Snr Reg Dur Sols Officer

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the IOM-FOM issued for this Compendium / Fast Track exercise, as well as the  Revised Policy and Procedures on Assignments (UNHCR/HCP/2015/2 refers). Senior Regional Durable Solutions Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Senior Regional Durable Solutions Officer is the designated focal point for solutions related issues in a region, and reports to the Assistant or Deputy Regional Representative or, as appropriate, to the Regional Representative.  The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for durable solutions staff.  She/He works closely with protection and programme staff and ensures operational standards and practices in solutions delivery at the regional level. 

The Senior Regional Durable Solutions Officer is normally a member of the Regional senior management team and is relied upon by the Regional Office to assist in the design and implementation of a regional solutions strategy.  The Senior Durable Solutions Officer should provide planning and foresight to advance progress for Protracted Refugee situations, where applicable, and/or to prevent new situations from becoming protracted.  Fostering an environment to enhancing partnerships is a critical element of the work, as are activities designed to strengthen the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies. 

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- A regional durable solutions strategy reflecting UNHCR's global priorities is in place and implemented.
- The regional strategy incorporates strategic partnerships with Governments, regional institutions, development agencies, civil society organizations and the private sector.
- The Durable solutions strategy capitalizes on regional mobility frameworks and partnerships.
- Durable solutions are integrated in all regional protection and programmatic activities, linking security, legal, economic and social welfare issues.
- Appropriate durable solutions are offered to a maximum number of persons of concern in the region.

Responsibility

- Design and monitor implementation of the regional comprehensive durable solutions strategy for persons of concern. Participate in the planning of, and advise on opportunities for alternative solutions, including available regional and national legal frameworks.
- Participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and with a broad range of regional and national external partners to promote voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement.
- Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with UN and other regional development agencies, civil societies and the private sector.
- Ensure that the Comprehensive Solutions strategy is fully integrated into the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and Early Recovery Strategy where applicable.
- Advise on populations of concern' appropriate engagement for the identification of the most appropriate solutions, including through participatory assessments and other forms of community based assessments.
- Provide guidance and input to the annual programme planning to identify adequate resources and means to implement the programme region-wide.
- Integrate self-reliance as a key component of a durable solutions strategy and ensure the involvement of PoCs in transition projects, peace-building and development initiatives.
- Monitor the implementation of durable solutions strategies in the region
- Analyse reports, statistics, trends and other documents, to ensure a regional coherence.
- Design and conduct training activities aimed at the capacity building of UNHCR and partner staff on durable solutions, peacebuilding/coexistence and partnership.
- Advise populations of concern, Government counterparts, partners and other stakeholders on available durable solutions and alternatives.
- Participate in fundraising and engage in drafting and presenting inter-agency joint project proposals.
- Monitor the implementation of the regional programme through managing the human and financial resources and identify gaps to ensure optimum use of available funds.

Authority

- Design and advise on UNHCR's regional comprehensive durable solutions strategy.
- Engage regional interlocutors on durable solutions issues.
- Represent UNHCR in negotiations and meetings relating to durable solutions.
- Clear documents and reports coming out of the Regional Durable Solutions Unit.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- Advanced University Degree in Law/International Law, Political Science, Social Science, Economics, International Relations or related field.
- Minimum 10 years (12 years with University degree) relevant professional experience whereof 3 years in the field and 5 years in an international capacity.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of UN working language of duty station and working knowledge of English.)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Diverse field experience desirable.
- Good knowledge of MS Word, Excel, ProGres and MSRP.
- Completion of the RSD- Resettlement Learning Programme, Protection Learning Programme and Management Learning Programme desirable. 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
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3 The incumbent should have excellent knowledge of UNHCR programme and protection (including RST and RSD) rules and procedures, to be able to advise on UNHCR¿s regional comprehensive durable solutions strategy and engage regional interlocutors on durable solutions issues. 

The incumbent must also possess excellent communication skills to represent UNHCR in negotiations and meetings relating to durable solutions, and conduct training activities aimed at the capacity building of UNHCR and partner staff on durable solutions.   

The incumbent must also be conversant with MSRP, FOCUS and ProGres.

Fluency in French is essential. Good working knowledge in English is also required as more and more reports, internal as well as external, are requested in English. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) hosts some 467,473 refugees as of 30 April 2017 countrywide (including 245,052 Rwandan refugees, 102,568 CAR refugees, 41,073 Burundian refugees and 77,473 South Sudanese refugees).  The South Sudan crisis, which started in 2016, led to more than 77,473 refugees arriving in DRC mainly in remote border areas in Haut-Uele province (Aba town, Dungu and Faradje territories) and in Ituri province (Aru territory). The DRC operation anticipates that more than 80,000 South Sudanese refugees mainly from the Equator region in South Sudan may flee to DRC in the coming months.  The number of Congolese refugees living in other countries reaches 539,106 (South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania), and voluntary returns are expected in 2017, under the framework of the DRC Peace and Security Framework - Addis Ababa peace agreement.  This framework is a regional initiative promoting the voluntary return and the reintegration of displaced people in the region, including refugees.  DRC also hosts some 3.7 million IDPs located as follows: 1.7 million in Kasai provinces, 883,000 in North Kivu province, 422,000 in South Kivu province, 370,000 in Tanganyika province, 210,000 in Ituri province, 147,000 in Maniema province, 96,000 in Haut-Katanga province, 64,000 in Haut-Lomami province and 16,000 in Lualaba province. Following recent clashes in Kasai provinces, UNOCHA records another half a million IDPs.  As lead Protection Cluster, UNHCR continues to play a key role supporting the DRC Government in implementing a durable solutions strategy in order to help end the circle of protracted displacement in the country. 
The Regional Office in Kinshasa supervises and provides support to 4 sub-offices and 11 field offices/units within the Country.  It also oversees operations in Gabon, Sao & Principe and the Republic of Congo which provides support to more than 55,000 people of concern. The Senior Regional Durable Solutions Officer will report directly to the Deputy Regional Representative. She/He will work closely with protection and programme staff and ensure operational standards and practices in solutions delivery at the regional level.  
His/her primary responsibility will be to ensure that a designated focal point will supervise and coordinate solutions related activities in the region. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the third largest country in Africa, and as a result is quite diverse.  Living conditions therefore vary between UNHCR duty stations, with all usual amenities present in the capital Kinshasa, but only very basic conditions in remote duty stations in the provinces, where, for instance, there may be no guarantee of public power supply nor running water.  Accommodation is very expensive in Kinshasa. There are several Supermarkets in town but consumer items are generally very expensive (as everything is imported). For food, local markets offer a much cheaper alternative.  Kinshasa is considered family duty station effective 1 January 2015, despite the fact that most facilities and amenities are still basic.

The unit of currency is the Congolese Franc. The US dollar is the other preferred currency. It may be impossible to exchange traveller¿s checks away from the capital city. Credit cards are usually accepted in major hotels only in Kinshasa. In larger towns and cities (e.g. Kinshasa, Goma, Bukavu, Kisangani), it is recommended to open US Dollar bank accounts, while in other places, banks may be absent (including ATMs) and payments will be processed in cash.

In addition to French, there are four major spoken languages in DRC, namely Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba and Swahili. Kinshasa is a security level 2 duty station. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add. 3 to March 2017 Compendium is Thursday, 3 August 2017 (midnight Geneva time).