Integrity Officer, P3 (TA), Panama City At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering an [Integrity Officer – P3] within the [Protection Unit of UNHCR Americas Bureau (RBAC) in our [duty station of Panama City, Panama].

Preventing, detecting, and addressing fraud committed by persons of concern (PoC) is a critical part of UNHCR´s accountability framework and a key priority for the RBAC. It is also crucial in ensuring that POC and the international community (including donor, resettlement and host states) continue to have confidence in the integrity of UNHCR’s interventions. This continued confidence is critical to safeguarding UNHCR’s ability to provide protection to persons of concern and for preserving persons of concern’s access to durable solutions, moreover with the increasing and unprecedent displacement situation in the America and the increasing UNHCR operational response in the region.

UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 125 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.

• Title: Integrity Officer
• Duty Station: Panama City, Panama
• Duration: ASAP until December 31, 2021
• Contract Type: Temporary Appointment
• Closing date: 20 August 2021
• Start date: 1 September 2021

Organizational context

The updated Operational Guidelines on Fraud Committed by Persons of Concern (the “Guidelines”) is aimed to assist UNHCR personnel to implement and operationalize the revised Policy on Addressing Fraud Committed by Persons of Concern (the “Policy”), which establishes the policy framework for the prevention, detection, and response to fraud committed by persons of concern in relation to UNHCR’s protection, assistance and solutions interventions. The revised Policy aims to provide assistance to operations in the establishment of appropriate procedures to enhance existing programme integrity measures at the functional unit level, and to ensure a coordinated and effective approach to preventing, detecting and responding to fraud committed by persons of concern.

In line with the above, preventing, detecting, and addressing fraud committed by persons of concern (PoC) is a critical part of UNHCR´s accountability framework and a key priority for the RBAC. It is also crucial in ensuring that POC and the international community (including donor, resettlement and host states) continue to have confidence in the integrity of UNHCR’s interventions. This continued confidence is critical to safeguarding UNHCR’s ability to provide protection to persons of concern and for preserving persons of concern’s access to durable solutions, moreover with the increasing and unprecedent displacement situation in the America and the increasing UNHCR operational response in the region.

The position

We are seeking a dynamic and proactive team player, with a strong interest in refugee issues. The selected candidate will work with different colleagues and teams from the RBAC. He/she will laisse with UNHCR offices in the Americas to promote an integrated approach and support the implementation of UNHCR Policy on Addressing Fraud Committed by Persons of Concern (UNHCR/HCP/2017/3/Rev.1) and its Operational Guidelines.

Selected candidate will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Regional Protection Officer (RSD), in coordination with resettlement staff and other relevant colleagues.

In view the position is new to the region, the selected candidate will work in the design and implementation of a oner-year work plan to implement the duties and responsibilities under his/her portfolio: priority activities for 2021 will cover a regional training workshop, ensuring anti-fraud SOPs are developed and updated, submission of periodic regional analytical reports on inconsistencies, and addressing fraud allegations.

Duties and responsibilities

The Integrity Officer will support the implementation of UNHCR Policy on Addressing Fraud Committed by Persons of Concern (UNHCR/HCP/2017/3/Rev.1) and its Operational Guidelines. He/she will be focused on activities aimed at preventing and responding to fraud committed to PoC in the context of RST and Mandate RSD in coordination with the RBAC AFFP and Resettlement colleagues. Moreover, he/she will support regional activities, including but not limited to:

1. Coordination of integrity related activities in the region with DIP, Country Offices or MCOs and other stakeholders involved in prevention, detection and response to fraud committed by persons of concern.
2. Providing training, guidance and support to field operations to strengthen overall integrity in protection, assistance and solutions processes (focus on RST and mandate RSD) and ensure regional adherence to the requirements of the Policy;
3. Ensuring anti-fraud SOPs are developed, updated and implemented in all country operations under the RBAC purview.
4. Providing specific guidance to specific management of complex fraud cases (RST) covered by the Policy, with DIP’s support as required.
5. Coordinating and responding to operations’ request for specific support or assistance in implementing the requirements of the Policy.
6. Submission on a periodic basis (at minimum bi-annually) regional analytical reports on inconsistencies, fraud allegations and assessment panel decisions and fraud trends analysis to the Director, DIP, the IGO and others as required.
7. Undertaking other relevant functions to ensure overall compliance with the Policy as required.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

The ideal candidate will:

• Have 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
• Have excellent communication skills with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Spanish (essential). Be fluent in English, with advanced writing and editing skills. Additional languages are desirable, but not essential.
• Capable of building and maintaining simple databases and filing systems for project management.
• Have good experience using the Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Demonstrate a genuine desire to learn and develop.
• Be highly organized and have good attention to detail.
• Be able to multi-task and to prioritize workload.
• Be a flexible, team-player.

Location

The successful candidate will be based with the team in Panama City, Panama. Teleworking/telecommuting may be suitable.

Conditions

The position needs to be covered as soon as possible and will extend until 31 December 2021. It is a full-time role with working hours starting from 8.00 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Thursday, and Fridays from 8.00 AM to 12 AM. (40 hours per week). The temporary appointment may be extended subject to good performance and availability of funding in 2021.