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Reg Representative

Buenos Aires

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Buenos Aires
  • Grade: Senior Executive level - D-1, Director - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

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.

Regional Representative

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
As the High Commissioner's senior representative in the region, the Regional Representative provides managerial leadership and oversight to ensure UNHCR's effective performance in the countries falling within her/his area of responsibility. The incumbent usually manages a budget of USD 6 million and above.

Reporting to the Director of the Bureau and in cooperation with the country/national offices, the Regional Representative is responsible and accountable for translating organizational and Bureau-wide objectives and policies into effective programmes. Through a continuous process of situational analysis, the Regional Representative works with his/her regional team (including country/national offices) to identify strategic objectives and develop coherent, consistent and effective responses to the challenges faced at the regional and national levels. He/she is responsible for ensuring the adequate provision of technical support and guidance to all country/national offices to enable them to fulfil their accountabilities, including those outlined in the Terms of Reference of UNHCR offices as well as the Age, Gender and Diversity Accountability Framework. 

On the basis of delegated authority from the Bureau Director, the Regional Representative plays the role of Regional Coordinator in relation to a broader grouping of countries in the sub-region to which s/he is not directly accredited.  S/he assures overall strategic coherence in those countries, spearheads the development of sub-regional strategies, oversees the allocation and management of resources, and provides first-tier political support to country Representatives reporting to him/her as required.

The Regional Representative works to ensure that UNHCR is widely perceived as an effective and trusted partner. He/she is responsible for creating effective networks, relationships, partnerships, and synergies with governments, NGOs, relevant regional political and other fora, civil society, persons of concern and all other key strategic partners and actors. S/he lends visibility to important strategic issues, promotes concerted action and the commitment of sufficient resources and expertise to address important matters of concern to UNHCR. 

In a complex and demanding political and operational environment, the Regional Representative strives to build a dynamic and sufficiently capacitated regional team. S/he devolves appropriate authorities, facilitates the sharing of expertise and best practice and creates a climate of collaboration, which aims to empower and motivate colleagues to approach challenges with insight and innovation and to work toward achieving measurable and effective results. S/he has a responsibility to inform the Bureau and other relevant parties at Headquarters of key political and operational developments in a timely manner.

The comports and actions of the Regional Representative must at all times reflect the core values and principles embodied in UNHCR's mandate. A failure on the part of the Regional Representative to adhere to these standards would have negative implications for UNHCR's credibility, operations and, ultimately, the protection and well-being of persons of concern to the Office.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- UNHCR has a clearly articulated country/regional strategy to protect and find solutions for persons of concern.
- The protection framework in the country/region ensures availability and quality of asylum, operating systems and search for durable solutions for all categories of persons of concern.
- UNHCR is fully integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.
- UNHCR's policies and standards are applied consistently within the country/regional operation to ensure quality protection for populations of concern.
- Resources are commensurate with operational objectives and are allocated and managed effectively to meet the country/regional operation's objectives.
- UNHCR provides a healthy, safe and respectful working environment for its workforce in the country.

Responsibility
Strategic Direction
- Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the local or regional political context.
- Manage a consultative process within the country/regional operations and with external partners.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy that generates political and financial support for UNHCR's operations. Mobilize financial support for UNHCR corporate priorities as well for country/regional specific projects.

Operations
- Implement a results-oriented approach for assessing, designing and delivering the country/regional operation.
- Ensure that the protection strategy is fully integrated into the country/regional operations plan and that necessary resources are allocated to it.
- Ensure the country/regional operation's adherence to UNHCR's policy on Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM).
- Ensure the country/regional operation plans are consistent with the regional and global strategic priorities.
- Manage a participatory process, with all stakeholders, to apply UNHCR's standards and indicators in assessing and measuring the performance of the country/regional operations.
- Promote accession to the Convention and Protocol, and ensure the application of protection standards in the treatment of all persons of concern especially women and children.
- Ensure all persons of concern, especially women and children, have access to relevant information; ensure that cases of sexual violence and abuse against girls and boys are reported and dealt with expeditiously.
- Ensure the engagement of UNHCR in the UNCT, UN common programming, planning and funding activities and to actively contribute in the establishment of the CCA/UNDAF and the consequent joint implementation activities.
- Participate in the Cluster approach, ensure UNHCR's Cluster Lead role and implement other IASC and inter-agency/UN policies.
- Ensure that risks to the operation¿s objectives are regularly assessed, priority risks are identified and risk treatments for the priority risks form an integral part of the operations plans.

