Dur Sol Officer

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.

Durable Solutions Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Durable Solutions Officer is a focal point for solutions related issues in a country, and reports to the Senior Durable Solutions Officer, Senior Protection Officer or, where appropriate, to the Assistant or Deputy Representative.  The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for durable solutions staff, who may include staff within the functional groups of durable solutions, reintegration, repatriation, and resettlement. She/He works closely with protection and programme staff and ensures operational standards and practices in solutions delivery at the country level. 

The Durable Solutions Officer is relied upon to assist in the development, implementation and adherence to a durable solutions strategy.   The Durable Solutions Officer should provide planning and foresight to advance progress in Protracted Refugee situations, where applicable, and/or to prevent new situations from becoming protracted.  Assisting the Country Office in fostering an environment to enhancement 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.  A maximum number of persons of concern should benefit from appropriate durable solutions.  Broader development plans should be considered.  Frequent travel is expected.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- The durable solutions strategy is implemented in a manner which ensures that all available solutions are complimentary and reinforce each other.
- The durable solutions strategy is implemented in a manner which capitalizes on regional mobility frameworks and partnerships.
- Durable solutions are integrated in all protection and programmatic activities, linking security, legal, economic and social welfare issuesAppropriate durable solutions are offered to a maximum number of PoCs.

Responsibility
- Implement activities in accordance with the comprehensive solutions strategy, with a view to finding durable solutions to the maximum number of PoCs.
- 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.
- Contribute to fostering and maintaining strategic partnerships with UN, national, and  regional development agencies, civil societies and the private sector.
- 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 country-wide
- Advise on the integration and mainstreaming of 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 the durable solutions strategy and provide advice for improvements.
- Analyse statistics, trends, and other documents, and draft reports.
- Conduct training activities aimed at the capacity building of UNHCR and partner staff on durable solutions, peacebuilding/coexistence and partnership.
- Monitor the implementation of the programme through managing the human and financial resources and identify gaps to ensure optimum use of available funds.

Authority
- Implement and contribute to the design of national and regional comprehensive durable solutions strategies.
- Engage national and regional interlocutors on durable solutions issues.
- Represent UNHCR in meetings related to durable solutions.
- Clear documents and reports coming out of the Durable Solutions Unit.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Law/International Law, Political Science, Social Science, Economics, International Relations or related field plus minimum 6 years of previous work experience relevant to the function with a minimum of 2 years field experience. Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) plus 5 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 4 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not 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.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Durable Solutions Officer 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. 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
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3 <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
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For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage them – before deciding to apply- to read the country specific security and welfare country profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care.

 

Staff after having applied to High Risk Duty Stations will have access to country specific information webinars with Field Safety Section (FSS) and Staff Welfare Section (SWS) colleagues and provided with a tool to test their psychological preparedness for serving in High Risk Duty Stations. Applicants who applied for a position in a High Risk country will receive, after the deadline for applications has expired, a joint invitation from the Staff Welfare Section (SWS) and the Field Safety Section (FSS) to participate in these webinars. During the Webinars, latest updates on security and well-being will be provided, and FSS and SWS will address questions raised by participants. Applicants are highly encouraged to benefit, when applicable, from all measures as they provide most up-to-date security and well-being information helpful to assess staff’s readiness to serve in a High Risk Duty Station. A Staff Welfare Officer will also be available, if and when required, to discuss with interested applicants the results of the psychological preparedness tool as well as readiness for assignment in High Risk Duty Stations.

 

