RSD Assistant

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

BFamilyUNOPS LICA42024-05-01April 19, 20241. Operational Context

The RSD Assistant is a member of the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) team. S/he is responsible for supporting all activities related to the processing of refugee claims in the Operation. The RSD Assistant provides counselling to, and responds to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR's RSD procedures, their rights and obligations, including towards the host authorities, and the status of the processing of their claims. In discharging these responsibilities, the RSD Assistant liaises closely with Registration, Community Services, Resettlement, and other Protection staff. The RSD Assistant is responsible for conducting COI and other research related to RSD and maintaining the Operation's local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards. S/he may also assist in drafting RSD Assessments. The RSD Assistant assists in compiling and analyzing information related to the RSD activities of the Operation, and in drafting related correspondence and reports. The RSD Assistant may provide interpretation and/or translation services in cases for which s/he has the required language competencies.

The contract holder will also be required to work at UNHCR partner locations in New Delhi.


2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
(Concise and detailed description of activities, tasks and responsibilities to be undertaken, including expected travel, if applicable)

Accountability (key results that will be achieved)

- UNHCR’s RSD procedures are implemented in accordance with relevant UNHCR standards and policies, including policies related to age, gender, and diversity mainstreaming (AGDM).
- Asylum seekers have fair and transparent access to RSD procedures.
- Fraud in the RSD process is identified and appropriately addressed.

Responsibility (process and functions undertaken to achieve results)

- Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the protection environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through RSD.
- Assist in the development of the RSD strategy of the operation and in the annual planning exercise.
- Provide counselling to, and respond to queries from, asylum seekers and refugees, including in the context of the notification of negative RSD decisions.
- Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all work on individual cases.
- Assist in preventing and identifying fraud in RSD through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR staff, partners, refugees and asylum seekers.
- Systematically apply an age, gender and diversity (AGD) perspective in the performance of assigned functions.
- Conduct research on country of origin information (COI) and other issues related to RSD and maintain the Operation's local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards accessible to RSD staff in the operation.
- Assist in monitoring RSD trends and in compiling and analysing RSD statistics related to RSD case processing.
- Assist in developing and maintaining processes to ensure that asylum seekers ,refugees, Government authorities and partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policies and practice.
- Assist in initiatives to advocate with and support Government authorities and legal partners to establish and strengthen fair and efficient RSD procedures and RSD decision-making.
- Draft correspondence and reports relating to the RSD activities of the Operation.
Authority (decisions made in executing responsibilities and to achieve results)
- Refer individual cases to other functional units in the Operation and/or external partners for appropriate follow-up, in accordance with established criteria.
- Counsel individual asylum seekers on the reasons for negative RSD decisions, in accordance with the RSD SOPs.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
(Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring)

- The incumbent processes 5 to 10 first instance RSD cases per week (RSD interview and RSD assessment completed).
- UNHCR’s RSD procedures are implemented in accordance with relevant UNHCR standards and
policies, including policies related to age, gender, and diversity mainstreaming (AGDM).
- Asylum seekers have fair and transparent access to the RSD procedures.
- Refugees and asylum seekers are treated with dignity, respect and professionalism.

4. Qualifications and Experience
(List the required education, work experience, expertise and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.)

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)

- University degree in law, political science, international relations or another related field
- Fluency in English and another UN language, if and as required by the operational context

b. Work Experience
(List number of years and area of required work experience. Clearly distinguish between required experience and experience which could be an asset.)

- Minimum 2 years of relevant professional job experience, preferably in the area of refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law.
- Working experience with procedures and principles related to RSD is highly desirable.
- Experience in counselling asylum seekers or refugees.
- Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals.

c. Key Competencies
(Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies)
     
- Research and analytical skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
- Fluency in English and Hindi.
- Working knowledge of and experience with MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook
- The ability to work effectively under stress and in crisis situations.
- Age, gender, and diversity (AGD) awareness and demonstrated ability to perform effectively in a multi- cultural environment.
- Knowledge of international refugee law and human rights law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.

 

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Cross-cultural communication, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Counselling Asylum Seekers or Refugees, PR-Government Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures, PR-RSD - Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance, SO-Research, WB-Treatment of vulnerable/traumatized individuals

Education

Certifications

Community Development/Social Work - Other, HCR Country of Origin Information Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR RSD Learning Program - UNHCR

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No