Resource Management
- Ensure that staff and financial resources are commensurate with operational objectives.
- Ensure effective and efficient management of resources within the rules and procedures of UNHCR.
- Establish and manage local administrative mechanisms such as a Local Regional Contracts (or Purchasing) Committee, Local Regional Asset Management Board and APPC.
- Ensure local compliance with UNHCR's human resources (HR) policies including on gender, disabilities, diversity, ethics and HIV/AIDS.
- Manage a process of recruitment, assignment and reassignment of local staff for the country operation, in accordance UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.
- Where necessary, identify the most appropriate affiliate workforce and optimize its use.
- In coordination with the Global Learning Centre, ensure that the learning needs of UNHCR's workforce in the country are identified, assessed and addressed.
- Exercise effective managerial oversight, direction, guidance and support and conduct regular performance appraisals and coaching.

Security
- In close collaboration with the regional offices, the Designated Official (DO), UNDSS and UN country team/Security Management Team (SMT), gather and analyse information on the local security situation and play an active role in the inter-agency security and contingency planning processes.
- Ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect staff, and that the country operation complies with UN MOSS/MORSS staff security rules, guidelines and procedures.

Authority
- Represent UNHCR in the UNCT/Humanitarian Country Team and other inter-agency fora.
- Decide on the country/regional strategy and priorities, country operations plans, and approve the country operation¿s protection strategy.
- Enforce local compliance with UNHCR¿s global protection, programme, finance and human resources and security policies and standards.
- Negotiate and sign local agreements with implementing and operational partners.
- Authorize payments as per the organization¿s Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP) and in accordance with UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.
- Modify operational projects and reallocate funds, within the approved budgets and in respect of donor earmarking.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) in Political Science, Social Science, International Relations, Law, Business Administration, Human Resources Management, and/or other relevant fields plus minimum 16 years of previous work experience relevant to the function at professional level, with more than 10 years in international capacity. Senior positions in a large governmental or international agency. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 17 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 15 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Extensive knowledge of UNHCR operations and services.
- A high level of skill in management of broad programmes, political decision making and negotiating, as well as demonstrated tolerance to frequently changing and highly charged situations.
- Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting.
- Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of operations.
- Ability to manage for results: translates strategic aims into achievable plans, with established priorities, monitors them, making periodic adjustments as required.
- Ability to effectively represent UNHCR at the senior level in internal and external meetings and to build strong relationships with clients.
- Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Completion of UNHCR training programmes, such us Protection Learning Programme, Operations Management Learning Programme.
- Knowledge of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Regional Representative positions. 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. C001L4 - Accountability Level 4
C002L4 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 4
C003L4 - Communication Level 4
C004L4 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 4
C005L4 - Client & Result Orientation Level 4
C006L4 - Organizational Awareness Level 4
M001L4 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 4
M002L4 - Managing Performance Level 4
M006L4 - Managing Resources Level 4
M005L4 - Leadership Level 4
M003L4 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 4
M004L4 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 4
X004L4 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 4
X001L4 - Analytical Thinking Level 4
X007L4 - Political Awareness Level 4 <p>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.</p>
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== Solid knowledge of the geo-political realities and socio-political situation of the region and of the relevant actors to UNHCR is an asset.

Solid Legal/Protection background is an asset. Considering the focus of the Protection and Solutions Strategy for the Southern Cone, expertise is required in the formulation and promotion of strategies to achieve sustainable, comprehensive, complementary, and innovative solutions for refugees, taking into account global and regional frameworks.

Ability to work collaboratively with government counterparts and local authorities (Cities of Solidarity) to incorporate refugees in existing programs and/or formulate specific public policies to ensure that refugees fulfil their potential of local integration and self-reliance. Ability to build alliances with civil society organisations and the regional academic/research network and mobilise resources from the private sector to support the economic, social and cultural integration of refugees.

