Asylum Liaison Officer

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)

Family

CONTR International Junior Level Professional

2024-07-01

May 12, 2024

Recruitment of an international contractor (at P-2 equivalent staff grade)
Initial contract period: 1 July to 31 December 2024 with expectation of renewal subject to performance.

Operational context

UNHCR has a Liaison Office to The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) based in Valletta, Malta. The EUAA was established in 2011 and UNHCR’s Liaison Office was established shortly after that. The Office is headed by a P-5 Head of Office. The Asylum Liaison Officer is one of three Liaison Officers supporting the Head of Office.
The EUAA Regulation contains many references to cooperation with UNHCR and UNHCR is a member of the EUAA’s Management Board. UNHCR and EUAA have concluded and recently updated a Working Arrangement document. The Liaison Office (LO) to the EUAA is in charge of developing and intensifying relationship with EUAA on matters concerning the internal and external dimensions of EU asylum policy and practice, including providing expertise, comments and recommendation to EUAA in the context of the development of training materials and practical guides to support Member States quality asylum practices.
An Agency of the EU, the EUAA has grown massively since its establishment in 2011. It has a staff of 600 personnel at its HQ in Valetta and nearly 2,000 experts deployed or on roster for deployment. It is operational in 13 EU Member States (MS) and outside the EU in the Western Balkans, Türkiye and the MENA region.
The aim of the EUAA is to provide support to EU MS in the implementation of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) and to supporting MS under pressure. EUAA also produces Country Guidance Notes, common asylum training material for asylum officials, common practical quality tools, expertise and COI. Other key areas include the coordination and support of MS resettlement and relocation activities and supporting the external dimension of the CEAS. The Agency will also play a key role in supporting Member States and the European Commission in implementing the New Pact on migration and asylum.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of Head of LO and in close cooperation with the other Asylum Liaison Officers, the Contractor will be responsible for:
– Supporting in the preparation of high-level meetings (four EUAA Management Board meetings per year, and Senior Management Consultation), including in the drafting of talking points and background notes.
– Compiling, consolidating and analyzing systematic updated information for relevant UNHCR reports and inputs to EUAA reports and databases, including EUAA’s Annual Report on Asylum;
– Following developments regarding the publication of UNHCR country-specific guidance and EUAA Country Guidance and COI, and attending relevant meetings and reporting on them as needed.
– Daily monitoring, researching and analyzing of EUAA and EU related reports, data sources in order to identify and summarize important developments to be shared with Head of LO and concerned staff in Brussels, HQs and the field in a timely manner;
– Attending meetings and representing UNHCR at EUAA on behalf of the Liaison Office as requested and prepare notes on these meetings to keep the HLO, other ALO and other concerned UNHCR colleagues informed, as relevant;
– Support HLO in attending and participating in high-level meetings, including representing UNHCR at EUAA networks and related meetings.
– Coordinating and supporting the UNHCR review of EUAA draft training modules, including linking with relevant UNHCR colleagues.
– Supporting cooperation at an operational level and liaising with UNHCR offices in selected countries where the EUAA is operational.
– Helping to facilitate the planning process by drafting objectives, monitoring and logging activities against those objectives and reporting on end of year progress;
– Monitoring the ABOD and OPS budgets to ensure that spending is within the annual budgeting amount and facilitate the mid-year review process to assess LO needs and request and justify additional funds if necessary;
– Attending to day-to-day matters relating to the administration of the LO.

Qualification and experience required
– University Degree in Law, Political Science, International Relations, Public Administration or related field
– Minimum 2 years of previous job experience relevant to the function (with a graduate degree) and 3 years with an undergraduate degree.
– Fluency in English and excellent drafting skills
– Keen ability to undertake substantive legal/policy work
– Working knowledge of French is an asset.

 

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No