Job Opportunities at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

The Senior Economist is the designated focal point for providing economic analysis and strategic support on behalf of DRS in support of the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR) objectives 1 and 2Ease the pressures on host countries and Enhance refugee self-reliance. Concretely, the Senior Economist will provide key input regarding the indicators measuring the success of the Global Compact for Refugees and particularly the proportion of refugees living below the national poverty line in the host country. Depending on where the Senior Economist is based, the reporting lines will differ. If based in Headquarters it will map to the DRS Partnership Analytics Research and Knowledge Management (PARK) section. If based in a country or multi-country office, the incumbent will report to either the Representative or Deputy Representative Programme, or in some cases Head of Sub-Office or Senior Operations Officer. In all cases, functional supervision and guidance, including technical functional clearance of candidates and technical oversight of economics products, is provided by DRS PARK. The Senior Economist will work closely with Programme and Protection colleagues, the Global Data Service and DIMAs, in addition to Senior Management, in the operation as well as Bureaux and technical unit key external stakeholders and development agencies, including the World Bank, government agencies, national statistical agencies, and other operational partners.

Duties

• Strategy & coordination
• Provide strategic vision and lead engagement with senior management, internal business units and external partners for the design and implementation of research and analytical products generated from comparable socio-economic data.
• Provide guidance/recommendations on obstacles and possible improvements to UNHCR¿s programming, ensuring effective links and coordination with Field Operations and stakeholders at Headquarters through the preparation and use of available economic statistics, industrial surveys and other available data.
• Provide strategic vision for UNHCR comparable socio-economic data agenda and lead the overall coordination with the relevant World Bank teams and Joint Data Center and associated workstream.
• Provide guidance and input to the annual programme planning and review process to support the development and approval of sound operational plans and the effective allocation and use of resources for livelihoods, energy, environment, food security, solutions, health, shelter and water/sanitation.
• Ensure good communication and coordination among members of the country team, Governments, researchers and partners, serving as a link between these parties.
• Lead drafting and writing of presentations, analytical reports, research and policy briefs.
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• Data Collection and Analysis
• Provide oversight, vision and guidance for the collection of raw primary and secondary datasets into final datasets to be used for analysis, as needed.
• Supervise cleaning of all datasets and creation of necessary indicators for measuring livelihoods and other socio-economic indicators, impact and related. Work with the research team to design a thorough plan for data analysis including production of descriptive statistics and regression analysis for various outputs such as briefs, presentations and academic papers.
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• Project Management
• Lead the design and implementation of assessments and other data-driven products related to the socio-economic welfare of refugees, forcibly displaced persons and host communities, wherever possible through coordination with the National Bureau of Statistics and World Bank Country Economist in inclusion of forcibly displaced into National Poverty Assessment.
• Successfully manage all partnerships and activities in the collection of comparable socio-economic (poverty) data on forcibly displaced
• Contribute to defining and promoting a vision for the use of socio-economic data, particularly in planning, programming and advocacy at the country, regional and headquarters levels.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the state of literature on poverty analysis for forcibly displaced.
• Manage data collection activities, as appropriate. This may take place at all stages of data collection (preparation, survey design, sampling, onsite data collection oversight and supervision and quality assurance, data analysis and report writing).
• Conduct data analysis using econometric programs (R, Stata).
• Guide colleagues and operations on factors influencing efficiency and effectiveness of programming

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P4/NOD 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

*Economics or other relevant field.

(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified.

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

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in economics, analysing data and conducting research.
• Familiarity with processes of the World Bank, the African Development Bank or other international financial institutions, bilateral development agencies or research institutions.
• Demonstrated skills and experience with measuring welfare through socio-economic profiling.
• Excellent conceptual and analytical capability and track record in developing tools/methodologies to ensure informed and responsible decision making.
• Ability to manage and supervise teams.
• Ability to think creatively, and to explore, harness and translate innovative concepts into practice.
• Capable of multi-tasking and managing several programmes/projects at the same time.

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Application

Interested candidates are requested to apply online at www.unhcr.org/careers by clicking on the "Vacancies" tab and entering the job title.
The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

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 Job Description

Procedures and Eligibility

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Duties and Qualifications

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

In the Bureaux, the Senior Protection Officer works under the direct supervision of the Bureau Deputy Director or Head of Bureau Protection Service or Senior Protection Coordinator. In the Field, the incumbent normally reports to the Representative, Deputy or Assistant Representative (Protection) or Head of Sub Office as appropriate. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for protection staff whose work may include RSD, community-based protection, registration, resettlement, internal displacement, complementary pathways, and education, among other areas. In HQ, the incumbent may report to a Chief of Section or Deputy Director and may lead a Unit and/or supervise other protection staff.

The incumbent acts as a key advisor to senior management and leads the development of a comprehensive protection strategy under the area of responsibility (AoR). S/he represents the Organization to authorities, UN sister agencies, partners and other stakeholders on protection policy and doctrine.

The Senior Protection Officer plans, leads and coordinates quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern under the AoR. This includes ensuring that operational responses in all sectors are shaped in a protection optic, are consistent with and promote respect for relevant international law and UNHCR's doctrine, mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. Another important element of the incumbent¿s functions is to ensure that persons of concern of all age, gender and diversity groups are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying and implementing appropriate solutions to their problems. To undertake this role effectively, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with other relevant teams within the operation or the Bureau (including programme; PI and external relations; IM) and with DIP, communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection and achieving solutions.