Demonstrated experience in lobbying and advocacy with Governments. Excellent high level of diplomacy and negotiation skills to navigate complex inter-agency contexts and ability promote and maintain relations and partnership with a wide variety of stakeholders including, UN organizations, diplomatic missions, civil society organizations, media, scholars and public-at-large

Good knowledge of MERCOSUR and the South American Conference on Migrations and their interplay with refugee and statelessness protection. Strong presentation and public speaking skills and demonstrated experience in representing an organization in the public sphere including through public speaking engagements, the press, television, facebook live, radio etc.

Ability to engage with senior government officials and broad range of stakeholders including civil society, faith based institutions, the private sector, etc.

Considering the Situation in Venezuela, knowledge of mixed movements is an asset.

A high level of skill in management of programmes, political decision making and negotiating.

Ability to lead by example and motivate experienced long-servicing staff to innovate and deliver to their best.

Ability to come up with creative solutions to operational challenges.

Excellent communication and analytical skills.

Excellent command of the Spanish language, both written and oral.  Excellent English skills. RO Argentina currently covers 6 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. However, following the decision of the Budget Committee to upgrade the post of Representative in Peru to D1, it is expected that this country office will come a stand-alone office reporting either to the Venezuela Regional Coordinator or the Americas Bureau. Therefore, the Regional Representative, based in Buenos Aires will be credited to all 5 countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay).

Out of these 5 countries, there is only a permanent UNHCR presence in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santiago de Chile (National Office). However, the UNHCR presence in both countries will be strengthened taking into account the increasing arrival of Venezuelan refugees and migrants. At present, Venezuelan nationals have benefited from other forms of protection in those countries under regional and national migratory and protection arrangements. In the case of Chile, more than 84,500 Venezuelans have been granted residence and other humanitarian visas. In Argentina, more than 78,000 Venezuelans have acceded to MERCOSUR visas and therefore, are protected under other legal stay arrangements. Uruguay has also granted MERCOSUR visas to more than 3,500 Venezuelan nationals. In sum, more than 166,000 Venezuelans living in the countries covered by RO Buenos Aires are been protected under other legal stay arrangements and are persons of concern to UNHCR. The number of Venezuelans who remain in the 5 countries covered by RO Buenos Aires and which remain with an irregular status is still unknown. All five countries differ from one another in political, socio-economic and cultural terms and also in the implementation of UNHCR¿s objectives and activities.  Nevertheless, all of them belong to the same following regional bodies: OAS, MERCOSUR and the South American Conference on Migrations.

The main goal of RO Buenos Aires is to consolidate the Southern Cone as a regional protection space, with high international protection standards as a foundation for sustainable comprehensive, complementary, and innovative durable solutions for all POC as well as a regional advocacy leader on humanitarian issues. This involves refugees from all over the world, but particularly at this juncture, Venezuelans in need of protection living in most of the countries of the Southern Cone.

The region counts with advanced refugee legislation and refugee status determination procedures are consolidated with the quality asylum initiative currently being implemented in Argentina, Chile, Peru and Bolivia. As detailed in the Protection and Solutions Strategy for the Southern Cone, the main priority is to achieve a favourable environment to ensure that refugees fulfil their potential of local integration and self-reliance. The increasing arrival of Venezuelans in need of international protection, even if they opt for other forms of protection under regional and national migratory frameworks, pose new operational challenges in terms of delivery of humanitarian assistance and the achievement of durable solutions, particularly local integration efforts.
The region has progressively become a laboratory for the implementation of comprehensive durable solutions strategies where strategic alliances between public and private sectors and the active participation of civil society are encouraged.

As part of the implementation of the program of cities of solidarity, there is a long practice of working together with local governments (municipalities) and implementing social programmes to benefit refugees and migrants alike. Regional meetings between various cities of solidarity have been held to foster the exchange of good practices and lessons learnt.

In the spirit of the New York Declaration and as part of the implementation of responsibility sharing arrangements, the Southern Cone has also the potential to support UNHCR¿s regional and global agenda through the implementation of resettlement programmes and humanitarian admission schemes benefiting refugees from the region and from other humanitarian crises (i.e. Middle East, Central America). The Southern Cone region has a strong potential in offering solutions for refugees in major crises especially in a moment when options to find protection and solutions are shrinking elsewhere. The region has a tradition of welcoming and integrating migrants and refugees, which augurs well for solid resettlement policies for refugees. UNHCR is helping governments establish national structures to institutionalize previous and current resettlement experiences conducted so far on an ad hoc basis.

