RSD Officer, Kigali at UNHCR Rwanda: (Deadline 20 April 2023)

RSD Officer Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The RSD Officer provides legal, operational and strategic support on mandate or national RSD at global, regional or country operations level. The position may be located at Headquarters (within the Division of International Protection), in a Regional Bureau or in a Country Office and reports to the Senior RSD Officer or Senior Protection Officer or Head of Protection Service, as appropriate. The incumbent provides advice and guidance on legal and procedural matters related to RSD whether in the context of mandate RSD and/or national asylum/RSD systems (as applicable), is responsible for review, endorsement and clearance of recommendations on individual cases in line with requirements under the RSD Procedural Standards or as directed by Senior Management. The incumbent is also responsible for contributing to the development of or, depending on the context, develop an RSD strategy and, where required, methodologies to promote the effectiveness of RSD as a protection tool and implementing broader organizational objectives and priorities, in compliance with relevant UNHCR standards and policies. Whether in the context of national or mandate RSD, the incumbent provides advice and support to staff engaged in RSD and related activities, monitors trends of RSD decision-making, and conducts training and other capacity-building/strengthening activities to promote consistency in RSD procedures and decision-making. S/he contributes to developing and enhancing regional and global RSD standards and policies, as necessary. If based in a country operation, the RSD Officer advocates with and supports Government authorities and legal partners in further developing their capacities in line with the GCR and other key UNHCR planning considerations. The RSD Officer works closely with senior managers, RSD staff as well as staff responsible for registration, resettlement and training activities. S/he also liaises with relevant focal points in DIP, in particular within the RSD and PNSS Sections and other HQ Divisions as required. The incumbent normally supervises National Officers or support staff at lower grade levels. 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 legal/procedural advice and support on RSD adjudication issues within the Area of Responsibility (AoR). – Stay abreast of legal, political, security and other developments relevant to mandate RSD, the protection environment, including developments in relation to national asylum/RSD systems, as applicable. – Engage relevant national authorities and structures in identifying and expanding opportunities in view of developing or strengthening national asylum/RSD systems. – Undertake quality review of RSD Assessments in line with UNHCR policies/guidelines related to mandate RSD and endorse RSD decisions as required. – Conduct interviews and draft RSD Assessments in complex/sensitive cases per relevant standards and guidelines. – Provide ongoing coaching as well as specialized training on the inclusion criteria; principles/procedures related to exclusion; cancellation/revocation; international humanitarian law; human rights law; interviewing techniques and credibility assessment/establishing the facts; and legal drafting. – Provide specialized training to other UNHCR units on the refugee criteria and related issues as needed. Contribute to the development of the RSD strategy and support senior management to ensure its full and effective integration into the protection and solution strategy of the Country Operations Plan. – Contribute to developing/enhancing regional and global RSD standards and policies, as required. – Support the design and implementation of operation-specific SOPs for all aspects of RSD operations in line with relevant standards/policies, including UNHCR’s AGD policy and Forward Plan, ensuring the prioritisation of persons with specific needs if based in a Regional Bureau, provide support to operations on the above. – Monitor trends and systematically compile statistics related to RSD case processing. – Analyze key indicators of the quality and efficiency of decision-making in RSD processing to assess capacity and resource requirements of operations in the region or the operation to which the RSD Officer is assigned. – Contribute to the evaluation and projection of RSD staffing and financial needs using the RSD Staffing Benchmarks, and support allocation of appropriate human, material and financial resources. – Contribute to identifying and preventing fraud in RSD through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR personnel, partners and persons of concern. If based in DIP or a Regional Bureau: – Conduct support missions, as required. – Assess training needs in UNHCR RSD operations and assist RSD Supervisors to provide coaching/capacity building for UNHCR personnel and deployees under their supervision, in coordination with the GLC as appropriate. – Maintain and manage a consultative process with operations and other stakeholders in the region. If based in a country operation, together with competent host authorities and partners, develop processes aiming at developing national institutional capacities and the timely identification of international protection needs in line with the GCR and other key planning considerations. – Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Years of Experience / Degree Level For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education International Refugee Law; International Human Rights Law; International Humanitarian Law; International Criminal Law; Social Sciences; or other relevant field. Certificates and/or Licenses RSD Learning Programme Management Learning Programme Protection Learning Programme Relevant Job Experience Essential 3 years of experience working directly with procedues and principles related to adjudicating individual asylum claims in RSD procedures. In-depth knowledge of International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law and ability to apply relevant legal principles in the RSD context, including exclusion decision-making. Thorough knowledge of the “Procedural Standards for RSD under UNHCR’s Mandate” and other guidelines and standards governing UNHCR’s mandate RSD activities. Experience in counselling asylum-seekers and individual case management. Experience in refugee law training. Desirable Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government SD procedures is highly desirable. Experience in providing legal representation to asylum seekers in UNHCR or Government SD procedurest. Experience in supervising a team. Completion of other UNHCR Learning Programmes relevant to RSD.Training and coaching experience. Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals. Knowledge of additional UN languages. Functional Skills CO-Cross-cultural communication PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards PR-Individual Case Management LE-International Criminal Law LE-International Refugee Law PR-RSD – Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance PR-International Humanitarian Law PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators PR-Government Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures PR-Interviewing and counselling refugees/asylum seekers (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.