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 technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners on all protection related issues.
• Stay abreast of legal, political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
• Manage a consultative process with government counterparts, partners and persons of concern to develop and implement a comprehensive protection and solutions strategy addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientation and/or gender identities (LGBTI persons), persons living with HIV/AIDS; gender equality and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) priorities with regard to these persons.
• In operations applying the Cluster Approach, ensure the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in a strategy which covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.
• Ensure that the protection strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the Humanitarian Country Team¿s common humanitarian response plan as well as with the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees and the Three Year Strategy on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways.
• Promote relevant International, Regional and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct and ensure that all sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations fulfil their responsibilities in mainstreaming protection.
• Promote the implementation of the AGD policy, including UNHCR¿s updated commitments to women and girls,  and design, deliver and monitor programmes on an AGD basis to address identified protection needs.
• Develop, implement and monitor community-based protection strategies and ensure systematic application and integration of participatory and community-based approaches in protection and solutions planning, programming and strategies.
• Support the establishment of feedback and response systems and the incorporation of feedback received from persons of concern into programme design and adaptation.
• Guide the operation in the development and implementation of robust prevention, identification, and responses to fraud within protection processes and procedures, including registration, RSD, and resettlement, ensuring the integrity of interventions across all protection activities.
• Oversee the management of individual protection cases including those on SGBV and child protection.
• Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocutors; ensure legal assistance is accessible to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documents to persons of concern (including women and others in need of civil documentation in particular birth certificates).
• As designated Data Protection Focal Point, assist the data controller in carrying out his or her responsibilities regarding the Data Protection Policy (7.2 DPP).
• Oversee eligibility and status determination in the Operation(s) under the AoR, ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
• Promote and implement strategies and measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
• Develop and implement an education plan as part of the protection strategy within the AoR as relevant.
• Develop and implement a child protection plan as part of the protection strategy within the AoR, ensuring programmes use a child protection systems approach.
• Monitor and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
• Work to safeguard the rights of persons of concerns in the context of mixed movements as relevant.
• Coordinate the preparation of, implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
• Ensure that durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement and complementary pathways are sought and provided to the largest possible number of persons of concern including undertaking, supporting, and/or overseeing resettlement and complementary pathways activities, including implementation of the GCR Three Year Strategy.
• Coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related programming with implementing and operational partners.
• Develop and implement a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
• Ensure that the Protection Sector or Cluster has an effective information management component which provides disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
• Research, collect and disseminate relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery.
• Develop the protection capacity of national and local authorities, partners and civil society to assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis all persons of concern through protection training, mainstreaming and related activities.
• Coordinate capacity-development initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
• Advise and capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and civil society to strengthen legislation and status determination procedures and mechanisms.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• For positions in Bureaux
• Support the Regional Bureau and Country Operations to reflect the protection and solution angle in support of persons of concern with regional processes.
• Support Country Operations in the development of strategies to build and further develop national asylum/RSD systems with a view to ensuring their fairness, efficiency, adaptability and integrity, favourable protection environment and solutions.
• Assist UNHCR management at country level to comply with policies and commitment on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse measures.
• Support Country Operations and ensure they meet their complementary pathways objectives and resettlement quotas.
• In close collaboration with DIP, (a) contribute to the development of background and general normative, policy, and legal positions, in compliance with UNHCR¿s global protection policies and standards; (b) contribute to the development of strategies at the regional and country level on the usage of law and policy approaches, including legislative and judicial engagement and UN human rights mechanisms ¿and/or regional ones ¿ and other protection frameworks, and integrated human rights standards in protection strategies and advocacy; and (c) coordinate and review UNHCR¿s country reports to the UN human rights mechanisms.
• Engage in relevant international and regional fora and forge regional partnerships to advocate for key protection and mandate issues, and engage in cross-cutting protection-related matters, including mixed movement, internal displacement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses, as well as Statelessness in cooperation with DIP and where relevant RSD.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P4/NOD 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

• Law, International Law, International refugee Law, International Human Rights Law,
• International Humanitarian Law, Refugee and Forced Migration, Political Sciences
• or other relevant field.

(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or License

Protection Learning Programme RSD-Resettlement Learning Programme Management Learning Programme
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential:

• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience in the area of refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights or international humanitarian law, including experience in working directly with Field Offices.
• Very good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles, and of UNHCR's protection strategies and policies.
• Excellent legal research, analytical skills and drafting.

Desirable:

Diverse field experience. Good IT skills including database management skills.

Functional Skills

• *Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
• *International Refugee Law
• *Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
• Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Coordination and Projects management
• Comprehensive Solutions Framework
• Refugee Coordination Model
• Inter-Agency Coordination
• Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
• International Humanitarian Law
• Judicial engagement
• Protection and mixed-movements
• Internal displacement
• Climate change and disaster-related displacement
• Community-based Protection
• Accountability to Affected people

(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.

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.

Position Competencies

• C001L3 Accountability Level 3
• C002L3 Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
• C003L3 Communication Level 3
• C004L3 Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
• C005L3 Client & Result Orientation Level 3
• C006L3 Organizational Awareness Level 3
• M001L3 Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
• M002L3 Managing Performance Level 3
• M006L3 Managing Resources Level 3
• M005L3 Leadership Level 3
• M003L3 Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
• M004L3 Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
• X005L3 Planning and Organizing Level 3
• X004L3 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 3
• X007L3 Political Awareness Level 3

Additional  Information

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Additional  Information

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).