutions Officer (DSO). S/he contributes to the Office’ efforts to materialize solutions for refugees through implementation of the Protection and Solutions plans for the refugees in the existing three refugee camps in Dadaab, as well as soon in the newly reopened Ifo2 settlement, which was developed jointly by the Government of Kenya and UNHCR.
• Dadaab has a significant number of refugees in the resettlement pipeline submitted in the past years and pending processing by resettlement countries (mainly the USA). The operation continues to support RST countries processes/missions in addition to making new submissions. The ADSO will also coordinate voluntary repatriation activities. Although its numbers have reduced in the recent years, voluntary repatriation will remain a key component in the solutions strategy. The ADSO will also support complementary pathways activities by which refugees may be admitted to countries and have their international protection needs met while they are able to support themselves to potentially reach a sustainable and lasting solutions.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

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

Education

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

Certifications

Work Experience

Competencies

• Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration