Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Associate Under UNOPS, L-ICA 6

This position is advertised open to internal and external applicants. RSD Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The RSD Associate 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 Associate 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 Associate liaises closely with Registration, Community Services, Resettlement, and other Protection staff.  The RSD Associate 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 Associate assists in compiling and analysing information related to the RSD activities of the Operation, and in drafting related correspondence and reports. The RSD Associate may provide interpretation and/or translation services in cases for which s/he has the required language competencies.

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.

Under the direct supervision of the Associate RSD Officer and the overall supervision of the RSD Officer based in the Representation in Addis Ababa, the staff member will undertake the following duties and responsibilities within the RSD Sub-unit under the Protection Unit:

¿ Provide support in the area of refugee status determination (RSD), including the following.
¿ Conduct refugee status determination (RSD) interviews and draft RSD assessments with recommendations to recognize or reject, with a weekly minimum target of 3 regular RSD cases or 5
        simplified RSD assessments/notes for file on changes of legal status.
¿ Conduct counselling sessions on RSD and access to asylum procedures.
¿ Support in access to asylum advocacy for individual asylum seeker cases stranded at the Bole International Airport and other cases in Addis Ababa.
¿ Assist in the development of clear RSD SOPs, including appeal procedures, with ARRA,
¿ Assist in capacity building of ARRA, other relevant authorities and UNHCR staff both in Addis Ababa and the field on RSD procedures.
¿ Establish and maintain day-to-day communications with ARRA and other relevant authorities such as immigration in relation to individual RSD cases and other related matters as appropriate.
¿ Provide support in outreach activities and information dissemination campaigns in Addis Ababa, in addition to providing support in the communications with the persons of concerns through
        various channels such as the Protection Helpline and the Digital Request and Complaint System (DRCS).
¿ Provide support in processing of cases of asylums seekers and refugees with possible credibility or exclusion issues, in particular those under consideration for resettlement.
¿ Assist in training of ARRA, other relevant authorities and UNHCR staff on RSD issues.
¿ Undertake RSD support missions to the field as required. 
¿ Perform other related duties as assigned or required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Desirable Field(s) of Education
Law, International Relations or Public International Law

Certificates and/or Licenses
Social work;
HCR RSD Lrng Programme;
HCR Cntry of Orig Inf Lrng Prg;
HCR Protection Learning Prg;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.
Desirable
Working experience with procedures and principles related to RSD. Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles. Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals.
¿ Previous experience in the areas of refugee status determination (RSD) and/or Resettlement is an asset.
¿ Previous experience in conducting interviews with asylum seekers or refugees is an asset.
¿ Previous experience in using UNHCR¿s refugee database (porGres) is an asset.

Desirable Qualifications & Competencies:
¿ Computer skills: Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point
¿ Team player
¿ Flexibility and adaptability
¿ Excellent communication (verbal and written) skills, particularly interviewing and drafting skills
¿ Training and capacity building skills in the area of International Refugee Protection
¿ Ability to establish and maintain good working relations within a multi-cultural team
¿ Ability to build rapport with government authorities
¿ Ability to work under pressure in a sensitive security and political environment
¿ Excellent analytical skills

Functional Skills
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PR-Counselling Asylum Seekers or Refugees
CM-Cross-cultural communication
LE-Human Rights Law
LE-International Refugee Law
PR-RSD - Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance
MS-Research
PR-Government Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures
WB-Treatment of vulnerable/traumatized individuals
MS-Analysis
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies
Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Planning and Organizing
Stakeholder Management

Language Requirements

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Knowledge of the languages spoken by asylum seekers and refugees is an asset (e.g. Tigrinya, French, Arabic and Somali) Competencies as defined in Job Profile Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

An eliminatory or complementary written test for shortlisted candidates may be conducted which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applicants must be nationals of the country and be locally recruited within the country of their employment. The Closing Date for Submission of Applications is Thursday 17 June 2021 (Mid-Night Ethiopia Time).