Associate Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems world-wide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org). The UNHCR Representation Office in Rwanda principally manages a refugee population (mainly refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo who have been on the Rwan-dan territory since 1996 and Burundian refugees who have been arriving in the country further to the volatile situation in Burundi since April 2015) as well as a significant re-turnee population of Rwandan refugees returning after many years in exile. It is com-posed of the Branch Office in Kigali and Field Offices in Huye, Gicumbi, Rusizi, Rubavu, Karongi, Kirehe and Kabarore. It hosts approximately 155,749 refugees in three proracted refugee camps, namely Nyabiheke (managed by Kabarore Office) Gihembe (managed by Gicumbi Office) as well as Kiziba (managed by Karongi Office), three new refugee camps, namely Kigeme and Mugombwa (managed by Huye Office) as well as Mahama (managed by Kirehe Office), and urban settings (Kigali and Huye). Since April 2015, UNHCR is also supporting two additional reception centers in Bugesera and Nyanza districts for Burundian refugees. The existing transit center in Rusizi (Nyagatare Transit Centre) that was receiving Rwandan returnees has also started functioning as a reception center for Burundian new arrivals. As of December 2013, Rwanda hosted approximately 74,000 Congolese refugees. 99% of the refugee caseload is predomi-nantly composed of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with 84% originating from North Kivu and 11% from South Kivu.

Context

Given the deteriorating security situation in and around the Libyan capital of Tripoli, UNHCR is responding to the emergency protection needs of refugees, asylum-seekers, children and youth-at-risk, and others of concern in Libya (urban-based and detention environments) through the establishment of the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM).The ETM has been established under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the Rwandan government and the African Union (AU) in September 2019. Under the terms of the MOU, the individuals concerned are transferred on a voluntary basis, from Libya to Rwanda for emergency case processing for durable solutions. UNHCR supports the Rwan-dan authorities in biometric joint registration of the evacuated persons and in undertaking Refugee Status Determination (RSD) or Merged RSD/Resettlement processing (MRR) under its mandate in accordance with applicable standards. A durable solution for their situation is pursued, including a return to the country of origin for those who voluntarily choose to do so, or third-country resettlement to States that are willing to offer admission. This assignment is critical in ensuring this is achieved.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the RSD Officer and overall supervision by the Head of Field Office, the UNV Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Conduct 12 first-instance RSD Interviews per month, mainly for Eritreans, Sudanese, Somali and Ethiopians (and occasionally other nationalities) in accordance with UN-HCR guidelines and procedural standards. • Prepare 12 RSD assessments each month, in accordance with UNHCR guidelines and procedural standards. • In alternative to the RSD assessment, complete at least 10 Resettlement Registration Forms (RRF) per month according to the Merged RSD/Resettlement processing modalities. The targets will be revised as the situation evolves. • Support the RST team in their case processing in order to meet the resettlement quotas. • Maintain accurate processing statistics and provide statistical reports on a regular basis. • Participate in training/briefing UNHCR staff and partners on RSD/ resettlement categories/procedures, as required • Keep systematic, accurate records of all cases considered including ensuring compliance with proGres v4 data entry requirement, uploading of audio recordings on eSAFE and filing all documents and correspondence in physical files. • Providing RSD counselling to refugees and asylum seekers, informing and acting up-on reports received from refugees within the refugee community and following up on protection issues. • Conducting Country of Origin Information (COI) and legal issues, managing and im-proving the country-of-origin knowledge base, reporting on general trends in the relevant countries of origin and replying to queries on specific legal and protection issues, while referring to the supervisor or seeking advice on more complex issues. • Assist in training and coaching staff and building the capacity of the UNHCR project partners to ensure effective protection delivery. • Performing any other duties as may be requested. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take an active part in UNV activities (for international volunteer day and volunteer advocacy events) • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. • Contribute articles /write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. • Promote or advise local groups in the use of the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.