-Extensive experience in conducting RSD interviews and carrying out assessment, reviews, in English and/or -French with good drafting legal assessments in English.
-Sound experience in drafting exclusion and cancellation analysis.
-Experience in interviewing and counseling refugees and asylum seekers on case processing procedure;
-Facilitation skills and ability to provide effective capacity development interventions for both internally and externally.
-Sound knowledge of the international legal framework governing refugees, asylum seekers, human rights, stateless persons and knowledge of UNHCR guidelines on registration and durable solutions.
-Good and sound knowledge of the region asylum dynamics will be an asset.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Rwanda currently hosts more than 127,000 Persons of Concern. The majority of refugees fled to Rwanda in influxes from the DRC and Burundi and were recognized on a prima facie basis by the Government of Rwanda (GoR). Currently, all new arrivals including individuals from the DRC and Burundi are referred for individual refugee status determination (RSD) conducted by the GoR Prima facie recognition ended in 2014 for the Congolese asylum seekers and in 2020 for Burundian with the commencement of Voluntary Repatriation program from Rwanda to Burundi. All new arrivals of all nationalities are referred for individual asylum processes. Exceptionally, per the agreement with the GoR, UNHCR conducts RSD within merged case processing (RSD/RST) at the Emergency Transit mechanism (ETM) established in 2019. Among options presented in the ETM’s MoU, individuals who do not meet UNHCR’s mandate definition of a refugee can be referred to the GoR for RSD.

During the course of the ongoing discussion regarding externalization of asylum processes from the UK, Denmark and potentially other countries to Rwanda, UNHCR retreated its commitment to support building capacity of the relevant authorities to enhance the asylum system in Rwanda.

The RSD Officer will report to the Senior Protection Officer and work with a team of national and international staff. S/he will directly supervise a NOB focusing on RSD and asylum and will also be in-charge of carrying exclusion assessment for cases that didn’t go through mandate RSD in the context of seeking durable solutions for special cases. The staff will work in close cooperation with the relevant government actors namely MINEMA, National RSD Committee and DGIE as well as the main legal aid partner and relevant civil society organizations.

Living and Working Conditions:

The Republic of Rwanda is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. UNHCR enjoys cordial working relations with Government Officials, other UN Agencies and Partners. In Kigali, basic health facilities are available including with a UN Dispensary that can provide 1st Aid assistance and guidance. Domestic supplies are available on the market. Housing conditions in the capital Kigali are of good standard and rents are reasonable. There are good international schools existing in Kigali at the primary and secondary levels. The main airport in Kigali has several international flights with easy connections to and within the region                                                             

Additional Qualifications

Skills

BA: International Relations (Required), BA: Law (Required), BA: Political Science (Required)

Certifications

HCR Management Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR RSD Learning Program – UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Policy research & development, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

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Compendium

March 2023 Compendium – Part B

Additional Information

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