Senior Durable Solutions Officer at UNHCR Rwanda: (Deadline 28 November 2023)

A (least hardship)

Family

PR4

Professional

* Staff members will not normally serve in International Professional positions in the country of their nationality. In addition, in case of a first appointment upon recruitment, the assignment must be outside the staff member’s country of nationality.

In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of.

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2024-07-01

November 28, 2023

Senior Durable Solutions Officer

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.

– Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
– 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
Not specialised

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.

Functional Skills
IT-IT Refugee Systems & Applications
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PR-Developing Strategic Protection Framework
PR-Comprehensive Solutions Framework
(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.

In view of the Office’s role for managerial oversight, technical guidance and support to operations in the country, the incumbent of the position should have strong technical capacity and experience in Durable Solutions and the application of international refugee, human rights and humanitarian law.
The ideal candidate should have experience in and ability to serve in a variety of functional areas, including capacity development and systematic monitoring and advocacy regarding policy and practices.
The incumbent must have strong communication skills both orally and in writing. A good understanding of the Global Compact on Refugees and its application, as well as knowledge of, and familiarity with, operations in Africa, and experience working with refugee, resettlement, returnee and stateless populations would be beneficial
S/he should have a track record of leading/working with functionally and culturally diverse teams. Strong interpersonal and diplomacy as well as a mature approach, are a must for the position. The incumbent is expected to be a forward-thinker and solutions-oriented.
S/he is expected to have robust resettlement knowledge, relevant technical and operational expertise in voluntary repatriation as well as capacity to understand frameworks in place that would allow for local integration and inclusion in partnership with other units and sections such as the development and livelihood units and the GRF framework.
Due to the nature of the work, the incumbent is expected to have a pro-active mature attitude and be responsive to address complex and dynamics situations and is expected to liaise with a wide range of interlocutors ranging from resettlement actors (donors and processing entities, IOM, etc..) countries of origin of persons we serve as well as local stakeholders in charge of services that could benefit to the persons we serve and ensure their local inclusion and self reliance.
The candidate to the post should be an experienced protection officer with a high level of seniority who could bring actors together and liaise with the Regional Bureau and a variety of stakeholders to identify opportunities and design durable solution strategies and monitoring implementation.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

Nature of Position:

UNHCR Rwanda Operation manages a refugee population originating mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo and have been mostly in Rwandan since 1996 in addition to Burundian refugees who also moved to Rwanda due to the volatile Burundi situation since April 2015.  The total refugee population, asylum seekers and persons at risk of statelessness is 135,733 as of end September 2023. There is also a small population of Rwandan refugees returning after many years in exile. In addition, Rwanda operation receives asylum seekers who continue to flee from Northern Eastern DRC Congo as the conflict persists. Refugees are hosted in 5 camps across the country. The biggest camp hosts about 60,000 refugees as of October 2023. The operation is also providing assistance to a small number of evacuees from Libya and hosted at an Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) facility in Gashora. The ETM can host up to 700 individuals at a time.

The country is subject to some natural disaster like flooding and/or landslide that affect thousands of households yearly.

The operation comprises a Country Branch Office based in Kigali, one Sub office in Kirehe, and 4 Field offices/units in Huye, Karongi/Rubavu, Kabarore and Gashora  with about 245 staff members including affiliate workforce and deployees.

The Senior Durable Solutions Officer reports to the Assistant Representative (Protection).  S/he will be a core member of the protection team of UNHCR Rwanda operation. S/He will de facto be the OIC in the absence of the Assist/Rep Protection.

She/he will be expected to oversee activities related to Resettlement, Voluntary Repatriation (Volrep) and local integration to complete the whole Durable Solutions related functional responsibilities.

She/he will coordinate the implementation and delivery of our Protection strategic objectives and develop coherent and consistent responses to the challenges faced in terms of delivering Durable Solutions to the Persons we serve under the UNHCR Mandate in the Rwanda operation.

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. Basic health facilities are available 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 the region.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science

Certifications

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, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness

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