UNHCR is currently supporting the governments of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay strengthen their existing resettlement and community-based sponsorship programs under the cooperation framework of the Emerging Resettlement Countries Joint Support Mechanism (ERCM). The ERCM was created in November 2016 following the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants in New York in order to provide technical and financial support to emerging resettlement countries interested in establishing or strengthening a resettlement or humanitarian admissions program. The ERCM is managed jointly by UNHCR and IOM, with the technical and financial support of governments, private sponsors, donors and international organizations.

UNHCR is also supporting Argentina through the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative, a multi-stakeholder coalition that aims to build worldwide refugee resettlement capacity through community sponsorship. This initiative aims to support public servants, civil society organizations and communities around the world design their own community sponsorship models for refugees, learning from Canada¿s experience. The region has assumed a leadership role in the implementation of the Brazil Plan of Action (BPA) through the development of quality asylum systems (QAI), the promotion of high protection standards and the implementation of protection sensitive migration policies (MERCOSUR). Building up on regional migratory agreements, it is expected that protection safeguards will be included to both facilitate the implementation of labour mobility schemes and foster free movement arrangements for refugees within the region. At present, the regional residency agreement enables nationals from MERCOSUR countries to regularize their tenure in another participating country, even those in need of international protection. This regional framework has enabled thousands of Venezuelan nationals in need of international protection to regularize their tenure in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.

Following the recent accession of Chile to the statelessness conventions, all countries in the Southern Cone are parties to these instruments and are currently discussing draft legislation, including the setting up of stateless determination procedures. As part of the commitments of the BPA, it is also expected that the Southern Cone becomes one of the first regions to end statelessness in the world. As part of regional cooperation, the countries of the Southern Cone has a strong integration system known as MERCOSUR. This allows the implementation of common policies and frameworks as well as the harmonization of norms and standards. Besides, the Specialized Migratory Forum and the Meeting of the High Authorities on Human Rights, MERCOSUR has established an annual meeting of the Presidents of the National Refugee Commissions.  UNHCR participates in these regional coordination mechanisms for refugees through RO Buenos Aires, which remains the focal point for all MERCOSUR activities. RO Argentina also coordinates with the Institute of Public Policies on Human Rights of MERCOSUR (IPPDH) in the implementation of activities foreseen in the BPA.

The countries of the Southern Cone also play an active role in the South American Conference on Migrations. RO Buenos Aires attends the meetings of the South American Conference on Migrations.
The countries of Southern Cone have a solid and well-known Academic and research network which further contributes to the advancement of human rights and international refugee law.

In terms of fund raising, there are important opportunities (mainly in Argentina and Chile) to expand resource mobilisation with, both national governments and the private sector.

UNHCR works very closely with governments, local authorities, civil society, UN System, the Academia and private sector. In a more recent development, with the drastic deterioration of the situation in Venezuela, thousands of Venezuelans are heading towards Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. These 3 countries alone remain among the main destinations for many thousands of Venezuelans, many of whom are in need of international protection, who are benefitting from other forms of, including the regional MERCOSUR residence agreement.

RO Buenos Aires works in close coordination with BO Brazil in the implementation of a regional protection and solutions strategy for the whole Southern Cone. Buenos Aires is a modern city with emphasis placed on commercial, economic, cultural and industrial activities.

The country has a temperate climate with an average winter temperature of 5ºC (July/August), and an average summer temperature of 30ºC (Jan/Feb).

The sanitary facilities are trustworthy and the country has international standard potable water that can be drunk from any faucet with total confidence.

Possibility of renting private accommodation.

Frequent missions to the countries covered by the RO. This is a category A family duty station.

The Security Level for Argentina is LOW

Crime can be found in the capital city and other large cities in the country. These crimes include street robberies, electronic fraud, house break-ins, office burglaries and petty thefts. Spanish is an essential language.

The incumbent will directly supervise the Head of National Office in Chile (NOC), based in Santiago, and any other field antenna that might be created elsewhere in Chile or in any other country under its regional purview to operationally respond to the increasing humanitarian needs of Venezuelan nationals.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in this Flash Vacancy is Thursday 23 August 2018 (midnight Geneva time).

This vacancy is now closed.
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