¿ Be able to design and implement activities in accordance with the Protection and Solutions Strategy of the Operation, oriented towards the identification of opportunities for local integration, in particular in terms of legal, socio-economic and cultural inclusion
¿ Be able to contribute to upscale UNHCR¿s local integration programme in the Northern part of Mexico, which includes the ability to establish good working relationships with private sector actors, providers of public services and local authorities.
¿ Experience in the planning and design of alternative pathways to solutions, with a comprehensive and complementary understanding of regional and national legal frameworks.
¿ Coordination skills to organize and participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and with a broad range of regional and national external partners in order to promote local integration and other durable solutions for PoCs.
¿ In consultation with people of concern, ability to assess, identify and address the most suitable and appropriate durable solutions, with an innovative and proactive attitude.
¿ Ability to monitor local integration processes, in order to adjust existing programmes and ensure that persons of concern graduate out of poverty.
¿ Experience in monitoring, analysis of statistics, trends, and other documents, and prepare reports provide advice for the achievement of durable solutions.
¿ Demonstrated drafting skills in English and Spanish.
¿ Consensus teambuilding and cultural sensitivity needed as the team is diverse.
¿ Ability for analytical thinking and change capability and adaptability to operational challenges.
¿ Full command of Spanish is essential.
¿ Previous experience in Latin America is highly desirable. ¿ In recent years Mexico has received an increasing number of asylum seekers, including a significant number of unaccompanied children, fleeing persecution and generalized violence in Northern Central America (Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala). An increasing exposure to violence and criminal groups, force nationals from these countries to flee to Mexico. While a significant number of persons transit through Mexico, the number of asylum claims submitted to Mexico¿s Refugee Commission has increased exponentially in the last four years. Case profiles include flight due to forced recruitment, sexual violence and threats against children/adolescents by criminal actors, extortion, kidnapping, and increasing level of violence between organized criminal actors and State security forces.
¿ UNHCR and its partners have implemented isolated actions to address the immediate needs of asylum seekers and refugees. These interventions remain insufficient in the face of increasing arrivals. UNHCR field offices face even greater challenges as they provide direct humanitarian assistance in the absence of local partners.
¿ UNHCR will focus on inviting key actors to contribute to achieve durable solutions, in particular local integration. UNHCR will seek sustained engagement with traditional as well as new actors such as local authorities, the private sector, specialized NGOs and the Academia. UNHCR is working with federal authorities in order to include asylum seekers and refugees in public and private services. In 2016 UNHCR launched a successful relocation and job placement programme, which is currently being upscaled in order to offer local integration. ¿ Monterrey is the capital of the northeastern state of Nuevo León, a border state to the United States. Monterrey is an important industrial and commercial center, and the base of many international corporations. It is one of the wealthiest cities in Mexico. Being this way, it has a high-level infrastructure.
¿ Health ¿ Monterrey has a highly ranked medical infrastructure with some internationally acclaimed hospitals.
¿ Education ¿ Private schools are available. All private schools are bilingual (English-Spanish), and there are American, British and French schools.
¿ Housing ¿ Apartments can be rented both furnished and unfurnished.
¿ Entertainment ¿ Monterrey is the third most populous metropolitan area in Mexico. Therefore, it has a high demand and a high offer of entertainment: popular, classical, modern, etc.
¿ Weather ¿ Monterrey frequently experiences extreme weather changes. It can be very hot during summer and cold during winter. The coldest months are January and February, and the hottest, April and May.
¿ Currency and exchange ¿ Mexican Peso. Dollars, Euros and traveler¿s checks can be exchanged at a currency Exchange office. A wide network of financial service providers and ATM is available.
¿ Communications ¿ Internet is available almost everywhere, but in houses and offices, a contract has to be made in order to access to this service.
¿ Transportation ¿ There are public buses. If taxis are to be taken, it is recommended to use Uber. Monterrey is a regional hub for three Mexican airlines, out of which two are based in Monterrey (Interjet and Viva Aerobus), with daily direct flights to several cities in the US, Europe and Latin America. Monterrey belongs to Security Risk Management area 10, North West with the current General Threat Level 3, Moderate. There are no known direct threats to UNHCR, yet UNHCR personnel may be affected by crime, which includes: homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, highway robbery. Violent crime (kidnappings, extortion, homicides, sexual assaults, personal robberies, residential break-ins) and non-violent crimes (financial scams, vehicle thefts, petty drug crimes) continue to be a serious concern. Organized criminal elements (Cartels) contribute to the high level of criminal violence in the state of Nuevo León. The UNHCR personnel must remain security aware at all times, apply personal security measures and avoid movement after darkness. There is no curfew in Monterrey, yet the incidence at night hours is high. While on road missions, exercise caution and always obtain Security Clearance through UNDSS/COSNU, road travel at night is restricted. Large-scale public demonstrations or strikes are uncommon in Monterrey, but occasional, nationally-organized protests do happen. UNHCR personnel should avoid areas of civil unrest.

Please note that the closing date for vacancies in the Addendum 4 is Thursday 28 February 2019 (midnight Geneva time)