Senior Durable Solutions Assistant

at  United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR

Grade
GS5
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
General Service
Reason
Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment
Hardship Level
B
Family Type
Family

Residential location (if applicable)
Target Start Date
2025-01-01
Target End Date
2025-12-31
Deadline for Applications
November 3, 2024
Standard Job Description
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.
Desired Candidate Profile
Colombia is the country most impacted by the outflow of over 7.7 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants, hosting nearly 2.8 million Venezuelans, the majority of whom in the process of regularization. In addition, and despite the 2016 Peace Agreement, conflict and armed violence continue to uproot Colombians (over 1.2 million people newly displaced by the internal conflict since 2016) and, in a growing and worrying trend, also Venezuelans and other nationalities. Afro-Colombians and indigenous people continue to be disproportionally affected by large-group displacement events and confinements, particularly in the Pacific Coast. UNHCR and partners work to strengthen preventive actions as well as to respond to emergencies, providing protection and solutions for the people with and for whom UNHCR works.
Over 2.4 million Venezuelans who live in Colombia have registered to benefit from the Temporary Protection Status (TPS), issued by the Government of Colombia in February 2021. The TPS provides a 10-year protection status and access to a full range of rights including healthcare, education, formal employment, and financial inclusion. More than 1.8 million permits have been delivered; however, challenges remain in terms of access to rights and services. Xenophobia against Venezuelans persists, as misinformation and the perceptions that Venezuelans will take away job opportunities from Colombians, fuel general discontent. UNHCR supports the TPS roll-out and believes it is a promising pathway for addressing the vulnerable situation of Venezuelan refugees and migrants and continues to work towards durable solutions.
Mixed movements of refugees and migrants continue to increase in the region, including more than 520,000 transiting the Darien Gap in 2023. UNHCR continues to advocate for the expansion of lawful pathways, including resettlement, that avoid the risk of irregular, dangerous journeys, while, at the same time, preserving the fundamental human right to seek asylum.
UNHCR is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, socio-economic, religious and ethnic backgrounds, to apply to become a part of the organization. Furthermore, UNHCR Colombia strongly encourages persons living with disabilities to apply to this position.
Functional Clearance
This position doesn’t require a functional clearance
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)
,
,
Desired languages
Spanish
,
English
,
Additional Qualifications
Skills
DM-Database Management, IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software
Education
Certifications
HCR Protection Induction Prog - UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program - UNHCR
Work Experience
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Other informatio

• 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