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Senior Durable Solutions Assistant

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Full-time
On-site
Nairobi, Kenya

Hardship Level

B

Family Type

Family

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

GS5

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Remote work accepted

No

Target Start Date

2025-01-01

Deadline for Applications

November 28, 2024

Standard Job Description

Senior Durable Solutions Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Durable Solutions Assistant reports to a Durable Solutions Associate or Officer.

The incumbent is relied upon to contribute to the implementation of a durable solutions strategy. Contributing to fostering an environment to enhance partnerships is a critical element of the work, as are activities designed to strength the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies.

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 counselling to refugees and other persons of concern (POC) about their durable solutions needs.
- Interview candidates for voluntary repatriation and prepare documentation for their return, in line with Voluntary Repatriation SOPs.
- Interview candidates for local integration and prepare the appropriate documentation for onward submission to local authorities or partners, in line with Local Integration SOPs.
- Participate in identifying resettlement needs of refugees, in line with Resettlement SOPs.
- Assist in updating the electronic database for resettlement, voluntary repatriation and local integration, in line with Standard Operating Procedures.
- Process documentation to ensure that POC receive the documents required for their durable solutions in a timely manner.
- Prepare statistical and ad-hoc reports to ensure accurate information is available and shared with relevant offices and partners.
- Interview and advise on the appropriate durable solution to be provided to POC.
- Prepare documents relating to durable solutions.
- Enter information into available database, in line with SOPs.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Resettlement Lrng Prg;
HCR Protection Induction Prog;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.
Desirable
Diverse field experience. Experience in interviewing.

Functional Skills
DM-Database Management
IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software
(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.

Desired Candidate Profile

The incumbent should have relevant experience in humanitarian or development programme implementation. Work experience in refugee settings including experience in facilitating durable solutions, individual case management, community engagement and coordination with partners including government agencies will be an added advantage.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

,

,

Desired languages

,

,

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:

Kenya remains the fifth largest host country in Africa and the thirteenth biggest asylum country in the world. The total number of refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya stands at approx. 800,000, in addition to some 8,000 stateless persons. UNHCR Kenya Operation maintains three main offices as follows: Representation Office in Nairobi, Two sub-offices in Kakuma and Dadaab. A Joint Refugee Service Centre has also been established, operated jointly with the Department of Refugee Services, to provide all protection services to affected populations in Nairobi.

In line with the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR) and the 2023-2026 UNHCR Kenya Multi-Year Strategy, the operation will continue to focus on further expanding the protection of refugees and promoting solutions as well as to continue working on the activities/targets partially by partners and through direct implementation and in close coordination with other stakeholders.

UNHCR Kenya in fulfils its international mandate of providing international protection and seeking durable solutions  by supporting the Government of Kenya in finding durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, resettlement and complementary pathways, and alternative legal stay arrangements in Kenya. This focuses on advocating for the transition from camps to integrated settlements and providing support to the Government toward implementation of the Shirika Plan; supporting the Government in establishing procedures for refugees to access alternative stay arrangements while maintaining protection safeguards and standards; advocating for sustainable, rights-based voluntary return and reintegration and expanding opportunities for resettlement and complementary pathways. 

Efforts to improve the situation of refugees and asylum-seekers in urban areas will continue, including through enhanced access to national systems in education and healthcare and to livelihoods opportunities that will facilitate self-reliance.

The Senior Durable Solutions Assistant will report to the Associate Durable Solutions Officer.

The incumbent is relied upon to contribute to the implementation of a durable solutions strategy and achieving the highlighted solutions. Working directly in the communities with asylum seekers and refugees to identify the appropriate solutions and leverage their capacities for self-reliance and to protect themselves, is a critical element of the work. The incumbent will also support activities designed to strength the involvement of refugee communities and their hosts in the design and implementation of solutions strategies.

Living and Working Conditions:


 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

DM-Database Management, IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software

Education

Certifications

HCR Protection Induction Prog - UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program - UNHCR

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearance