International Protection Considerations (IPCs) Consultant, Home-based At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Terms of Reference
International Protection Considerations (IPCs) Consultant
Bureau for the East & Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Protection Pillar

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a consultancy position within the Refugee Status Determination Unit in our Regional Bureau for the East, Horn and Great Lakes of Africa [RB EHAGL] in Nairobi, Kenya.

The consultant will undertake country of origin information (COI) research on groups of people in Somalia who may be at risk of human rights violations (“risk profiles”). The consultancy will be a home-based position supervised the RB EHAGL’s Protection Pillar (Senior Protection Officer [RSD/Asylum systems], with guidance from UNHCR HQs’ Division of International Protection (Policy and Law Service).

UNHCR is a global organisation 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: International Protection Considerations (IPCs) Consultant
• Duty Station: Home-based
• Duration: 3 months
• Contract Type: Individual Consultancy
• Closing date: 15 July 2021
• Start date: 01 August 2021

Organizational context

UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for the East & Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes (RB EHAGL) is based in Nairobi. The Bureau’s Protection Pillar has sub-units of the Protection Pillar tasked with Attaining Favourable Protection Environments, Realising Basic Rights in Safe Environments, Empowering Communities and Achieving Gender Equality, and Securing Solutions.

The position

UNHCR is preparing to issue a revised and updated version of UNHCR’s 2014 International Protection Considerations with regard to people fleeing Southern and Central Somalia [hereafter: IPCs]. These updated IPCs will be a vital advocacy tool in enabling access to asylum in neighbouring countries, fair asylum decision-making globally, and achieving durable solutions for Somali refugees, including resettlement.

In preparation for the issuance of updated IPCs, UNHCR wishes to hire a consultant who will conduct country of origin information (COI) research on groups of people in Somalia who may be at risk of human rights violations (“risk profiles”). We are seeking a dynamic and proactive team player, with strong research skills and impeccable English language drafting skills. The consultancy will be a home-based position supervised by the RB EHAGL’s Protection Pillar (Senior Protection Officer [RSD/Asylum systems]), with guidance from UNHCR HQs’ Division of International Protection (Policy and Law Service).

Duties and responsibilities

• The consultant will conduct COI research for each of the risk profiles listed on p.10 of the 2014 IPCs, assess whether each risk profile is still relevant, and if other profiles need to be added.
• S/he will compile information and analysis from external sources on legal, political, human rights, security and other developments in Somalia which may impact internal and external displacement patterns;
• S/he will draft COI summaries for each risk profile, with relevant sources provided in footnotes that are formatted in line with UNHCR’s style guidelines;
• S/he will also engage in discussions with colleagues in the Regional Bureau and UNHCR’s operations in the region to identify new profiles;
• Where no relevant information is available in the public domain on particular topics, s/he will interview experts, with specific knowledge on the country conditions in Somalia.

Based on comments received following review by the RB, the consultant will then finalize the COI summaries.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

The ideal candidate will:

• Possess a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field plus minimum 8–12 years relevant work experience, or a Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master’s) plus 6 – 10 years relevant work experience.
• Have excellent analytical skills, as well as advanced and demonstrated drafting and editing skills in English;
• Have a thorough understanding of and professional research experience relating to conditions in Somalia;
• Have prior knowledge of asylum decision-making and a good understanding of the information that is required to support asylum claims;
• Knowledge of International Refugee Law, IHRL and IHL;
• Have strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills;
• Be fluent in English. Additional languages, including Somali, are desirable, but not essential.

Location

The successful candidate will be home-based.

Conditions

The consultancy position is for three months, the start date is 1 st August 2021. It is a full-time role.