Snr Protection Assistant (RSD) LICA-5 UNOPS

IMPORTANT NOTE: Persons interested in applying for this position must be Trinidad & Tobago Nationals or must be legally present in Trinidad & Tobago at the time of application, recruitment and hire. Non Trinidad & Tobago citizens are required to attach a valid work permit to be considered for this vacancy. Senior Protection Assistant (RSD)

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Protection Assistant (RSD) is a member of the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) unit, within the Protection team, that will function under the direct supervision of the Associate RSD Officer, who is required to monitor the performance of the incumbent and provide regular guidance. The incumbent develops activities based on protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff.

The Senior Protection Assistant (RSD) provides quality, timely and effective protection support to persons of concern (PoCs) and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. S/he contributes to implement a comprehensive protection strategy and may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor.

The Senior Protection Assistant (RSD) also ensures that PoCs are involved in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.

S/he is responsible for supporting all activities related to the processing of refugee claims in the Operation.

The Senior Protection Assistant (RSD) 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 Senior Protection Assistant (RSD) liaises closely with Registration, Community Services, Resettlement, and other staff.

The Senior Protection Assistant (RSD) 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 conduct first instance refugee status determination interviews and assists in drafting RSD Assessments.

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.

Duties
- UNHCR's RSD procedures are implemented in accordance with relevant UNHCR standards and policies, including policies related to age, gender, and diversity mainstreaming (AGDM).
- Persons of concern have fair and transparent access to the RSD procedures.
- Fraud in the RSD process is identified and appropriately addressed.
- Conduct first instance refugee status determination interviews (RSD) as per target based on the modalities of processing per week in accordance with established norms and standards and preparing accurate interview transcripts for each case.
- Assess resettlement needs during the RSD interview and draft resettlement referral.
- Consistent with existing jurisprudence, agency policy and modality applied in the UNHCR operation, draft assessments and prepare reasoned recommendations as per the set target per week on whether asylum-seekers should be recognized as refugees under UNHCR¿s mandate.
- Manage individual cases within reasonable time-lines as determined by the Associate RSD Officer. Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the protection environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through RSD.
- 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.
- Systematically apply an age, gender and diversity (AGD) perspective in the performance of assigned functions; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS
- 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.
- Prepare recommendations with regards to legal and social obstacles faced by persons of concern identified during the RSD interview to Associate RSD Officer.
- Provide counselling on protection issues to PoCs.
- Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Apply/follow standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Refer cases to other units within the office and to implementing partners as necessary.
- Through the supervisor, 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.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
LICA 5/ G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law;
Political Science;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Desirable Relevant Job Experience
- Working experience with procedures and principles related to RSD or resettlement.
- Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.
- Experience in counselling asylum-seekers or refugees.
- Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals.
- Completion of UNHCR's RSD Learning Programme, COI Learning Programme, or Protection Learning Programme.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)


All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. 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. Please also note that English and Spanish are essential for this Job Opening. Please note that this position is offered under  UNOPS LICA contract at LICA-5 level


Shortlisted candidates will be notified and may be requested to sit for a test. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

UNHCR/UNOPS does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

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. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. The closing date for submission of applications is Sunday 31 October 2021 (Midnight Geneva time)/ 6:00 pm Trinidad & Tobago time.