Details
Mission and objectives
The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was created in 1950, during the aftermath of the Second World War, to help millions of Europeans who had fled or lost their homes. The primary purpose of UNHCR is to safeguard the rights and well-being of people who have been forced to flee. Together with partners and communities, UNHCR works to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country. UNHCR also strive to secure lasting solutions. For over half a century, UNHCR has helped millions of people to restart their lives. They include refugees, returnees, stateless people, the internally displaced and asylum-seekers. Our protection, shelter, health and education has been crucial, healing broken pasts and building brighter futures. While the UAE is not signatory to 1951 convention or any other agreement, and has no national asylum system in place, UNHCR works closely with the government to expand protection space for persons of concern to UNHCR. In the UAE context where resettlement remains as the only viable durable solution, interorganizational partnership and cooperation with government entities as well as other private and public ones play a crucial role in terms of advocating for complementary pathways. The use of RST can build confidence with the local authorities concerning the Offices’ capacity to provide solutions, and help to support capacity development activities. In addition, the UNHCR Office in the UAE continuously advocates and seeks opportunities for private or community sponsorship programmes and education and labour opportunities not only in the UAE but also to the third countries.
Context
UNHCR UAE is looking for online volunteers to provide services in UNHCR RSD (Refugee Status Determination) procedures, from interviews to document translation from Urdu to English. The remote interview which will be conducted via Webex can take 3-5 hours on average per interview e.g. starting from 9 am to 2pm with 10-15 breaks during the interview. Please note that the interview duration are subject to change depending on the case.
Task description
UNHCR UAE is looking for online volunteers to provide services in UNHCR RSD (Refugee Status Determination) procedures, from interviews to document translation from Urdu to English. The interview can take 3-5 hours on average. Please note that the interview duration are subject to change depending on the case. The online volunteers providing services in interpretation must be fluent in the language and dialect of the Applicant as well as the language of the Eligibility Officer (i.e. interviewer). Every person engaged by UNHCR to provide interpretation services in mandate RSD procedures must sign the UNHCR Interpreter Undertaking of Confidentiality and Impartiality which will be provided by UNHCR UAE upon confirmation of nomination. Online volunteers will receive induction training on UNHCR’s mandate and the RSD process. Due to the urgent need for online volunteers for interpretation services, relevant experiences in professional interpretation/humanitarian sector/refugee related work, knowledge in refugee-producing countries, i.e. Syria, Iraq and respect for confidentiality will be highly appreciated in desirable candidates.