Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

B

Family

UNOPS LICA5

2024-04-01

March 18, 2024

Operational Context

Thailand hosts along the Thai-Myanmar border more than 80,000 displaced persons (refugees) from Myanmar over the last three decades. UNHCR Offices are engaged in a range of activities to support the Royal Thai Government (RTG) in ensuring their international protection and seeking solutions to the protracted refugee situation. UNHCR, in close collaboration with RTG and third country governments, is undertaking a large-scale resettlement programme for refugees residing in the border camps. Travel to the border camps in Tak province is expected.

Desired candidate profile

The Senior Durable Solutions Assistant will be based at UNHCR Field Office in Mae Sot, and will be a member of the Durable Solutions team covering three border camps in Tak province.

The incumbent’s primary role is to assist and provide support to the Durable Solutions unit by ensuring that resettlement policies are correctly implemented, and the operation is supported in establishing comprehensive protection and solutions strategies.

The incumbent will take part in identifying resettlement needs of refugees; assessing cases for resettlement; supporting case processing for the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP); counselling refugees and asylum seekers on durable solutions needs; participating in the Best Interests Determination (BID) Panel representing the Resettlement unit; updating submissions, decisions, and departure events in UNHCR’s proGres database; preparing statistics and ad-hoc reports; facilitating case enquiries and follow-ups; conducting Best Interests Assessments (BIAs) for P1 submissions and resettlement interviews; drafting Resettlement Registration Forms (RRFs); as well as monitoring procedural compliance and quality of case submissions.

The incumbent is also required to maintain close coordination with concerned sections within UNHCR as well as external parties such as resettlement countries, embassies, RSC, IOM, IRC Health, and perform other related duties as required.

Languages

• Required: Fluency in written and spoken English
• Desired: Knowledge of Karen and/or Burmese language

Location: Mae Sot

Contract: Until end 2024

Standard Job Description

Senior Durable Solutions Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Durable Solutions Assistant reports to a Durable Solutions Associate or Officer.

The incumbent is relied upon to contribute to the implementation of a durable solutions strategy. Contributing to fostering an environment to enhance partnerships is a critical element of the work, as are activities designed to strength the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies.

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
– Provide counselling to refugees and other persons of concern (POC) about their durable solutions needs.
– Interview candidates for voluntary repatriation and prepare documentation for their return, in line with Voluntary Repatriation SOPs.
– Interview candidates for local integration and prepare the appropriate documentation for onward submission to local authorities or partners, in line with Local Integration SOPs.
– Participate in identifying resettlement needs of refugees, in line with Resettlement SOPs.
– Assist in updating the electronic database for resettlement, voluntary repatriation and local integration, in line with Standard Operating Procedures.
– Process documentation to ensure that POC receive the documents required for their durable solutions in a timely manner.
– Prepare statistical and ad-hoc reports to ensure accurate information is available and shared with relevant offices and partners.
– Interview and advise on the appropriate durable solution to be provided to POC.
– Prepare documents relating to durable solutions.
– Enter information into available database, in line with SOPs.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For 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
HCR Protection Learning Prg;
HCR Resettlement Lrng Prg;
HCR Protection Induction Prog;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.
Desirable
Diverse field experience. Experience in interviewing.

Functional Skills
DM-Database Management
IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

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.

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

DM-Database Management, IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software

Education

Certifications

HCR Protection Induction Prog – UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program – UNHCR

Other information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No