Senior Durable Solutions Officer, P4, Bangui At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior Durable Solutions Officer is the designated focal point for solutions in a regional office or country office. S/he reports to the Head of Bureau Protection, or Deputy Director in the Bureau, or to the Senior Durable Solutions Coordinator, or to the Representative/ Deputy Representative in a country operation.

The incumbent acts as an advisor to the senior management in the regional Bureau and to Country operations on all durable solutions topics. These include: voluntary repatriation (refugees) or return (IDPs) and sustainable reintegration; local integration and other local solutions; relocation, resettlement and complementary pathways for admission to third countries; Global Compact on Refugees commitments and opportunities; housing, land and property; statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024); age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection. Fostering an environment to enhance partnerships is a critical element of the work, as are activities designed to strengthen the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies. If in a regional office, s/he also coordinates durable solutions activities between and among country offices in the region ensuring consistency with relevant Global Strategic Priorities and Policies.

The incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for Durable Solutions staff. S/he maintains close working relations with senior protection staff in all countries in the region as well as regionally based UN sister entities, other intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organisations on durable solutions matters. In the Bureau, s/he works closely with protection, registration, information management, education, development, programme and technical staff including cash, livelihoods and shelter, and promotes operational standards, policy and practices in comprehensive solutions delivery.

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

• Develop multiyear comprehensive protection, resilience and solutions strategies as relevant, together with UNHCR¿s stakeholders in Bureau and country operations, governments and other partners.
• Monitor the implementation of the protection and solutions strategy/ies, identify challenges and report on achievements.
• Serve as focal point for durable solutions, including chairing Durable Solutions Working Group(s) and achieving a schematic overview of country/regional Durable Solution Working Groups or other solutions coordination mechanisms.
• Participate in consultative processes within UNHCR and with a broad range of external partners to promote all durable solutions.
• Ensure close linkages with staff that oversee data and information production to deliver fact based advocacy and support for durable solutions.
• Act as focal point for the internal UNHCR processes related to voluntary repatriation and returns, including data management, the preparation of Exchange of Letters, Tripartite Agreements, standard operating procedures and other agreements as required.
• Support country operations in the development and implementation of the local integration and other local solutions aspects of solutions strategies, ensuring inclusion of persons of concern in national systems and services, and in national and local development processes.
• In the absence of dedicated resettlement and complementary pathways staff, and in close collaboration with multi-functional teams: ensure UNHCR¿s resettlement and complementary pathways for admission standards are correctly and coherently applied; efficient, fair and transparent procedures are in place across the AOR, targets are met and fraud prevention mechanisms are in place; operations are supported to develop advocacy strategies and operational responses to pursue the identification, development, promotion and facilitation of access to complementary pathways for admissions to third countries; ensure that country operations plans reflect the strategy on RST/CP and that the necessary resources are allocated to address gaps across the AOR.
• Represent UNHCR¿s Resettlement and Complementary Pathways positions with Resettlement and other third countries, host government and at regional level.
• Building on the commitments made in the Global Compact on Refugees, develop and maintain strategic partnerships with UN and other development agencies, civil society, peacebuilding actors, and the private sector, engaging on areas including resilience, rule of law and governance, and housing land and property.
• Ensure that UNHCR¿s analysis of the risks and obstacles to solutions, including sustainable reintegration and integration, is instrumental in development actors¿ priority areas of engagement.
• Provide planning and foresight to advance progress for protracted refugee situations, and/or to prevent new situations from becoming protracted.
• Develop and maintain close liaison with senior managers and colleagues for the purpose of identifying and prioritizing durable solutions needs and ensuring adequate and timely interventions.
• Support Communication staff in developing a communication plan to support the durable solutions strategy, including media.
• Serve as focal point on durable Solutions-related issues for communities to ensure good communication.
• Advise on populations of concern¿ appropriate engagement for the identification of the most appropriate solutions, including through enhanced two-way communication, participatory assessments, intentions and perceptions surveys, and other forms of community based assessments.
• Promote the strengthened involvement of persons of concern in the design and implementation of solutions strategies, transition projects, peace-building and development initiatives.

In addition to the main duties listed above, for positions located in regional bureaux:

• Develop multiyear regional situational comprehensive protection, resilience and solutions strategies as relevant, together with UNHCR¿s stakeholders in Bureau and country operations, governments and other partners.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P4/NOD – 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
International Public Law; International Refugee Law;
Political Science; International Human Rights Law;
Refugee and Forced Migration; International Relations;
Law; or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
n/a;

Relevant Job Experience

Essential:
Previous experience in solutions contexts. Thorough knowledge of International refugee law and its application.
Desirable:
Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field (including Hardship Duty stations) and Headquarters.